For Immediate Release
Sunday, November 12, 2017
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Elite 18 Award

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Jason Balts of the University of Minnesota Duluth has been named the 2017 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for football.  Balts joins Grant Pulver (Men's Cross Country - 2016 & 2017) and Valerie Hohol (Softball -2017) as recipients of the NSIC Elite 18 Award from UMD. 

Balts is a redshirt junior majoring in physical education and holds a 3.99 grade point average.  The Barron, Wisconsin native led UMD in receiving as he hauled in 51 catches for 893 yards including eight touchdowns.  Balts also rushed for 12 yards,  returned 16 punts for 112 yards and 11 kickoffs for 272 yards to lead UMD and rank third in the NSIC in total offense with 1298 yards.  His 81.2 receiving yards per game also ranked third in the NSIC

As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award for football is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating on an NSIC Championship team.

Selection Criteria
1. Academically the student-athlete has achieved at least a sophomore status as defined by his or her own institution.

2. Athletically the student-athlete is in his or her second year of competition at his or her current institution.

3. Athletically the student-athlete is an active member on the roster and a member of the designated squad size for the sport at the championship site.

4. A student-athlete may win the award only once per academic year even if she or he participates in more than one sport.

5. Grade point average is based on the cumulative grade point average at the time of nomination as calculated by each institution. Grade point average calculations will be based on a 4.00 scale and will be reported to two decimal places.

6. In the event of a tie based on grade point average, the award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest total number of credit hours earned.

7. If a tie still exists after looking at the total number of credit hours earned, all student-athletes who are tied shall be presented with the NSIC Elite 18 Award.

For more information on the Elite 18 award winners, log on to: http://northernsun.org/Elite18