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, St. Catherine, St. Olaf, 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, outdoor 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.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week archive has complete details on each week's selections and winners.
MIAC Baseball Player of the Week
Jake Schelonka
The College of St. Scholastica
Gr. | Utility
Sartell, Minn.
Jake Schelonka went 12-for-26 at the plate, driving home three runs and crossing home plate three times in a 4-2 week in Florida for the Saints. Schelonka posted four multi-hit games and three extra-base hits. He went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, one RBI, and three runs scored against Thomas on 3/13.
MIAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Kevin Steel
St. Olaf College
Jr. | Right-handed Pitcher
San Diego, Calif. | La Jolla
Kevin Steel struck out a career-high nine batters while throwing 7.0 shutout innings in a no-decision for the Oles in game two of a doubleheader at Wartburg on 3/16. The junior held the Knights to two hits and two walks over his seven-inning outing.
MIAC Softball Player of the Week
Grace Swigart
St. Catherine University
Fy. | Catcher
Chaska, Minn.
Grace Swigart hit .474 (9-for-19) as the Wildcats went 4-2 at the The Spring Games last week in Florida. Swigart tallied four multi-hit games while posting five doubles and a triple on the week. She drove in eight runs and crossed home plate eight times as well, slugging .842 over the six-game stretch.
MIAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
Maizie Anderson
Gustavus Adolphus College
Jr. | Pitcher
Rosemount, Minn.
Maizie Anderson picked up a complete-game victory and a save in the Gusties' non-conference sweep of Bethany Lutheran on 3/14. Anderson tossed the final 1.2 innings of the first game, allowing one hit and striking out three of the seven batters she faced in the 5-4 win. Anderson struck out six more batters during a complete-game effort in the 7-3 win that followed.
MIAC Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Carter Sheard
Bethel University
So.
Maple Grove, Minn.
Carter Sheard helped the Royals to a 4-1 week by going 4-1 at the top singles and doubles spots. Sheard's only loss came in a third-set tiebreaker after both first and second sets went into a tiebreaker. He closed out the week winning three in a row defeating Loras 7-6 (5), 6-1, Marymount 6-3, 6-1 and Coe 7-6 (3), 3-6, 1-0 (13). His wins at No. 1 doubles came against Loras (6-4) and Marymount (6-0).
MIAC Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Emma Thole
Bethel University
Sr.
St. Michael, Minn. | STMA
Emma Thole helped the Royals to a pair of wins in Florida with victories in both of her No. 5 singles matches. In a 4-3 win over nationally-ranked Grinnell on 3/12, Thole earned the decisive point of the comeback victory. She dropped her opening set 3-6 before rallying in set two to win 7-6 (2). Thole then took the final set, 6-3, to clinch a ranked victory for the Royals. Thole also recorded a 6-3, 6-2 triumph in BU's 4-3 loss to Haverford on 3/13.