Frame and Cross Named UMC Teambackers Student-Athletes of the Month for October
CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston named Monika Frame (Jr., Polson, Mont.) from the hunt seat equestrian team and Will Cross (R-Fr., Turtle Lake, Wis.) from football as UMC Teambackers Athletes of the Month. They were chosen for the month of October for their performances for their respective teams.
Frame had a strong month in the show pen for the Golden Eagles. Frame earned a Reserve High Point rider title last Sunday at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 
where UMC has had four shows so far this season. Frame earned second place in Open Equitation over Fenves on Sunday, as well as garnering a clutch win in Open Equitation on the Flat. Saturday, Frame earned third place in Open Equitation over Fences. Frame’s performance last weekend helped UMC to a pair of Reserve High Point Team titles. In the team’s first two shows of the year at Wisconsin-River Falls, Frame won her Open Equitation over Fences class on a challenging horse on the first day. She would finish third on the Flat that day. The following day, Frame would again come away with a win in Open Equitation over Fences and would take fifth on the Flat.
Cross had a big month of October for the UMC defense as he continued to make 
progress at the middle linebacker position as a redshirt freshman. Cross had 51 tackles to lead UMC’s defense on the month. He added three tackles for loss, a half-sack and his first career interception. His best game of the month came with a career-high 18 tackles and one tackle for loss on homecoming against University of Mary. His 18 tackles is fifth-most in a single-game by a UMC player. In addition, he had 11 tackles and an interception against Minot State Oct. 22.
The UMC Teambackers Student-Athlete Award has now been made a monthly award after being awarded on a weekly basis for the past three years. Cross and Frame are the second two student-athletes to earn the award, which recognizes UMC athletes for their accomplishments both on and off the field of play.
