(WIAC) MADISON, Wis.–University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Gunner Schlender has been named the recipient of the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Cross Country Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award.
A senior from Brillion, Wis. (Brillion), Schlender maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is majoring in physical education with certificates in adaptive physical education, health and coaching. He is a three-time selection to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team and received the Elite 90 Award at the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championship. He is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and been recognized on UW-Whitewater’s Dean’s List numerous semesters.
Schlender is a three-time All-American, recording finishes of 11th, 26th and 30th at the NCAA Division III Championship. He is a three-time All-Region honoree and four-time All-WIAC First Team performer, as well as being named the WIAC Kwik Trip Newcomer of the Year in 2021. He was tabbed the USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week earlier this season and owns the fourth-fastest 8K time in school history.
Schlender is a member of the Wisconsin Health and Physical Educational organization, as well as UW-Whitewater’s Health and P.E. Majors Club and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He has worked as a wellness peer educator and building supervisor on campus. Schlender is student teaching at Lincoln Elementary and Whitewater High School this fall.
Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire’s Mason Shea (Sr., River Falls, Wis./River Falls); UW-La Crosse’s Corey Fairchild Jr. (Sr., Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park); UW-Oshkosh’s John Thill (Oshkosh, Wis./ West); UW-Platteville’s Korbin Eisler (Sr., DeForest, Wis./DeForest); UW-Stevens Point’s Derek Penkover (Sr., Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake); and UW-Stout’s Matthew Thomas (Sr., Plainfield, Ill./North).
The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger, who served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference for 22 years from 1971-93. He oversaw the transition of the conference from NAIA to full NCAA membership. Sparger arrived at UW-Stout in 1959 and served the institution in a variety of capacities, including as an assistant football and basketball coach, head wrestling coach and head football coach. He served as UW-Stout’s athletics director from 1969-71.
In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, he must be in his last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years. The award is based on academic achievements, athletics accomplishments and involvement in other campus activities, organizations and community service projects.
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