By: Delanie Gearing, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
ARCATA, Calif. - Marisa Salazar has been named the 2024 recipient of the Elite 13 Award, it was announced at the CCAA Women's Soccer Tournament on Friday afternoon.
The Elite 13 Award, formerly known as the CCAA Championship Scholar Award, honors the exceptional academic and athletic achievements of a student-athlete. This prestigious recognition is given to the individual who not only competes at the highest level in their sport, reaching the conference championship, but also maintains the highest academic standing among their peers.
Established in the 2017-18 academic year, the award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA participating at the final CCAA championship site in each conference-sponsored sport.
Salazar, a Kinesiology major and junior academically, boasts a perfect 4.00 GPA, making her a standout candidate for this honor. On top of her academic excellence, Salazar has had an impressive season on the field. The midfielder has appeared in 13 matches, scoring five goals, including three game-winners. She was named to the All-CCAA Second Team and earned the CCAA Offensive Player of the Week award in September. Salazar has logged 694 minutes and accumulated 13 points this season.
A native of Long Beach, Salazar is the sixth Bronco to receive the Elite 13 Award and the first Cal Poly Pomona women's soccer player to earn this distinction.
Cal Poly Pomona Elite 13 Award Recipients
- Marisa Salazar – Women's Soccer (2024-25)
- Reina Sausedo – Women's Basketball (2023-24)
- Analexis Glaude – Women's Track & Field (2021-22)
- Ryon Knowles – Baseball (2021-22)
- Jeremiah Suzara – Men's Track & Field (2020-21)
- Jeremiah Suzara – Men's Cross Country (2019-20)
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