EAU CLAIRE - Football players Bob Schmidt (Eau Claire) and Darrell Souhrada (Riceville, IA), swimmer Matt Oglesby (Lake Geneva), volleyball player Rachel Gullerud (Eau Claire), basketball player Kristi Channing (Fall Creek) and tennis player Alison Hover (St. Cloud, MN) will be honored as recipients of the 2002 Super Six award at the Hall of Fame banquet November 2.
The Blugold Super Six Salute award, in its 16th year of existence, is the highest honor UWEC can bestow upon a student-athlete. Its purpose is to recognize and honor outstanding athletes who have also demonstrated a high level of proficiency in the classroom. Each year the award honors three female and three male student-athletes. These individuals epitomize the ideals of intercollegiate athletics as an educational experience at UWEC.
To be nominated for the award, the student-athletes must have completed their junior or senior year of eligibility, must have attended UWEC for two years, must have a cumulative resident grade point average of 3.00 or better, must have a declared major, must be recommended by the head coach and must demonstrate above average performance in their sport.
The six athletes that will be honored November 2 represent the elite of the student-athletes from our 20 intercollegiate athletic teams from last season, said Sports Information Director Tim Petermann who presented the awards. With more than 600 athletes participating in the Blugold athletics program each year, these six were selected from a ballot that included 25 outstanding candidates.
"Intercollegiate athletics at UW-Eau Claire has been and will continue to be a classroom outside the classroom," said Petermann. "All of our athletes, like these six, come to UWEC as students first and use athletics as an enjoyable recreational activity in which to broaden their horizons and learn things that may not be offered in specific academic areas. Any career choice students make academically can be enhanced through participation in athletics from learning teamwork to time management to interpersonal communication skills, discipline, assertiveness, overcoming adversity and motivation among many. Our athletes continue to be up for the challenges that athletics offer, achieving success in that arena as well as maintaining the high quality of excellence for which this institution is known in the classroom. The 469 participants in our athletic program last year achieved a 3.02 grade point average for the two semesters of the academic year," said Petermann.
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Kristi Channing
Channing is in her fourth season as a Blugold All-Conference and National Player of the Year finalist for the women's basketball team.
Named team MVP last season, the 6-0 power forward was the second leading scorer in the conference averaging 17.2 points per game. Channing's 35-point effort at Millikin was the second-highest single game point total in school history. A multi-faceted player, Channing ranked among the top 15 conference players in field goal and free throw percentage, rebounding and blocked shots.
Off the court, Channing has done public speaking for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), including speaking at a banquet featuring keynote speaker Dick Bennett. Channing has also spoken at the Fall Creek Athletic Banquet and at the Minnesota Lynx Basketball Clinic for girls.
A member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll, Channing is a psychology major with a cumulative 3.37 GPA. Channing will graduate in May 2003.
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Rachel Gullerud
A four-year letterwinner in volleyball, Gullerud was an All-Conference and Academic All-District and All-American honoree as a Blugold outside hitter.
Earning team MVP and Best Offensive Player honors a year ago, Gullerud led the Blugolds in several statistical categories including kills, total attacks, attacking percentage and digs. In addition to being named All-Conference and All-WIAC Defensive Team, Gullerud was named to the UW-Eau Claire Labor Day, Augsburg and Siegenthaler Memorial All-Tournament teams. Gullerud also reached a personal milestone by recording her 1,000 career kill, concluding her Blugold career with 1,004.
Gullerud ranks fourth in school history with 196 blocking assists. In 1998 Gullerud was named team Rookie of the Year and Most Improved in 1999.
Academically Gullerud has been named to the Verizon Academic All-District V First team, Third Team and All-American Second Team College Division during her Blugold career. Gullerud was named a WIAC Tri-Scholar Athlete in 2001 and is a four-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. She is also a member of the UW-Eau Claire Honors Program.
A UWEC Math Meet volunteer, Gullerud has also served in the Student Athlete Advisory Council. Gullerud is a member of the Golden Key, Omicron Delta Kappa, Omicron Delta Epsilon, Kappa Mu Epsilon, Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Societies. She has also served as the treasurer of the Student Economics Association.
Gullerud also served as a United Cerebral Palsy Neurodevelopment Clinic volunteer at Sacred Heart Hospital and as a participant for the "In His Word" on-campus Bible study group.
Majoring in economics and mathematics, Gullerud carries a cumulative 3.94 GPA. She will graduate in December 2002.
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Alison Hover
A three-time letterwinner and four-time conference singles champion, Hover has advanced to the national singles and doubles championships the past two seasons as a Blugold women's tennis player.
Hover recently won her fourth WIAC singles championship, her second at the No. 1 singles position. Previously Hover had won two crowns at the No. 3 singles positions. In doubles play Hover won conference crowns at No. 3 doubles in 1999 and No. 1 doubles this past season. Hover compiled a 26-3 overall record last season that included a 17-match winning streak. Hover also compiled a 20-6 record in doubles play to earn team MVP and singles MVP honors. She was the team Blugold and Hustle Award winner during the 1999-00 season.
Last season Hover was selected to the Verizon Academic All-District Women's At-Large College Division District V First Team. Hover is the president of the Actuarial Network and served as secretary of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council. She is a member of Beta Upsilon Sigma Business Society.
A WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award winner this year and a member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll, Hover is a mathematics and finance major with a cumulative 3.94 GPA. Hover will graduate in May 2003.
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Matt Oglesby
A four-time letterwinner and national champion, Oglesby was a national champion, a multi-conference champion and an All-American as a Blugold swimmer.
Last season Oglesby won gold medals at the conference championships in the 200 IM, 100 Backstroke and the 200 and 400 Medley Relays. Oglesby's crowning achievement occurred when he won the national title in the 100 Backstroke in a school record time of 49.00. He also earned All-American status in the 100 and 200 Butterfly in addition to receiving Honorable Mention honors in the 200 and 400 Medley Relays.
Throughout his career Oglesby won 15 gold medals at the conference championships. He earned All-American honors 13 times and six more times was an honorable mention All-American.
Oglesby's name is common in the UW-Eau Claire record book with seven school and three conference records.
A WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award winner and member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll, Oglesby is a biology major with a cumulative 3.22 GPA. Oglesby will graduate in May 2003.
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Bob Schmidt
A four-time letterwinner in addition to being an All-Conference, All-Region and All-American performer, Schmidt is one of the most decorated Blugold offensive linemen in school history.
At right tackle Schmidt anchored an offensive line that led the Blugolds to a co-conference championship with an 8-2 mark. Both losses came in double-overtime. An All-Conference selection, Schmidt also earned First Team Football Gazette All-West Region honors. Schmidt received recognition from several nation publications by being named a Second Team d3football.com, Third Team Football Gazette and an Honorable Mention Hewlett-Packard All-American. In 2000 Schmidt was a Second Team USA Football and Honorable Mention d3football.com All-American.
Academically Schmidt was named the WIAC Co-Scholar Athlete Award winner last season and is a member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Schmidt was also named to the Verizon All-Academic All-District V First Team a year ago.
A physical education K-12 major, Schmidt carries a cumulative 3.62 GPA. Schmidt will graduate in May 2003.
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Darrell Souhrada
A four-time letterwinner, Souhrada earned All-Conference, All-Region and All-American honors as a Blugold running back.
The WIAC Co-Player of the Year and three-time First Team All-Conference selection, Souhrada was the focal point of an offense that was second in the conference in scoring and finished the year as WIAC co-champions. A two-time team captain, Souhrada earned First Team Football Gazette All-West Region in addition to being named the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram Male Athlete of the Year. He was named a Second Team USA Football All-American in 2000.
Souhrada's name is etched several times in the Blugold and conference record book. He is the school record holder in career rushing yards, single-season rushing yards, carries in a game and longest run from scrimmage. Souhrada owns the five longest runs from scrimmage ever by a Blugold. Over the last four years Souhrada set conference records in career rushing yards, points, touchdowns and carries in a game.
A member of the Golden Key National Honor Society and the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll, Souhrada is a MIS major with a cumulative 3.13 GPA. Souhrada will graduate in December 2002.
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