Feb. 13, 2006

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri seniors Dan Buhr and Valerie Lauver were named this week's Lathrop & Gage Varsity M Student-Athletes of the Week for their exceptional contributions to their respective athletic teams, combined with their strengths in the classroom and time spent in the local community.

A native of Fairbault, Minn., Buhr is a member of Mizzou men's swimming team. A secondary education major, he holds a 3.20 grade-point average. At the 2005 Big 12 Conference Championships, Buhr finished eighth in the 200-meter freestyle and earned top-15 finishes in the 50 and 100-meter freestyles. In 2004, he placed in the top-15 in the 50 and 100-meter freestyles and the 100-meter butterfly at the Big 12 Championships. A member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll and the Academic All-Big 12 second team, Buhr is a volunteer at several Columbia schools.

Lauver, a nursing major with a 4.0 grade-point average, is a member of the women's track and field team at Missouri. The Allen, Texas native has made the dean's list every semester of her career at Mizzou and has recorded a 4.0 grade-point average four semesters. She is a three-time Academic All-American, eight-time All-Big 12 selection, four-time All-Midwest Region cross country selection and a two-time Big 12 Runner of the Week. Lauver also broke the oldest standing school track and field record when she set a new 10,000-meters mark in 2005.

The men's swimming and diving squad will host the 2006 Big 12 Championships Feb. 22-25 at the Mizzou Aquatic Center. The Tiger indoor track and field team hosts the Missouri All-Comers meet on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 8:00 a.m. and will compete in the Big 12 Indoor Championships on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25 in Lincoln, Neb.