(Peru, Neb.) – Bobcat volleyball senior Cristina Viera (Montevideo, Uruguay) and Bobcat football senior Gunnar Orcutt (Omaha) were recently named by Peru State interim athletic director Steve Schneider as the December Bobcat Athletes of the Month. Viera and Orcutt were identified by Schneider for the honor based on their recent athletic and academic honors respectively.
Orcutt was named as the December Athlete of the Month more for his academic honors, but he also earned recognition for his play on the field. He was the Bobcats’ third-leading tackler in 2017 as he finished with 51 total tackles. On Christmas Day, Orcutt was named to the Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska NAIA/NCAA DIII honorable mention.
In addition, to his athletic honor, Orcutt most recently was recognized at the Sugar Bowl game this past New Year’s Day as one of the 22 football players from all divisions to be recognized as a member of the 2017 Allstate®/American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team®.
Also, Orcutt was named the CoSIDA Academic All-America® of the Year for College Division football. This is the top honor that an NAIA football player can receive for his academic, athletic, and extra-curricular work.
In announcing his December selections, Schneider noted “Both Cristina and Gunnar are truly deserving of the monthly recognition for what they have contributed to both of their respective programs over their years in Bobcat uniforms.”
