INDIANAPOLIS – On Wednesday, the Horizon League announced its annual winners of the Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor Awards, the most prestigious individual honor issued by the conference. Milwaukee's Annie Guerrero from the track & field program was selected one of the two annual recipients for the 2022-23 academic year.
 
The Coleman Medal of Honor was introduced in 1981 and is presented annually to the top male and female student-athletes that demonstrate outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
 
"I am so humbly honored to receive such prestigious recognition from the Horizon League," said Guerrero. "So many student-athletes are deserving of this award, and to be the chosen recipient is amazing. If it weren't for the people who were there to support me through my journey as a student-athlete and beyond, I wouldn't be receiving this award."
 
Guerrero who recently wrapped up her studies at Milwaukee, earned her degree in Pre-Physical Assistant and Biomedical Science – Radiologic Technology, accumulating a GPA greater than 3.70 throughout her academic career. She was a multi-time recipient of Horizon League All-Academic Teams during her tenure with the track & field program, while also earned numerous Dean's List accolades at Milwaukee.
 
"Being a Milwaukee Panther has given me experiences and opportunities I could have never imagined," Guerrero added. "All the community outreach and support from staff instills inspiration to be the change in the community. The Athletic Department always gave us platforms to serve as leaders and represent student-athletes from all backgrounds. As a Latina, I don't witness many that look like me, especially in track and field. I'm so happy to represent not only Milwaukee Athletics but also Latina women in athletics. As a college graduate, I intend to continue impacting my community by engaging with events and groups that reinforce the values I learned as a collegiate student-athlete."
 
In the field of competition, Guerrero's record-setting career culminated with qualifying for the NCAA West Preliminaries for the second time in her career this spring in the high jump. A two-time regional qualifier puts Guerrero in elite company in Milwaukee history becoming just the 12th student-athlete in program history to qualify for multiple NCAA regional events since the NCAA split into two regional events prior to the 2010 spring season.
 
Under the tutelage of head coach Andrew Basler, Guerrero made her way to the top of the all-time marks during both the indoor and outdoor high jump marks in the Panther record book. She finished her career tied for the outdoor high jump record at 1.75 meters, and in the indoor season Guerrero's jump of 1.74 meters is second all-time in Milwaukee history.
 
"I cannot think of a student-athlete more deserving for the Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor than Annie," Basler commented. "It was a blessing being able to help mentor and watch Annie's growth as a person during my time coaching her. Annie's desire to be the very best she can be in academics and athletics of course had roadblocks along the journey. However, watching her growth and maturity in navigating those roadblocks was the most rewarding part of being Annie's coach. She has grown into a person extremely capable of problem-solving and overcoming life's challenges. Her extraordinary work ethic, positive attitude, and team-first approach during her time as a Panther exemplifies what it fully means to be a NCAA, Horizon League, and Milwaukee student-athlete."
 
Beyond her academic success and athletic prowess, Guerrero is involved in numerous organizations around campus, including the department's student-athlete advisory committee. She was a member of the Diversity and Inclusion committee with SAAC, while also working to organize the Milwaukee Beach Clean-Up, and "More Than an Athlete." Other campus involvement included Student-Athlete Voices, Next Door Foundation, food pantry volunteer, Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Volunteer, the Bandana Project, and Dreamers of Wisconsin. She was also a member of the leadership council for the track & field program.
 
With her selection, Guerrero becomes just the 12th Panther in Milwaukee history to earn the Coleman Medal of Honor and first since the 2020-21 season when Joe Vyskocil earned recognition. She also becomes the first female to be selected from Milwaukee since the 2001-02 academic year, when Erin Blaedow was honored.
 
Guerrero is just the third female to be recognized in Milwaukee program history and is the first female from the Panther track & field program to be selected. Track & Field/Cross Country has accounted for six of Milwaukee's 12 all-time Coleman Medal of Honor award recipients.