For Immediate Release
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Elite 18 Award

BISMARCK, N.D. – Maggie Knier of Minnesota State University, Mankato was named the 2019-20 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for women’s swimming & diving.  Knier was presented the award during the pre-championship banquet held Tuesday night, the evening prior to open events of the NSIC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships. Minnesota State has now won all four of the NSIC Elite 18 Awards for swimming and diving as Knier won the same award the past two years and Erica Ellstrom earned the award in 2016-17.

The NSIC Swimming & Diving Championships are taking place Wed.-Sat. Feb. 12-15 at the BSC Aquatic Center in Bismarck, North Dakota; hosted by the University of Mary. 

Knier is a senior, double majoring in mass media and marketing while holding a 4.0 grade point average. 

Last season, the Big Lake, Minnesota native claimed All-NSIC honors in the 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay and the 100 freestyle at the NSIC Championships. She recorded personal best times of 51.26 in the 100 freestyle, 1:53.36 in the 200 freestyle and 23.28 in the 50 freestyle at the 2019 NSIC Championships as well. She was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American Second Team in 2019 and claimed All-American honors as a member of the 200 freestyle relay team, that finished third in the NCAA Championships back in 2017.
 
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