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The Pacific West Conference named three Vanguard athletes as Scholar-Athletes of the Year, a first for the school. Kaylee Byon and Erik Howlin earned accolades in women's and men's basketball, respectively, while Kaylee Best was recognized in track and field. The awards highlight a combination of athletic excellence and academic achievement, with the winners selected by sport information directors and athletic directors in the conference. Byon, the PacWest Player of the Year, excelled both on the court and in her kinesiology studies, while Howlin ended his career with top honors and a degree in industrial organizational psychology. Freshman Best made an instant impact, claiming individual conference titles and becoming an All-American in her debut season.

• Kaylee Byon averaged 14.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game, leading the PacWest in assist-to-turnover ratio.
• Erik Howlin averaged 19.2 points per game, shooting 51.9% from the field, and he scored at least 10 points in every game.
• Kaylee Best set new VU records in both the triple and long jump events, finishing 13th and 4th at the National Championships, respectively.

While these achievements underscore Vanguard's growing athletic reputation, the challenge remains to sustain this level of success and increase visibility within the competitive landscape of NCAA Division II sports.

• The athletic directors will announce Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year next week.
• Vanguard has made significant strides, achieving the first PacWest regular season and tournament titles in men's basketball history.

The focus will be on maintaining momentum as Vanguard prepares to compete for further titles and improve its recruiting efforts to build on this foundation of success.

The recognition of Vanguard鈥檚 athletes not only highlights individual accomplishments but also signifies a pivotal moment for the program's reputation and future aspirations in collegiate athletics.