Former Duke student-athletes Sophia Dunworth, Abby Johnston, Jessica Lyden and Reka Zsilinszka were awarded C.T. Moorman, II Scholarships from the Bassett Society this weekend. The four Blue Devils, who were also honored during Duke’s home football game against Virginia, are currently pursuing post-graduate degrees in medicine.
The 2010 ACC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Dunworth recorded over 1,000 kills and totaled the seventh most kills in school history. A two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III selection and four-time member of both the ACC Academic Volleyball Team and the ACC Academic Honor Roll, she also earned an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Dunworth graduated in 2012 with a degree in Biology and is currently in her second year of medical school at Duke.
Johnston claimed the first national title for the Duke women’s swimming and diving program in 2011 on the 3-meter springboard. She also garnered three All-America honors and five ACC titles during her collegiate career and made history at the 2012 London Olympics, pairing with fellow American Kelci Bryant to help the United States capture its first medal in synchronized diving with a silver on the 3-meter springboard. The Upper Arlington, Ohio native received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and was named a recipient of the ACC’s Weaver-James-Corrigan Award as a senior at Duke. Johnson graduated from the university in 2013 with a degree in psychology and is currently in her first year of medical school at Duke.
Lyden closed out her four years at Duke by capturing the 2012 ACC title in women’s 3-meter springboard diving, earning the first All-ACC honors of her career. As a senior the Lexington, Ky., native also placed ninth in the 3-meter competition at the NCAA Zone B Diving Championships and posted first-place finishes on the low boards nine times during the regular season. Lyden became the first member of the Duke swimming and diving program to garner Academic All-America First Team honors, earning her undergraduate degree in psychology in 2012. She is currently enrolled in Duke’s School of Medicine.
While a member of the Duke women’s tennis team, Zsilinszka saw one of the most successful playing careers in school history. In addition to recording two seasons with 40 or more singles wins and receiving two All-America selections, Zsilinszka also played an integral role in guiding Duke to its first national championship title for women’s tennis. Zsilinszka posted a perfect 5-0 mark in tournament play and garnered the Most Valuable Player Award at the end of the 10-day event. The conclusion of the 2009 season saw Zsilinszka record a career-high 41 singles victories, making her just the second Blue Devil in Duke history to reach the 40-win plateau for two consecutive seasons. Zsilinszka also surpassed the 100-win mark during her time at Duke, concluding her college career with an overall singles record of 142-33, the third most wins and the second best winning percentage in Duke history.
Named for longtime Duke Athletics physician Dr. Frank Bassett, the Bassett Society was established in 1985 to aid Duke student-athletes in their pursuit of careers in medicine and dentistry. In addition, the group provides education in the medical and dental fields while encouraging scientific research primarily related to medical complications arising from competitive sports.
Bassett, who passed away in 2007, joined the Duke Medical Center in 1963 and served in several capacities including Director of the Sports Medicine Center, head team physician for Duke Athletics and professor of orthopaedic surgery. He was a founding member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.
Born November 19, 1928 in Hopkinsville, Ky., Bassett earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Kentucky in 1950 and 1951, respectively, where he played football under legendary head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. After spending time in the U.S. military during the Korean conflict, he graduated from the University of Louisville school of medicine in 1957 and later served his orthopaedic residency at Duke in the early 1960s.
College Swimming News courtesy of Duke Swimming and Diving.