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Ava Bullert resembles a captain in many ways.
This year, the UW-Eau Claire senior forward led the Blugold women to a 20-8 season and an O’Brien Cup Championship appearance for the fourth time in her career and 10th consecutive trip for the Blugolds overall.
Bullert also makes her mark outside the rink, evidenced by her being named the recipient of the 2026 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Ice Hockey Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award in March.
“I was actually pretty surprised when I got it,” Bullert said. “It’s a cool accomplishment. I definitely kept myself busy and tried to do well and glorify God in all that I do.
“There are a lot more things that I think matter too. But at the same time, it’s cool to kind of pause and reflect on things that I’ve done.”
The award is named after Judy Kruckman, who served as Assistant Commissioner of the WIAC from 1996-98. Kruckman was the women’s athletics director at UW-Eau Claire from 1974-84.
With a 3.99 grade point average, Bullert is well-deserving of the honor.
A senior from North Oaks, Minnesota, Bullert balances athletics while majoring in psychology and exercise science with a minor in management. Both her studies help her on the ice.
“They both tie into sports so much,” Bullert said of her studies. “Obviously exercise science a little more tangibly, but psychology too. I’ve always really cared about the work that goes on behind the scenes, such as strength conditioning, training, weightlifting, etc. (In) the psychology part, (I see) how important that mental side is in sports.”
Bullert is on track to graduate in the summer and said she will look for opportunities in hockey, internship or ministry.
Bullert secured a spot on the 2024-25 NCAA Division III Academic All-District Women’s At-Large First Team.
She is also a three-time American Hockey Coaches Association All-American Scholar and three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. She has been recognized on UW-Eau Claire’s Dean’s List numerous semesters and is a member of the Honors Program.
Safe to say, Bullert takes her education very seriously.
“There are times that I’ll look at it and it’s really stressful, but I’ve been trying to take a step back and realize the importance of it and how grateful I truly should be for all the opportunities I’ve gotten,” Bullert said. “I’m really trying to be aware of that and intentional about that this year.”
When she’s not studying or playing hockey, Bullert is president of the WIAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, as well as UW-Eau Claire’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She is also a member of UW-Eau Claire’s Leadership Committee, Athletes in Action, and Cru and AIA.
Bullert is also an apprentice with UW-Eau Claire Strength and Conditioning, a leadership intern in the Activities, Involvement and Leadership Office and a student worker for UW-Eau Claire’s Athletic Department.
For her play on the ice, Bullert was on the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team this year. She was named to the 2025 All-WIAC First Team after a career-best 10-goal and 11-assist season and was selected UW-Eau Claire’s Freshman of the Year following the 2023 season.
“It was an awesome year,” Bullert said. “Obviously, I wish it could have turned out differently. All my teammates made it amazing. We were all really close and had good connections, and I think we created a lot of trust within our team, which helped us be successful.
“I’ve learned so much, and I’m gonna miss it like crazy. I also just hope that I was able to leave the program better than I found it, and I hope I can come back and keep seeing the success grow. ”
Continue reading...
This year, the UW-Eau Claire senior forward led the Blugold women to a 20-8 season and an O’Brien Cup Championship appearance for the fourth time in her career and 10th consecutive trip for the Blugolds overall.
Bullert also makes her mark outside the rink, evidenced by her being named the recipient of the 2026 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Ice Hockey Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award in March.
“I was actually pretty surprised when I got it,” Bullert said. “It’s a cool accomplishment. I definitely kept myself busy and tried to do well and glorify God in all that I do.
“There are a lot more things that I think matter too. But at the same time, it’s cool to kind of pause and reflect on things that I’ve done.”
The award is named after Judy Kruckman, who served as Assistant Commissioner of the WIAC from 1996-98. Kruckman was the women’s athletics director at UW-Eau Claire from 1974-84.
With a 3.99 grade point average, Bullert is well-deserving of the honor.
A senior from North Oaks, Minnesota, Bullert balances athletics while majoring in psychology and exercise science with a minor in management. Both her studies help her on the ice.
“They both tie into sports so much,” Bullert said of her studies. “Obviously exercise science a little more tangibly, but psychology too. I’ve always really cared about the work that goes on behind the scenes, such as strength conditioning, training, weightlifting, etc. (In) the psychology part, (I see) how important that mental side is in sports.”
Bullert is on track to graduate in the summer and said she will look for opportunities in hockey, internship or ministry.
Bullert secured a spot on the 2024-25 NCAA Division III Academic All-District Women’s At-Large First Team.
She is also a three-time American Hockey Coaches Association All-American Scholar and three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. She has been recognized on UW-Eau Claire’s Dean’s List numerous semesters and is a member of the Honors Program.
Safe to say, Bullert takes her education very seriously.
“There are times that I’ll look at it and it’s really stressful, but I’ve been trying to take a step back and realize the importance of it and how grateful I truly should be for all the opportunities I’ve gotten,” Bullert said. “I’m really trying to be aware of that and intentional about that this year.”
When she’s not studying or playing hockey, Bullert is president of the WIAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, as well as UW-Eau Claire’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She is also a member of UW-Eau Claire’s Leadership Committee, Athletes in Action, and Cru and AIA.
Bullert is also an apprentice with UW-Eau Claire Strength and Conditioning, a leadership intern in the Activities, Involvement and Leadership Office and a student worker for UW-Eau Claire’s Athletic Department.
For her play on the ice, Bullert was on the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team this year. She was named to the 2025 All-WIAC First Team after a career-best 10-goal and 11-assist season and was selected UW-Eau Claire’s Freshman of the Year following the 2023 season.
“It was an awesome year,” Bullert said. “Obviously, I wish it could have turned out differently. All my teammates made it amazing. We were all really close and had good connections, and I think we created a lot of trust within our team, which helped us be successful.
“I’ve learned so much, and I’m gonna miss it like crazy. I also just hope that I was able to leave the program better than I found it, and I hope I can come back and keep seeing the success grow. ”
Continue reading...
