RELEASED:   Tuesday, March 4, 2008

UW-River Falls’ Hasselquist Named Women’s Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls’ Krista Hasselquist has been named the 2008 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women’s Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete.

Hasselquist, a senior from Osceola, Wis., carries a 3.72 grade point average and is majoring in health and human performance with an emphasis in exercise and sport science and a minor in business administration.  She is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and is a seven-time honoree on UW-River Falls’ Dean’s List.  Hasselquist has been the recipient of numerous academic scholarships from her institution.

A two-year team captain, she claimed All-America honors in the shot put with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Division III championship a year ago when she placed second in the shot put and 20-pound weight throw at the WIAC championship.  Hasselquist is a four-time championship participant and has earned her team’s MVP award and “Hardcore” award.  She is also the school record holder in the shot put and 20-pound weight throw.

Hasselquist is a member of UW-River Falls’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Leadership Development and Service Committee, Facilities and Fees Committee, Budget Committee, Recreation Committee and Student Senate.  In addition, she has served as an equipment manager for the Falcon football team the last three seasons.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were:  UW-Eau Claire’s Molly Warner (Sr., Mosinee, Wis.), UW-La Crosse’s AnnMarie Glejf (Sr., Cudahy, Wis.), Krista Kopetsky (Sr., Appleton, Wis./East), Stephanie Lasko (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.), Abby Lien (Sr., Waite Park, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral) and Katie Steingraeber (Sr., La Crosse, Wis./Aquinas), UW-Oshkosh’s Jessie Scheer (Sr., De Pere, Wis.) and Becky Thomas (Jr., Mineral Point, Wis.), UW-Platteville’s Lindsey Vick (Sr., Cottage Grove, Wis./Abundant Life), UW-River Falls’ Becca Jordahl (So., Pocatello, Idaho/Century), UW-Stevens Point’s Hanna Dieringer (Sr., Spencer, Wis.), Andrea Irvine (Sr., Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port) and Angela Steffens (Sr., Cottage Grove, Wis./Madison LaFollette), UW-Stout’s Jasmine Patzner (Sr., Taylor, Wis./Blair-Taylor) and Abbey Ring (Sr., Manitowoc, Wis./Lutheran), UW-Superior’s Sheri Niemeyer (Sr., Inwood, Iowa) and UW-Whitewater’s Ashley Pick (Sr., Monroe, Wis.) and Jennifer Rogers (Sr., Fort Atkinson, Wis.).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman and sponsored by Hewlett-Packard.  Kruckman served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98.  Prior to this appointment, she functioned as Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from October, 1984 - September, 1996.

In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.