TUCSON, Ariz. – Softball's Nancy Bowling, Track and Field's Matthew Post, Soccer's Tia Painilainen, and Football's Brion Anduze have been named as the Arizona Athletics January Student-Athletes of the Month. These students have been honored because of their commitment to earning their respective degree, their ability to maximize their academic potential and their dedication to academic improvement and growth.
 
These students have been chosen by members of the C.A.T.S Academics staff.
 
Bowling, from Simi Valley, CA, is a redshirt senior who plays both pitcher and first baseman positions. Bowling has been named a Pac-12 All Academic Honorable Mention for the 2016 and 2014 seasons, as well as a Pac-12 All-Freshman Honorable Mention in 2013. She graduated last May with a degree in Agricultural Management and is working to graduate with a Masters in Psychology this upcoming May. Sarah Howard, Bowling's C.A.T.S Academics Advisor says she "is one of the hardest workers I know. If she puts her mind to something, she can do anything."
 
Post is a redshirt sophomore javelin thrower from Orange, Connecticut. During his high school career, he was named captain and MVP of the track team, as well as being named First team All-Regional both his senior and junior seasons. Post's throws coach, T.J Crater, has seen him grow as a student-athlete saying "Matt has been doing a great down, balancing his academic and athletic workload. It has been his goal to achieve a 4.0. Now that he's done that, it should be smooth sailing for him. I'm very happy to see his hard work paying off." He is currently an Economics major in the Eller College of Management.
 
Painilainen is wrapping up her freshman year at Arizona after a difficult first semester, tearing her ACL weeks before the first game of the season. She is originally from Espoo, Finland where she is a member of the Finnish National Team and a past member of the U16 to U23 National Team, as well as having competed in the UEFA Women's Champions League. Though she is currently undeclared, Painilainen is planning on declaring a Retail and Consumer Sciences major. Anna Thompson, a C.AT.S Academics Learning Specialist, praised her on her first year, saying "Tia had to contend with a ton this fall: a new country, new language, new campus and the process of recovering from an ACL injury. She did it with so much grace and grit, as she spent many hours making it all work."
 
Anduze, a redshirt sophomore tight end from Silverdale, Wash. Before his time at Arizona, he was the No.15 recruit in the state of Washington and played in the US Army National Combine. After having to overcome an injury prior to the season, Anduze's priority became academics, as C.A.T.S Academics Learning Specialist Kelly Amsler praises "After a year of taking classes in a major he wasn't interested in and overcoming a significant injury, Brion shifted his attitude and work ethic, set a lofty GPA goal for himself, and explored majors that linked to his desired career opportunities,. He is now majoring in Criminal Justice Studies, caring more, and working harder than ever before." Once he has completed his degree, Anduze is considering working in the military or law enforcement.