WASHINGTON, D.C. — George Washington University’s Matt Taylor (R-Jr., Auckland, New Zealand/Rangitoto College) was honored as an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year in water polo. The awards, presented annually by the magazine Diverse: Issues in Higher Education since 1992, honor student-athletes exemplifying the highest standards of scholarship, athleticism and humanitarianism.
Taylor returned to the pool after missing last season due to injury and made an impact in net for the Colonials on their historic run to a second straight Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference title and the NCAA quarterfinals.
The redshirt junior from Auckland, New Zealand, totaled 99 saves, stopping 63.1 percent of the shots he faced. He’ll enter his final season in Buff and Blue No. 2 in program history with a save percentage of 54.7 percent (462 saves-844 shots faced).
An Electrical Engineering major, Taylor owns a 3.85 cumulative GPA, which has earned him recognition on the ACWPC All-Academic Team, CWPA Scholar-Athlete Team and the GW Athletics and university Dean’s Lists. He was also GW’s nominee for the Elite 90 Award at the NCAA Championship.
In addition, he has logged at least 30 hours of community service over the past three years.
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education considered nearly 1,000 nominations in 39 sports before handing out the honors named after tennis great Arthur Ashe, Jr. Nominees for the award must be at least a sophomore academically, maintain a 3.5 or better cumulative GPA and be active on campus and in their community.
Release courtesy Geroge Washington University Athletics Communications
