BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – University of Charleston soccer player Nicolai Gundersen has been voted the Mountain East Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year for 2024-25.
 
In December, Gundersen received the prestigious NCAA Elite 90 Award, which recognizes the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average among those who have reached the final site for each of the NCAA’s 90 men’s and women’s championships across all three divisions.
 
Gundersen, who graduated a semester early and returned to his native home of Norway to begin a career in accounting, made the Dean’s List at UC seven consecutive semesters. With a 4.0 GPA for the duration of his time in college, Gundersen was a four-time All-MEC Academic team member.
 
During the 2024 season, Gundersen was an All-MEC first team goalkeeper. He led the conference in shutouts with eight, and started the Division II National Championship game against Lynn University. He played in two national championships and helped the Golden Eagles win four consecutive MEC championships.
 
Gundersen majored in Business Administration — Accounting at UC.
 
The MEC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year is selected by a vote of institutional administrators and the conference office.

MEC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award Winners
2014-15: Conor Branson (Charleston, Soccer)
2015-16: Conor Branson (Charleston, Soccer)
2016-17: Dan Monteroso (West Liberty, Football/Basketball)
2017-18: Dan Monteroso (West Liberty, Basketball)
2018-19: John Cominsky (Charleston, Football)
2019-20: Tony Vezzetti (Notre Dame, Wrestling)
2020-21: Dalton Bolon (West Liberty, Basketball)
2021-22: Cole Laya (West Liberty, Wrestling), Anthony Stehlin (Concord, Baseball)
2022-23: Nate Moore (Notre Dame, Football)
2023-24: Ty McGeary (West Liberty, Wrestling)
2024-25: Nicolai Gundersen (Charleston, Soccer)