BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for baseball, softball, and tennis on Monday. Student-athletes from Bethel, Gustavus, Macalester, 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 spring season, team sports (baseball, softball, and tennis) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (golf and 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 Baseball Player of the Week
Jake Schelonka
The College of St. Scholastica
Gr. | Outfield
Sartell, Minn.
Jake Schelonka led the Saints to a 5-0 week in Florida as he batted .474 (9-for-19) with 10 RBI and 10 runs scored. Schelonka tallied a double, a triple, four home runs, and three walks.
MIAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Griffin Larson
Saint John's University
Sr. | Right-handed Pitcher
Edina, Minn.
Griffin Larson improved to 2-0 on the year with a five-strikeout performance on the mound in the Johnnies' 4-1 win over previously unbeaten Wesleyan (Conn.) on 3/17) in Tucson, Arizona. Larson allowed one hit in six innings of work and retired his final 14 batters in order.
MIAC Softball Player of the Week
Alli Johnson
Macalester College
Fy. | Infield
Waukee, Iowa | Northwest
Alli Johnson batted .444 (12-for-27) with five doubles, eight runs, five RBI and two stolen bases to lead the Scots to a 6-2 record in Florida last week. Against Ripon on 3/11, Johnson went 3-for-4 and hit a walk-off, two-run single for a 7-6 victory. Johnson also hit two doubles in a 4-2 win over Susquehanna on 3/12 and went 4-for-5 with a double, two runs, and two RBI in a 15-5 win over Lawrence on 3/15. For the week, Johnson slugged .630 and posted an on-base percentage of .500.
MIAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
Kayla Simacek
Bethel University
Sr. | Pitcher
Hastings, Minn.
Kayla Simacek went 3-0 in the circle with a 0.53 earned run average in five appearances and three starts while walking two in 26.1 innings of work for the Royals last week. Her combined 38 strikeouts helped her surpass the 1,000-career strikeout mark, becoming just the second pitcher in MIAC history to do so. Simacek started the week with her fourth career perfect game - and first that went a full seven innings - in a 7-0 win over Skidmore on 3/11. She struck out 11 hitters and only threw 73 pitches. On 3/13 she added 2.2 innings of shutout relief while striking four in a 13-6 over Wilmington. She then picked up a complete game victory over Kean giving up two runs - none which were earned - while striking out four. She finished the weekend in a 3-0 win over Plymouth State on 3/14 where she gave up one hit and struck out 15 in a complete game effort. Simacek now has 1,025 career Ks, tied for 20th-most in NCAA Division III history.
MIAC Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Jack Bergmeyer
Gustavus Adolphus College
Sr.
Lincoln, Neb. | Southeast
Jack Bergmeyer won all three of his singles matches at the Stag-Hen Invitational in Claremont, California on 3/15-16. Playing No. 6 singles, Bergmeyer started the weekend with a 7-6, 6-2 win against No. 27 Babson. Bergmeyer then moved up to No. 5 singles and won 6-2, 6-4 against No. 33 George Fox. He finished the weekend back at No. 6 singles with a 6-0, 7-5 win at No. 26 Pomona-Pitzer, improving to a perfect 8-0 in singles during the dual match season.
MIAC Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Lauryn Douglas
Bethel University
Sr.
North Mankato, Minn. | Mankato West
Lauryn Douglas led the Royals to five wins in Orlando last week by going a combined 8-0 in singles and doubles play. Douglas helped BU to a 5-4 win over Hope on 3/13, winning the top singles match in straight sets 6-4, 6-1. She also closed out the week by reaching a program-best 11 straight wins with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles against Salve Regina. In doubles play, Douglas and partner Michaella Sullivan dropped just four games while going 4-0 in the last seven days.