Nelson named MS athlete of the year
Utah State basketball player Spencer Nelson was named Utah Collegiate Athlete of the Year by the Multiple Sclerosis Society this week and was honored Thursday night at a banquet.
He will be one of 11 recipients of sports awards the Multiple Sclerosis Society presents to athletes, teams and coaches every year. Other honorees include Univerisity of Utah Football Head Coach Urban Meyer and the BYU men’s volleyball team.
“A big part of this award is the people around me, whether it be Utah State people, whether it be players, teammates, coaches, specifically my family and friends and everyone that’s influenced my life,” Nelson said. “Huge thanks go out to everyone who has helped me get this award because it is definitely not a one man award.”
The recipients of the awards were chosen by the MS Society and a panel of media writers.
“It must have been a dry year,” Nelson said.
Nelson said that individual awards could not happen without the support of others.
“Awards are nice, but awards like these, in my mind, are not individual awards, because if you play on a team that doesn’t win, then most of the time individuals don’t get awards,” Nelson said. “So the most important thing is worrying about the team winning, and individual awards just kind of take care of themselves.”
Nelson said receiving the award was a surprise.
“I had no idea that I was up for it or anything,” he said. “I was actually back east and my mom called me and told me I got it.”
Nelson, who has already graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance, was in New York this summer on an internship with an investment bank.
“I had a great experience doing that,” he said.
Nelson said that there was a gym at the place he worked at, so he was able to get a lot stronger. He has also been working on his outside shooting.
“Those were two of the things that I wanted to really work on was to get stronger and work on my outside shot,” he said. “I think I’ve accomplished that, but only time will tell.”
Nelson is currently working toward his master’s degree.
“I definitely want to get my MBA, whether it’s going to be continuous or whether I’ll have to come back after a few years depends on what opportunities I have next fall and I’ll make decision based on that,” Nelson said.
Nelson said that he is hopeful that this will not be his last year playing basketball. With European basketball opening up, there are a lot more opportunities to play, he said.
“I think everyone dreams about being able to play at the next level,” he said. “Hopefully there will be opportunities, and if they’re substantial enough to give up other things then I’d love to go play, wherever it be. Who wouldn’t want to do what they love and get paid to do it.”
Since receiving the award, Nelson said that he is more aware of the multiple sclerosis community.
“I haven’t been active in the MS community, but receiving this award and being somewhat in association with them kind of opens my eyes to it, and I’ll definitely look for opportunities to where I can help the cause because it’s a great cause,” he said.
Nelson said he wants to confirm to everyone that he does not have multiple sclerosis.
“I have [been asked if I have it] and I don’t have multiple sclerosis, but I am aware of people that do and so I think what the MS society in Utah does is a great cause, and I’m honored to be associated with it in some small way.”
Nelson said he is trying to keep this award in perspective.
“It’s important that you don’t base your confidence on awards or what other people think about you, but what you know you’re good at and try to stay humble while you do it,” he said.
-bhhinton@cc.usu.edu