(Editor’s note: Story by Montana Sports Information)
OGDEN, Utah — Taryn Miller and Bobby Moorehead were named Montana’s recipients of the Big Sky Conference Scholar-Athlete awards for 2018-19. Each school can select one female and one male athlete who display an all-around excellence. Recipients must have graduated with a 3.2 GPA or better and been at least a two-year letter-winner.
The duo recently earned their diplomas, with Miller graduating with an economics degree and Moorehead obtaining one in business management.
Miller capped her career by leading the Grizzlies to the NCAA tournament in November, following their first Big Sky Conference tournament championship since 2011. She was one of five Montana players voted to the all-tournament team.
The six-foot center back, who played in 76 career matches and made 47 starts, was a four-time Academic All-Big Sky Conference selection and was named Scholar All-West Region as a junior and senior by the United Soccer Coaches.
That organization also named Miller All-West Region her final two years for her play on the field, which led to her earning Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year honors as a junior, first-team All-Big Sky accolades as a junior and senior.
Moorehead finished his Griz career playing more games than any player in school history (134), earning starts in his final 73 contests. On the season, he recorded a team-most 27 blocked shots, in addition to 24 steals. He ranked in the top 20 in the Big Sky Conference for both blocked shots and rebounding. His biggest impact, however, didn’t always show up in the stats sheet, with his top assignment being matched up against opponents’ top scorers. For his efforts, he was twice named the team’s top defensive player, and in 2019 also earned the coaches’ award.
The Tacoma native helped Montana to back-to-back Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament championships, playing in the NCAA tournament each of the past two years. Montana’s 52 wins over the past two seasons are the most in school history.
This marks the third year in a row that Montana’s male selection has been a basketball player, joining former teammates Fabijan Krslovic (2017-18) and Brandon Gfeller (2016-17).
2018-19 Big Sky Conference Scholar-Athletes
Cal Poly
Sam Ogee (football)
Eastern Washington
Roldan Alcobendas (football)
Violet Kapri-Morrow (women’s basketball)
Hartford
Sam McNulty (men’s golf)
Idaho
Mikayla Ferenz (women’s basketball)
Ed Hall (football)
Idaho State
Trevor Jensen (men’s track & field)
Grace Kenyon (women’s basketball)
Montana
Taryn Miller (soccer)
Bobby Moorehead (men’s basketball)
Montana State
Elisabeth Krieger (women’s track & field)
Alex Lewis (men’s track & field)
Northern Arizona
Kyle Havriliak (men’s cross country/track & field)
Hanneke Lodewijks (women’s tennis)
Northern Colorado
Li Chen (men’s golf)
Mariel Gutierrez (soccer)
Portland State
Donte Robinson (men’s track & field)
Courtney West (women’s basketball)
Sacramento State
Savanna Corr (softball)
Mikus Losbergs (men’s tennis)
Southern Utah
Angie Nickerson (women’s track & field)
Skyler Porcaro (men’s track & field)
UC Davis
Tiger Garcia (football)
Weber State
Brady May (football)
Tawnie Moore (women’s track & field)