IOWA CITY, Iowa – Four University of Iowa student-athletes – Luka Garza (men’s basketball), Spencer Lee (wrestling), Caitlin Clark (women’s basketball), and Laruen Guerin (women’s gymnastics) – were named March’s Student Athletes of the Month. The University of Iowa Student-Athletes Academic Services (SAAS) made the announcement Friday.
Garza, a Washington, D.C. native, became the consensus 2021 National Player of the Year, sweeping all the major postseason awards (Wooden, Naismith, Associated Press, Oscar Robertson, NABC, Lute Olson, Sporting News). The two-time Big Ten Player of the Year led Iowa to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2006 and to an NCAA Tournament victory.
He finished the season ranked first nationally in total points (747), player efficiency rating (35.84), 30-point games (8), field goals made (281), and 20-point games (22). Garza ranked second nationally in points per game (24.1), fifth in free throw attempts (199), 10th in free throw makes (141), and 11th in double-doubles (13).
Garza was a recent recipient of the 2021 Senior CLASS Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in men’s basketball.
Lee, a Murraysville, Pennsylvania, native, went 8-0 in March, outscoring his opponents 103-15 en route to his third 125-pound NCAA Championship. Lee was also awarded the Hodge Trophy for the second straight year, which is presented annually to the nation’s most dominant college wrestler.
Lee, the Big Ten Wrestler of the Year for the second straight year, helped lead the Hawkeyes to a Big Ten Championship crown and the NCAA Championship team title.
Clark, a West Des Moines, Iowa, native, led Iowa to a berth in the Big Ten Tournament title game and a trip to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Clark broke the Iowa women’s basketball record for points scored in a freshman campaign with 799 points.
Clark, who averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game in 30 games this season, was named the WBCA Co-Freshman of the Year, becoming the first women’s basketball student-athlete at Iowa to earn national freshman of the year recognition from any outlet.
Clark was recently named to the WBCA All-America team after being named a first-team All-American and Co-Freshman Player of the Year by the USBWA. Clark was also the recipient of the 2021 Dawn Staley Award, which is presented to the best all-around guard in women’s basketball.
Guerin, an Austin, Texas, native, earned a share of the Big Ten floor title at the Big Ten Championships to help lead Iowa to a third-place finish and a trip to NCAA Regionals.
Guerin earned first-team All-American distinction with a NQS score of 9.95 on the floor and she earned second-team All-Big Ten recognition. She helped Iowa win its first regular season Big Ten title in school history.
