SDSU well represented on MVFC Honor Roll

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ST. LOUIS – Thirty-five student-athletes, including a league-best 11 from South Dakota State, highlight the 2016-17 Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll, as announced by league officials Friday.

Those 35 student-athletes earned the league's highest academic achievement by capturing the Missouri Valley Football Conference President's Council Academic Excellence Award. The President's Council Academic Excellence Award requires a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average (through fall 2016 semester) and participation in athletics a minimum of two years. The student-athlete must be within 18 hours of graduation.

SDSU's 11 President's Council Academic Excellence Award recipients were:

• Chris Balster, safety, Sheldon, Iowa

• Jesse Bobbit, linebacker, Palatine, Ill.

• Shayne Gottlob, defensive tackle, Salem

• Sam Koob, kicker, Sioux Falls

• Caleb Lang, offensive lineman, Freeman

• Seth Lansman, offensive lineman, Harlan, Iowa

• Kane Louscher, fullback, Mason City, Iowa

• Nick Mears, safety, Milbank

• Jacob Menage, wide receiver, Springfield, Minn.

• Brady Mengarelli, running back, Prescott, Ariz.

• Jake Wieneke, wide receiver, Maple Grove, Minn.

In addition, 21 Jackrabbit student-athletes – the second most among MVFC members – were named recipients of the Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award for compiling a GPA of at least 3.2 for the previous two semesters. Freshmen are not eligible for the award.

Concluding the academic honors, 68 members of the Jackrabbit football team were recognized on the 2016-17 MVFC Honor Roll after recording at least a 3.0 GPA during the fall 2016 semester, and being enrolled in at least 12 credits. SDSU ranked second among MVFC programs in Honor Roll selections as nearly 500 student-athletes league-wide were honored.