The Wildcats football team has 31 players featured on the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) All-Academic team. For players to qualify for the GNAC All-Academic team they must have a minimum GPA of 3.2 or higher, must be a sophomore or higher and have to be in their second year at the institution.

Senior punter Van Soderberg is the only player in the GNAC to have a 4.0 GPA. 

Soderberg was very pleased to accomplish this feat. 

“This is perhaps the most satisfying accolade we had hoped to achieve, short of an opportunity to compete for a national championship,” Soderberg said. “Our coaching staff continues to emphasize ‘faith, family, academics and football,’ in that order. We know that there is a lot of life off the playing field, which starts with an education at CWU.”

Soderberg said his biggest strategy to be able to succeed on the football field but also in the classroom is time management.

“I keep it simple and consistent, making sure to get a fast start and be proactive on assignments beginning the first week of the quarter,” Soderberg said. “Given a relatively structured athletics schedule during the week, I like to fit in school and other interests around these commitments. I always have my backpack with me, and will take advantage of even a few free minutes whenever possible. Little things like these add up over time.” 

Soderberg shared some tips for other students and athletes as they continue the journey of a college student.

“The best piece of advice I have ever received is ‘do all things with repetition but moderation,’” Soderberg said. “This may sound dissonant at first, but by spreading out your workload over a number of days in smaller chunks, you will not only be more productive while actively completing tasks, thereby finishing them faster, but will retain more information at the same time. It’s a win-win.”

Soderberg didn’t take any credit for his great accomplishment of maintaining a 4.0 GPA. He praised his coaches and teammates for giving him the floorplan to being successful as a college athlete.

“They deserve all the credit,” Soderberg said. “Every week the coaches create a game plan we believe in and offer help where help is needed. My teammates and I execute it, and together we can leave football on the field where it belongs, not allowing it to bleed into our academic or personal life.”