Athletic Dept. Hosts 5th Annual Athletics Banquet

Posted: May 10, 2018

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Department of Intercollegiate Athletics held their fifth annual athletics banquet on Monday night, presented by Northwestern Mutual and Sodexo.

Photos | Play of the Year nominees | SAAC video

The student-athletes were recognized for their outstanding achievements, both on the playing field and in the classroom over the last academic year. The department also handed out its major awards while all members of the Class of 2018 received a special award in appreciation of their service to the department.

The Super Six Award winners were honored for the 2016-17 season. The Super Six Award recognizes and honors outstanding student-athletes who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in their sport, in the classroom and in campus and community organizations. These individuals epitomize the ideals of intercollegiate athletics as an educational experience at UW-Eau Claire.

Earning Super Six honors for the 2016-17 season were Darin Lau (Cross Country/Track and Field), Jessie Reineck (Track and Field), Jess Rupnow (Track and Field), Matt Cooper (Track and Field), Patrick Moore (Ice Hockey), and Katrina Raskie (Volleyball).

Lau earned All-American honors in cross country for the third time in his career. The WIAC Runner-Up also led his team to a third place National finish. The Blugolds captured a conference title, and Darin became one of two 3-time cross country All-Americans in school history. On the track, Darin was the National Runner-Up in the 10k, earned All-American honors for the fifth time, Academic All-American honors for the second time, and set a school record in the 10k. He also set a conference record in the 5k. Darin achieved all of this while maintaining a 3.79 GPA, coaching at a local high school, and tutoring at the campus Math Lab. He has been awarded numerous scholarships and awards, including the Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarship and has been on the Dean's List every semester.

Reineck capped off an amazing career, earning All-American honors for the tenth time. She finished her career with two National Titles, two conference records, three school records, five Academic All-American honors, and was the WIAC Indoor and Outdoor Scholar Athlete. She was also named the WIAC Outdoor Track Performer of the Meet and Team MVP. The athletic training major graduated with a 3.92 GPA while volunteering at ten different events on campus and in the community. Jessie was the 2015-16 Jeff Oliphant Memorial Scholarship recipient and was a member of the Campus Honors Program every year. This is her second time being selected as a Super Six recipient.

Rupnow finished her career as an 8-time All-American, a National Champion, a National Runner-Up, a 5-time Academic All-American and holds two conference records and two school records. The team captain graduated in 2017 with a 3.43 GPA, majoring in Biology and minoring in Pre-Professional Health. Jess spent countless hours volunteering at events such as the Eau Claire Marathon, Run with the Cops, and other campus activities.

Cooper finished his track and field career as an All-American in the distance medley relay and was the Conference Champion in the Indoor Mile. He was a 3-time Academic All-American and graduated with a 3.53 GPA, majoring in Kinesiology. Matt volunteered at numerous events on campus while being a member of Pre-PT, OT Club, Kinesiology Club, SAAC, and was a student presenter at Circa.

Moore was the WIAC Player of the Year, leading the Blugolds to a second place conference finish. In addition to his First Team All-Conference honors, Patrick was an All-American, after leading the WIAC in regular season points and tying for most power play goals. The Alternate Captain was Team MVP and graduated with a 3.24 GPA, majoring in Communications. Patrick was a volunteer youth coach in Eau Claire and in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. He also volunteered at Hops for Hockey and the Community Book Drive.

Raskie graduated as a 3-time All-Conference performer and was the team's Most Valuable Player. The 3-time captain was the WIAC Scholar Athlete recipient and graduated in just three and a half years with a perfect 4.0 GPA, majoring in Psychology. Katrina was very active volunteering on campus and in the community, including the Marshfield Community Connections Team, which helps connect low-income families to area resources. She was also a Big Sister for Big Brothers and Sisters, a Student Athlete Mentor, and worked in UWEC Counseling Services. The 4-year member of the University Honors Program received the Chancellor's Scholarship in her first year.

Also receiving recognition were Kelsey Worachek, Renee Culbertson, and Darin Lau, who earned the Top Senior Scholar-Athlete Awards for having the top GPAs for the senior class. Worachek graduates in May with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and has a 4.0 GPA. Culbertson graduated in December with a degree in Kinesiology with a 4.0. Lau will graduate next year with a degree in Math and has a 3.81.

Below are the finalists for the department's senior and special awards with the winner listed in bold.

Top Male Senior Athlete

Presented to the top male student-athlete who had the most outstanding athletic accomplishments of the academic year.

Logan Coert, Swimming and Diving

Andrew Dahl, Tennis

George Diekelman, Basketball

Ryan Isaacson, Golf

Darin Lau, Cross Country, Track and Field

Top Female Senior Athlete

Presented to the top female student-athlete who had the most outstanding athletic accomplishments of the academic year.

Allison Chomniak, Golf

Tori Erickson, Gymnastics