MOSCOW, Idaho – Alex Ayers of Idaho track and field and Gina Marxen from Idaho women's basketball have been recognized as this week's Vandals of the Week.
 
Ayers is in just his second year with the Vandals after transferring in from Northern Colorado. He's on pace to graduate this year with his degree in Natural Resource Conservation and Management. Marxen has been a familiar face since she stepped on the scene as freshman with the 2019 Big Sky Women's Basketball Champion Vandals. Marxen is in her third year with the Vandals and is studying medical science.
 
Both were extremely humbled to be recognized for their work in the classroom, efforts that are often overlooked.
 
"It's a really good facet to add in," said Ayers. "A lot of times you either get put down one path of either academics or athletics, so it's kind of nice to marry the two. A lot of student-athletes work really hard and we get really good grades and things like that. Sometimes it can kind of go in the background, especially the more success you get athletically, so it's good to put a spotlight on academics as well. It's really why most of us are here, as the primary reason."
 
"I just feel honored. It's usually athletics that we're being recognized for so for academics to be in the spotlight is pretty awesome," Marxen said. "I know a lot of people don't really see what we do in the background, they just see the sports. But we're also students first."
 
That's not to say that athletics has no impact. Marxen and Ayers have been able to transfer many lessons across both.
 
"Basketball-wise we're always trying to be efficient in what we do and I relate that to academics as well," said Marxen. "Being able to use my time wisely and studying hard and staying focused."
 
"Learning how to work through adversity," Ayers said. "Especially once you get into college athletics, you're not going to feel good every day. There are going to be bad days, and there are injuries and things to work through. I think just building up that resiliency helps a lot."
 
Moving forward, both are still figuring out exactly what is next. But for each, opportunities will certainly arise.
 
"My dream job would be to be a superintendent of a national park," said Ayers. "But really just anything in the natural resource field."
 
"As of now I think I want to go to dental school. Still undecided though," Marxen said. "I worked at my dad's office before and I've helped him out. Just being able to see what he does in his dental office is really interesting, and I like being able to work with my hands."
 
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