June 27, 2003

Kuchera, Wemhoff Tabbed

Top Student-Athletes for 2002-03

Kearney, NE –Nebraska-Kearney senior wrestler Frank Kuchera (Rose/Kearney H.S.) and senior volleyball player Michelle Wemhoff (Humphrey/Humphrey-St. Francis H.S.) have been named the Lopers' Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Scholar Athletes of the Year for 2002-03.

      To be eligible for this award, a student-athlete first must earn Academic All-RMAC honors. To make that team, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or better, have participated at the school for two or more semesters in at least one sport and be a starter or key reserve.

      Each league school then picks, via internal vote, their RMAC Scholar Athletes of the Year at the end of the spring semester.

      Kuchera is the second UNK student-athlete to win the honor two years in a row, following Justin Coleman in 2000 and 2001. Kuchera carries a 3.69 cumulative GPA as a Sports Communications major.

      This past winter, he became just the third Loper wrestler to ever win a national title, finishing first at 174 lbs. at the NCAA Div. II Championships. He also won a school record 37 matches and helped UNK finish second at the NCAA’s. 

      Other wrestlers to earn the award include Shane Schramm in 1997 and Brandon Terry in 1998.

      Wemhoff earned all-region and all-RMAC honors for her fine play at a middle hitter. She ranked second on the team in kills (3.60) and blocks (0.90) per game while having the third highest attack percentage in school history in a single season (.360). UNK went 32-5 and made the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year.

      She carries a 3.87 cumulative GPA in a dual major; Elementary Education (K-12) and Physical Education (K-12)

      She is the second volleyball player to win this award, following Angie Usher in 1996.