2022-23 Scholar Athletes Honored

The Ventura College Athletic Department honored its outstanding scholar athletes for the 2022-23 year earlier this month at the annual VC Athletic Hall of Fame and Student Athlete Recognition Banquet. Gage Allen (baseball) received the Male Scholar Athlete Award while Lauren Albrent (Softball), Kylie Gallick (Basketball) and Maggie Mordecai (Soccer) were all named Female Scholar Athletes for the year. All four achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average for two years at Ventura College.

Allen, a product of Bellevue West High School in Omaha, Neb., was the starting third baseman for the Pirate baseball team in 2023, playing in 57 career games in the orange and black. He had a career batting average of .280 and recorded 54 hits and 44 runs batted in. He is planning to transfer to the University of Southern California as a preferred walk-on after posting his perfect 4.0 GPA for two years at VC.

Albrent was a two-year standout for the Pirate softball program, earning Western State Conference Most Valuable Player honors twice. The Buena High School alumna started at third base for two years and was named All-State by the 3CFCA this past season. She ended the year first in the WSC in home runs, and second in batting average, hits, RBI and runs scored. The 4.0 student will sign a scholarship to continue her academic and athletic careers at Cal State Monterey Bay next year.

Gallick, also a Buena High School graduate, was a two-time All-WSC selection for the women's basketball team. In 2023, she also earned third-team All-State honors as she averaged a double-double of 16.0 points and 13.9 rebounds per game. She was in the state's Top-10 in rebounds, field goal percentage and free throws made while maintaining her perfect 4.0 GPA for two years at Ventura College. She has multiple scholarship opportunities to continue her academic and athletic careers and will be deciding on her future school soon.

Mordecai, meanwhile, was a standout for the Pirate soccer team for two years, starting 17 of 21 games at midfield this past year despite a painful toe injury. The Oxnard High School alumna was described as "Miss Reliable" by the Pirate coaching staff for her leadership and willingness to do the "dirty" work for her two seasons at VC. She also earned a perfect 4.0 GPA and plans to transfer to the University of San Francisco in the fall. She is undecided on her playing status at USF.