June 10, 2008

Ellenberger, Dill Named UNK's RMAC Honor Student-Athletes

Annual Award

      Kearney, Neb. –  Senior wrestler Joe Ellenberger and runner Michelle Dill have been named Nebraska-Kearney's RMAC Honor Student-Athletes for the 2007-08 season.

      The awards are given for outstanding achievement in both athletics and academics. The RMAC annually recognizes one male and one female athlete from each member school with this award.

      To be eligible, a student-athlete must maintain a 3.20 cumulative GPA and been enrolled at their current RMAC school at least one academic year.

      Ellenberger, with a 3.58 GPA in Industrial Distribution, earned All-American honors this year by placing third at 157 lbs. Going 40-7, the Millard South graduate was often dominant in victory, recording a team-best eight tech falls, seven major decisions and five falls.

      He also helped UNK claim a seventh straight RMAC/West Region title and the program's first-ever NCAA national championship.

     Dill (Imperial/Chase County H.S.), competing in cross country and track, became the first Loper woman to earn All-American honors at the Division II level in a distance running event when she placed in the top eight in the mile and at 1,500 meters this track season.

     She also was a key factor in the UNK cross country team earning its first-ever national ranking at the Division II level this fall.
As a Elementary Education major, Dill has a 3.99 GPA.

     To see the complete list of winners, go to www.rmacsports.org.