O'Gorman Selected as ASUN Men's XC Scholar-Athlete of the Year
11/8/2023 2:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Forte Also Makes ASUN Women's XC All-Academic Team
ATLANTA, Ga. - Aidan O'Gorman headlined the ASUN All-Academic Team selections by garnering his first career Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor, while Gianna Forte earns All-Academic recognition on the women's side, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday afternoon.
North Florida joined Central Arkansas and Lipscomb as the only three schools this season to have both a men's and women's honoree on the conference's All-Academic teams. O'Gorman becomes the second all-time Scholar-Athlete of the Year winner for UNF, while Forte is the first All-Academic selection since the spring 2021 season.
O'Gorman had a fantastic season in his fifth year of eligibility, capped off with a runner-up individual finish at the ASUN meet. He was also the only athlete, male or female, to pick up multiple career Academic All-ASUN honors with it being his third selection this season for cross country.
"Aidan [O'Gorman] gives 100% in everything he does. He does all of the extra stuff it takes to be great," said head coach Jeff Pigg on fifth-year's selection. "I'm very proud him and happy to see his efforts as an engineering student and as an athlete rewarded."
Forte had a great finish to her redshirt senior season with cross country after being the top individual finisher at the Florida Southern meet, along with a top-30 placement at the conference meet at the end of October. She was one of five athletes selected to have a perfect 4.00 cumulative GPA, as she is currently pursuing her doctorate in physical therapy.
"Gianna [Forte] is an extremely dedicated individual," continued Pigg. "She is focused in PT school and has balanced her efforts to also have a very successful cross country season. The combination is no small feat and I'm very happy she is doing so well."
O'Gorman and Forte will continue postseason competition with the NCAA South Regional next up on their schedule on Friday, Nov. 10, in Gainesville, Fla.
Aidan O'Gorman, North Florida
Senior | New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Gianna Forte, North Florida
Redshirt Senior | Jacksonville, Fla.
North Florida joined Central Arkansas and Lipscomb as the only three schools this season to have both a men's and women's honoree on the conference's All-Academic teams. O'Gorman becomes the second all-time Scholar-Athlete of the Year winner for UNF, while Forte is the first All-Academic selection since the spring 2021 season.
O'Gorman had a fantastic season in his fifth year of eligibility, capped off with a runner-up individual finish at the ASUN meet. He was also the only athlete, male or female, to pick up multiple career Academic All-ASUN honors with it being his third selection this season for cross country.
"Aidan [O'Gorman] gives 100% in everything he does. He does all of the extra stuff it takes to be great," said head coach Jeff Pigg on fifth-year's selection. "I'm very proud him and happy to see his efforts as an engineering student and as an athlete rewarded."
Forte had a great finish to her redshirt senior season with cross country after being the top individual finisher at the Florida Southern meet, along with a top-30 placement at the conference meet at the end of October. She was one of five athletes selected to have a perfect 4.00 cumulative GPA, as she is currently pursuing her doctorate in physical therapy.
"Gianna [Forte] is an extremely dedicated individual," continued Pigg. "She is focused in PT school and has balanced her efforts to also have a very successful cross country season. The combination is no small feat and I'm very happy she is doing so well."
O'Gorman and Forte will continue postseason competition with the NCAA South Regional next up on their schedule on Friday, Nov. 10, in Gainesville, Fla.
Aidan O'Gorman, North Florida
Senior | New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
- Holds a 3.62 GPA pursuing his degree in Coastal Engineering.
- Finished first overall as an unattached individual for his first career win in cross country with a time of 24:01.0 during the 8k race at the Mountain Dew Invitational.
- Placed over runners from several Power Five institutions, including Georgia Tech, Florida and Vanderbilt.
- Clocked in at 24:11.0 in the 8k race at the Gans Creek Classic to finish in sixth overall.
- Helped team finish as the runner-up at the Missouri meet in front of Texas Tech, Missouri, Colorado and Kansas State.
- Took second overall as the individual runner up with a time of 24:17.85 in the 8k race at the ASUN Championship.
- Earned First Team All-ASUN honors at the event to make either first or second team all four years, as he is in sights of his third career ASUN All-Academic selection.
- Helped Osprey squad to runner-up finish at the conference meet, just edging Lipscomb in Nashville.
Gianna Forte, North Florida
Redshirt Senior | Jacksonville, Fla.
- Holds a 4.00 GPA pursuing her degree in Physical Therapy.
- Finished first overall for her first career individual win at the Florida Southern Invitational with a time of 22:42.99 in the 6k race.
- Helped the Ospreys place first overall as well among 11 teams, including South Florida and Flagler.
- Ran a personal-best mark of 18:11.90 in the 5k race to place among the top 30 runners at the ASUN Championship.
- Assisted team in placing fourth overall for a second consecutive season at the conference meet.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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