
Kolbe, O'Gorman Sweep ASUN Indoor Track Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honors
3/13/2025 12:00:00 PM | Men's Track, Women's Track
Pedroza, Shepherd Added To ASUN All-Academic Team
JACKSONVILLE - Four student-athletes from North Florida track & field were honored for their hard work in their events, as well as in the classroom, as Aidan O'Gorman and Smilla Kolbe highlight the distinctions with a sweep of the ASUN Indoor Track Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, as announced by the conference office on Thursday afternoon.
O'Gorman smashed a new conference meet record in the 3000m race with a 3.80 GPA in coastal engineering. Kolbe brought home two gold medals and a silver medal along with an ASUN meet record all while earning a 4.0 GPA in psychology.
"I think almost every athlete here at UNF takes great pride in their class work," said head coach Jeff Pigg. "I know our kids work very hard and it is great to see their efforts recognized with these honors."
O'Gorman reeled in his seventh ASUN academic honor between XC, indoor and outdoor seasons, while also being the second time he's won ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year after notching it during the 2023 cross country season. He's also received CSC Academic All-District twice and UNF Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year twice during his illustrious career as a student-athlete.
This is Kolbe's fourth time being recognized as an all-academic athlete, as well as her third time being named ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year after sweeping both indoor and outdoor track last season. During her first season with the Ospreys, she was a CSC Academic All-District selection and a Third Team Academic All-American.
Robert Pedroza was the second Osprey men's athlete to make the ASUN All-Academic Team with a 3.8 GPA in sport management. The first-time honoree earned second overall for silver in the 800m race, as well as being a part of the champion DMR team at the ASUN Championships.
Nicole Shepherd followed up being the second Osprey women's athlete to earn ASUN All-Academic Team honors with a 3.99 GPA in sociology & criminal justice. The high jumper grabbed the silver medal with a runner-up finish at the ASUN Indoor Championships, Â as well as two top finishes during the regular season.
O'Gorman, Pedroza and Shepherd will debut their outdoor seasons at the Black & Gold Invitational from Mar. 21-22, while Smilla Kolbe will compete in the 800m race at the NCAA Indoor Championships from Mar. 14-15.
Aidan O'Gorman
Sixth Year | New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Smilla Kolbe
Senior | Hanover, Germany
Robert Pedroza
Senior | Key West, Fla.
Nicole Shepherd
Sophomore | High Springs, Fla.
O'Gorman smashed a new conference meet record in the 3000m race with a 3.80 GPA in coastal engineering. Kolbe brought home two gold medals and a silver medal along with an ASUN meet record all while earning a 4.0 GPA in psychology.
"I think almost every athlete here at UNF takes great pride in their class work," said head coach Jeff Pigg. "I know our kids work very hard and it is great to see their efforts recognized with these honors."
O'Gorman reeled in his seventh ASUN academic honor between XC, indoor and outdoor seasons, while also being the second time he's won ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year after notching it during the 2023 cross country season. He's also received CSC Academic All-District twice and UNF Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year twice during his illustrious career as a student-athlete.
This is Kolbe's fourth time being recognized as an all-academic athlete, as well as her third time being named ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year after sweeping both indoor and outdoor track last season. During her first season with the Ospreys, she was a CSC Academic All-District selection and a Third Team Academic All-American.
Robert Pedroza was the second Osprey men's athlete to make the ASUN All-Academic Team with a 3.8 GPA in sport management. The first-time honoree earned second overall for silver in the 800m race, as well as being a part of the champion DMR team at the ASUN Championships.
Nicole Shepherd followed up being the second Osprey women's athlete to earn ASUN All-Academic Team honors with a 3.99 GPA in sociology & criminal justice. The high jumper grabbed the silver medal with a runner-up finish at the ASUN Indoor Championships, Â as well as two top finishes during the regular season.
O'Gorman, Pedroza and Shepherd will debut their outdoor seasons at the Black & Gold Invitational from Mar. 21-22, while Smilla Kolbe will compete in the 800m race at the NCAA Indoor Championships from Mar. 14-15.
ASUN Men's & Women's Indoor Track & Field Academic Awards
Aidan O'GormanSixth Year | New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
- Holds a 3.8 GPA while majoring in coastal engineering.
- Smashed a new conference meet record, taking gold in the men's 3000m with an incredible performance at the ASUN Indoor Championships.
- Also placed fourth in the 5000m race of the ASUN meet with a time of 14:06.32.
- Claimed first overall in the mile, clocking an incredible 4:00.80 mark at the Celebration Pointe Classic.
- Led the way with his record-setting performance in the 3000m with a time of 7:56.48 at the RADD Sports Invite.
- Doubled his success with a first-place finish in the mile as well at the RADD meet with a mark of 4:04.61.
- Started the season with a win in the mile placing first overall at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational at 4:06.24.
Smilla Kolbe
Senior | Hanover, Germany
- Holds a 4.0 GPA while majoring in psychology.
- Stunned with a 2:02.98 in the 800m at the ASUN Championships, claiming victory and setting an ASUN meet record.
- Placed second in the 4x400m relay in the ASUN Championships as well with a time of 3:41.13.
- Earned first as a part of the DMR team for her third medal of the week with a time of 11:27.34.
- Took home first place in the 800m with Ella Chandler finishing second overall at the Celebration Pointe Classic.
- Re-upped on her program record for the 800m in back-to-back meets with a 2:02 time.
- Hit a record-breaking mark of 2:03.22 to not only break the program and facility records for the 800m, but also rank herself fourth in the nation for the event as well during RADD Sports Invite.
- Secured a new program record for the Ospreys in the 1-mile with a time of 4:37.34 at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational.
Robert Pedroza
Senior | Key West, Fla.
- Holds a 3.8 GPA while majoring in sport management.
- Earned a silver medal as second place in the 800m with a time of 1:50.82 at the ASUN Indoor Championships.
- Also was a part of the gold medal-winning DMR team with a mark of 9:46.92.
- Was runner-up in both the 800m (1:51.50) and the mile (4:02.57) at the Celebration Pointe Classic.
- Returned at the RADD Sports Invite with a runner-up finish of 1:52.19 in the 800m.
- Placed second overall in the mile with a time of 4:08.20 at Jimmy Carnes Invitational.
Nicole Shepherd
Sophomore | High Springs, Fla.
- Holds a 3.99 GPA while majoring in sociology & criminal justice.
- Earned the silver medal with a runner-up finish of 1.71m (5-7.25) in the high jump at the ASUN Indoor Championships.
- Awarded first overall during the Celebration Pointe Classic with a high jump mark of 1.62m.
- Claimed victory once again in the high jump with a 1.70m mark at the RADD Sports Invite.
- Earned fourth overall in season opener at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational with a jump of 1.65m.
Players Mentioned
Hodges Stadium at Visit Jax Track Aerial
Thursday, July 06
Turf Field & Three-Lane Track
Thursday, July 06
UNF Track Invite
Monday, June 25
Manny Velasquez Comeback
Monday, June 25