Traditions of academic excellence on display at honors banquet

With nearly 200 student-athletes carrying a 3.0 GPA or better, Grizzly Athletics celebrated yet another year of success on the field and in the classroom Wednesday at the 26th annual Scholar-Athlete Honors Banquet.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, 54 different scholarships were divided between 78 deserving recipients with three major awards recognizing the best of the best amongst UM's 300-plus student-athlete body.

Softball's Delene Colburn and basketball's Fabijan Krslovic, both stars on their respective teams and stars in the classroom, took home the Grizzly Cup, recognizing the best overall student-athletes.

President Seth Bodnar presented the President's Awards that go to the best male and female overall GPAs, with three first time recipients taking home the coveted academic prize. Junior football player Colin Bingham posted a 4.0 GPA over the past two semesters as he completes his degree in health and human performance to earn the male President's Award. On the female side, there was a tie between golfer Teigan Avery (4.0, economics) and distance track runner Samantha Engebretsen (4.0, social work).

16604 — President's Award Winners (L-R) Teigan Avery, Samantha Engebretsen, President Bodnar, Colin Bingham

And last, but certainly not least, was the women's cross country team who won the Athletic Director's Award for best overall team GPA for a remarkable eighth-straight year and eleventh time overall with a combined 3.66 GPA in the spring and fall semesters of 2017.

Montana's female harriers defended their position as the juggernaut of Athletic Director's Award recipients, edging out the men's tennis team by the slightest of margins with a 3.62 GPA - maybe the equivalent of someone getting a B on a test instead of an A.

It was an award that has slipped through Griz tennis' fingers several times over the past two decades. On a team where every player has been named Academic All-Big Sky, this year they were as close as ever to taking home the hardware.

But like their continued success on the court, this year's men's tennis academic outcome is no flash in the pan. It's the continued result of a culture that long-time tennis coach (now head golf coach) Kris Nord fostered over the years that has now been handed to interim head coach Jason Brown.

"Back in the 90s we had a few teams that weren't great in the classroom and weren't working hard on the road – and we travel a lot. So, we started addressing it then, and it started getting better. I focused on what kind of academic kid I was recruiting. I always did, but I put more focus on it around the turn of the century," said Nord.

"At our first meeting of the year, we'd talk about our goals of getting the degree, doing well in the Big Sky for tennis, but most importantly, doing well academically as a team and individually, and trying to shoot for those awards."

Having just returned from their record 28th-straight appearance at the Big Sky tourney, men's tennis proved once again to be one of the league's best. And getting edged out for the Athletic Director's Award by the slimmest of margins proves that, as a group, they are once again among the best in the classroom too.

"They work hard. They don't let their academics suffer due to tennis. They've got the right priority, and I think that's one reason we've had better results too," said Nord of his former team.

"Tennis is already stressful enough. You don't need to be worrying about grades and eligibility. You want to be thriving in the classroom which helps you thrive on the court."

There is only so much a coach can do when it comes to motivating his or her players to succeed in class. That's where the culture Nord built comes in. Now, the expectation he set for his team self-perpetuates from year to year.

"I give Kris a ton of credit. He put a great structure in place and recruited great leaders," said Brown.

"It's a leadership thing. Someone mentored them, and they turn it on and mentor when they are an upperclassman. They pick the right classes, find the right teachers, do the right things, and know what to say in the right interviews. Academics are a huge part of what they do, and they do a good job of keeping each other dialed in."

Here they are, the LIVE presentation of the Grizzly Cup Award winners!#GoGrizGoAnywhere https://t.co/E0RG4pO3Wq
— Montana Grizzlies (@UMGRIZZLIES) May 3, 2018

"We learn right away how important classes are for us," said senior Yannick Schmidl, who re-wrote history books on the court while maintaining a 3.58 GPA and will undertake an internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers in San Francisco this summer.

"Every year, the seniors who graduate all have plans, they know where they're going, and they have internships and jobs lined up. Because of those guys, I decided to double major, and Victor (Casadevall) decided to double major too. So, when the culture is built-in, it's easier to pass it on."

With spring weather in Montana as unpredictable as anything, the Griz spend a lot of time on the road chasing the sun, which results in time away from class and study hall. But that doesn't slow them down.

"When we're on trips, everyone goes down and studies in the lobby. It's easier if you're not doing it alone while everyone else is in the hot tub," said Schmidl with a laugh. "Everyone does their work together. It's just how it is. We're getting our work done, and it's fun."

Being on the road so often is just one challenge men's tennis has to overcome to make the grade.

Like most teams in the Big Sky, the Griz are largely built of international students who are powering through classes taught to them in their second, or sometimes third language. Then there are practice times, often pushed late into the night due to court availability.

In a department full of competitive people, perhaps what developed the culture most is Nord's drive to win and his willingness to do whatever it takes to help his players succeed.

"I proctored a lot of exams on the road and they always did well. With the hurdles they have in scheduling and practice schedules, what they are able to do in the classroom is even more impressive," said Nord.

"I'd call them out on not doing a good job, not grinding it out and turning that C into a B. Just like we talk about grinding out days where tennis isn't going well and finding a way to win. You have to do the same in the classroom. It's a life lesson."

2018 Grizzly Athletics Scholar-Athlete Honors Banquet scholarship recipients

Grizzly Cup – Best overall student-athletes
Delene Colburn (Softball)
Fabijan Krslovic (Men's Basketball)

Athletic Director's Award – Best team GPA
Women's Cross Country

President's Awards – Best individual GPA
Colin Bingham (Football) – 4.0, Health and Human Performance
Tie:      Teigan Avery (Golf) – 4.0, Economics
            Samantha Engebretsen (Women's Track & Field) – 4.0, Social Work

Naseby Rhinehart Endowment
Lidia Dukic (Women's Tennis)
Josh Egbo (Football)
Kyle Kredo (Men's Track & Field)
Callum Macnab (Men's Track & Field)

William (Biff) Hall Scholarship
Cy Sirmon (Football)

Bruce E. Blattner Memorial Scholarship
Colleen Driscoll (Softball)

Lawrence A. (Bugs) Dwyer Memorial Scholarship
Abigail Dodge (Women's Track & Field)

Erik Ogren Memorial Scholarship
Taryn Miller (Soccer)

William (Robi) Robertson Memorial Scholarship
Dante Olson (Football)

Bill Ruegamer Scholarship
Teigan Avery (Golf)

Brian and Karen Sippy Scholarship
Brittany Gay (Volleyball)

Ken Staninger Memorial Scholarship
Matt Rensvold (Football)

B. Tim Stark Memorial Track & Field Scholarship
Jane Booth (Women's Track & Field)

Larry and Kristin Stayner Family Athletic Scholarship
Gabby Martinez (Softball)

Stockman Bank Scholarship
Jesse Sims (Football)

Max and Betty Swanson Memorial Scholarship
Alex Wardlow (Softball)

Kole Swartz Legacy Scholarship
Evan Epperly (Football)

John Van Heuvelen Memorial Athletic Scholarship
Mckenzie Warren (Soccer)

Clark Wilson Memorial Scholarship
Cassie Laramee (Volleyball)

Ernest L. & Ruth A. Kradolfer Scholarship
Kaitlin Crowell (Soccer)

Douglas LeBrun Track and Field Scholarship
Charlie Bush (Men's Track & Field)

Katherine Markette-John Schuler Scholarship
Gabi Harrington (Women's Basketball)

Markovich Family Athletic Scholarship
Allison Lucas (Soccer)
Yannick Schmidl (Men's Tennis)

Colleen Marks Athletic Scholarship
Mitch Roberts (Football)

Frank W. Milburn Memorial
Julia Ronney (Women's Tennis)

The Chawky & Helen Miller Memorial Scholarship
Sayeed Pridgett (Men's Basketball)

Moose Miller Football Scholarship
Reggie Tilleman (Football)

Lefty Monson Family Men's Basketball Scholarship
Michael Oguine (Men's Basketball)

NABGA Scholarship
Kaitlin Crowell (Soccer)

Frank Nugent Memorial Scholarship
Max Korkh (Men's Tennis)

Bob & Adeline O'Conner Memorial Scholarship
Claire Howard (Soccer)

John L. Olson Family Scholarship
Michael McGinnis (Football)

Mike and Sandy Persha Athletic Scholarship
Allison Lucas (Soccer)

Jim Powell Memorial Scholarship-Men's Basketball
Jamar Akoh (Men's Basketball)

Ekegren Education Scholarship
Kari Opatz (Golf)

Dean Erhard Athletic Award in Cross Country and Track
Carly Smiedala (Women's Track & Field)

Fifth Year Lady Griz Basketball Scholarship
Alycia Harris (Women's Basketball)

Mike & Cathie Frellick Lady Griz Basketball Scholarship
Emma Stockholm (Women's Basketball)

Julie Deming Memorial Scholarship
Madi Schoening (Women's Basketball)

Mike & Cathie Frellick Softball Scholarship
Anne Mari Petrino (Softball)

GSA License Plate Scholarship
Alexa Coyle (Soccer)
Josh Sandry (Football)

Janet and Michelle Hainline Scholarship
Emily Pittis (Women's Track & Field)

Harrington Family Athletic Scholarship
Alexander Canellopoulos (Men's Tennis)

Anne and Warren Hill Athletic Scholarship
Victor Casadevall Gras (Men's Tennis)

Carol Huggins Lady Griz Scholarship
Sophia Stiles (Women's Basketball)

Sylvia Jensen Athletic Scholarship
Ashlyn Lyons (Softball)

Michael R. Jorgensen Endowment
Eric Williams (Football)
Tanner Wilson (Football)

John Kolendich Memorial Scholarship
Colin Bingham (Football)
Natalie Hein (Soccer)
Ignacio Tejerina (Men's Tennis)

54 Griz Football Scholarship
Braydon Deming (Football)

Harry F. Adams Scholarship
Alex Mustard (Men's Track & Field)

Col. Thomas M. Alison, USAF (Ret.) Memorial Scholarship
Bryson Deming (Football)

Harriet Anderson Memorial Athletic Scholarship
Jaree Mane (Women's Track & Field)

Ronald and Julia Blake Memorial Scholarship
Tristin Achenbach (Softball)
Juniper Eastwood (Men's Track & Field)
Hana Feilzer (Women's Track & Field)
Morgan Johnson (Softball)
Carla Nicosia (Women's Track & Field)
Sterling Reneau (Men's Track & Field)

Blaine and Ellen Bloomgren Family Scholarship
Josh Horner (Football)
David Reese (Football)

Bill and Phyllis Bouchee Family Football Scholarship
Jed Nagler (Football)

Erika Camp Memorial Athletic Scholarship
Taylor Goligoski (Women's Basketball)

Melinda and Herb Depp Athletic Scholarship
Madison Carr (Women's Track & Field)
Leah Gaogao (Volleyball)
Taylor Hansen (Soccer)
Kylie Hayton (Softball)
Kayla Holmes (Women's Track & Field)
Melissa Huddleston (Volleyball)
Hannah Kearns (Women's Track & Field)
Alexis Knauss (Softball)
Danielle Morris (Soccer)
Ellie Otteson (Soccer)
Jansen Ziola (Women's Track & Field)

Traditions of academic excellence on display at honors banquet

Players Mentioned

Alex Canellopoulos

Victor Casadevall

Max Korkh

Yannick Schmidl

Ignacio Tejerina

University of Montana Athletics

Traditions of academic excellence on display at honors banquet

Related News

Players Mentioned

Alex Canellopoulos

Victor Casadevall

Max Korkh

Yannick Schmidl

Ignacio Tejerina

Related Videos