UMSL graduating seniors Caitlyn Moody (women's basketball) and Jeremy Butler (baseball) are this year's Senior Student-Athletes of the Year. (Photo by Danny Reise)
The Department of Athletics at the University of Missouri–St. Louis recently honored 45 graduating seniors, led by baseball player Jeremy Butler and women’s basketball player Caitlyn Moody who were named Senior Student-Athletes of the Year. The seniors were recognized May 3 at the Third Annual Senior Student-Athlete Banquet at the Hilton St. Louis Airport hotel in Woodson Terrace, Mo.
Moody left her mark on the women’s basketball program, finishing her four-year stellar career ranking in seven different career top 10 categories.
As a senior, she averaged team-bests of 13.0 points and 1.2 steals per game, while adding 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Moody was also the team’s top free throw shooter, connecting at 86.3 percent from the free throw line – the second best single season mark in program history. For her efforts, Moody was named to the Great Lakes Valley Conferences’s all-second team.
She graduates as the program’s all-time free throw percentage leader (84.3) and leaves ranked third in three-pointers attempted (560), third in blocked shots (56), fourth in three-pointers made (163), fourth in field goals attempted (1,225), fifth in scoring (1,263) and seventh in free throws made (236).
On Dec. 10 of this season, Moody became the 12th player in program history to record her 1,000th career point.
Moody is also a three-time Academic All-GLVC honoree majoring in physical education.
A two-year starter, Butler has helped turn the UMSL Tritons baseball program around during his senior season. One of the top pitchers statistically, he finished the season with an earned run average of 2.19 and a record of 7-3 on the mound. He led the pitching staff with 57 strikeouts and is holding opponents to a batting average of .235. His eight complete games this season tied for the best single season record in program history.
Butler earned GLVC Pitcher of the Week honors on March 19 after recording two wins during the week, including a 5-3 victory at then No. 15 ranked University of Southern Indiana (Evansville). He was the first UMSL baseball pitcher to earn the honor since 2003.
Butler’s efforts helped the Tritons to their most victories since the 2003 season. After entering the month of April with a 1-9 GLVC mark, UMSL went 19-5 in conference play and made its first league tournament bid in eight years.
Off the field, Butler was an Academic All-GLVC selection last year. He is completing a degree in business.
UMSL’s graduating seniors also included:
Volleyball: Shelby Crawford, Weslie Gaff and Erin Higgins
Men’s Soccer: Tim Boruff, Mike McCarthy, David Schwer, Johnny O’Mara, Almin Sabotic and Evan Schumacher.
Women’s Soccer: Bridget Belli, Samantha Faron, Jesa Jenkins, Kelly Muesenfechter, Kaylee Neutzling, Jessica Randazzo, Hanna Sayre and Jenna Waldschmit
Women’s Basketball: Kelly Carter, Shayelle Dominguez, Normeka Holder, Caitlyn Moody and Kiki Robinson
Men’s Basketball: Justin Hightower, Troy Long and Zach Redel
Women’s Tennis: Pujitha Bandi, Leticia Garcia and Katie Rynkiewich
Men’s Tennis: Felipe Naranjo
Women’s Golf: Lindsay Kellerman
Men’s Golf: Chris Dowling
Softball: Shannon Beatty, Stephanie Benson, Erin Driskell, Courtney Gahan and Monica Strube
Baseball: Spencer Ammons, Jeremy Butler, Tomas Duffek, Adam Radick, Angel Recci and Austin Schuler
Cheerleading: Toni Donald and Emily Frenz
