Men's Indoor Track and Field

UW-Whitewater’s Krause Named Max Sparger Men’s Indoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Justin Krause has been named the recipient of the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men’s Indoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete Award.
 
Krause, a graduate student from Ixonia, Wis. (Pewaukee), is pursuing a master’s of business administration in information technology with a data analytics emphasis and sustains a 4.00 grade point average. He earned an undergraduate degree in information technology with a business analytics emphasis and maintained a 3.90 grade point average. Krause is a three-time U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic honoree and a four-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. He obtained Dean’s List honors numerous semesters, graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors and received multiple academic scholarships.
 
Krause secured All-America honors with an eighth-place finish in the mile run at the 2023 NCAA Division III Championship. He is a two-time All-Region selection in the mile run and recorded a runner-up finish in the event at the 2023 WIAC championship before taking eighth this year. Krause is a two-time team captain and ranks second in program history in the mile run and seventh in the 800-meter run.
 
Krause is a member of the UW-Whitewater Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has served as the social media coordinator for UW-Whitewater Track & Field/Cross Country. He has volunteered at Fairhaven Senior Services and as a course marshall for a half-marathon.
 
Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were:  UW-Eau Claire’s Kevin Eisenzimmer (Sr., Mineral Point, Wis./Mineral Point); UW-La Crosse’s Isaac Wegner (Sr., Durand, Wis./Durand); UW-Oshkosh’s Reid Marquardt (Sr., Peshtigo, Wis./Peshtigo); UW-Platteville’s Caleb Christiansen (Sr., Springville, Iowa/Springville); UW-River Falls’ Dylan Wachter (Sr., New Richmond, Wis./New Richmond); UW-Stevens Point’s Braedon Gilles (Sr., Middleton, Wis./Middleton); and UW-Stout’s Connor Walechka (Grad., Winona, Minn./Cotter).
 
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 an assistant football and basketball coach, head wrestling coach and head football coach. He served as UW-Stout's athletics director from 1969-71 and was inducted into the WIAC Hall of Fame in 2012.
 
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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