For Immediate Release
Saturday, May 13, 2017
NSIC Elite 18 Award

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Rhiannon Sears of Southwest Minnesota State University was named the 2017 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for women’s outdoor track & field. Sears was presented the award during the post championship ceremony at the NSIC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which were held the past two days at Sea Foam Stadium on the campus of Concordia University, St. Paul. Sears is the first athlete from SMSU to earn the NSIC Elite 18 Award.

Sears is a junior majoring in biology and chemistry and holds a 4.00 grade point average. The Pierre, South Dakota, native was named an NSIC Scholar-Athlete early this year and is an academic All-NSIC honoree. She is team captain for the throws team and has competed in the hammer throw, weight throw, shot put and discus during her Mustang career. She had a season best hammer throw of 139-11 at the NSIC vs. MIAA Showdown, where she placed 15^th.  Sears finished 28th in the hammer throw at the NSIC Championships with a toss of 40.95 meters.

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 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NSIC’s 18 Championships.