Luke Siedhoff had multiple track and field scholarship offers, and he set up a few official visits.
The Crete native took his first official visit to Nebraska, and then promptly cancelled the others.
“I was like, ‘Ah, man, this is incredible. Like, why would I not come here?’ ” said Siedhoff, a senior hurdler for the Huskers. “And I’ve always wanted to go to Nebraska. Growing up here, there’s really no other place you really want to go, if you have the opportunity.”
One part of his official visit stood out in particular. Nebraska’s famed academic success in athletics.
“They sold it really well when I went on my visit, just the whole academic center inside the stadium where you can study and everything,” Siedhoff said. “I thought it was amazing, and all our academic advisors and stuff like that. I thought it was a great place where I could excel.”
For Sierra Hassel, academics had been a huge part of her high school career, and therefore an aspect she held in high regard as she went through her recruiting process.
“So to see Nebraska had so many academic All-Americans, that really pulled me to Nebraska,” said Hassel, a senior gymnast for the Huskers. “Once I got here, I really felt that support through tutors, the academic learning center and just every way Nebraska is here to help with academics as well.
“The emphasis and support of academics at Nebraska make you feel like they actually really care,” she said, “and you aren’t just there to do your sport.”
Hassel and Siedhoff capitalized on Nebraska’s academic services while adding to the school’s storied history in student-athlete academic success. For their efforts, they earned the annual female and male Student-Athlete of the Year awards at Nebraska’s annual Night at the Lied ceremony, held virtually this year.
“I was very surprised,” said Hassel, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2018. “I know how great the other finalists were, and just knowing how much of an honor this award actually is, it’s just really exciting.”
Siedhoff, a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten selection, said he was honored to be among a group finalists that included his roommate, football player Wyatt Mazour, wrestler David Jensen and Siedhoff’s best friend on the track team, pole vaulter Kevin Cahoy. All four lived in the same dorm as freshmen.
“It was pretty cool to have all of us nominated for it,” Siedhoff said. “I’ve studied with them a lot.
“There’s just so many qualified athletes out there, and a lot of them are my good friends. I thought I had what it took (to win the award), but you never know because it was so competitive and there were so many good athletes across the whole athletic department.”
Hassel is the eighth women’s gymnast to win the Student-Athlete of the Year award, and the third straight winner from Iowa. A native of Johnston, Iowa, she follows gymnast Danielle Breen and volleyball player Michaela Foecke, a distant relative of Hassel’s.
A two-time All-Big Ten performer in gymnastics, Hassel ranked second in the Big Ten on floor exercise and anchored the Huskers’ uneven bars lineup. She recorded eight event titles this season, and all nine of her performances on floor exercise and balance beam scored a 9.825 or better.
Balancing school and gymnastics was a learning process as a freshman, Hassel said, but for somebody who loves school in general, she accepted the challenge in stride.
“It’s something I enjoy to do, so I’m going to do it well,” Hassel said. “But it’s just kind of getting to know what’s best for you.
“I’m a big routine person. I knew when practice was, I knew when class was and I knew exactly when I was going to study. I’m very big on preparation. If I’m not prepared, I’m so scared. I’ll prepare two weeks in advance for a class that I don’t necessarily have to do that, but that’s where I feel the most comfort.”
Siedhoff, noting school and learning has always come easy for him, said he takes a less structured approach. Rather than stick to a strict schedule, he finds time each day to make sure he accomplishes what he needs to accomplish.
“When I sit down and do homework, I try to do it efficiently so I can go to practice and get a good practice without having to worry about school, or trying to have a social life after practice,” said Siedhoff, who earned All-America honors in the 110-meter outdoor hurdles in both 2018 and 2019.
“Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes you wake up and lift and go to school all day and then go to practice and do homework the rest of the night, or have a night class. I guess I’m used to it by now.”
Siedhoff, who majors in biology and Spanish, graduates in May and plans to take the MCAT this summer and then apply to med school. He wants to become either a general physician or general surgeon, while also utilizing his Spanish background, perhaps on medical mission trips to South America or practicing in a community with a high Spanish-speaking population.
Hassel will graduate with degrees in accounting and management. She will attend the University of Texas, where she will work on her Masters in sports management, with the intent of pursuing a career in intercollegiate athletics. She will attend graduate school with her twin sister, Sage.
“The people I met here, the teammates I had every season – they’re all so hard working,” Hassel said. “It was so awesome to be surrounded by people who were so like-minded and wanted to accomplish goals together.”
Reach Brian at brosenthal@huskers.com or follow him on Twitter @GBRosenthal.
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