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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Fort Lewis College football player Nick Frizzell and women's cross country runner Ashley Kelly were named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Scholar-Athletes, RMAC Assistant Commissioner Eric Danner announced today.

Frizzell, a 6-foot, 245-lb. senior defensive lineman from Evergreen High School, carried a 3.94 grade point average in Business Administration-Marketing. During his senior season, he earned first team ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 and RMAC All-Academic accolades. As a junior in 2009, he was a RMAC All-Academic second team pick and a recipient of the D2 Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award. The latter honor was also bestowed upon him following his sophomore season in 2008.

“Nick has been a pleasure to work with as he's performed at a high level both on the field and in the classroom, winning multiple awards for his play,” said Director of Athletics Kelly Higgins. “The effort he has put forth has helped turn Skyhawk football in the right direction. We will be sad to see him go, but happy that he takes his degree in Business Administration with him.”

Frizzell was a four-year letterwinner on the Skyhawk football team. During his career, he recorded 50 tackles (20 solo) and one tackle behind the line of scrimmage.

Kelly, a 5-foot-5 senior from Brighton High School in Brighton, Colo., was a four-year letterwinner on the Skyhawk cross country team and maintained a 3.99 grade point average in Biochemistry. She qualified for U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-America honors each of the past three years based on her finishes in the NCAA Division II Central Regionals.

“Ashley is the epitome of the DII student-athlete, maintaining balance in her commitment to her sport as well as her determination in the classroom,” said Higgins. “Near perfection in Biochemistry is an extraordinary achievement and we will be proud to claim her as one of our finest alums.”

She has also been recognized on the RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll and received the D2 Athletic Director's Association Academic Achievement Award.

Frizzell and Kelly also received FLC's Troy Bledsoe Scholar-Athlete of the Year award at the Skyhawk Awards Banquet in April.

Administrators from each of the 14 RMAC institutions chose a male and female student-athlete as their honorees. To be eligible for the RMAC Scholar-Athlete award, individuals must compete in one of the conference-sponsored championship sports; carry at least a 3.30 grade point average; be a starter or reserve on their respective team; be of good character; and must have participated at the active member institution for two or more seasons. True freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible for the award.