BHSU's Jonah Theisen and CSM's Megan Wenham tabbed 2018-19 RMAC Scholar-Athletes of the Year
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) names Black Hills State University’s (BHSU) Jonah Theisen and Colorado School of Mines’ Megan Wenham the 2018-19 Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year, respectively.
To be eligible for consideration, individuals must compete in one of the conference sponsored sports, carry at least a 3.30 grade-point average (GPA), be of good character and must have participated at the active member institution for two or more seasons in at least one sport. True freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible for this award.
All nominees who meet those requirements, but were not selected for the award, automatically qualify for honorable mention.
Jonah was a recent graduate with a 3.897 cumulative GPA and earned a degree in Physical Science and Chemistry. The Kenai, Alaska native competed all four years in men’s cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field for the Yellow Jackets.
This year, Jonah earned All-American honors finishing 14
th at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II (DII) Cross Country Championships. He helped the Yellow Jackets to a sixth-place team finish on the national and regional stage. At the RMAC Cross Country Championships, Jonah placed 17
th overall to earn Second Team All-RMAC honors. During indoor, he earned All-American honors as a member of the distance medley relay (DMR) team that placed sixth at nationals. He was the 2019 NCAA DII Outdoor Track and Field 3,000m Steeplechase Runner-Up and RMAC Champion.
Jonah also excelled in the classroom, earning 2018-19 First Team RMAC All-Academic honors in all three sports. He was recently named to the 2018-19 CoSIDA Academic All-District team and earned United States Track and Field and Cross Country (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honors.
Throughout his career, Jonah earned RMAC Academic First Team honors six times and received the D2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award in 2016-17 and 2017-18. He garnered five All-American honors including an individual national champion title in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase (2016). Jonah is a six-time All-RMAC selection and currently holds the school records in the 3,000m steeplechase and the DMR. He is a Top 10 performer in the indoor 5K and 3K, and 1500m outdoor run.
Megan recently graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, while maintaining a perfect 4.000 GPA. She was a three-sport student-athlete, who competed in women’s cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field.
During the 2018-19 season, Megan was a two-time USTFCCCA All-Region selection and a three-time All-RMAC honoree. She was an RMAC Champion in the 3000m steeplechase and finished the year with All-American honors, taking eighth at nationals in the steeplechase.
Academically, Megan earned the RMAC Summit Award in all three sports for the 2018-19 season. She is only the second female student-athlete to earn all three awards in a single academic year. At the national outdoor championships, she was awarded the 2019 NCAA Elite 90 award. Other accolades include being named the cross country and outdoor track and field RMAC Academic Athlete of the Year and a three-time RMAC Academic First Team selection.
Throughout her career, Megan earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors twice, was a six-time First Team RMAC All-Academic honoree and was a First Team Academic All-American. Megan is a two-time steeplechase All-American and a three-time national qualifier in outdoor track and field.
Jonah and Megan will be recognized at the 2019 RMAC Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet on Friday, July 12 at the Colorado Springs Marriott. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit
RMACSPORTS.org/HOF2019.
Male Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention
Dalton Carleo – Adams State
Kevin Coy Jr. – Chadron State
Jeremiah Hanson – Colorado Christian
Jason Buhr – Colorado Mesa
Ben Schneiderman – Colorado School of Mines
Kevin Ribarich – CSU-Pueblo
Jake Engel – Dixie State
Jeffrey Brinkley – Fort Lewis
Darren Harder – MSU Denver
Joe Cilladi – New Mexico Highlands
John Flint – Regis
Kevin Ptak – South Dakota Mines
Cody Norton – UCCS
Brady Subart – Western
Grant Phillips – Westminster
Female Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention
Madison Merschel – Adams State
Savannah (Huntley) Davis – Black Hills State
Madison Webb – Chadron State
Kylee Wurster – Colorado Christian
Olivia Hayden – Colorado Mesa
Courtney Ewing – CSU-Pueblo
Nichole Mertz – Dixie State
Alyssa Yocky – Fort Lewis
Jonalyn Wittwer – MSU Denver
Cynthia Norris – New Mexico Highlands
Gabby Haugh – Regis
Erica Keeble – South Dakota Mines
Anna Gregg – UCCS
Chandler Willis – Western
Karen Valcarce – Westminster