BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Elite 22 Awards in men's and women's golf Wednesday and, for the third-straight season, it's a St. Thomas sweep. Tommie seniors Jack Riester and Erin Dingmann both claimed the conference's prestigious honor thanks to their outstanding performance on the course and in the classroom.  

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 third 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. Now in its third season, St. Thomas has now swept all six of the Elite 22 men's and women's golf honors.

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).

Dingmann's Elite 22 Award is the second of her decorated career, after she also won the inaugural honor in 2013. Her latest MIAC Elite 22 honor is a result of her outstanding 3.85 GPA and her sixth place individual finish at the MIAC Women's Golf Championships earlier this month. Dingmann finished with a total score of 238 (78-76-84) and a hole in one on the tournament's first day to help St. Thomas capture its second MIAC championships in the last three years.

The St. Thomas senior is a Kimball, Minn., native and an alum of the Kimball-Eden Valley-Watkins golf program. Dingmann is pursuing a degree in Business Administration and Marketing. She is a two-time All-MIAC Academic All-Conference honoree, and she will earn her second All-Conference award this spring after also earning All-MIAC honors as sophomore, and MIAC Rookie-of-the-Year honors in her first year.

Riester made it a clean sweep for the Tommies with his Elite 22 Award as well, thanks to his 3.40 GPA and his individual finish at the MIAC Championships, where he tied for eighth place. Riester and the Tommies finished second in the team standings by a single shot behind Augsburg, and his overall score of 7-over-par 223 (74-77-72) was good for a tie for eighth.

The St. Thomas senior is a Minneapolis, Minn., native and a graduate of the Academy of Holy Angels. Riester is majoring in Business Administration and Real Estate. He adds his Elite 22 award to the All-Conference honor he earned in 2014-15, and Riester also was named MIAC Men's Golf Athlete-of-the-Week last spring. He shot an even-par 72 to help St. Thomas' final-day surge at the 2015 MIAC Championships.

A plaque will be provided to Riester and Dingmann 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 2015-16 season.

| MIAC Elite 22 Award | 2015-16 MIAC Elite 22 Award Archive |