RELEASED:  Monday, November 2, 2009

UW-River Falls’ Ernst Earns Men’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete Award

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls’ Chad Ernst has been named the 2009 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete.

A senior from Richfield, Minn., Ernst boasts a perfect 4.00 grade point average and is majoring in conservation with a minor in criminal justice.  He is a two-time United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic selection and a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.  Ernst has been recognized on UW-River Falls’ Dean’s List numerous semesters and received academic scholarships for his coursework.

Ernst, a team captain, finished 15th at the WIAC championship a season ago and secured All-Midwest Region honors in 2007.  He holds the school record on an 8,000-meter course and received his squad’s Rookie of the Year in 2006, Most Valuable Player in 2007 and Most Dedicated in 2008.

Earlier this year, Ernst was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.  He has volunteered for many UW-River Falls Student-Athlete Advisory Committee activities including, the Trick- or-Treat Food Drive, Soles for Souls, Kid’s Night Out and Community Involvement Day.  Ernst has served as secretary of the Natural Resource Management Club, a crew boss in UW-River Falls’ Wildfire Fighting Crew and a desk assistant and recycling representative in various residence halls.

Also nominated for this year’s award were:  UW-Eau Claire’s Mark Sanders (Sr., Hammond, Wis./St. Croix Central), UW-La Crosse’s Connor Lonning (Sr., La Crosse, Wis./Aquinas) and Dallas Vincent (Sr., Oakfield, Wis./Mayville), UW-Oshkosh’s Jeff Baudry (Sr., Oakfield, Wis./Waupun) and Ben Wizner (Sr., Onalaska, Wis.) and UW-Stout’s Joey Merrill (Sr., Golden Valley, Minn./Armstrong).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger, who served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference from July, 1971 - July, 1993.

In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 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.