The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534227
TRACKING THE PACK 14 ■ THE WOLFPACKER The ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award was established in 2007 to an- nually honor both the academic and athletic achievements of the top upper- classman in each sport. The choice of recipient is "based 60 percent on aca- demic achievement and 40 percent on athletic accomplishment." This season's women's cross coun- try winner, Grace Hartman, excelled in both categories. The psychology ma- jor has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her entire collegiate career while finishing her undergraduate de- gree in just three years. "People joke that I'm an 'athlete-stu- dent,' and I can't say that I've ever really thought that way," Hartman noted. "I think that being able to come to college is an opportunity that a lot of people aren't provided. And if I'm here for five years, I want to take advantage of that as much as possible." In addition to her academic excellence, Hartman has been a decorated performer on the course. The junior distance run- ner was the individual winner at both the ACC Championships and the NCAA Southeast Regional before earning a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Champi- onships to conclude the season. A native of Oakwood, Ohio, Hart- man has earned six All-ACC Academic Team honors and four USTFCCCA All- Academic Team nods. She was also the ACC Women's Outdoor Track and Field Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the spring of 2024. Hartman attributes much of her suc- cess to her vast support system, begin- ning with Laurie Henes, coach of NC State's track and field and women's cross country teams. "Coach Henes has made such a huge impact in my life," Hartman said. "She supports all the girls on our team like we're her family members. I'm always just amazed with how much time she puts into this sport. Same with Coach [Rollie] Geiger — they are just so in- vested in our personal success in the sport, but they're also really invested in making sure that we're happy outside of it, which has created a wonderful envi- ronment for us all to train in." While many people see their results decline while trying to juggle multiple responsibilities at once, Hartman finds the inverse to be true in her own life. "I feel like I've always been somebody that's had pursuits outside of running, and I've also realized that if I don't have other things going for me, run- ning doesn't go very well," she noted. "I never want to be one-dimensional. If you've excelled in one thing, you want to excel in multiple things." Hartman, who recently shaved a min- ute off the program record with her time of 31:20.60 in the 10,000-meter run at the Raleigh Relays, embodies everything that it means to be a scholar-athlete, showcasing both an unrelenting work ethic and a well-rounded perspective on success. While she acknowledges the countless hours of work required to per- form at the highest level, she also heav- ily emphasizes the importance of having a balanced life and taking the time to enjoy the people around you. "You want to challenge yourself, but also make sure, especially in college, that you're taking the time to make memories with people and enjoy it," she said. "Because at the end of the day, that's what you're going to remember." — Harrison Schwerman STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH JUNIOR RUNNER GRACE HARTMAN Hartman was NC State's top finisher at the NCAA Women's Cross Country Championships last November, placing fifth overall with a 6-kilometer time of 19:39.5. She's also a standout performer on the track and recently set a school record in the outdoor 10,000-meter race (31:20.60). PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS