Izaak Bastian Among Three FSU Student-Athletes Awarded ACC Postgrad Scholarship

Courtesy: FSU Athletics

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  – Three Florida State student-athletes have been selected as 2022 Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship Award recipients.

Izaak Bastian (Men’s swimming and diving), Gabby Carle (women’s soccer) and Kelechi Nwanaga (Women’s track & Field) were among the 54 representatives on the list.

Jenna Johnson (beach volleyball) was named an honorary recipient.

The Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford and Jim and Pat Thacker postgraduate scholarships are awarded to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree following completion of their undergraduate requirements. Each recipient will receive $6,000 toward his or her graduate education. Those honored have performed with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.

Florida State has produced 67 ACC Postgraduate Scholars since 1994.

Izaak Bastian • Nassau, Bahamas • Breast • Athletic Training • St. Andrew’s School

A 2020 Olympian for the Bahamas, Bastian holds the 100 (51.84) and 200 breast (1:53.81) school records and is a part of the 200 medley record (1:23.15) that won bronze at the 2022 ACC Championships.

During his career, Bastian has won six All-America honors, including a seventh place finish in the 200 medley relay at the NCAA Championships in 2019. He is also a two-time NCAA individual qualifier and is the 2019 ACC bronze medalist in the 100 breast. He was also voted as a team captain for the 2021-22 season.

Bastian is a four-time national record holder in long course meters in the 50m breast (27.60), 100m breast (1:00.87) and 200m breast (2:15.14). He is also a part of the 4x50m free relay record.  He also holds two short course records in the 50m breast (27.24) and 100m breast (59.61).

Academically, Bastian is a three-time CSCAA Scholar All-American and three-time All-ACC academic team selection. Bastian was also selected to the 2019-20 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team for At-Large sports. He is a four-time FSU President’s List honoree and three-time Dean’s List selection.

“I’m really excited for Izaak,” FSU head coach Neal Studd said. “He has been tremendous for us both in and out of the pool. He had done so much for this team during his career and we’re very proud of him.”

Bastian will compete at the 2022 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships that will run from March 23-26 in Atlanta, Ga.

Gabby Carle • Levis, Quebec, Canada • Cégep de Saint-Laurent

A 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist for Canada, Carle is a two-time National Champion and three time ACC Champion at Florida State.

During her time at Florida State started all 100 games she played in, recording eight career goals and 14 assists, while playing on the FSU defensive back line. While helping anchor a stout defense for the Seminoles the last five years, she helped Florida State to an incredible 86-19-8 record.

Carle has had tremendous success on the international level as well, representing the Canadian National Team since 2014. Recently, Carle competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and received a gold medal, becoming just the fifth student-athlete from Florida State to ever do so.

Even in a career full of accolades on the field, Carle may match it in the classroom. In pursuit of a degree in exercise physiology, Carle was named a CoSIDA first team Academic All-American in 2019 and 2021 as she finished her college career with a perfect 4.0. She was also named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-East Region Team in 2019. At the 2021 College Cup Carle earned the Elite 90 award for the highest GPA at the host site of the National Championship, becoming the first player to do so for women’s college soccer.

“Gabby Carle is the epitome of a student-athlete,” FSU head coach Mark Krikorian said.  “From the moment she arrived on campus, she has represented herself and Florida State in the most professional way on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.”

Kelechi Nwanaga – Umuoriehi Isingwu, Nigeria – Javelin – Economics – Olobo Premier

A 2021 first team All-American in the javelin, Nwanaga made an immediate impact for the Florida State track and field team last season. In her first season with the Noles, Nwanaga was crowned the ACC champion in the javelin at the 2021 ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships tossing the second-best throw in school history (54.93m). Nwanaga would go on to finish eighth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a mark of 54.19m. Nwanaga is just the ninth woman in school history to earn All-America honors in the javelin.

In the classroom, Nwanaga was named to the 2021 Outdoor T&F Academic All-ACC Team.

“I’m so proud of Kelechi. She works extremely hard and is an incredibly motivated student. She’s determined to do great things in her life and understands that education is the key,” Head Coach Bob Braman said.

Nwanaga will begin her outdoor season on Mar. 18-19 at the Tiger Track Classic in Auburn, Ala.