RELEASED:  Tuesday, February 26, 2008

UW-La Crosse’s Chelf Named Wrestling Scholar-Athlete

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Josh Chelf has been named the 2008 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Wrestling Scholar-Athlete.

Chelf, a senior from Irma, Wis. (Tomahawk H.S.), is majoring in physical education and carries a 3.55 grade point average.  He was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Men’s At-Large Second Team a year ago and the National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-America Team in 2006.  Chelf has also been recognized on the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and UW-La Crosse’s Dean’s List.

A three-time WIAC champion at 174 pounds, he was voted the conference’s John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet this year and Wrestler of the Year last season.  Chelf is a three-time All-American, including the NCAA Division III national champion at 157 pounds a year ago.  He is a two-year team captain and ranks second in career victories at UW-La Crosse.

Chelf is a member of UW-La Crosse’s Physical Education Majors club and Wisconsin Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were:  UW-Eau Claire’s Ted Sikowski (Sr., Appleton, Wis./West) and UW-La Crosse’s Jordan Kolinski (Sr., Rockford, Ill./East), Timothy Palmer (Sr., Mankato, Minn./West) and Eric Seppelt (Sr., Foley, Minn.).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger and sponsored by Hewlett-Packard.  Sparger 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, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.