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Spencer wins NCAA Elite 89 award for second straight year
SALEM, Va. -- Mount Union junior linebacker and North Putnam graduate Hank Spencer was award the NCAA Elite 89 Award for a second straight year Thursday at the NCAA Division III Football Championship in Salem, Va.
The Elite 89 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 89 championships.
The Purple Raiders will take on Wisconsin-Whitewater in a rematch of last year's championship game at 7 p.m. on Friday. The game can be seen on ESPNU.
Spencer is a computer science major with a 3.985 grade point average. He graduated from high school early three years ago, enrolled at Mount Union in the spring of 2012.
On the field, Spencer is second on the team this season with 66 tackles and was named All-OAC First Team, All-North Region Second Team and a Capital One Academic All-American.
In 2013, Spencer played in 13 games and had 56 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss as he earned All-OAC honorable mention and Capital One Academic All-District selection.
As a freshman, he started the final seven games for the national champion Purple Raiders in 2012 and was an All-OAC honorable mention pick.
Spencer is the son of Jim and Liz Spencer of Greencastle.
The Elite 89, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
For more information on the Elite 89 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite89.