FOOTBALL: Bemidji State's Nick Gerlach wins NSIC Elite 18 Award with 4.0 GPA
Nov. 14—BEMIDJI — Nick Gerlach had a good day on Sunday.
Not only did the sophomore tight end/fullback learn his Bemidji State football team is
hosting Winona State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament,
he also was named the 2022 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's Elite 18 Award winner for football.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be a member of a team that won at least a share of the NSIC Championship in their sport. Gerlach holds the highest cumulative GPA among eligible players with a perfect 4.0.
Gerlach, a native of East Bethel, majors in business administration. He is a two-time NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence member.
Gerlach is Bemidji State's sixth recipient of the Elite 18 Award and first from the football team. He joins
Rumer Flatness
(women's basketball, 2021-22); Carolyn Smith (women's soccer, 2020-21); Allyna Storms (women's track and field, 2019-20); Anna Fobbe (women's soccer, 2017-18); and Ben Skaar (men's golf, 2016-17).
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 their sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among their 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.
