PRESS RELEASE: JUNE 23, 2025

SJR State announces scholar athletes of year

Caden Gothrup

Lauren Herz

St. Johns River State College baseball pitcher Cayden Gothrup and volleyball setter Lauren Herz were recently announced as the College’s 2025 Scholar Athletes of the Year.

Gothrup is a graduate of Daleville High School in Indiana. He completed his Associate in Arts degree from SJR State while maintaining a 3.8 GPA and was named 2nd Team Academic All-American. He will continue his education in SJR State’s bachelor’s program in Organizational Management while joining the baseball staff as a student assistant coach this fall.

Head baseball coach Ross Jones said Gothrup’s character and work ethic is nothing short of elite.

“Cayden is the perfect example of what we ask all of our student-athletes to strive to be - great work ethic, highly principled and first class,” Jones said. His successes on the field and in the classroom are a direct result of his character."

Herz from Peoria, Illinois, completed her Associate in Arts degree from SJR State while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and was named 1st Team Academic All-American. Herz has signed a volleyball scholarship with Texas A&M University Texarkana.

Head volleyball coach Stephanie Champine said Herz made a big impact on the team “Lauren excels in the classroom and on the court,” said Champine. “She’s had a great year, is a model citizen and has represented the volleyball program in a first-class manner.”

SJR State athletics are based on the Palatka campus and include women’s volleyball and beach volleyball, women’s fastpitch softball and men’s baseball. For more information, visit the SJR State Vikings webpage.