Leque named WIAC scholar-athlete

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MADISON — University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Elizabeth Leque has been named the 2009 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is presented to the most outstanding individual from each conference sport during the year who exhibits the greatest combination of performance and achievement in academics, athletics and leadership.

A junior midfielder from River Falls, Leque boasts a 3.85 grade point average and is majoring in exercise science/pre-physical therapy with a minor in French. She is a two-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and been recognized on UW-Superior’s Dean’s List numerous semesters. She has received academic scholarships for her coursework.

A two-year team captain, Leque was named to the 2009 All-WIAC Sportsmanship Team. She was awarded her team’s Most Valuable Player award in 2007 and 2008.

“It’s very exciting to have Beth Leque named this year’s WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete award winner,” UW-Superior head coach Melissa Nelmark said. “It is an honor that she deserves and it can be attributed to her relentless desire to succeed both in the classroom and on the soccer field. Because of her quality character and work ethic, Beth exemplifies the idea of a scholar-athlete. She is the one who professors want to have in their classrooms, coaches and employers want to have on their teams, and people want to be able to call their friend. Our team would not have been the same without her dedication, leadership, and her unwavering desire to learn and improve. She has been instrumental in moving the soccer program in a positive direction and the growth that the team experiences in the next few years will be because of the strong foundation she has helped create.”

Leque is a member of the America College of Sports Medicine, as well as UW-Superior’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Captain’s Counsel Leadership Team and Health and Human Performance Club. She has volunteered for Relay for Life and served as an intramural supervisor, as well as a youth volleyball coach.

“Beth Leque is that special student-athlete,” Nelmark said. “Her contributions to the classroom, to the team, and to the overall campus community are many. Beth has persevered through a lot of obstacles, including playing with a broken elbow for a majority of the season. Her enthusiasm, unselfishness, and desire to succeed are contagious and she has set a high standard for leadership and accountability for our team.”

Leque played in 12 games for the Yellowjackets this year, finishing with two goals and one assist.

Leque was named to the All-Big Rivers Conference first team in soccer and the All-BRC second team in volleyball as a senior at River Falls High School. She is the daughter of River Falls Police Chief Roger Leque and his wife Ann.

UW-Eau Claire’s Alli Kishaba and UW-Stevens Point’s Jackie Spees were also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman who served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she functioned as Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from October 1984 — September 1996.

Tags: girls soccer, uw river falls, sports, wiac