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, Saint Mary's, and St. Olaf 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
Chris Knowles
Gustavus Adolphus College
Sr. | First Base
New Ulm, Minn. | Cathedral
Chris Knowles hit 6-for-14 (.429) with eight runs, four RBI, a double, a triple, two home runs, and five walks. In a doubleheader against St. Scholastica on 4/3, Knowles reached base in 5-of-8 plate appearances, recording a triple and home run and walking three times before the series' second game was halted due to visibility. Knowles then finished a triple shy of the cycle in the Gusties' road sweep of Saint John's on 4/6, collecting four hits, including a double and another home run.
MIAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Max Sutter
Bethel University
Sr. | Right-handed Pitcher
Albertville, Minn. | STMA
Max Sutter picked up the win in the Royals' 3-2 extra-inning victory over Carleton on 4/5. The senior right-hander struck out a career-high eleven batters in seven innings of work, walking none while allowing one run on four hits and 108 pitches in the game.
MIAC Softball Player of the Week
Amelia Christenson
St. Olaf College
Sr. | First Base
Maple Grove, Minn. | Wayzata
Amelia Christenson hit .875 (7-for-8) with two walks, five doubles, three runs scored, and eight RBI in the Oles' split at St. Catherine on 4/5. Christenson registered an on-base percentage of .900 and a slugging percentage of 1.500 over the two games. The senior had her first-career four-hit game, going 4-for-4 with a walk, three doubles, two runs scored, and a career-high-tying five RBI in game one before going 3-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, a run scored, and three RBI in game two.
MIAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
Makayla Steffes
Saint Mary's University
So. | Pitcher
Winona, Minn.
Makayla Steffes pitched two complete-game shutouts for the Cardinals over the weekend. Steffes recorded a career-high 15 strikeouts in a 6-0 win against St. Scholastica on 4/5 before returning to the circle for five more Ks in a 4-0 win over Carleton on 4/6. Steffes allowed a total of seven hits while walking three and striking out 20 in 14 innings of work.
MIAC Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Gage Gohl
Gustavus Adolphus College
Jr.
Sioux Falls, S.D. | Lincoln
Gage Gohl won both of his doubles matches and one singles match against nationally ranked opponents over the weekend. Playing against No. 21-ranked UW-Whitewater on 4/5, Gohl and doubles partner Tyler Haddorff won 6-2 at the No. 1 spot. Gohl then played No. 1 singles and won 6-1, 6-1 as Gustavus defeated the Warhawks, 6-1. Gohl and Haddorff triumphed again at top doubles against No. 4 Chicago on 4/6 and battled to a third set at No. 1 singles.
MIAC Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Kaya De Bruijn
Gustavus Adolphus College
Jr.
Maasland, Netherlands | Stedelijk Gymnasium
Kaya De Bruijn led the Gusties to a 2-1 weekend at the Midwest Invite against a trio of nationally ranked teams. De Bruijn won all of her matches at No. 2 singles against No. 43 Hope, No. 21 Whitman, and No. 23 Denison, and added a pair of doubles wins alongside Karina Elvestrom against the Flying Dutch and Big Red.