ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) crowned its first conference champions of the 2014-15 season Monday and, Friday, the league followed up with the announcement of its first MIAC Elite 22 Award winners of the new season. St. Thomas swept the prestigious conference award in men's and women's golf for the second-straight season, with Alex Kapraun repeating as the men's honoree, and fellow Tommie Rachel Morris claiming the women's award.

The MIAC Elite 22 Award recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the conference championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. Modeled after the NCAA Elite 89 Award, the MIAC Elite 22 Award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest grade point average (GPA) in each sport who meet similarly high, sport-specific athletic requirements. 

The Elite 22 award - now in its second season - emerged from the MIAC's strategic plan. It was unanimously approved by the MIAC's governance structure in the spring of 2013, and first awarded during the 2013-14 season.

The MIAC Elite 22 Award in men's and women's golf is presented to the individual with the highest GPA that is a sophomore, junior or senior and in at least his or her second season of competition with their current team and recognized as a member of the All-Championship Team at the MIAC Golf Championships, which includes the top 10 individual finishers (including ties).

Kapraun was honored as the first-ever Elite 22 repeat winner as a result of his combined excellence on the golf course and in the classroom. He finished sixth place individually at the 2014 MIAC Men's Golf Championships while leading St. Thomas to a fourth-place finish in the team standings. Kapraun carded a total score of 10-over par 226 (72-76-78) to earn his All-Championship Team honor, and with it, his fourth-straight All-Conference honor when the awards are announced in May.

The Tommie senior has similarly high academic achievements. He is a double major in Actuarial Science and Mathematics, and he has a near-perfect 3.97 grade point average (GPA). Kapraun was named to the MIAC Academic All-Conference team each of the last two seasons as well.

Another St. Thomas student-athlete - Morris - was honored with the 2014-15 Women's Golf MIAC Elite 22 Award as a result of her combined excellence in athletics and academics. Morris finished fourth individually at the 2013 MIAC Women's Golf Championships while leading St. Thomas to a third-place finish in the team standings. Morris' final score of 233 (78-77-78) was just two shots behind the individual medalist and good for a spot on the All-Championship Team, and with it, her second-straight All-Conference honor when the awards are announced in May.

The Tommie sophomore has also excelled in the classroom during her time at St. Thomas. Morris is a Secondary Education major, and she has an outstanding 3.78 GPA thus far in her college career.

A plaque will be provided to Kapraun and Morris to commemorate their MIAC Elite 22 Award, and they are recognized on the MIAC Elite 22 Award web site, which will archive each of the 22 winners throughout the 2014-15 season.

| MIAC Elite 22 Award | 2014-15 MIAC Elite 22 Award Archive |