Vitola voted CAA Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Middletown, DE native and UNCW senior softball player Tayler Vitola has been selected as the 2023-24 Coastal Athletic Association Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year presented by Primis as voted on by the conference’s Academic Affairs Committee.

Vitola has flourished academically, athletically and in the community during her four years at UNCW. She has accumulated a 3.835 grade point average and has been a member of the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll as well as the UNCW Dean’s List in all seven semesters since enrolling for the 2020-21 academic year.

A two-time All-Region as well as an All-CAA and All-Rookie honoree in her first three seasons, Vitola helped the Seahawks to their first CAA Championship and NCAA Regional berth in 2022. Primarily the Seahawks’ lead-off hitter and second baseman throughout her career, Vitola ranks in the program’s all-time top 10 list in four major offensive categories: batting average (.334), hits (181), runs (119), and stolen bases (63).

In addition to her successful academic and athletic exploits, Vitola has volunteered with the Cape Fear Optimist Club running softball camps for youth, helping unload Christmas trees and assisting with an annual car show. She has also been involved with cleanup projects at Wrightsville Beach.

“It is such a tremendous honor for Tayler to be named the CAA Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year,” said UNCW Head Coach Ashley Wade. “She is the epitome of a student-athlete, diligently tackling her rigorous Biology course load while consistently excelling on the field and making an impact in the local community.

 

“Tayler leads by example in all that she does and we couldn’t be more proud of the role model, leader, teammate, and student that she is. I know that Tayler is going to make a positive impact wherever her passions lead her in the future.”

At Appoquinimink High School, Vitola compiled a career batting average of .613 plus she is the Jags all-time leader in hits (119), stolen bases (52), and runs scored (89). She only played three seasons as the covid pandemic canceled her senior year of softball. Tayler was named Gatorade Player-of-the-Year twice. 

 

Her head coach at Appo, Brian Timpson had this to say after hearing the news, “So proud of everything she has accomplished. This honor is not surprising at all. When she left Appoquinimink we knew great things were in her future because of the person she is. Her on field accomplishments always went recognized for sure but she was then, and obviously continues to be the definition of a student athlete. TiVo will always hold a special place in the Appoquinimink Softball program. This is just another accomplishment I hope current and future Jags recognize and strive to achieve.” 

 

She is a member of the UNCW Honors College and will graduate with honors this spring. Vitola interned with the Environmental Alliance last summer where she wrote case studies and participated in sampling, drilling and marking land identified as not functional due to pollution from heavy industrial use with the intent to help remediate the sites to benefit the area they are discovered in.

She has also volunteered with the Cape Fear River Watch, helping clean up polluted areas. Vitola has developed a passion for environmental justice issues and is planning to apply to law school upon completion of her degree at UNCW.

Vitola will receive a $1,000 stipend and a crystal award for her achievement.

Tayler is the oldest of three children in the family. Her mother Kristi Vitola, and father Lou Vitola reside in Middletown. Maternal grandfather is Glenn Frazer (302 Sports-Delaware Live) and her paternal grandparents Lou and Ellen Vitola, live in Pennsylvania.