Brighton 'Top Dog' is 'Big Cat' at Evansville

Nick Schroeder (right), with University of Evansville Men’s Soccer Head Coach Marshall Ray, delivered the student-athlete address and received the Missouri Valley’s top scholar-athlete accolade, the Presidents Academic Excellence Award, at Evansville’s 2015 Director of Athletics’ Senior Breakfast. (Photo submitted)

News release:

It’s one thing to shine as a high school scholar-athlete, but another to take it to the next level. For the past four years former Brighton High School summa cum laude graduate and all-state basketball and soccer honoree Nick Schroeder has exceled as a student and as a NCAA Division I soccer athlete at the University of Evansville in Indiana.

Nicknamed “Big Cat” by his Evansville teammates, Brighton’s 2011 “Top Dog” Scholar-Athlete of the Year has received the Missouri Valley Conference’s top scholar-athlete honor, the 2015 Presidents Academic Excellence Award. Schroeder was recognized prior to commencement in May at Evansville’s Director of Athletics’ Senior Breakfast where he also delivered the student-athlete address.

“I’m extremely humbled to receive this award,” said Schroeder. “I wish to thank my family, friends, teachers, coaches, and teammates who have supported me along my journey.”

A 3.96 grade point-mainstay on the Dean’s List, Schroeder graduated summa cum laude from Evansville’s School of Public Health with a bachelor’s in Exercise Science and a minor in Public Health. This fall he will attend Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis as a Merit Scholar and Research Assistant in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. The program is ranked No. 3 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Schroeder also recently learned that he is one of just 29 fall male athletes nationwide to receive the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship worth $7500 and that he is Evansville’s nominee for the Missouri Valley Conference Postgraduate Scholarship.

“Nick has been a tremendous ambassador for our program and the University of Evansville since stepping on campus,” said Evansville Men’s Soccer Head Coach Marshall Ray. “He exemplifies the characteristics of a true student-athlete. I wish him all the best at Washington University and hope I have the opportunity to coach a few more student-athletes like Nick.”

Recruited by Evansville as a center back, the 6-5 “Big Cat” switched positions to play target forward for the Aces. He was a starter or key reserve throughout his collegiate career, appearing in 58 of 72 matches. From 2012-14 the all-league athlete helped lead the Aces on an impressive three-year streak of their most conference wins since 2008-10. During the streak, Evansville played in two regular season league championship matches and Schroeder was the second leading Ace for league game-winning points. More than two-thirds of his career points were equalizing or game-winning points.

“His accomplishments on the field are mirrored by his accomplishments in the community,” added Evansville Director of Athletics Mark Spencer.

Schroeder has been highly engaged in activities that promote health and wellness and was recognized in 2012 as the inaugural recipient of Evansville’s Heritage Federal Academic Community Award. He and his teammates also were honored in 2013 by the Boys & Girls Club of Evansville for their work mentoring children in the STRIVE Program.

Highlights of Schroeder’s collegiate soccer career include scoring his first goal versus nine-time national champion Indiana University as a freshman in 2011, earning spots on the All-MVC Men’s Soccer Second Team and Scholar-Athlete First Team in 2012, and scoring the Aces Goal of the Year in 2013. Evansville’s “Big Cat” scored his final goal at in-state rival Butler University and was named to the All-MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team as a senior in 2014.