Ottumwa -- The Indian Hills Athletic Department has selected Tristan Bakalar of the IHCC Sports Shooting team as a Student-Athlete of the Month for September. This accolade honors student-athletes who have demonstrated outstanding commitment in their respective sport as well as in the classroom.
Bakalar, a sophomore from Marysville, Iowa, and a graduate of Twin Cedars High School, has come out guns blazing during the 2018-19 season. He has averaged 91.5 out-of-100 targets in the team's first two competitions and has been in the team's top-5 shooters, factoring into the team score. Bakalar's average is a testament to his hard work as his average is up nearly seven targets from the 2017-18 season.
Growing up, Tristan was in Boy Scouts and earned an Eagle Scout ranking. He was the leader of his troop for multiple years and volunteered his time in many different ways. He currently works part-time at both the Knoxville and Centerville Fareways, and also at the marina on Rathbun Lake, all while being a full-time student-athlete.
Coach Jake Stalzer said of Bakalar, "Tristan has improved immensely academically during his two years at Indian Hills. He is very focused in the classroom and is also very involved on campus. He is a work-study student, the President of the Science Club on the Centerville Campus, and made the President's List during the 2018 Spring Term. I am very proud of all the hard work he has put in on the trap field, as well as in the classroom."