Photo by: Sammi Wellman
Kistler Wins Third-Straight Elite 90 Award
3/9/2018 3:12:00 PM | Wrestling
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — For the third-straight year, California Baptist University's Nolan Kistler was named the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2018 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship.
"I'm very honored and very humbled to win it," said Kistler. "I know there are a lot of guys working hard both on and off the mat. I just happened to be the one that was blessed and able to get the award. It means a lot. I'm hoping to inspire other kids to work hard not only at their sport, but also in the classroom. That's ultimately what we're here for, to achieve academically as well as in our sports. It's awesome. I give all the praise and glory to God."
Winning the award is an honor in itself, but being a three-time recipient is almost unheard of. It's only been done twice before, but never in the same sport all three years. Each student-athlete is only eligible to win the award once per academic year, even if he or she participates in more than one sport. Billy Brockmueller from Sioux Falls won it three years in a row, two times during the cross country season and once during the indoor track season. This year, Colorado State Pueblo's Derrick Williams won the award for the third year in a row at the indoor track championship, with two coming in indoor track and the other in outdoor track.
Kistler, majoring in criminal justice, currently carries a 3.991 GPA and is set to graduate this spring Summa Cum Laude. He was presented with the award during the wrestling championships on Friday evening before the second session started in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite-90.
"I'm very honored and very humbled to win it," said Kistler. "I know there are a lot of guys working hard both on and off the mat. I just happened to be the one that was blessed and able to get the award. It means a lot. I'm hoping to inspire other kids to work hard not only at their sport, but also in the classroom. That's ultimately what we're here for, to achieve academically as well as in our sports. It's awesome. I give all the praise and glory to God."
Winning the award is an honor in itself, but being a three-time recipient is almost unheard of. It's only been done twice before, but never in the same sport all three years. Each student-athlete is only eligible to win the award once per academic year, even if he or she participates in more than one sport. Billy Brockmueller from Sioux Falls won it three years in a row, two times during the cross country season and once during the indoor track season. This year, Colorado State Pueblo's Derrick Williams won the award for the third year in a row at the indoor track championship, with two coming in indoor track and the other in outdoor track.
Kistler, majoring in criminal justice, currently carries a 3.991 GPA and is set to graduate this spring Summa Cum Laude. He was presented with the award during the wrestling championships on Friday evening before the second session started in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite-90.
For the THIRD year in a row, @cbuwrestling's Nolan Kistler is this year's Elite 90 winner. It's an award presented to the athlete with the highest GPA competing at the championship site in his/her sport. Only two other athletes have gotten three years in a row, but never in the same sport! Congrats, Nolan! #LanceUp
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