CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -  Academic and athletic excellence collided again for Nebraska Wesleyan women's track & field standout Avery Decker, as the javelin thrower was named a finalist for the 2024–25 A-R-C Johanna Olson Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, as announced by conference officials.

Decker, a Fremont, Nebraska native, put together one of the most well-rounded seasons in program history. She completed her Master of Business Administration at Nebraska Wesleyan with a perfect 4.00 graduate GPA after earning her undergraduate degree in biology with a 3.74 GPA. She is currently continuing her academic journey in medical school at A.T. Still University.

On the track, Decker delivered a historic campaign in the javelin. She captured the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field National Championship with a winning throw of 48.70 meters (159'9"), while also claiming the American Rivers Conference title at 47.29 meters (155'2"). In total, she won five event titles during the year and emerged as one of the nation's top throwers.

Her résumé extends far beyond the runway. Decker earned an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, was named a five-time A-R-C All-Academic honoree, and collected 2025 College Sports Communicators Second Team Academic All-America recognition. She was also selected as a Top 30 Finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year and is a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society, while earning spots on the Nebraska Wesleyan Dean's List six times in her collegiate career.

If awarded, Decker would give Nebraska Wesleyan its fifth conference female scholar athlete honor since joining the league in 2016, the most by any school in that span, and would make it back-to-back recipients for the Prairie Wolves women's track & field program. Former Prairie Wolf Isabella Hogue claimed the honor a season ago.

Three student-athletes were named finalists for the 2024–25 award, with the recipient scheduled to be announced on January 7.