Men's Indoor Track and Field

UW-La Crosse’s Schroeder Named Men’s Indoor Track & Field Max Sparger Scholar Athlete

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Luke Schroeder has been named the recipient of the 2026 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Indoor Track & Field Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award.
 
A senior from Green Bay, Wis. (Ashwaubenon), Schroeder is pursuing a master’s degree in applied statistics and boasts a 4.00 grade point average. He was named to the 2023-24 NCAA Division III Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America® First Team, selected by the College Sports Communicators. Schroeder secured a spot on the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division III All-Academic Team in 2023 and 2024. He is a two-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has been recognized on UW-La Crosse’s Dean’s List numerous semesters, including graduating with Honors.
 
Schroeder is a two-time All-America in the 200-meter dash and has helped UW-La Crosse win a pair of NCAA Division III championships, as well as four WIAC titles. In 2024, he was named the USTFCCCA NCAA Division III North Region Track Athlete of the Year and received WIAC Indoor Track Performer of the Meet accolades. He is a four-time conference champion and established the NCAA Division III record in the 60-meter hurdles at the 2025 WIAC championship. A three-year team captain, Schroeder owns the school record in the 60-meter hurdles.
 
Schroeder is a member of UW-La Crosse’s Actuarial and Physics Club and is involved with Circle of Friends and physics and statistics research projects. He has worked as a data scientist with West Bend Insurance Company, as well as a teachers assistant. Schroeder has volunteered with Stepping Out In Pink and a local food pantry.
 
Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire’s Brad Roe (Sr., Burlington, Wis./Burlington); UW-Oshkosh’s Cameron Cullen (Sr., Kewaunee, Wis./Kewaunee); UW-Platteville’s Justin Behnke (Sr., Freedom, Wis./Freedom); UW-Stevens Point’s Mike Brown (Sr., Butternut, Wis./Butternut); UW-Stout’s Karter Rashke (Grad. Student, Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH); and UW-Whitewater’s Brad Heller (Sr., Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East).
 
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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