MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Ryan Young (Sr. - Lakeville, MN/North) has been selected the recipient of the 2017 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men's Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete Award. The award is sponsored by Badgerland Financial.
Young, a senior from Lakeville, Minn. (North), owns a 3.55 grade point average and is majoring in business economics with a minor in professional sales. He is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and received Academic Distinction from UW-Eau Claire four semesters, along with three years of Dean's List recognition.
Young is a two-time WIAC champion, winning the 200-yard butterfly and 400-yard medley relay at the 2016 league meet. He also added a second-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay a season ago. At this year's championship, Young helped UW-Eau Claire to a runner-up finish by placing second in the 200-yard butterfly and the 400-yard medley relay. At the 2015 championship, he placed second in the 200-yard butterfly. A two-year team captain, Young owns the school record in the 200-yard butterfly, 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard medley relay.
He is a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, an International Economic Honors Society.
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.
Badgerland Financial, headquartered in Prairie du Sac, Wis., is a customer-owned financial cooperative proud to finance the growth of agriculture and rural America. Badgerland Financial is one of the region's leading providers of credit, crop insurance, tax and accounting services to farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents. The company is committed to delivering on its vision to cultivate prosperity for agriculture and rural Wisconsin by serving member-owners through offices in 33 southern Wisconsin counties. To learn more, visit badgerlandfinancial.com.
