University of Hawaii At Mānoa, water polo player Bia Mantellato Dias and basketball player Justin McKoy were selected as UH‘s Big West Scholar-Athletes of the Year for their outstanding athletic and academic achievements.
Mantellato Dias, two-time Big West Player of the Year, led the Rainbow Wahine to a record of 23-4, a 3rd place finish in the national rankings and UH‘s best result in the NCAA Women’s National College Water Polo Championship in 2024. She capped her outstanding sophomore season with 64 goals en route to First-Team All-America honors and a Cutino Award nomination. Mantellato Dias received Academic All-District, Academic All-Conference and UHRecognition as an exemplary scholar and athlete.
McKoy was selected to the Second-Team All-Big West in 2023-24 and finished in the team’s top five in defensive rebounds, points and free throw percentage while starting all 34 games. He also taught basketball in Japan and Hawaii. McKoy was named to the Big West Commissioner’s Honor Roll, a UH Exemplary Scholar-Athlete; nominated for the National Association of Basketball Coaches Court of Honor.
The pair were among 22 individuals from the league named 2023-24 Big West Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Two student-athletes from each institution – one male and one female – were honored by their institutions and the conference.
For more information, visit HawaiiAthletics.com.
