MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Ashlyn Mauer (Sr.-Sheboygan Falls, Wis.) and UW-River Falls' Katie Rydeen have been selected co-recipients of the 2012 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete Award.
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Mauer, a senior from Sheboygan Falls, Wis., owns a 3.95 grade point average and is majoring in communication sciences and disorders. She is a two-time member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team and a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Mauer has also been recognized on UW-Eau Claire's Dean's List.
She helped the Blugolds to their sixth consecutive WIAC championship by placing second at the league meet. In 2011, Mauer took sixth in the conference after finishing 14th in 2010. A two-year team captain, Mauer claimed her team's Most Improved Runner honor in 2010.
Mauer is a member of the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association, Golden Key International Honor Society and UW-Eau Claire Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She has volunteered as an instructional intern for courses in her major, a tribal Headstart program and at two area hospitals.
A senior from Osceola, Wis., Rydeen is majoring in mathematics with a minor in business administration and sustains a 3.98 grade point average. She was selected to the 2011 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team and is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. In addition, Rydeen has secured Dean's List recognition every semester and earned a pair of academic scholarships.
A team captain, she finished fifth at this year's WIAC championship after placing third a year ago and 13th in 2010. A season ago, Rydeen earned All-Midwest Region accolades. She also claimed UW-River Falls' Most Valuable Runner award for the second straight year.
Rydeen is a member of UW-River Falls' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, student senate facilities and fee committee, math club and campus ministry. She is also part of the National Milking Shorthorn Association and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Feed my Starving Children, Trick or Treat for Canned Goods, and Jump Rope for Heart. Rydeen has worked as an actuarial analyst for Towers Watson and as a math and academic success tutor.
Additional nominees for the scholar-athlete award included: UW-La Crosse's Megan Wagner Stats (Sr., Stevens Point, Wis.); UW-Stout's Haleigh Flottmeyer (Jr., Tomah, Wis.); UW-Superior's Kristen Jasperson (Sr., Osceola, Wis.); and UW-Whitewater's Alyssa Duncan (Sr., East Troy, Wis.).
The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman who served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she was Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) from October 1984 - September 1996. Kruckman was the women's athletics director at UW-Eau Claire from 1974-84, and one of the original representatives to the WWIAC when it formed in 1971.
In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, she 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.
-Matt Stanek, WIAC Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations-
