MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State University Athletics Department celebrates the accomplishments of our outstanding Mustang student-athletes each year with the “Celebration of Excellence” awards program.

The program honors student-athletes that earned awards throughout the year, including All-NSIC, scholar athletes, national qualifiers, All-Americans, All-Region honorees, Myles Brand Award winners, and team MVPs, along with special SMSU faculty and SAAC awards. Nearly 70 SMSU senior student-athletes will be recognized as well for their dedication to Mustang Athletics. The 2020-21 Female and Male Athletes of the Year and the 2020-21 Female and Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year will also be announced.

Due to COVID-19, an in-person “Celebration of Excellence” program couldn’t be held for the second straight year. But, over the next several weeks, SMSU Athletics will still recognize our deserving student-athletes via our website and other social media outlets.

On Thursday, we celebrate our Mustang Medal of Excellence award winners. Mustang Medals are presented to student-athletes that earn first team All-Conference, All-Region, All-America, Academic All-District or Academic All-American honors.

As of Thursday, a total of nine student-athletes are receiving a Mustang Medal for their accomplishments during the winter and spring sports season during the 2021 year.

2020-21 Mustang Medal award winners

Natalie Bohnert – Women’s Swimming & Diving

2021

All-NSIC, 100-yard backstroke & 200-yard backstroke

Maegan Flight – Women’s Tennis

2021

All-NSIC

Rebecca Manteuffel – Women’s Track & Field

2021

NCAA Indoor All-American, Weight Throw

USTFCCA Indoor All-Region, Weight Throw

All-NSIC Indoor, Shot Put

All-NSIC Outdoor, Shot Put & Discus

USTFCCA Outdoor All-Region, Shot Put

NCAA Outdoor All-American, Discus & Shot Put

Meleah Reinhart – Women’s Basketball

2021

All-NSIC

Gabriela Reis – Women’s Swimming & Diving

2021

NSIC Elite 18 award winner

Jackson Ryan – Wrestling

2021

NCAA All-American

McKallen Smith – Men’s Track & Field

2021

All-NSIC Outdoor, High Jump

Caden Steffen – Wrestling

2021

NCAA All-American

Connor Wigand – Men’s Track & Field

2021

All-NSIC Indoor, Shot Put

All-NSIC Outdoor, Discus

2020 (spring)

CoSIDA Academic All-District

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications