FAIRBANKS - Gavin Barnick of the National Championship winning Nanooks rifle team was named the Elite 90 winner at the banquet to kickstart the 2023 NCAA Rifle Championships on Thursday, March 9.

The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships. 

Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed. 

Barnick, who hails from Mora, Minn., is a Business Administration major who holds a 3.98 grade-point average. Head coach Will Anti felt this award solidified what they already knew about Barnick and his athletic and academic values, "We are so proud to have Gavin honored with this prestigious award. It's validation that Gavin is what we have always known him to be; the embodiment of a student-athlete and Nanook excellence. The award is based on GPA, but represents the time and energy demands of a student-athlete. In this case, a student-athlete who never ceases to improve as an athlete, student, and teammate. While representing Alaska and Team USA, Gavin manages to find balance through use of his resources and he reaches out for support when he needs it. Gavin leads in a myriad of ways; his dedication to his schoolwork is what's being highlighted today, but it's just one of the many characteristics that makes us so happy to call him a member of the family." 

He became the first Nanooks student-athlete to win the Elite 90 award since Michael Fehrenbach of the Nanooks Nordic ski team won it in 2015-16. Fehrenbach also won the award in 2013-14 as a Mechanical Engineering major. He also becomes the third-ever student-athlete and second rifle athlete from Alaska to win the Elite 90 honor, joining Mats Eriksson. Eriksson won it in 2013-14 and 2014-15 as a Business Administration major. 

After winning the Elite 90 Award, Barnick helped the Nanooks claim their 11th national title and first since 2008. Alaska posted an aggregate final score of 4729; alongside the team national title, they won the smallbore title with a 2349 and the air rifle title with a 2380 for the sweep. 

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks rifle team, follow @NanooksRifle on Instagram or Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks Rifle team page on Facebook.