MANKATO, Minn.  – Zach Tuschen was named the 2017-18 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for men's indoor track & field. Tuschen was presented the award during the post championship ceremony at the NSIC Indoor Championships in Mankato, Minn.. Tuschen becomes the is the first student-athlete from Augustana to earn the NSIC Elite 18 Award.

Tuschen is a senior majoring in biology and holds a 4.00 GPA. The Sioux Falls, S.D. native earned All-NSIC honors in the 1000-meters with a second place finish and was apart of the NSIC champion men's DMR team that broke the conference meet record with a time of 10:11.86 at the NSIC Indoor Championships. Tuschen's personal best times are 51.95 in the 400-meters, 1:23.04 in the 600-meters, 1:54.81 in the 800-meters and 2:29.78 in the 1000-meters.

As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NSIC's 18 Championships.

Selection Criteria
1. Academically the student-athlete has achieved at least a sophomore status as defined by his or her own institution.
2. Athletically the student-athlete is in his or her second year of competition at his or her current institution.
3. Athletically the student-athlete is an active member on the roster and a member of the designated squad size for the sport at the championship site.
4. A student-athlete may win the award only once per academic year even if she or he participates in more than one sport.
5. Grade point average is based on the cumulative grade point average at the time of nomination as calculated by each institution. Grade point average calculations will be based on a 4.00 scale and will be reported to two decimal places.
6. In the event of a tie based on grade point average, the award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest total number of credit hours earned.
7. If a tie still exists after looking at the total number of credit hours earned, all student-athletes who are tied shall be presented with the NSIC Elite 18 Award.