PENSACOLA, Fla. | The Gulf South Conference announced its 2023-24 Commissioner's Trophy winners, and UAH was represented by junior runner Sam Wilhelm as the department's third all-time honoree for the prestigious distinction.
 
The Commissioner's Trophy is the most prestigious honor bestowed by the conference, which is presented annually to the student-athlete who best combines outstanding performance on the field or court and high academic achievement in the classroom with significant community service and extracurricular activities.
 
Wilhelm is now the conference's fourth all-time cross country runner to earn the award, while becoming the first-ever men's track & field athlete in the award's history.
 
The Knob Noster, Missouri, native had one of the most incredible academic years in UAH history, earning All-American a total of four times between the cross country, indoor and outdoor seasons.
 
In cross country, Wilhelm was the GSC Runner of the Year with a first-place performance at the 2023 GSC Championships and went on to earn the men's program's first-ever All-American award at Nationals.
 
He followed up his cross country season by becoming a USTFCCCA Second Team Indoor All-American in 5,000 meters before wrapping up his junior campaign with two First Team Outdoor All-American performances in 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters.
 
Wilhelm is additionally a strong performer in the classroom, earning GSC All-Academic team honors in both cross country and indoor track & field.
 
The GSC additionally honored the rest of its Top Ten Award winners last Thursday, including UAH softball's Lawren Hayes, as well as its Hall of Fame Class of 2024 that featured softball alum Kristin Spencer Spearman.