For Immediate Release
Saturday, November 30, 2019
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Elite 18 Award

MANKATO, Minn. – Alex Goettl  of Minnesota State University, Mankato has been named the 2019 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for football. Goettl joins Amber Kral (2019 - SB), Maggie Knier (S&D 2017-18 & 2018-19) and Erica Ellstrom (S&D  2016-17) as the only NSIC Elite 18 Award winners from MSU.

Goettl, a linebacker from North Mankato, Minnesota was named as one of 12 finalists for the 2019 William V. Campbell Trophy Presented by Mazda, as announced by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame early this fall. He was named All-NSIC First Team in 2018 and is a two-time NSIC All-Academic selection. Goettl owns a 3.93 grade point average and is majoring in biomedical sciences. Goettl was selected by the league football coaches as the 2019 NSIC Glen Galligan Award recipient (an award given to a student-athlete who participates at his institution for four years and is academically superior while making a positive contribution to the institution).

As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration during the 2016-17 academic year, 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.

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