By Matt Stanek, WIAC Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Kyle Gannon (Waukesha, Wis./West) has been named the recipient of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Football Scholar-Athlete Award.
 
A senior from Waukesha, Wis. (West), Gannon sustains a 3.80 grade point average and is majoring in general management with a minor in strength and conditioning. He was selected to the NCAA Division III Academic All-America® Football Second Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America, for the 2020-21 academic year. Gannon is a four-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. He is a two-time recipient of UW-Whitewater's General Merit Scholarship and landed on the Dean's List numerous semesters.
 
Gannon received All-WIAC First Team recognition this year after helping the Warhawks claim the conference title and secure a NCAA postseason bid. He was also a first team honoree in 2019, when he also claimed D3football.com All-West Region Second Team accolades. Gannon was a member of UW-Whitewater's national semifinalist team in 2018 and nation runner-up squad in 2019. In 2018, he was an All-WIAC Second Team selection on UW-Whitewater's WIAC title team. Gannon is a two-time team captain (2020, 2021).
 
He has volunteered with Fairhaven Senior Services, Whitewater Food Pantry and Special Olympics.
 
Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were:  UW-Eau Claire's Trevor Nelson (Sr., Hammond, Wis./St. Croix Central); UW-Oshkosh's Jason Myrick (Jr., West Bend, Wis./East); UW-Platteville's Hunter Grams (Sr., Dane, Wis./Lodi); UW-River Falls' Ian Carter (Sr., Platteville, Wis./Platteville); and UW-Stout's Haydon Miller (Sr., Zimmerman, Minn./Zimmerman).
 
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.