Eastern Kentucky native named Conference USA Female Athlete of the Year

Eastern Kentucky has been put on the map in many different ways as of late. A London, Kentucky native was picked third overall in the NBA Draft, Kentucky basketball has a couple of EKY natives on the men’s and women’s squads (Trent Noah and Cassidy Rowe), and now, an EKY native has made an impact in Conference USA.

Savannah Wheeler, a Catlettsburg, Kentucky native who attended Boyd County, was named the Female Athlete of the Year for Conference USA earlier this week.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗨𝗦𝗔 – Michael L. Slive Female Athlete of the Year#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/f7HVE41D9M

— Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) June 26, 2024

This 2023-24 season is the 21st year that C-USA has honored a male and female athlete with the title, in remembrance of Mike Silve, C-USA’s founding commissioner. Winners of the award are determined by a vote fomr the conference’s athletic directors.

Wheeler, a fifth-year point guard at Middle Tennessee, was also named C-USA Tournament MVP. She led the Blue Raiders to a C-USA Championship this past season, including a Round of 32 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. As a senior, she averaged 18.7 points and 5.7 assists per game. She concluded her career at MTSU as third in all-time scoring with 2,361 points.

Additionally, Wheeler became the all-time conference leader in free throws made (656-773, 84.9%). She is the fourth MTSU female athlete to be named Michael L. Silve Athlete of the Year.

Eastern Kentucky isn’t a region that typically receives a lot of recognition, especially when it comes to athletics. But recently, the area has produced loads of talented athletes and musicians (my favorite, Tyler Childers). So, congratulations to Savannah Wheeler for bringing some good vibes to this side of the state!