University of Georgia Athletics
Don, Fontova Named Joel Eaves Scholar- Athlete Award Winners
September 01, 2022 | Women's Golf, Cross Country
ATHENS, Ga. --- University of Georgia women's golfer Caterina Don and men's cross country and track and field runner Nicolas Fontova have been named recipients of the 2022-23 Joel Eaves Scholar-Athlete Award. Â
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The award is presented to the male and female student-athletes with the highest grade point average upon entering the fall of semester of his or her senior year, based on academic hour rather than eligibility.  Additionally, a student-athlete must have earned at least two varsity letters to be eligible for the award. Â
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Eaves was the Director of Athletics at UGA from 1963-1979, and the award was established with the aim of acknowledging the contributions he made during his tenure while also highlighting the academic achievements of current student-athletes.Â
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Don, a native of Pinerolo, Italy, was named an All-American in 2020 and collected All-SEC recognition in 2020 and 2021.  She was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team in 2021 – one of eight golfers nationally to earn the honor – and to Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar Team in 2020, 2021 and 2022.  Don has played in 31 tournaments during her collegiate career, with 15 top-20 individual finishes. She became just the second Bulldog to win her collegiate debut, shooting 9-under to earn medalist honors at the 2019 Minnesota Invitational and owns the school record for lowest single round ever, firing an 8-under 64 in the second round of the 2021 Heroes Intercollegiate.  Additionally, Don participated in the 2020 U.S. Women's Open and the 2019 and 2021 Augusta National Women's Amateurs. Â
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Fontova, an Atlanta native, is a Mathematics major who is seeking a minor in Religion. The three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient has competed at a pair of SEC Cross Country Championships for the Bulldogs and at the 2021 NCAA South Regional. A scorer in cross, Fontova has raced at a variety of distances during the last two indoor and outdoor track seasons as he prepares for the 2022 campaigns.
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The award is presented to the male and female student-athletes with the highest grade point average upon entering the fall of semester of his or her senior year, based on academic hour rather than eligibility.  Additionally, a student-athlete must have earned at least two varsity letters to be eligible for the award. Â
Â
Eaves was the Director of Athletics at UGA from 1963-1979, and the award was established with the aim of acknowledging the contributions he made during his tenure while also highlighting the academic achievements of current student-athletes.Â
Â
Don, a native of Pinerolo, Italy, was named an All-American in 2020 and collected All-SEC recognition in 2020 and 2021.  She was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team in 2021 – one of eight golfers nationally to earn the honor – and to Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar Team in 2020, 2021 and 2022.  Don has played in 31 tournaments during her collegiate career, with 15 top-20 individual finishes. She became just the second Bulldog to win her collegiate debut, shooting 9-under to earn medalist honors at the 2019 Minnesota Invitational and owns the school record for lowest single round ever, firing an 8-under 64 in the second round of the 2021 Heroes Intercollegiate.  Additionally, Don participated in the 2020 U.S. Women's Open and the 2019 and 2021 Augusta National Women's Amateurs. Â
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Fontova, an Atlanta native, is a Mathematics major who is seeking a minor in Religion. The three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient has competed at a pair of SEC Cross Country Championships for the Bulldogs and at the 2021 NCAA South Regional. A scorer in cross, Fontova has raced at a variety of distances during the last two indoor and outdoor track seasons as he prepares for the 2022 campaigns.
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
Distance
/ Cross CountrySaturday, November 01
Friday, November 10
Friday, October 27
Friday, November 11