BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for softball and indoor track & field Tuesday. Student-athletes from Bethel, Gustavus, Macalester, St. Catherine, and Saint John's claimed the Conference's weekly honors for February 13-20, 2023.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by the Conference's sports information directors and selected by MIAC staff. Throughout the spring season, team sports (baseball, softball, and tennis) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (outdoor track & field and golf) announced on Tuesday afternoons. The winners of the latest Athlete of the Week awards are listed below, along with details on their outstanding performances.
To view each sport's 2022-23 Athlete of the Week home page, navigate to the 2022-23 Athlete of the Week archive for complete details on each week's selections and winners.
MIAC Softball Player of the Week
Lexi DeBace
Bethel University
Gr.
Little Canada, Minn. | Roseville Area
Lexi DeBace went a combined 5-for-9 with five runs and five RBI to lead No. 9 Bethel to a pair of opening weekend wins. In the season opener on 2/18, DeBace went 3-for-5, driving in three runs that included a walk-off RBI single in a 5-4 victory over UW-Stout. In a 16-5 victory over Dubuque later in the day, she was 2-for-4 with five runs score, two RBI, one walk, and three stolen bases.
MIAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
Alyssa Montero
St. Catherine University
Sr.
Circle Pines, Minn. | Centennial
Alyssa Montero struck out a combined 24 batters in her 2023 debut over the weekend. The senior spent 14.1 innings in the circle and held opponents to a .208 batting average with five runs and 11 hits allowed. Montero struck out 13 in a one-run, extra-inning loss to Nebraska Wesleyan on 2/18 and struckout 11 more in a 3-0 shutout of Dubuque on 2/19.
MIAC Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Jacob Parent
Bethel University
Jr.
New Richmond, Wis.
Jacob Parent took first place in the 400-meter dash at the UWL Indoor Eagle Open in a time of 48.30. That time currently leads the MIAC and ranks second nationally while also being the fastest flat track 400-meer time in program history.
MIAC Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Zach Schaffer
Saint John's University
So.
Chaska, Minn.
Zach Schaffer placed fourth overall and first among NCAA Division III participants with a season- and MIAC-best mark of 6.88 meters (22' 7") in the long jump at MSU-Mankato’s Maverick Invitational on 2/17.
MIAC Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Birgen Nelson
Gustavus Adolphus College
Sr.
Edina, Minn.
Birgen Nelson competed at the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. over the weekend and broke yet another NCAA Division III record. Nelson improved her 60-hurdles time to 8.33 in the semifinals for fourth-best in her heat, qualifying her for the finals. Nelson then ran an 8.42 in the finals, taking sixth in the nation. Nelson has now run the top-5 fastest 60-hurdles times in NCAA D-III history.
MIAC Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Journey Amundson
Macalester College
Sr.
Iron River, Wis. | Northwestern
Journey Amundson won the triple jump at the Tostrud Classic on 2/18 with a mark of 11.78m (38' 7.75"). The mark is a personal best and currently ranks 12th in NCAA Division III this season. It also broke Macalester's school record of 11.68m (38' 4"), set in 2007.