Milwaukee's Wenger, Butler's Knopfler named Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Month

INDIANAPOLIS -- Milwaukee swimmer Danielle Wenger has been named Horizon League Female Scholar-Athlete of the Month and Butler goalkeeper Fabian Knopfler was chosen the Male Scholar-Athlete for the month of October.

Wenger, a senior from Hartford, Wis. is leading the Horizon League in the 1000 (10:22.01) and 500 Freestyle (5:02.4) events. She won seven of nine races during the month of October; the two she did not win were against Wisconsin in the season opener. Wenger has helped the Panthers to a 4-1 dual meet record and set pool records at the Klotsche Natatorium in the 500 Freestyle against Wright State and also in the 1000 Freestyle at Grand Valley State University.

A psychology major, Wenger has been a two-time member of the Horizon Academic All-League Winter Team and was honored as the 2010 Scholar All-American Honorable Mention CSCAA. She was also named the 2010 February Scholar-Athlete of the Month and has been named on the honor roll each semester. Wenger currently holds a 3.76 grade-point average.

Knopfler, a senior from Reutlingen, Germany, has led the No. 6 ranked Bulldogs to a berth in the 2010 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament. In the month of October he was unbeaten, allowed just five goals in eight matches, with three shutouts. Knopfler leads the Horizon League in shutouts (8) and is sixth in the NCAA poll for goals against average with ten total goals allowed on the season.

A marketing major, Knopfler holds a 3.49 GPA and was named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll twice and to the Butler Athletic Director's Honor Roll in each of the past two years.

The Horizon League instituted the Scholar-Athlete of the Month awards as a way to recognize outstanding academic and athletic achievements. To be eligible for the honor, the student-athlete must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or better (on a 4.00 scale), have completed at least one year at the member institution, passed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours and perform well during the month’s competition. Winners are selected by the League’s faculty athletics representatives, from nominations provided by sports information directors.