SIOUX FALLS – Bill Brockmueller, who was one of the most decorated student-athletes in University of Sioux Falls school history, has tragically passed away following a skiing accident in Boulder, Colo.

A three-time All-American who excelled in competition and in the classroom was a student at the University of Colorado when he was fatally hurt while skiing last week.

His death has hit the USF campus hard as the 26-year old was well-liked and respected throughout the university. "Bill was certainly the heart and soul of the cross country program," said USF Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Doug Petersen of Brockmueller, who competed at USF from 2010-2015. "He and his twin brother Bobby were the first (NCAA DII) All-Americans in cross country at USF. Bill was a leader in our program and because of him deciding to come to campus several others followed and played a lead role in the many successes we have accomplished in that program as well as track and field," he said.

"Clearly, we send our condolences to the Brockmueller family and will try and lift them up in prayer. There are so many of us here that are saddened about the loss of Bill Brockmueller. He was an exceptional athlete but a better person who cared for those around him. He had extraordinary faith and he was the example of success that students aspire to. In addition, Bill told me on several occasions that he hope to return to campus to teach physics and coach," added Petersen.

A native of Brandon, S.D., Bill graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2015 with degrees in applied mathematics and computer science with minors in accounting and theology. Named the first USF student to earn the Dr. William Britton Scholar-Athlete Award for Academic Excellence by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference as a junior, the son of Joe and Betty Brockmueller followed up as a senior by earning an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

Brockmueller, who spent a half-year as part of a SIMBA mission group in Africa, was a three-time NCAA Elite 89 Award recipient which is presented to the student-athlete with the highest GPA competing at a national championship site. He first earned the award at the 2012 NCAA Cross Country National Championships and again at the NCAA DII Cross Country Championships in fall 2014 after earning it at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in the spring of 2014. 

"Bill's reach was far more than what he did athletically because he was an outstanding student who deeply cared about his fellow students on campus," said Dennis Thum, USF Dean of Chapel. "He was heavily involved in everything here at USF. His loss leaves a void and we will pray for him and his family in this sad time," said Thum.

Brockmueller's excellence in the classroom was shown by the haul of academic awards received at the Spirit of Excellence Awards Celebration in spring of 2015. He was named the "Outstanding Overall Natural Sciences Senior," "Outstanding Senior Computer Science Student," and the "Outstanding Mathematics Student." In addition, he also was one of 11 students honored with "Celebrating Academic Achievement in the Natural Sciences" and one of three male USF students named "Representative Man Candidates.
 
In 2014, Brockmueller helped the USF men's cross country team to eighth place at the NCAA DII nationals as the team had the highest finish recorded to that point (surpassed by the Cougars in the DII era). Brockmueller, who earned his second straight All-American honor in cross country with a 17^th-place finish, was a key contributor as USF finished second at the NCAA Central Region Championships – also a first in the DII era – and second at the NSIC/US Bank Championships for the second straight year. Individually, he placed ninth at the conference meet and eighth at regionals. Named all-conference and all-region, he was named a USTFCCA All-Academic honoree following the cross country season.

Brockmueller, who set a school record in the 10,000-meter run (30:43.31) at the Mt. SAC Relays, was also a member of the USF distance medley relay squad that finished eighth at the 2015 NCAA DII Indoor Track and Field Championships. He helped lead the men's team to a program-best second-place finish at the NSIC/US Bank Indoor Championships in 2015 as he won both the men's 3,000- and 5,000-meter runs.