EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com)— Blugold athletes from six different teams were presented with the Super Six Award for the 2013-2014 athletic seasons on Monday night. The Blugold Super Six Award was created in 1987 by emeriti Sports Information Director, Tim Petermann. This award is unique in that it is the highest award that UW-Eau Claire as an institution can present to one of their student-athletes.
Division III student-athletes trade in their athletic abilities for an education. Being an outstanding student and being an outstanding athlete are is not a mutually exclusive concept. Each athlete who competes at this high level of athletics must work exceptionally hard not only on the playing field but in the classroom as well.
David Donnellan was the awardee from the Men’s Hockey team. He was named All-WIAC and a AHCA All-American a year ago after leading the team and finishing in the top four in the WIAC in several statistical categories. Donnellan graduated last May with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management, while maintaining a 3.33 GPA. He notes winning the 2013 National Championship in Lake Placid, New York as his most memorable Blugold moment.
The Women’s Track and Field winner was Carly Fehler. In 2014, Fehler was a two-time All-American and earned a national title in the 100-meter dash. She also set four school records that same year as well as grabbed a WIAC championship as a part of the 4x100 meter relay team. She will graduate this spring with a 3.14 GPA and an English degree with a minor in Science of Coaching. Post-graduation, Fehler will pursue a Master’s degree in human performance.
Amanda Fischer, an infielder for the softball team, was also a recipient. Last year she earned team MVP honors while leading the team in homeruns. Fischer also led the WIAC in several offensive categories. She was 1st team All-WIAC along with earning 1st team All-Region and 3rd team All-American honors, making her only the second Blugold softball player in program history to earn back-to-back All-American awards. Fischer currently holds a 3.45 GPA and will graduate in December with a Kinesiology major and Psychology minor.
The Volleyball team selection was Kelly Schuh. In 2013, she led the team and WIAC in kills while earning a team MVP and Blugold award. She was named 1st team All-WIAC, All-Region, and Academic All-District 6 while boasting a 3.98 GPA. Schuh graduated in May 2014 with degrees in Spanish and Psychology. She currently works as an international sales coordinator at ISP Incorporated. Schuh states her favorite Blugold memory was beating UW-Stevens Point in the conference tournament her junior year to earn the first-ever automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in program history.
Men’s Cross Country and Track and Field runner and award winner was Matt Scott. During last year’s cross country season, he earned 1st team All-WIAC honors. In track and field, Scott became a 3-time All-America. He also set three school records while earning All-Academic honors. The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major will graduate this spring with a 3.5 GPA and will begin applying for medical school.
Brandon Zarnoth was the other Men’s Track and Field awardee. In 2014, he was the national runner-up in both the heptathlon and decathlon. He holds the school record in both events and was the WIAC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year and the Midwest Regional Field Athlete of the Year. He also posted the 2nd highest heptathlon score in NCAA Division III history. Zarnoth is a Kinesiology major and will graduate at the end of May. He plan to head to graduate school to pursue a Doctorate in Chiropractic.
Congratulations to these Blugolds on their selection as Super Six Award recipients.
-MRW-