Kansas State Wildcat news: Cooper Beebe wins another award, football leads academics

Cooper Beebe is adding another honor to his trophy case. Beebe was named the Big 12 Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, which adds to his other accomplishments this year of 2023 Offensive Linemen of the Year and Consensus All-American.

Beebe is currently preparing for the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine along with teammates Ben Sinnot KT Leveston, and Khalid Duke. However, Beebe is also focusing on his studies as he is finishing up his master's degree in business administration while holding a 3.91 GPA. To add to his academic trophies, Beebe is also a four-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection. He played every game this season and became the first player to win back-to-back Offensive Linemen of the Year Awards.

A number of other K-State student-athletes were named to the 2023 Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team. K-State's football program led all other football Big 12 football programs with 45 players selected. To qualify for the first-team honors, student-athletes had to maintain a 3.20 GPA or better and have participated in 20 percent of their team's scheduled contests.

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The Kansas State women's basketball team returned to action Wednesday night against the Iowa State Cyclones. The game did not end in favor of the Wildcats with the Cyclones winning 96-93 in double overtimes. The one bright spot Wildcat fans can find in this defeat was the long-awaited return of senior Ayoka Lee.

Lee had been sidelined with an ankle injury for close to a month after having surgery. Lee was meant to be on a minutes limit, but because the game went into double overtime, that limit did not matter. Lee ended up playing a pivotal part in the game as she hit the shot that sent the Wildcats into the second overtime. Lee finished the game with 20 points, six rebounds, and seven blocks.

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Caitlin Clark has done it. Clark is now the all-time leading scorer in women's college basketball. it took the Iowa native just over two minutes to score the eight points needed to pass Kelsey Plum on the all-time scoring list. After scoring a quick layup in the opening seconds of the game, Clark then hit a three in the following possession to come within three points of the record.

After a few back-and-forth possessions, the Hawkeyes got a defensive rebound and quickly got the ball to Clark. After one dribble across half-court, Clark pulled up from the logo to sink what a shot that will go down in history. Clark continued to dominate by scoring 23 points in the first quarter. Clark finished the game with 49 points, an Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball record and career-high for Clark, 13 assists, and five rebounds.