FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Suncoast Credit Union FGCU Athletics Scholar-Athletes of the Month for November have been announced, with men's basketball graduate student Caleb Catto (Cape Coral, Fla./Southwest Florida Christian Academy) and women's swimming and diving senior Hailey Jerew (Miami, Fla./Cutler Bay Senior HS) earning the honor.
One male and female Eagle are chosen each month as the FGCU Athletics scholar-athlete throughout the academic year. Factors in the selection for the honor include a combination of significant athletic and overall academic success. Dana Axner of volleyball and Jon Hopkins of men's golf earned October's distinction.
Catto is the first-ever five-time honoree and has moved into FGCU men's basketball all-time top 10 list in five separate categories this season, in points scored (1,133), rebounds (457), assists (291), field goals made (413) and in three-pointers made (197).
In 2022, Catto is averaging a team-leading 31.4 minutes per game and has also facilitated a team-high 33 assists. The Cape Coral native has started in all 11 games thus far, averaging 7.5 points per game. Catto has reached double figures four times with a season high of 14 points in a 74-65 victory over in-state foe FIU, cashing in on four 3-pointers.
Catto has helped propel a new-look Eagles squad and first-year head coach Pat Chambers to an 8-3 start, including the Gulf Coast Showcase championship.
In the classroom, Catto posted a perfect 4.0 GPA during spring semester to earn a bachelor's degree in Integrated Studies. Catto is now pursuing a local government management certificate at FGCU as a graduate student.
"Caleb is a leader and a positive example on and off the court," said FGCU men's basketball coach Pat Chambers . "He takes his academics seriously, just as he takes his basketball and his weight training seriously. He is the kind of person who walks the walk every day."
Jerew won gold in the 50-yard free event at the Bellarmine Duels, also placing fifth in 100-yard free to help FGCU begin the season 3-0. Last month at the Gamecock Invitational, Jerew finished top 10 in both the 50-yard and the 100-yard free finals.
Her sixth-place effort in the 50 free marked a season best time (23.09). At that instance, her mark was the CCSA's fastest of the season. Jerew's 51.32 display in the 100-yard free also marked a season-best effort.
She concluded the event by swimming a leg in 200 free relay to help her tandem post a final time of 1.33.85, another top time in the CCSA.
For the 2022-23 season, she ranks second on the squad in total points (715.75) and 19th overall in the CCSA. Out of the pool and in the classroom, Jerew made the Dean's List this past spring with a 3.69 GPA in Environmental Geology.
At the 2022 CCSA Championships, Jerew won four golds as part of Eagle relay teams anchoring the 200 medley relay, the 200 free relay, the 400 medley relay, and the 400 free relay. She also won an individual bronze medal in the 50 free (22.83), finished fourth in the 100 free (50.39) and fifth in the 100 breast (1:02.82) at the CCSAs.
"She is one of the brightest women I've had the pleasure to work with," head coach Dave Rollins said. "Hailey gives everything she can to every aspect of her academic and athletic careers. From presenting her senior research at national conferences, to winning conference championships in the pool, she is truly a special person and one of the finest to represent the Green & Blue."
E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 94 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 15-plus seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 11-plus seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 47 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. In 2022, the men's golf team became the first program to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 20, 2021-22), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2022) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as four of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green & Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 26 consecutive semesters. The past six semesters (Fall 2019 – Spring 2022) saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher cumulative team GPA. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
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