RIVER FALLS, Wis. — UW-River Falls student-athletes Jacob Balcome (men's track & field) and Bailey Olson (women's hockey) were announced as the 2024-25 Male and Female Athletes of the Year on Tuesday, May 6, during the annual Falcon Awards. The award winners were selected from a pool of nominated student-athletes from all of UWRF's intercollegiate sport programs.

In addition, Landon Christiansen from men's soccer and Kylie Jones from women's hockey were selected as UWRF's 2024-25 Male and Female Newcomers of the Year.

Women's Hockey was selected as the Team of the Year while Volleyball earned the Team Academic Achievement award with the highest's team cumulative GPA (3.681).

 

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
The Don Page Male Athlete of the Year Award is presented each year to one male student-athlete that has demonstrated the greatest overall athletic achievement.  

The Male Athlete of the Year Award is named in honor of Don Page, who served UW-River Falls from 1957-1992 as a teacher, coach, and administrator.  Don Page is remembered as an icon for the UW-River Falls athletic department.  He was an outstanding leader for thousands of Falcon coaches and student-athletes, and there is no one who has had a greater influence on Falcon athletics. 

Jacob Balcome – Men's Track & Field
Balcome's 2025 indoor track & field season was capped off with a national championship finish in the men's heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a UWRF record point total of 5,304 points. His All-American finish was supplemented by USTFCCCA All-America and All-Region honors. At the 2025 WIAC Indoor Championship, Balcome won the heptathlon and was named the WIAC's Field Performer of the Meet.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
The Dr. Emogene Nelson Female Athlete of the Year Award is presented each year to one female student-athlete that has demonstrated the greatest overall athletic achievement.  

The Female Athlete of the Year Award is named in honor of Dr. Emogene Nelson, who served as a coach, faculty member, and administrator at UW-River Falls from 1959-1982.  Dr. Nelson helped lead colleges and universities into the field of women's competitive sports and was the first woman inducted into the UW-River Falls Athletic Hall of Fame.  She is remembered as a true pioneer in physical education and competitive sports for women.

Bailey Olson – Women's Hockey
Olson led the Falcons to a back-to-back national championship, leading all of Division III with 60 points off 27 goals and 33 assists in 31 games. She was named the CCM/AHCA Laura Hurd National Player of the Year and the DIII Hockey News National Player of the Year. A First Team All-American, she was also a First Team All-WIAC recipient and was named the WIAC Player of the Year.

NEWCOMERS OF THE YEAR
The Newcomer of the Year Award is presented each year to one male and one female student-athlete that has demonstrated the greatest overall achievement during their first year of athletic participation at UWRF. 

Male Newcomer of the Year – Landon Christiansen – Men's Soccer
Christiansen led the first-year UWRF men's soccer team to a winning record during conference play while reaching the WIAC Semifinals as the top-scoring freshman in the league. He was named the WIAC Newcomer of the Year after totaling 30 points off 12 goals and six assists in 19 games.

Female Newcomer of the Year – Kylie Jones – Women's Hockey
The WIAC Newcomer of the Year, Jones helped lead the Falcons to a national championship, appearing in all 31 games with 33 points off eight goals and 25 assists. She was named to the DIII Hockey News All-Rookie Team and was an All-WIAC Honorable Mention.

"STUMP" FALCON AWARD
The Gary "Stump" Eloranta Falcon Award is presented each year to one SENIOR student-athlete, male or female, that has demonstrated the highest level of achievement in areas that embody the UWRF Athletic Department Core Values, including work ethic, integrity, leadership, and excellence.  

The Falcon Award is named in honor of Gary "Stump" Eloranta, who has served UW-River Falls as its athletic trainer since 1973 and has been a positive influence on thousands of Falcon student-athletes, coaches and athletic department personnel.  "Stump" has selflessly dedicated his time and effort to the betterment of Falcon athletics, and represents the can-do attitude and true Falcon spirit.

Joel Alexander – Men's Track & Field

SCHOLAR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
This recognition is presented each year to one male and female student-athlete in their junior or senior year of athletic eligibility that has demonstrated high academic achievement, involvement in campus and community organizations, participation in leadership activities, and athletic achievement. 

The Male Scholar Athlete of the Year Award is named in honor of Dr. George Field, who served as president and chancellor of UW-River Falls from 1968-1985.  During his tenure, Dr. Field provided leadership for numerous improvements to the athletic department, and he is remembered as one of the most effective and personable leaders in UW-River Falls history. 

The Female Scholar Athlete of the Year Award is named in honor of Dr. Connie Foster, who served UW-River Falls in many capacities from 1984-2009 as a coach, faculty member, athletic director, department chair, dean, interim provost, and twice named interim chancellor of the university.  Dr. Foster's dedication to UW-River Falls represents the work ethic, integrity, and leadership that are core values of Falcon athletics.

Male Scholar of the Year – Aaron Borgerding – Football
Borgerding capped off his career as a member of the UWRF Football team by earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honors and was named the WIAC Football Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete - an award based on academic achievements, athletic accomplishments, and involvement in other campus activities. A semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy, Borgerding has maintained a 3.74 cumulative GPA while majoring in health and physical education and in 2024 was named to the D3football.com All-Region Team and was an All-WIAC First Team member. 

Female Scholar Athlete of the Year – Annika Gunderson – Women's Track & Field
Gunderson is the UWRF women's track & field indoor and outdoor pole vault record holder, and made her third career appearance at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships earlier this year, placing 13th in the women's pole vault to receive USTFCCCA Second Team All-America laurels. Majoring in elementary education and spanish education, she holds a 4.0 GPA and was recently named one of nine UWRF students to receive the 2025 Chancellor's Award, which recognizes leadership, service, and commitment and is awarded to UWRF's most outstanding students.