MADISON, Wis. -- University of Wisconsin-River Falls'
Aaron Borgerding has been named the recipient of the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Football Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award.
He becomes the 15th Falcon in UWRF football history to earn the honor, and the most recent since Michael Diggins in 2017.
A senior from Spring Valley, Wis. (Spring Valley), Borgerding maintains a 3.742 grade point average and is majoring in health and physical education with a minor in adapted physical education. A semifinalist for the 2024 National Football Foundation's William V. Campbell Trophy®, which includes Division I, II and III football student-athletes, recognizing an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership, Borgerding also secured a spot on the 2023 NCAA Division III Academic All-District® Football Team, as selected by the College Sports Communicators. He is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and been recognized on UW-River Falls' Dean's List numerous semesters and is a member of the National College Athlete Honor Society.
Borgerding secured All-WIAC first team honors this season after claiming second team status in 2022, and honorable mention in 2023. He was a member of the UW-River Falls teams that won the Isthmus Bowl in 2021 and 2022. During the 2022 season, Borgerding led the conference with 57 solo tackles and was the team leader with 94 total tackles. A two-year team captain, he was named Team Defensive MVP in 2023. He didn't miss a game throughout his career as a Falcon, appearing in 42 career games with 250 total tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss. He also finished with 11 career interceptions and 17 pass breakups to rank among UWRF's top 10 all-time in both passing defense categories.
He is an officer with UW-River Falls' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In addition, he has volunteered with Trick or Treat for Canned Goods, Run with the Cops, Youth Football Night, Kids Club, Minnesconsin Mega Camps and a festival set-up. Borgerding has worked as a driving instructor.
Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-La Crosse's Aaron Schmitz (Sr., Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago); UW-Oshkosh's John Schirger (Sr., Grafton, Wis./Living Word Lutheran); UW-Platteville's Rece Shelton (Sr., South Wayne, Wis./Black Hawk); UW-Stout's Luke Parzyck (Sr., White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake); and UW-Whitewater's Jason Ceniti (Sr., Madison, Wis./Memorial).
The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger, who served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference for 22 years from 1971-93. He oversaw the transition of the conference from NAIA to full NCAA membership. Sparger arrived at UW-Stout in 1959 and served the institution in a variety of capacities, including as an assistant football and basketball coach, head wrestling coach and head football coach. He served as UW-Stout's athletics director from 1969-71.
In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, he must be in his last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years. The award is based on academic achievements, athletics accomplishments and involvement in other campus activities, organizations and community service projects.
