UMC Golden Eagle News Archive:
June 6, 2006 - July 1, 2009

(Crookston, Minn.)- The University of Minnesota, Crookston Athletic Department held its annual athletic awards program and dinner on Wednesday, April 23rd in Kiehle Auditorium on the Minnesota, Crookston campus. The event honored the 2007-2008 senior class, recognized the Outstanding Male and Female Athlete of the Year, Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year and individual team award recipients. 

Earning Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year honors were Joey Kollar (Sr, Forward, Norwood-Young America, Minn.) and Theresa Crance (Sr, Forward / Middle Hitter, Timber Lake, S.D.). Kollar was a forward for the men’s basketball team. This season he started and played in all 27 games. He averaged 7.1 points/game, led the team in rebounds with 140 and recorded 20 steals. His 3.5 cumulative GPA earned him recognition on the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) All-Academic team for the winter of 2008. Kollar is majoring in Sport & Recreation Management with a minor in Business Management. Crance was a middle hitter for the Golden Eagle Women’s Volleyball program and a forward for the women’s basketball program. She averaged 2.59 kills/game and led the team with a .302 attack percentage. Defensively, she tallied 78 total blocks and was named NSIC All-Conference Honorable Mention for volleyball. On the basketball court, Crance had a .917 free-throw percentage and grabbed 35 total rebounds. Her 3.6 cumulative GPA earned her recognition on both the NSIC volleyball and basketball All-Academic teams. Crance is double-majoring in Pre-Medicine and Biology.

The 2007-2008 Male and Female Outstanding Athletes of the Year were Jordan Grafsgaard (Sr, Forward / Tight End, Ulen, Minn.) and Jamie Zelinsky (Fr, Guard, Brooklyn Park, Minn.). Grafsgaard played four years of basketball and football with the Golden Eagles. During the 2008 football campaign, he had 21 receptions and averaged 14.1 yards/catch. He had a long reception of 44 yards, scored one touchdown and was named to the NSIC All-Conference Second Team- Offense. On the court, he averaged 2.6 points/game and grabbed 40 total rebounds. Zelinsky averaged 15.8 points/game, good for fourth in the NSIC in that category. She was named NSIC All-Conference Honorable Mention and was recognized as the 2007-08 NSIC Co-Freshman of the Year.

Other distinguished awards presented:

Justin Knebel Memorial Award (Men’s Basketball): Jordan Grafsgaard (Sr, Forward, Ulen, Minn.)

Mike Davis Memorial Award (Hockey Most Dedicated): Ryan Tucker (Sr, Def, Crookston, Minn.)

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston is a NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Golden Eagle Hockey is a member of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association (MCHA). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).