WCHA Announces 69 Scholar-Athletes for 2008-09

Fourth Annual Group includes 35 Repeat Honorees

Chay Genoway of UND, WCHA Scholar-Athlete for 2009

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Feb. 19, 2009

MADISON, Wisc. - The Western Collegiate Hockey Association, through Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod, Associate Commissioner Sara R. Martin, University of North Dakota Faculty Representative Sue Jeno (Chair, men's league) and Minnesota State University, Mankato Faculty Representative Ken Anglin (Chair, women's league) today (Feb. 19, 2009) announced that 69 men's and women's student-athletes make up the fourth annual group of WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award recipients. Over the first four years of the award, there have now been 244 honorees representing all 10 men's and all eight women's institutions.

The WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award was developed through Association member team Faculty Representatives and approved by the conference membership beginning with the 2005-06 season. To earn recognition as a WCHA Scholar-Athlete, conference-member student-athletes must have completed at least one year of residency at their present institution prior to the current academic year and must also have a grade-point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if his or her overall GPA is at least 3.50 for all terms at his or her present institution.

Thirty-five (35) of this season's 69 men's and women's WCHA Scholar-Athletes are repeat honorees. By member institution, repeat honorees are: University of Alaska Anchorage - Jon Olthuis; Bemidji State University - Brooke Collins, Monica Rawlings; Colorado College - Jake Gannon, Brian McMillin, Scott McCulloch, Bill Sweatt; University of Denver - Matt Glasser, Tyler Ruegsegger; Michigan Technological University - Derek Kitti, Mike VanWagner, Eli Vlaisavljevich; University of Minnesota - Gigi Marvin, Michelle Maunu; University of Minnesota Duluth - Matt Greer, Sarah Murray, Myriam Trepanier; Minnesota State University, Mankato - Nick Canzanello, Jenna Hewitt, Kathleen Rosso, Ashley Young; University of North Dakota - Chay Genoway, Casie Hanson, Brittany Kirkham; Ohio State University - Liana Bonanno, Rachel Davis, Raelyn LaRocque; St. Cloud State University - Jon Ammerman, Brent Borgen, Caitlin Hogan, Kelly Meierhofer, Garrett Raboin, Brita Schroeder; and University of Wisconsin - Maria Evans, Ryan Jeffery.

"On behalf of the entire Western Collegiate Hockey Association membership, we would like to send our sincere congratulations to each and every one of our men's and women's WCHA Scholar-Athlete recipients for 2008-09," said McLeod, Martin, Jeno and Anglin in a joint statement. "The WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award is among the most prestigious of all individual honors the Association presents each year and we are extremely proud of what these outstanding young men and women have accomplished - both on the ice and in the classroom. They represent the very best in collegiate athletics."

In the inaugural season of the WCHA Scholar-Athlete award, 2005-06, there were 47 men's and women's honorees. In 2006-07, there were a total of 49 honorees. In 2007-08 there were 79 men's and women's honorees.

2009 WCHA Scholar-Athletes are being recognized and honored on-ice with a commemorative plaque at member team home games during the remainder of the season. The winners will also be recognized in tournament programs and in future men's and women's conference yearbooks.

2008-09 WCHA Scholar-Athletes

By member school, men's and women's WCHA Scholar-Athletes for 2008-09 are:

University of Alaska Anchorage: Nils Backstrom (Jr., D, Stocksund, Sweden); Brian Bales (Sr., F, Anchorage, AK), *Jon Olthuis (Jr., G, Neerlandia, AB); Luka Vidmar (So., D, Ljubljana, Slovenia).

Bemidji State University: Annie Bauerfeld (So., F, Woodbury, MN); Erin Cody (So., F, Roseville, MN); **Brooke Collins (Sr., D, Pilot Mount, MB); **Monica Rawlings (Sr., F, Maplewood, MN).

Colorado College: **Jake Gannon (Sr., D, Roselle, IL); Ryan Lowery (So., D, Inverness, IL); *Brian McMillin (Jr., F, Roseau, MN); ***Scott McCulloch (Sr., F, Lacombe, AB); *Bill Sweatt (Jr., F, Elburn, IL).

University of Denver: Marc Cheverie (So., G, Cole Harbour, NS); Brian Gifford (Jr., F, Moorhead, MN); *Matt Glasser (Jr., F, Calgary, AB); Dustin Jackson (So., F, Omaha, NE); Chri Nutini (So., D, Centennial, CO); Kyle Ostrow (So., F, Calgary, AB); *Tyler Ruegsegger (Jr., F, Lakewood, CO).

Michigan Technological University: *Derek Kitti (Sr., F, Laurium, MI); Bennett Royer (So., F, Calgary, AB); *Mike VanWagner (Sr., D, Traverse City, MI); *Eli Vlaisavljevich (Jr., D, Shoreview, MN).

University of Minnesota: **Gigi Marvin (Sr., F, Warroad, MN); *Michelle Maunu (Jr., D, Esko, MN).

University of Minnesota Duluth: Rob Bordson (So., F, Duluth, MN); Johanna Ellison (Sr., G, Cloquet, MN); Laura Fridfinnson (So., F, Arborg, MB); *Matt Greer (Sr., F, Vadnais Heights, MN); *Sarah Murray (Jr., D, Fairbault, MN); Kenny Reiter (So., G, Pittsburgh, PA); Kyle Schmidt (So., F, Hermantown, MN); **Myriam Trepanier (Sr., D, St-Michel-de-Bellechase, QC).

Minnesota State University, Mankato: Ashley Bliskowski (So., D, East Bethel, MN); Trevor Breuss (Jr., F, Minneapolis, MN); Kala Buganski (Jr., F, Anoka, MN); *Nick Canzanello (Jr., D, Rochester, MN); Ida Clark (Jr., D, Vallentuna, Sweden); Kristi Ellis (So., D, Rogers, MN); Rylan Galiardi (So., F, Calgary, AB); **Jenna Hewitt (Jr., F, Anoka, MN); Austin Lee (Fr., G, Bloomington, MN); *Kathleen Rosso (Jr., D, Rogers, MN); Andrew Sackrison (So., F, St. Louis Park, MN); Holly Snyder (Jr., D, Kenosha, WI); Nina Tikkinen (So., F, Salo, Finland); Dan Tormey (Sr., G, Syracuse, NY); Amy Udvig (So., D, New Brighton, MN); *Ashley Young (Jr., F, South St. Paul, MN).

University of North Dakota: *Chay Genoway (Jr., D, Morden, MB); **Casie Hanson (Sr., F, St. Peter, MN); *Brittany Kirkham (Jr., G, Nepean, ON).

Ohio State University: **Liana Bonanno (Sr., G, Mount Sinai, NY); *Rachel Davis (Jr., D, Horton, MI); Jenna Kilpatrick (So., F, New Prague, MN); *Raelyn LaRocque (Jr., F, The Pas, MB).

St. Cloud State University: *Jon Ammerman (Jr., D, Moorhead, MN); *Brent Borgen (Sr., F, Mahtomedi, MN); Jenaca Fredheim (Jr., D, Campbell River, BC); *Caitlin Hogan (Jr., F, Oakdale, MN); Courtney Josefson (So., F, Bemidji, MN); *Kelly Meierhofer (Jr., D, Sauk Rapids, MN); Nick Oslund (So., F, Savage, MN); *Garrett Raboin (Jr., D, Detroit Lakes, MN); *Brita Schroeder (Sr., D, Monticello, MN); Brian Volpei (So., F, Burbank, CA).

University of Wisconsin: *Maria Evans (So., F, Chanhassen, MN); *Ryan Jeffery (Sr., G, Madison, WI).

* repeat honoree