2023-24 Redbird Football Scholarship Endowment Recipients Announced

NORMAL, Ill. – Each year, deserving Illinois State football student-athletes are chosen as recipients for prestigious endowed scholarships at Illinois State, and this year four outstanding Redbird football players were selected for these honors by ISU head football coach Brock Spack.

The 2023-24 winners of the four endowed scholarships given to football student-athletes include Wenkers Wright, Cole Mueller, Max Ziebarth and Zack Annexstad. Each reflect the standards set forth by those who created the endowments, and each truly represent what it means to be a Redbird football student-athlete.

"All of our recipients this year are deserving honorees," Spack said. "Each of these student-athletes resemble everything you want in a member of our program. They are all great students and work extremely hard on the field, but they are even better people off the field. They serve as leaders for the rest of their teammates and set an example they should all follow in their time here at Illinois State."

W. F. Ruebush Endowed Scholarship // Wenkers Wright | Sophomore | Running Back | Floyds Knobs, Indiana
Wright was a 2022 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team selection, after he led the team in rushing with 625 yards on 161 carries and was third on the team with a pair of rushing touchdowns. Wright tallied three 100-plus rushing yard efforts on the year, including running for a career-high 180 yards in a win at Indiana State, and he capped off the year with 129 yards rushing and a touchdown in a win over Western Illinois. Wright is currently pursuing a degree in business administration and maintains a 3.31 cumulative GPA.

Funded in 2005 by a gift from the W.F. Ruebush Foundation, this scholarship honors the foundation's creator, Walton Ruebush, a 1932 Illinois State graduate who captained the Redbird football team. Mr. Ruebush, who died in 1991, began his professional life as a teacher and coach before becoming a leader in personal finance.  Each candidate for a Ruebush Football Scholarship must be or have: enrolled in good standing at Illinois State University, demonstrated strong academic achievement, as evidenced by accumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, and a member in good standing of the Illinois State University football team.

Bill Mitze Endowed Scholarship // Cole Mueller | Junior | Running Back | Wentzville, Missouri
Mueller is in his fourth season with the Redbirds and is looking to make a comeback this year. After missing the entire 2022 season due to an injury suffered in the season opener at Wisconsin, Mueller has already scored twice in three games in 2023. As a redshirt freshman in 2021, Mueller was an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Honorable Mention team selection and a MVFC All-Newcomer Team pick after he finished second in the MVFC Freshman of the Year vote. That season, he ranked third in the MVFC in rushing yards (977), was fourth in rushing yards per game (88.8) and finished the season ranked in the Top 20 of the FCS in rush yards (No. 15) and yards per game (No. 20). Mueller is currently pursuing a degree in physical education and maintains a 3.17 cumulative GPA.

The Bill Mitze Endowed Scholarship was established in Aug. 2018. Bill was a football student-athlete from 1957-1959 and graduated in 1960 from ISU. He was a long-time education administrator, teacher and coach before retiring. He was also an active member of various civic and church organizations. Preference will be given to a Football student-athlete majoring in Education or showcasing high academic achievement in their chosen area of study.

Rollie & Mary Mercer Endowed Scholarship // Max Ziebarth | Redshirt Freshman | Tight End | Hudson, Illinois
Ziebarth is in his second season at Illinois State, after sitting out the 2022 campaign as a redshirt. The Normal West High School product has played in all three games so far in 2023 and looks to continue to make an impact on the offense and in special teams for the Redbirds. Ziebarth is a legacy Redbird, as his father Andy was a three-time all-conference performer on the offensive line for the Redbirds in the mid 1990's. Ziebarth is currently pursuing a degree in business administration and maintains a 3.45 cumulative GPA.

The Rollie & Mary Mercer Endowed Scholarship was established in Oct. 2018. The scholarship honors Rollie, who was a man of few words and plenty of action, and his wife, Mary. Rollie was a proud Redbird graduate in 1971, a member of the football team from 1962-1964 and Army veteran. He was a long-time State Farm employee and lived a life of service to his family, Illinois State University Athletics, community, and country. As an avid alum, Rollie was on the ISU Alumni Board, the ISU President's Circle, an honorary Founder's Day Bell Ringer, Redbirds Club Board, the ISU Athletics Council, and the Lady Redbirds Board. He passed away in 2016, but his legacy continues. Mary graduated in 1966 and 1994 from Illinois State University where the two of them met. She served as a teacher and addiction therapist and continues to show her passion for the Birds. Preference will be given to a football student-athlete currently enrolled and in good academic standing. In addition, preference will be given to an offensive player (tight end wearing #85 if applicable) that demonstrates a team-first attitude.

James R. Tague Endowed Scholarship // Zack Annexstad | Senior | Quarterback | Norseland, Minnesota 
Annexstad made an immediate impact for the Redbirds in 2022 after transferring from Minnesota. He was selected by his peers as a team captain and was later named a Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team selection and MVFC First-Team All-Academic team pick. He started eight games at quarterback for the Redbirds, before missing the final three games of the season due to injury and completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 1,691 yards with 11 touchdowns. Annexstad is currently pursuing a master's degree in sport management and maintains a 3.90 cumulative GPA.

The James R. Tague Endowed Scholarship was established in April 2015 following a generous gift from Jim's family in his memory/honor and benefits a Redbird football student-athlete. Jim was a standout on the Redbird football team and was inducted into the Illinois State Percy Family Hall of Fame for his achievements on the gridiron in 1990. Jim was an extremely successful insurance salesperson and adviser, having his own agency for more than 50 years. He was an avid golfer and sports fan, and loyal ISU Redbird supporter.

These endowed scholarships are among 30 available to Illinois State student-athletes that are funded by private donors. For more information about establishing or contributing an endowed scholarship, please call the Weisbecker Athletic Fund office at (309) 438-3636.

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