Football

UW-River Falls’ Borgerding Named Football Max Sparger Scholar Athlete

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.
 
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 Campbell Trophy, he secured a spot on the 2023 NCAA Division III Academic All-District® Football Team, as selected by the College Sports Communicators. Borgerding is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and been recognized on UW-River Falls’ Dean’s List numerous semesters. He 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 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. 
 
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