Madison, Wis. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse senior Adam Cordova of Merrill (H.S.) has been selected the 2013 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Baseball Scholar-Athlete Award. Currently enrolled as a graduate student in physical therapy, Cordova owns a 3.72 grade point average after compiling a 3.84 undergraduate grade point average. 

He becomes the eighth student-athlete in school history to earn the baseball scholar-award, including the second straight. Garrett Scray was named the 2012 co-recipient along with UW-Stout's Jake Duske. 

Cordova was named to the 2013 Capital One NCAA Division III Academic All-District® Six Baseball First Team for the second straight year.  He is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and been named to UW-L's Dean's List numerous semesters.

A two-year team captain, Cordova earned All-WIAC honorable mention recognition for the second straight season in 2013 after claiming first team laurels in 2011.  He was a member of the Eagles' 2012 squad that captured the WIAC regular-season and tournament titles.  

Cordova started all 42 contests this season, leading the Eagles in home runs (5) and RBI (44) while hitting .321. He tied for the team lead in doubles (17) while finishing second in at-bats (159) and hits (51). Cordova tied for second with Braga in walks (22) while also tying for fourth in runs (29).

His 17 doubles is tied for fourth in single-season school history while his 44 RBI this year is sixth-most.

Cordova played in 155 career games for the Eagles with 146 starts while finishing with a .309 batting average. He ranks second in school history in doubles (49), fourth in at-bats (550), fifth in RBI (118), seventh in hits (170) and eighth in runs (112). He is also tied for 11th in career home runs (14). 

He led UW-L with 11 multi-RBI games this season while ranking third on the squad with 13 multi-hit contests. Cordova had at least one hit in 30 of 42 games overall.

Cordova is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, as well as the Golden Key International and Eta Phil Alpha Honor Societies.   

UW-Whitewater senior David Cladis was also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger, who served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference for 22 years from 1971-93.  He oversaw the transition of the conference from NAIA to full NCAA membership.  Sparger arrived at UW-Stout in 1959 and served the institution in a variety of capacities, including as an assistant football and basketball coach, head wrestling coach and head football coach.  He served as UW-Stout's athletics director from 1969-71.

In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average.  In addition, he must be in his last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.