Men's Track & Field June 22, 2017

Pozolinski Named Recipient Of Prestigious Coleman Award

Three-time All-American earns Horizon League’s top honor

MILWAUKEE – Nate Pozolinski, a standout for the Milwaukee track & field team, has been named the male recipient of the 2016-17 Horizon League Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor, the league office announced Thursday morning.

Pozolinski becomes the 10th Panther all-time to garner the prestigious Coleman Award and the fifth from the track & field/cross country program.

The senior capped his remarkable career earlier this month as a three-time All-American, establishing himself as one of the top hurdlers in the entire nation over the last two seasons.

The award has a little extra meaning this year as Pozolinski joins older brother and former teammate Brett Pozolinski, who received the award just last year. This marks the first time in the distinguished award's 37-year history that siblings have both been honored.

The Horizon League's highest individual honor, the Coleman Award is presented annually to the League's top male and female student-athletes who best exemplify the dignity and high purpose of the League and its membership. The individuals demonstrate outstanding achievement in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. Candidates must be seniors who have exhausted their eligibility and were participants on the varsity level in a League-sponsored sport. In addition, nominees must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, or its equivalent.

"My time at UWM has greatly influenced me as an individual," Nate Pozolinski said. "It's been a privilege to be a Panther the last four years and I'm very honored to receive the Coleman Medal of Honor. I have been surrounded by some great people at Milwaukee and the Horizon League, and I would like to thank everyone who played a role in shaping me into who I am today."

Pozolinski was a standout in the classroom, graduating with a 3.640 GPA as a marketing and supply chain major. A mainstay on the Horizon League Academic honor roll and academic all-league teams, the senior walked across the graduation stage at Panther Arena with honors and as a member of the dean's list. He also was recognized by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team member last season, and figures to be a quality candidate yet again this year. Earlier this year, he was named the 2016-17 Male Student-Athlete of the Year and Senior Student-Athlete of the Year for Milwaukee.

The Kimberly native also was renowned nationally for his work on the track. After finishing with All-American honors at outdoor nationals as a junior, Pozolinski cranked things up a notch as a senior and finished Second Team All-American during both the indoor (60m hurdles) and outdoor (110m hurdles) season this year. Pozolinski was one of the most consistent hurdlers in the country this year, turning in 10 finishes in the 110m hurdles in 13.80 seconds or faster – something no one else in the nation achieved this year. He graduates as a nine-time Horizon League Champion, receiving an additional four specialty awards at the league championships and was named league athlete of the week six times over his career. He also leaves campus with four school records to his name and is ranked in the school's top-10 lists in five more events, demonstrating just how well rounded of an athlete he truly is.

"This is a tremendous honor for Nate," Milwaukee head track and field and cross country coach Pete Corfeld said. "He always gives 100-percent focus to whatever it is that he is doing, and that shows. He's a very dedicated individual; in the classroom, he was voted team captain by his peers and he graduates as a three-time All-American. He is always working hard to get to that next level. We've been fortunate to have him and his family as part of our program and we're all proud of everything that he has been able to accomplish. Nate is one of the all-time greats at Milwaukee and we wish him nothing but the best in his very bright future."

When not on the track or in the classroom, Pozolinski gave his time to the Milwaukee community. He volunteered in a variety of ways, serving as a mentor to youths at both Shorewood Intermediate School and Brookfield Academy Intermediate School. He also volunteered his time with Habitat for Humanity, Make A Difference Day and at St. Joe's Food Pantry, to name a few.

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Players Mentioned

Brett Pozolinski: Senior; Jumps

Nate Pozolinski: Senior; Hurdles/Jumps

Players Mentioned

Brett Pozolinski
: Senior; Jumps

Nate Pozolinski
: Senior; Hurdles/Jumps