UW-La Crosse’s Bowman Named Football Max Sparger Scholar Athlete

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Tyler Bowman has been named the recipient of the 2025 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Football Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award.

A senior from Spring Valley, Wis. (Spring Valley), Bowman is majoring in computer science with a minor in mathematics and sustains a 3.73 grade point average. He is a two-time member of NCAA Division III Academic All-District® Football First Team, selected by the College Sports Communicators, receiving the honor in 2023 and 2024. Bowman is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and been named to UW-La Crosse’s Dean’s List numerous semesters.

Bowman has been a team captain this season and secured a spot on the All-WIAC honorable mention squad. He is second on team with 31 receptions, 377 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Bowman recorded a season-high six catches three times. He helped UW-La Crosse win the 2022 and 2023 WIAC championships. During the offseason this year, Bowman was a team huddle captain.

Bowman is co-founder of the UW-La Crosse Football Team Bible Study and has led a weekly Christian discipleship group. He is a software developer intern at Seeweed Underwater Game Cameras.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were: UW-Platteville’s Trevor Syse (Sr., Belleville, Wis./Belleville); UW-Stout’s Drew Schneider (Sr., St. Cloud, Minn./Rocori); and UW-Whitewater’s Noah Moris (Jr., Union Grove, Wis./Union Grove).

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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