BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for swimming & diving and indoor track & field Tuesday. Student-athletes from Bethel, Gustavus, Saint Benedict, St. Catherine, Saint John's, and St. Scholastica claimed the Conference's weekly honors.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by the Conference's sports information directors and selected by MIAC staff. Throughout the winter season, team sports (basketball, hockey) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (swimming & diving, indoor track & field) 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 2023-24 Athlete of the Week home page, navigate to the 2023-24 Athlete of the Week archive for complete details on each week's selections and winners.
MIAC Men's Swimming Athlete of the Week
Brayden Slavik
Saint John's University
So.
Green Isle, Minn. | Chaska
Brayden Slavik led the Johnnies at a pair of dual meets, winning the 500-yard freestyle (4:51.64) against NCAA Division II St. Cloud State on 1/18 before turning in a trio of victories in a dual with Carleton on 1/20. Slavik touched the wall first in the 500 free (4:52.38), 1,650 free (17:10.39), and 400 individual medley (4:21.56) against the Knights. He also placed fourth in the 200 free against the Huskies with a time of 1:47.63.
MIAC Men's Diving Athlete of the Week
Eli Grabinski
Saint John's University
Jr.
Sauk Rapids, Minn. | Sauk Rapids-Rice
Eli Grabinski took second in both the 1- (266.15) and 3-meter (272.85) dives at NCAA Division II St. Cloud State on 1/18 and swept both dives, posting a 287.85 in the 1-meter and a 287.25 on the 3-meter board, in a home win over Carleton on 1/20.
MIAC Women's Swimming Athlete of the Week
Emma Svendsen
St. Catherine University
Jr.
Mead, Colo.
Emma Svendsen led the Wildcats with 90 points to help the team place second at the Grinnell Invitational on 1/19-20. Svendsen won the 100- (59.41) and 200-yard (2:08.01) backstrokes and placed second in the 200 IM (2:10.99) and 400 IM (4:37.48). Svendsen also helped the Wildcats to two top-three relay results, winning the 800 freestyle relay in 8:01.35 and placing third in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:41.16.
MIAC Women's Diving Athlete of the Week
Emmalyn Dickerson
Gustavus Adolphus College
Sr.
New Prague, Minn.
Emmalyn Dickerson finished third overall off the 1-meter diving board with a score of 381.90 at UW-Stevens Point Invitational on 1/19-20. Her score was tops among NCAA Division III competitors at the meet.
MIAC Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Landen Liu
Bethel University
So.
Blaine, Minn. | Centennial
Landen Liu ran the fourth-fastest 60-meter dash time in NCAA Division III this season at the Vanessa Seljeskog Classic on 1/20. Liu clocked in at 6.81 to win the event.
MIAC Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Trent Beseth
The College of St. Scholastica
Jr.
Stanchfield, Minn. | Cambridge-Isanti
Trent Beseth was the runner-up in the shot put and placed fourth in the weight throw at the Twin Ports Open on 1/20. Beseth recorded a toss of 15.85 meters (52' 0") in the shot and 15.84 meters (51' 11.75") in the weight. His shot put distance is good for 20th in NCAA Division III, while his weight throw represents a new personal best.
MIAC Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Kelsie Sealock
Bethel University
Gr.
Plymouth, Minn. | Osseo
Kelsie Sealock helped the Royals to two of their three event victories at the Vanessa Seljeskog Classic on 1/20. Sealock won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.83, good for the seventh-fastest time in NCAA Division III this season. She was also part of the victorious 4x400 relay team that won in 4:03.28. That time ranks 16th in Division III this winter.
MIAC Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Jaylyn Ahlberg
College of Saint Benedict
So.
Shoreview, Minn. | Mounds View
Jaylyn Ahlberg captured the pole vault title at the Cobber Open on 1/20 by vaulting to a personal best of 3.55 meters (11' 7.75"). That mark ranks third all-time in CSB indoor history and is currently 16th in NCAA Division III this season.