By BJ Pickard, MIAC

SUWANEE, Ga. – Gustavus Adolphus College men’s tennis student-athlete Nick Aney and women’s track & field student-athlete Birgen Nelson were among 20 individuals from around NCAA Division III to be recognized as regional winners of the second annual Division III Commissioner’s Association (DIIICA) Student-Athlete of the Year awards, the organization announced on Monday.

Aney and Nelson earned their spots on the ballot as the MIAC’s nominees for the D3CA awards earlier this month. Each of the regional winners will advance to the national ballot for consideration for 2022-23 D3CA Men’s Sport Student-Athlete of the Year and Women’s Sport Student-Athlete of the Year. Ryan Beard of Westminster (Pa.) College and Eliza Beaudin of Elmira (N.Y.) College were recognized as the inaugural recipients of the national awards last year.

Conferences were permitted to submit two nominations for each award if at least one of the nominations was an international student/ethnic minority. Graduating seniors were the only student-athletes eligible for this award.

Selection criteria for the awards included considerations based on academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership and a personal statement submitted by each nominee.

Voting was conducted by the commissioners within each of the ten regions, with the top male and female honoree recognized as finalists for the Awards Committee to select the Division III Commissioner’s Association Men’s Sport and Women’s Sport Student-Athlete of the Year.

The two national winners will be announced later this month.

D3CA REGIONAL STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Region I

Men’s Sport                Nathaniel Berry, Bates College (Swimming & Diving) – NESCAC
Women’s Sport           Elise Morris, Middlebury College (Soccer) – NESCAC

Region II

Men’s Sport                Matthew Kearney, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cross Country/Track & Field) – NEWMAC
Women’s Sport           Sophia Slovenski, University of Southern Maine (Track & Field) – LEC

Region III

Men’s Sport                Noah Campanelli, St. John Fisher University (Baseball) – Empire 8
Women’s Sport          Karson Saunders, Union (N.Y.) College (Softball) – Liberty

Region IV

Men’s Sport                Hunter Gutierrez, Stevens Institute of Technology (Wrestling) – MAC Freedom
Women’s Sport           Kristiina Castagnola, Rowan University (Field Hockey) – NJAC

Region V

Men’s Sport                Mason Nissley, Messiah University (Volleyball) – MAC Commonwealth
Women’s Sport           Abby Birk, Johns Hopkins University (Field Hockey) – Centennial

Region VI

Men’s Sport                Kasey Draper, Roanoke College (Basketball) – ODAC
Women’s Sport           Tess Muneses, Washington & Lee University (Field Hockey) – ODAC

Region VII

Men’s Sport                Tyler Horvat, Washington & Jefferson College (Baseball) – PAC
Women’s Sport           Isabelle Hoover, College of Wooster (Cross Country/Track & Field) – NCAC

Region VIII

Men’s Sport                Nick Kowalczyk, Dominican University (Soccer) – NACC
Women’s Sport           Madison Kellione, Transylvania University (Basketball) – HCAC

Region IX

Men’s Sport                Nick Aney, Gustavus Adolphus College (Tennis) – MIAC
Women’s Sport           Birgen Nelson, Gustavus Adolphus College (Track & Field) – MIAC

Region X

Men’s Sport        Josh Angle, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (Basketball) – SCIAC
Women’s Sport     Ashley Croft, East Texas Baptist University (Softball) – ASC

About the DIIICA
The Division III Commissioners Association became a stand-alone organization in January 1992, after previously serving as a combined group with the Division II Commissioners Association. The association is comprised of 43 NCAA Division III conferences, representing over 440 public and private institutions. The purpose of the DIIICA is to empower commissioners to effectively lead their conferences and positively impact Division III intercollegiate athletics by identifying challenges, developing solutions, and taking collective action that reflects the conference perspective.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) recently honored 12 Gustavus softball student-athletes as Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athletes for the 2022-23 academic year – Greta Dahlen (So., West Des Moines), Grace Gardner (Fy., Big Lake), Olivia Guggenberger (Fy., Rosemount), Marah Hulke (Fy., Courtland), Taylor Katzenmeyer (Fy., Hopkins), Lauren Lambert (Fy., Woodbury), Madi Mueller (Jr., North Mankato), Carly Nelson (Fy., Lake Crystal), Caitlin Olafsson (Fy., Woodbury), Piper Otto (Jr., Brooklyn Park), Kayla Ruud (Sr., Savage), and Chloe Smallfield (So., Papillion, Neb.).

A total of 2,369 Division III softball student-athletes received the honor, maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

About the NFCA

Celebrating 40 years in 2023, the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Awards Program, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from NFCA podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and a National Convention.

NFCA Release

Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete

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ATLANTA, Ga. – The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) recently announced its Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for the 2022-23 season and the Gustavus women’s basketball team earned recognition. Making their 18th appearance on the NCAA Division III honor roll, the Gusties were recognized as the team with the 20th-best cumulative grade point average in Division III at a 3.688.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and two-year college women’s basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2022-23 season is the 28th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.

Founded in 1981, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport.

WBCA Release

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By BJ Pickard, MIAC Associate Commissioner

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its nominees for the NCAA Woman of the Year and the Division III Commissioners Association (DIIICA) Student-Athletes of the Year awards on Tuesday.

Gustavus Adolphus College’s Birgen Nelson has been selected as the MIAC’s nominee for both the NCAA and DIIICA Women’s Sport Student-Athlete of the Year awards, while fellow Gustie Nick Aney has been chosen as the conference’s nominee for the DIIICA Men’s Sport Student-Athlete of the Year honor.

Birgen Nelson

Nelson (Edina) earned a 3.96 GPA while double-majoring in political science and classical languages at Gustavus. She finished her Gustie track & field career by repeating as the NCAA Division III national champion in the 100-hurdles and the runner up in the 400-hurdles. Nelson also won the national championship in the 60-hurdles at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships. Nelson became the most decorated track & field athlete in Gustavus history as a three-time national champion and eight-time All-American while graduating with 14 school records (indoor 60M, 200M, 400M, 55H, 60H, 4×200, 4×400, outdoor 100M, 200M, 100H, 400H, 4×100, 4×200, sprint medley). Nelson owns three NCAA DIII all-time records in the indoor 60-hurdles (8.33), outdoor 100-hurdles (13.32), and outdoor sprint medley relay (3:59.32). She also owns the top four all-time NCAA DIII times in the 60-hurdles and is a two-time USTFCCCA North Region Track Athlete of the Year and two-time MIAC Track Athlete of the Year. She has also received CSC Academic All-America honors each of the last three years.

Outside of competition, Nelson has put her political science degree to use as a hall representative in Student Senate, a member of the Gustavus Board of Conduct, the student body Co-President, and the Legislative Affairs Co-Chair for the Minnesota Association of Private College Students.

“I am a prime example of how athletics can change lives for the better,” said Nelson, who will next be attending Duke University to earn a Master’s degree in Public Policy. “I am relentless in my pursuit of excellence, but also in justice for those who have not been given a chance.”

The NCAA Woman of the Year was established in 1991 to honor graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service, and leadership throughout their collegiate careers. The NCAA encourages member schools to honor their top graduating female student-athletes each year by submitting their names for consideration for the award. This year’s nominees included 248 women from Division I, 127 from Division II, and 202 from Division III. A total of 23 sports are represented, with multisport student-athletes accounting for 125 of the nominees.

Nelson was among seven extremely deserving student-athletes nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award by MIAC institutions this year. Other institutional nominees included Bethel’s Allie Fauth-Kilgore (softball), Hamline’s Alexandra Maddux (cross country/track & field), Macalester’s Journey Amundson (track & field), Saint Benedict’s Maggie Beckman (track & field), St. Catherine’s Kaitlyn Blair (ice hockey), and St. Scholastica’s Alcia Draper (volleyball). All seven individuals were also considered to receive the MIAC nomination for DIIICA Women’s Sport Student-Athlete of the Year.

Nick Aney

Aney (Rochester) graduated with a 3.99 GPA in biochemistry at Gustavus. A recipient of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship earlier this summer, Aney also earned his third consecutive CSC Academic All-America honor and received the College’s first Academic All-American of the Year award this past year. Aney is a three-time All-American after reaching the quarterfinals of the 2023 NCAA Doubles Championships, the semifinals of the 2021 NCAA Doubles Championships, and finishing in the top eight at the 2021 ITA Cup after upsetting the No. 1-ranked team in the country in the first round. Aney received the 2022 MIAC Arthur Ashe Award for high achievement and character, and is a two-time MIAC Elite 22 Award recipient. Aney posted a career singles record of 48-38 and is 71-35 in doubles play. He helped the Gusties win conference championships in both the regular season and MIAC Playoffs in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and capped his senior season by clinching the match point in an upset win over defending national champion Chicago to go to the Elite Eight. In the final 2023 ITA Division III rankings, Aney and partner Daniel Fouchier ranked No. 16 in the nation in doubles, while Aney was the No. 28-ranked singles player in the country.

“Being a part of the Gustavus men’s tennis team has truly been one of the most meaningful and beneficial experiences I’ve had in my entire life,” said Aney, who is set to continue his education at the University of North Carolina’s School of Dentistry. “The support system in place at Gustavus has also been really critical in helping me succeed on the court and in the classroom.”

Beyond athletics, Aney has volunteered at Good Samaritan Dental Clinic and Channel One Food Bank in Rochester, Minn., and has been a leading participant in the Gusties’ Big Partner/Little Partner program. He also co-founded the Gustavus Pre-Dental Club and served as a first-term seminar peer mentor and academic leader in guiding first-year students to help ease the transition to college.

Aney and Saint John’s Michael Wozniak (football) were finalists for the MIAC’s nomination for DIIICA Men’s Sport Student-Athlete of the Year. This is the second year of the DIIICA awards, which recognize graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service, and leadership. Voting is conducted by the commissioners within each of the ten regions, with the top men’s sport and women’s sport honorees recognized as finalists for the Awards Committee to select the Division III Commissioner’s Association Men’s Sport and Women’s Sport Student-Athlete of the Year. Recipients of both the DIIICA awards will be announced later this month.

Following the announcements of Conference nominees, the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division. The selection committee will determine the top three honorees in each division from the Top 30, and the nine finalists will be announced in November. From those nine finalists, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics will announce the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year at the NCAA Convention in Phoenix, Ariz. in January 2024.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The NABC recently announced the recipients of the 2022-23 NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards and NABC Honors Court, representing outstanding achievement in the classroom by men’s college basketball teams and student-athletes. Gustavus men’s basketball earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award and had four student-athletes recognized on the Honors Court.

Adam Biewen (Jr., Golden Valley), Landon Lantz (Jr., Lake Crystal), Jordan Schommer (Sr., Merrifield), and Evan Wieker (Jr., St. Michael) were selected to the honors court.

The Team Academic Excellence Award recognizes men’s basketball programs that completed the 2022-23 academic year with a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. The NABC Honors Court includes junior, senior, and graduate student men’s basketball players who finished the 2022-23 year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. The NABC’s academic awards include honorees from all levels of college basketball.

“Education is a core value of the NABC, and we are privileged to recognize these outstanding student-athletes and the coaches and support staff who invest in their development,” said NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson. “The hundreds of teams and thousands of players that qualified for NABC academic awards this season are a testament to our sport’s ongoing prioritization of success in the classroom.”

Over 1,800 players earned spots on the NABC Honors Court and over 300 programs received NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards for 2022-23. A full list of Honors Court recipients is available by clicking here, and the following programs earned Team Academic Excellence Awards:

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CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — The Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) recently announced its 2022-23 All-Scholar Team GPA Award winners, recognizing the women’s collegiate golf programs with the highest collective average team GPA during the 2022-23 academic year. The Gustavus women’s golf team earned recognition with the second highest cumulative GPA (3.818) in all of NCAA Division III. Middlebury College edged the Gusties for top GPA in the country, finishing the season with a mark of 3.859.

About the Women’s Golf Coaches Association

The Women’s Golf Coaches Association, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization representing women’s collegiate golf coaches. The WGCA was formed to encourage the playing of college golf for women in correlation with a general objective of education and in accordance with the highest tradition of intercollegiate competition. Today, the WGCA represents over 700 coaches throughout the U.S. and is dedicated to educating, promoting and recognizing both its members and the student-athletes they represent.

WGCA Release

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SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College Department of Athletics has chosen 12 individuals for induction into its Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2023 inductees include Andy Bryan ’08 (tennis), Joyce DeWitz ’07 (softball), Molly Doyle ’08 (hockey), Julie Mahre ’08 (softball), Laura Stypulkowski ’05 (hockey), Shane Thielke ’97 (football), Joe Thorvig ’02 (baseball/football), Jess Vadnais ’08 (basketball), and the benefactor group of George Hicks ’75, Mary Dee Hicks ’75, John Huepenbecker ’80, and Marcia Page ’82.

Bryan, an Edina, Minn. native, was a four-time All-American and the 2007-08 Gustavus Male Athlete of the Year. Bryan and doubles partner Charlie Paukert finished second at the 2008 NCAA Doubles Championships. He won 190 combined singles and doubles matches throughout his career and received the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

DeWitz, a Good Thunder, Minn. native, is arguably the greatest pitcher in Gustavus softball history with eight program pitching records, including victories (61), appearances (106), and starts (89). DeWitz was a two-time All-Region and three-time All-Conference selection.

Doyle, an Eagan, Minn. native, was a four-time All-Conference honoree and a First Team All-American her sophomore season. Doyle is fourth in program history with 68 career goals and ranks fifth with 131 points. She helped the Gusties capture four MIAC championships with a record of 97-15-3 during her career.

Mahre, a White Bear Lake, Minn. native, was a four-time All-Region and four-time All-Conference performer as a second baseman and leadoff hitter. Mahre graduated with eight program records and still owns career marks in runs scored (165) and hits (223). She helped the Gusties reach at least 30 wins in three consecutive seasons.

Stypulkowski, a White Bear Lake, Minn. native, was a two-time All-Conference selection and earned All-America honors her senior season. Stypulkowski ranks second in program history with 82 career assists and third with 135 points. She helped the Gusties capture two MIAC titles and two third-place finishes at the NCAA Championships.

Thielke, a Holloway, Minn. native, was a two-time All-Conference defensive back and kick returner. Thielke led the MIAC in kick returns both his junior and senior seasons and still owns the program record for kickoff return average (30.6). He also ranks third in program history in career tackles (307).

Thorvig, a Stacy, Minn. native, was a standout two-sport athlete in baseball and football. On the gridiron, Thorvig earned two All-Conference selections at quarterback, ranking third in career touchdowns (59) and fourth in passing yards (6,251). On the diamond, Thorvig earned All-Conference his senior season and ranks seventh in program history in career home runs (14).

Vadnais, a Hudson, Wis. native, earned three All-Conference, two All-Region, and one All-America honor. She also earned the 2006-07 MIAC Player of the Year Award. Vadnais graduated with eight program records, including career points (1,779) and steals (223), and was a finalist for the 2008 Jostens Division III Player of the Year Award.

The benefactor group of George Hicks, Mary Dee Hicks, John Huepenbecker, and Marcia Page enter the Hall for their longstanding contributions to the College. They were instrumental in raising funds to complete the new football stadium in 2007 and their charitable gifts most recently played a major role in the construction of the Lund Center expansion project.

This group will be honored at the Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet, which will be held in Cec Eckhoff Alumni Hall on Saturday, Oct. 14, following the football game against Macalester College at 1 p.m. Individuals eligible for induction into the Gustavus Athletics Hall of Fame are athletes, coaches, and benefactors. Selection of athletes is based on athletic achievements while a student at Gustavus, while a benefactor is selected for extraordinary contribution to the athletic department through service or philanthropy. Eight members of the Gustavus Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 will be inducted for their accomplishments as student-athletes, while one group of four individuals will be inducted as benefactors.

The selection of the inductees to the Gustavus Hall of Fame is made by the Gustavus Hall of Fame Board, which is an 11-member group consisting of current athletic administrators, former coaches, and alumni.

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced its 2022-23 postgraduate scholarship men’s awardees and recently graduated Gustavus men’s tennis player Nick Aney (Rochester) was one of 21 student-athletes out of all three divisions to receive the prestigious scholarship.

Aney is the 40th Gustavus student-athlete to receive an NCAA postgraduate scholarship since football player James Goodwin became the first in 1974.

“The NCAA Postgraduate scholarship is another tremendous and well-deserved honor for Nick and our program,” Head Coach Tommy Valentini said. “He had a tremendous career in the classroom and on the tennis court in terms of his results, and more importantly, in terms of his living our values. We are grateful he was selected for this prestigious award, and we look forward to cheering him on and supporting his progress in his exciting next chapter at UNC.” 

Aney, who graduated with a 3.99 GPA in biochemistry, recently earned his third consecutive CSC Academic All-America honor and received the College’s first Academic All-American of the Year award. Aney is a three-time All-American after reaching the quarterfinals of the 2023 NCAA Doubles Championships with partner Daniel Fouchier. Aney also reached the semifinals of the 2021 NCAA Doubles Championships with partner Alex Budde, and finished in the top eight at the 2021 ITA Cup after upsetting the No. 1-ranked team in the country in the first round. Aney received the 2022 MIAC Arthur Ashe Award and is a two-time MIAC Elite 22 Award winner. Aney posted a career singles record of 48-38 and is 71-35 in doubles play. He helped the Gusties win conference championships in both the regular season and playoff in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and capped his senior season by clinching the match point in an upset win over defending national champion Chicago to go to the Elite Eight. In the final 2023 ITA Division III rankings, Aney and Fouchier ranked No. 16 in the nation in doubles, while Aney was the No. 28 singles player in the country.

To qualify for the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, student-athletes must excel academically and athletically, be in their final year of eligibility and plan to pursue graduate study. Student-athletes must also maintain at least a 3.2 grade-point average and be nominated by their institution’s faculty athletics representative. Created in 1964, NCAA postgraduate scholarships promote and encourage education by rewarding the Association’s most accomplished student-athletes.

The NCAA awards up to 126 postgraduate scholarships annually. The one-time non-renewable scholarships of $10,000 are awarded three times a year corresponding to each sport season (fall, winter and spring). Each sports season there are 21 scholarships available for men and 21 scholarships available for women for use in an accredited graduate program.

All former student-athletes who earned an undergraduate degree from an NCAA member school are eligible to be nominated by that school for an NCAA graduate degree scholarship, regardless of when they received their undergraduate degree.

Spring 2023 NCAA Men’s Postgraduate Scholarship Awardees

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TEMPE, Ariz. — The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced its 2023 Division III Scholar-Athletes and All-Academic Teams and the Gustavus men’s team earned recognition. Eighteen Gustie men earned Scholar-Athlete honors while the team as a whole received All-Academic Team standing.

Gustavus Scholar-Athletes

Nick Aney (Sr., Rochester)

Sean Bochman (Sr., Fall Creek, Wis.)

Alex Budde (Sr., Menomonee Falls, Wis.)

Josh Christensen (So., Rochester)

Rafael Costa (So., Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Drew Elofson (Sr., Saint Peter)

Daniel Fouchier (Sr., Nootdorp, Netherlands)

Caleb Fridinger (Jr., Woodbury)

Gage Gohl (Fy., Sioux Falls, S.D.)

Pedro Gomes-Menezes (Jr., Dunkerque, France )

Luke Haddorff (Sr., Burnsville)

Taona Mhwandagara (So., Harare, Zimbabwe)

Indraneel Raut (Sr., Oshkosh, Wis.)

Justin Sehlin (Sr., Bettendorf, Iowa)

Marco Siviero (So., Sao Miguel de Oeste, Brazil )

Sourabh Terakanambi (Sr., Apple Valley)

Oscar Wilkström (Sr., Hunnebostrand, Sweden )

Geoffrey Youngs (Jr., Fargo, N.D.)

Individual Requirements

• Have a grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year
• Be listed on the institutional eligibility form

Team Requirements

• Have a team grade point average of 3.2 or above (on a 4.00 scale),
• All student-athletes included should be listed on the institutional eligibility form, and
• All varsity letter winners should be factored into the cumulative team GPA for the current academic year

ITA Men’s Release

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TEMPE, Ariz. — The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced its 2023 Division III Scholar-Athletes and All-Academic Teams and the Gustavus women’s team earned recognition. The Gustie women had 15 student-athletes earn Scholar-Athlete honors with the team garnering the All-Academic Team award.

Gustavus Scholar-Athletes

Emily Carlson (Jr., Maple Grove)

Kaya De Brujin (Fy., Maasland, Netherlands)

Lili Elofson (Sr., Saint Peter)

Mary Enright (Jr., Vadnais Heights)

Brooke Haddorff (So., Eagan)

Renata Hernandez (Sr., Saint James)

Alli Laux (Jr., Onalaska)

Emily Norman (Sr., Rochester)

Yuki Oda (Sr., Kawasaki, Japan)

Maddie Packer (Fy., Wadena)

Taylor Ruhl (Fy., Brainerd)

Ashley Stroebel (Fy., Maplewood)

Allison Szalay (Fy., Urbandale, Iowa)

Hayley Trebil (Sr., Edina)

Pavla Yakimova (Fy., Glasgow, UK)

Individual Requirements

• Have a grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year
• Be listed on the institutional eligibility form

Team Requirements

• Have a team grade point average of 3.2 or above (on a 4.00 scale),
• All student-athletes included should be listed on the institutional eligibility form, and
• All varsity letter winners should be factored into the cumulative team GPA for the current academic year

ITA Women’s Release

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — The United States Marine Corps and the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced Thursday that 1,333 collegiate and high school volleyball teams earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award this season. This marks an all-time record number of programs honored for their academic achievements. The award, initiated in the 1992–93 academic year, honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale. The Gustavus volleyball team earned recognition with the Team Academic Award for the seventh season in a row.

“The commitment our coaches make to help their student-athletes pursue the best versions of themselves is evident in the academic accomplishments highlighted today.” said AVCA CEO Jaime Gordon. “Achievement on the court has always been closely tied to success in the classroom which is reflected by the number of championship programs honored.”

About the AVCA

The AVCA, an educationally based nonprofit headquartered in Lexington, Ky., is the largest and most diverse volleyball coaches’ association in the world. With a broad mandate to develop the sport, the AVCA provides leadership, recognition, advocacy, and professional development opportunities to over 8,000 volleyball coaches. Members include college, high school, club, and youth coaches, and well as a wide variety of product and service providers. Further information is available at avca.org.

AVCA Release

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CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — The 2022-23 Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) announced its All-American Scholar Team earlier in the month, and six Gustavus women’s golfers were recognized with the honor. The six women were of 1,401 collegiate golfers from 378 programs recognized with this prestigious honor.

Gustavus student-athletes recognized include Hannah Hubbart (Sr., Hastings), Lauren Hubbart (Fy., Hastings), Annika Reierson (Jr., Delano), Emily Kolb (Fy., Sioux Falls, S.D.), Laurel Ward (Sr., Bozeman, Mont.), and Kristin Martens (Sr., Sartell).

To be selected to the All-American Scholar Team, a student-athlete must:

• Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher
• Be an amateur and on the team’s roster through the conclusion of the team’s season
• Have played in 50% of the college’s regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year nominated through the team’s conference championship

WGCA Release

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NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Gustavus track & field teams recently earned academic honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the 2023 outdoor season. Seven Gusties received All-Academic Athlete recognition, while both the men’s and women’s squads were named All-Academic Teams. The Gustie men and women earned All-Academic Team recognition with a 3.22 and 3.51 team GPA, respectively.

The following Gusties earned All-Academic Athlete recognition:

Name, Major(s)

Kate Carlson (So., Inver Grove Heights), Exercise Physiology

Megan Geraets (So., Mankato), Chemistry Teaching and Chemistry

Madi Kes (Jr., Jordan), Environmental Studies

Danielle Miller (Jr., Waconia), Exercise Physiology with a Pre-PT Focus

Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina), Political Science and Classical Languages with an environmental studies minor

Annika Poe (Sr., Big Lake), Nursing

Josh Beiswanger (Sr., Mankato), Exercise Physiology

Division III Track & Field All-Academic Athletes Criteria

• Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale through the most recently completed grading period. Institutions utilizing a different GPA scale must convert the GPA to a 4.0 scale using the standard conversion method [GPA/Scale x 4.0]. Data must be certifiable by the institution’s registrar.
• Graduate students must take all undergraduate plus graduate coursework into account.
• Meet one of the following athletic criteria:
  • Must have finished the indoor season among the top 50 individuals as listed on the descending order lists on TFRRS. In addition, any athletes not among the top 50, but who participated at the Indoor or Outdoor National Championships, are eligible.
  • Must have competed as a member of one of the top 35 relay teams as listed on the indoor descending order list on TFRRS. In addition, any athletes not among the top 35 relay teams, but who participated in the relay at the Indoor or Outdoor National Championships, are eligible. Finally, any competing relay team member on an expanded descending order list to include 35 institutions (1 relay team per institution) is eligible.

Division III Track & Field All-Academic Teams Criteria

• Cumulative team GPA (not 2022-23 academic year, not semester) of all student-athletes who used a season of eligibility must be at least a 3.1 on a 4.0 scale through the most recent semester/quarter, computed by the following method:
• Total the cumulative number of semester hours or quarter hours earned for all student-athletes who used a season of eligibility, including the most recent grading period;
• Total the cumulative number of quality points (GPA multiplied by the number of credit hours) earned by all student-athletes who used a season of eligibility, including the most recent grading period;
• Divide the cumulative number of quality points earned by the cumulative number of semester or quarter hours earned.
• Institutions utilizing a different GPA scale than 4.0 then must convert the GPA to a 4.0 scale using the standard conversion method [GPA/Scale x 4.0]. Data must be certifiable by the institution’s registrar.
• Graduate students must take all undergraduate plus graduate coursework into account.

USTFCCCA All-Academic Release

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AUSTIN, Texas – The 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-America Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Teams were announced Wednesday and Gustavus’s three-time national champion Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina) has been selected First Team Academic All-America. Academic All-America Teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.

Birgen Nelson

Nelson, a political science and classical languages double major with a 3.96 GPA, had a storybook ending to her Gustavus track & field career by repeating as the NCAA Division III national champion in the 100-hurdles and the runner up in the 400-hurdles. Nelson also won the national championship in the 60-hurdles at this past season’s NCAA Indoor Championships. Nelson became the most decorated track & field athlete in Gustavus history as a three-time national champion and eight-time All-American while graduating with 14 school records (indoor 60M, 200M, 400M, 55H, 60H, 4×200, 4×400, outdoor 100M, 200M, 100H, 400H, 4×100, 4×200, sprint medley). Nelson owns three NCAA DIII all-time records in the indoor 60-hurdles (8.33), outdoor 100-hurdles (13.32), and outdoor sprint medley relay (3:59.32). She also owns the top four all-time NCAA DIII times in the 60-hurdles and is a two-time USTFCCCA North Region Track Athlete of the Year and two-time MIAC Track Athlete of the Year. 

Nelson garners her third consecutive CSC Academic All-America honor after earning First Team last year and Third Team in 2021. Nelson joins an exclusive group of five Gustavus student-athletes to earn three CSC Academic All-America honors. The others are gymnast Amanda Parker (2003, 04, 05), baseball player Ben Sherer (2004, 05, 06), softball player Rachael Click (2007, 08, 09), and men’s tennis player Nick Aney (2021, 22, 23). She also earns the Gustavus women’s track & field/cross country program’s 11th CSC Academic All-America honors. 

Nelson brings Gustavus’s CSC Academic All-America all-time count to 132, which ranks first in the MIAC (54 more than the next institution), 13th in NCAA Division III, and 38th among all NCAA divisions.

To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

2023 CSC Academic All-America Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Teams

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AUSTIN, Texas – The 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-America Women’s At-Large Teams were announced Thursday and Gustavus hockey player Kayla Vrieze (Sr., Eagan) has been selected First Team Academic All-America. Academic All-America Teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.

Kayla Vrieze

Vrieze, a public accounting major with a 3.99 GPA, had a storybook ending to her Gustavus hockey career by captaining the team to its first national championship. For the second consecutive season, Vrieze earned CCM/AHCA First Team All-America and the NCAA Elite 90 Award. Vrieze also earned MIAC Defensive Player of the Year this season, while helping the Gusties win both the MIAC regular season and playoff titles. Vrieze earned the MIAC Elite 22 Award in 2020 and 2022 and is a four-time MIAC Academic All-Conference selection. She accumulated 16 goals, 43 assists, 59 points, a +68 rating, and four game-winning goals in her career as a defender. Vrieze missed only one game out of 121 in her career while the Gusties posted a 94-18-9 record during that time. Vrieze earns the women’s hockey program’s ninth CSC Academic All-America honor and is the first two-time recipient since Carolyn Draayer garnered selections in 2014 and 2015.

Vrieze brings Gustavus’s CSC Academic All-America all-time count to 131, which ranks first in the MIAC (53 more than the next institution), 13th in NCAA Division III, and 38th among all NCAA divisions. Vrieze is one of four ice hockey players on the 16-member First Team, which also includes student-athletes who compete in golf, rowing, field hockey, lacrosse, gymnastics, and water polo. Gustavus now has 42 Women’s At-Large Academic All-Americans, which ranks sixth among all NCAA divisions.

To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

2023 CSC Academic All-America Women’s At-Large Teams

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CLEVELAND, Ohio – The final standings for the 2022-23 Learfield Directors’ Cup in NCAA Division III were released Tuesday and Gustavus finished in 30th place out of 323 qualified institutions. Gustavus had eight teams compete in the NCAA postseason, accumulating 520.5 points in the Directors’ Cup. Johns Hopkins won with 1282 points.

Women’s hockey led the way for Gustavus by winning the national championship, garnering 100 points. Men’s tennis and men’s soccer earned 73 points with fifth place finishes, women’s outdoor track & field earned 67.5 points for taking 10th place, women’s indoor track & field earned 55 points for taking 18th place, women’s swimming & diving earned 52 points for taking 22nd place, while women’s basketball and volleyball earned 50 points for finishing 17th.

With 520.5 total points, Gustavus ranks No. 1 in the MIAC and No. 8 in the region (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska). The 30th place finish is the best for Gustavus since 2010-11 when the Gusties finished 21st with 573.75 points. Gustavus last finished in the top-10 in 2008-09 with an eighth place finish. The highest finish in school history is sixth place in 2002-03.

Overall, 18 sports are counted in the final DIII standings, four of which must be men’s and women’s soccer and men’s and women’s basketball. The next highest (14 max.) sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, are used in the standings. The Learfield Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in NCAA Championships. The Division III Director’s Cup began during the 1995-96 academic year.

DIII Directors’ Cup Final Standings

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Sophomore Greata Dahlen

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Gustavus softball right fielder Greta Dahlen (So., West Des Moines, Iowa) was one of nine players to be named a 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Award recipient, presented by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). This is the inaugural year for the award at the Division III level, and is presented to the top nine defensive players at their respective positions from all collegiate divisions.

Daheln, in her 2023 season, started in 40 games in right field for the Gusties. The sophomore earned the award by recording a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, committing no errors in 62 total chances. Dahlen notched 60 putouts and two assists. She was one of only four MIAC softball athletes with a perfect fielding percentage, and is the only outfielder among the top four.

Recipients of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, presented by the NFCA, were selected by the 10 regional representatives of the NFCA’s NCAA Division III All-America Committee, following regional voting to identify the finalists at each position. The group utilized fielding statistics and school-submitted video to closely examine finalists and select the winners at every defensive position. Any student-athlete that competed in the current championship year and was nominated by their head coach who is a member in good standing with the NFCA was eligible for consideration for this prestigious accolade.

2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, presented by the NFCA:

DIII Golden Glove Award Recipients

P — Sophia DiCocco, Tufts

C — Sophie Wery, UW-Oshkosh

1B — Haley Leimbach, Tufts

2B — Margaux Lesser, NYU

3B — Julia Jennings, Wooster

SS — Tristen Maddox, East Texas Baptist

LF — Katie Phillips, Linfield

CF — Grace Calus, Guilford

RF — Greta Dahlen, Gustavus Adolphus

NFCA Release

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TEMPE, Ariz. — The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced its 2023 Division III Men’s Regional Awards, and two Gusties earned recognition. Seniors Daniel Fouchier (Nootdorp, Netherlands) and Alex Budde (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) were both recognized for their excellence on the court and in their communities throughout the season. Fouchier was named the winner of the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award, while Budde was named ITA Most Improved Senior.

The Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award recognizes student-athletes who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership, as well as scholastic, extracurricular, and tennis achievements. Fouchier is the third Gustie in the last five years to earn the Central Region’s Arthur Ashe award, as Michael O’Neil garnered the honor in 2020 and Chase Johnson in 2019.

In his four years at Gustavus, Fouchier maintained a 3.86 grade point average while majoring in International Management and minoring in Computer Science. He has also been a key contributor to the team’s participation in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life fundraising efforts for cancer research, and volunteers to put on tennis tournaments and mentor junior tennis players in his home country of the Netherlands.

Alex Budde was named as the Central Region’s Most Improved Senior, posting a singles record of 18-9 and a mark of 23-7 in the doubles. Playing primarily in the No. 5 singles spot, Budde clinched nine nationally-ranked victories. In the doubles with partner Gage Gohl, Budde earned a No. 6 NCAA Region VIII ranking. The duo put together an impressive season, getting wins over eight nationally-ranked opponents, including wins in four of the Gusties’ five post-season matches.

“We are so proud of Daniel and Alex,” said Head Coach Tommy Valentini. “These are well deserved and very meaningful honors for both of them. They both had fantastic seasons on the court. They provided stability and consistency in our lineup all year long and won so many huge matches that led to our group having a remarkable season.

“More importantly, they were pillars of leadership for us on and off the court – competing with heart and integrity, and mentoring their younger teammates and building trust in our approach. They stayed present at every turn, handled adversity with courage and resiliency throughout their careers, and took great care of their teammates as leaders.”

The ITA annually recognizes coaches and players for their excellence on the court and in their communities throughout the season. The Division III awards include: Wilson ITA Coach of the Year, ITA Assistant Coach of the Year, Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship, ITA Rookie of the Year, ITA Most Improved Senior, ITA Senior Player of the Year, and ITA Community Service Award.

“We are thankful for them as players, but also as people. They’ve given so much to our program and they have extended the reach of it means to play for Gustavus while growing in so many ways during their time with us. I’m grateful they’ve been honored with these prestigious awards — it means the world to to them and to our program.”

The national award winners will be announced next Wednesday, June 7th.

ITA Release

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AUSTIN, Texas – The 2022-23 CSC Academic All-America Men’s Tennis Teams were announced Wednesday and Gustavus senior Nick Aney (Rochester) was selected as the Division III recipient of the Academic All-America of the Year award. Aney, who receives the College’s 130th CSC Academic All-America honor, is the first student-athlete in school history to be selected as the Academic All-American of the Year (an award that started in 1987-88) and is the first three-time First Team Academic All-American.

Nick Aney

Aney, a biochemistry major with a 3.99 GPA, earns his third consecutive First Team Academic All-America award. Aney is a three-time All-American after reaching the quarterfinals of the 2023 NCAA Doubles Championships with partner Daniel Fouchier. Aney also reached the semifinals of the 2021 NCAA Doubles Championships with partner Alex Budde, and finished in the top eight at the 2021 ITA Cup after upsetting the No. 1-ranked team in the country in the first round. Aney received the 2022 MIAC Arthur Ashe Award and is a two-time MIAC Elite 22 Award winner. Aney has posted a career singles record of 48-38 and is 71-35 in doubles play. He has helped the Gusties win conference championships in both the regular season and playoff in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and capped his senior season by clinching the match point in an upset win over defending national champion Chicago to go to the Elite Eight. In the latest ITA Division III rankings, Aney and Fouchier are No. 13 in the nation in doubles, while Aney is the No. 4 singles player in the Central Region.

“This is a remarkable achievement for Nick,” Head Coach Tommy Valentini said. “We are proud of all he’s accomplished on the court and in the classroom throughout his great career at Gustavus. He will go down as one of the most decorated student-athletes in our program’s history, and this award is a great finish for him. He’s been a fantastic example of hard work, balance and perseverance for us, and has set a great example for future generations of Gustavus tennis family members. He exemplifies our values on the court and has applied them beautifully as a student and community member. He and our program are honored and grateful for this wonderful recognition.”

Gustavus’s 130 CSC Academic All-America honors rank first in the MIAC (52 more than the next institution), 13th in NCAA Division III, and 38th among all NCAA divisions. Aney earns the Gustavus men’s tennis program’s 13th CSC Academic All-America honor. The men’s tennis program has now gone five consecutive years with an Academic All-American after Chase Johnson and Michael O’Neil were selected Second Team in 2019, O’Neil First Team in 2020, and Aney First Team in 2021 and 2022.

After earning First Team honors the last two years, Aney joins an exclusive group of four Gustavus student-athletes to earn three CSC Academic All-America honors. The others are gymnast Amanda Parker (2003, 04, 05), baseball player Ben Sherer (2004, 05, 06), and softball player Rachael Click (2007, 08, 09). Aney is the first student-athlete in school history to earn three First Team honors.

To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

CSC Release

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SAINT PETER, Minn. – The 2022-23 Academic All-District Men’s and Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA), were released Wednesday and 10 Gustavus student-athletes received recognition for their combined performances on the playing field and in the classroom.

The Gustie women are represented by Megan Geraets (So., Mankato), Danielle Miller (Jr., Waconia), Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina), Annika Poe (Sr., Big Lake), and Evelyn Villalobos (Jr., Crystal), while the Gustie men are represented by Henry Hinchcliffe (Sr., Austin), Jack Marble (Sr., Eden Prairie), Peter Oviguian (Sr., Eden Prairie), Tyler Smith (So., Norwood Young America), and Seth Zeitchick (Sr., St. Paul).

To be eligible for Academic All-District recognition, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, and have played in at least 50 percent of the team’s competition throughout the season.

Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First-, Second-, and Third-Team Academic All-America honorees will be announced next month.

2022-23 Women’s Academic All-District Teams

2022-23 Men’s Academic All-District Teams

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SAINT PETER, Minn. – The D3baseball.com and ABCA/Rawlings Division III All-Region Teams were announced early this week and a trio of Gustavus baseball players received recognition. Bryce Novak (Sr., Cleveland) and Mitch Casperson (Jr., Le Sueur) were selected to the D3baseball.com All-Region 9 Second Team while Luke Siegle (So., Blaine) was named to the ABCA All-Region 9 Third Team.

Novak makes his third consecutive appearance on the D3baseball.com All-Region Team after leading the team with a .428 batting average, which ranked second in the MIAC. Novak started all but one game this season, accumulating a MIAC-high 71 hits. He also had 49 runs, 11 doubles, one triple, two home runs, 28 RBIs, and a team-high .492 on-base percentage. In center field, Novak committed just one error with 63 putouts for a .983 fielding percentage. 

Casperson, who was named the MIAC Pitcher of the Year, led the MIAC with a 1.18 ERA and perfect 5-0 record in conference games. He also led the MIAC with two complete games, 38 innings, and 40 strikeouts. In all games, Casperson owned a 2.79 ERA in 58 innings with 60 strikeouts. Casperson is the first Gustie to earn MIAC Pitcher of the Year, which was first recognized in 1998.

Siegle, who also earned All-Conference, posted a MIAC-low 2.44 ERA in all games this season, making 12 starts with two complete games. Siegle pitched a team-high 59 innings with 58 strikeouts and finished with a 7-2 record. His seven wins were the most in the conference this season.

2023 D3baseball.com All-Region Team

2023 ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Teams

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RESULTS | PHOTO GALLERY

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Gustavus track & field team concluded their 2022-23 season on the final day of the NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships with a series of impressive performances. Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina) closed out her Gustavus track & field career as the most decorated track athlete in program history, winning the 100-hurdles and taking second in the 400-hurdles.

Madi Kes finished 20th in the triple jump.

Madi Kes (Jr., Jordan) started competition for the Gusties on the final day in the triple jump. Kes jumped 37-05.75 (11.42m) in her second attempt before improving her final mark to 37-10.50 (11.54m) to finish 20th overall in her second national meet appearance.

“I wish it would’ve gone a bit better, but I’m really happy to be here at the national meet and have the chance to compete again,” said Kes following her performance. “It was another great experience, and just being at this meet and watching everyone perform is a lot of fun. Everyone is an incredible athlete and there were so many amazing performances, so it was really special to be able to be a part of.”

Josh Beiswanger (Sr., Mankato), in his national meet debut, finished 16th overall. Beiswanger threw 177-10 (54.22m) on his second attempt and bettered his performance with a toss of 181-06 (55.32m), finishing ninth in his flight. 

“I came out higher than I was ranked, so I can’t really complain too much about my first nationals experience,” said Beiswanger. “It was nice to have this as closure to my career, it was a great thing to add on top of everything else over the years.”

Josh Beiswanger finished 16th in the hammer throw.

Saturday marked graduation for the Gustie class of 2023, but Birgen Nelson had some other business to attend to. While Nelson missed the ceremony in Saint Peter, she did not miss a step in her race, defending her national title in the 100-hurdles with a time of 13.37. And just over an hour later, Nelson added one more All-American performance to her résumé in the 400-hurdles, posting a new school record and personal best 59.17 to take second overall. Nelson wraps up her Gustavus career as the most decorated Gustie track athlete in program history. She joins Lisa Brown as the only Gusties to win three individual national championships in their career, and now shares the lead in All-America honors with Kaelene Lundstrum, each with eight.

“I think everyone was gunning for the title in the 100-hurdles, it was so close until those final few hurdles,” said Nelson following her national championship. “I was really proud of my race, and it was a bummer it wasn’t wind legal, but I’m going to chase for some wind legal times in the future.

“It’s a great way to end my career, and it’s very fitting that I would miss graduation for a track meet.”

Birgen Nelson won her second-straight 100-hurdles title.

The Gustie women finished with 20 points for 10th overall of 71 teams that scored.

Gustavus Results at the NCAA Outdoor Championships:

Thursday, May 25 | RECAP

400-hurdles prelims (Nelson) — 59.41 (third)

200-meter prelims (Geraets) — 25.07 (18th)

Friday, May 26 | RECAP

Shot put (Poe) — 46-08.00 (seventh)

100-hurdles prelims (Nelson) — 13.47 (first)

Saturday, May 27

Triple jump (Kes) — 37-10.50 (20th)

Hammer throw (Beiswanger) — 181-06 (16th)

100-hurdles (Nelson) — 13.37 (first)

400-hurdles (Nelson) — 59.17 (second)

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RESULTS | PHOTO GALLERY | DAY 1 RECAP

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Annika Poe (Sr., Big Lake) and Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina) are no strangers to the national championship meet. In their third outdoor appearance together, the two seniors highlighted the second day of competition for the Gusties in the shot put and 100-hurdles.

Annika Poe finished seventh overall in the shot put.

Poe closed out her Gustavus career with her fourth All-America honor in the shot, and her second just this year, becoming just one of eight Gustie women with four or more All-American performances. Poe started the day with a first throw of 46-03.50 (14.11m) to qualify for the finals. Poe improved her mark in the finals to 46-08.00 (14.22m) to finish seventh overall. She is the third Gustie woman to earn multiple All-America honors in the event, and secured the program’s 11th All-America honor in the outdoor shot.

Birgen Nelson will race Saturday to defend her national title in the 100-hurdles.

Birgen Nelson nearly set a record of her own in the preliminary 100-hurdles race, further establishing her dominance in the event with a time of 13.47. Nelson’s time would have set the NCAA Division III Championship meet record, but a wind reading of 2.3 m/s kept her from the official facility and meet record. Regardless, Nelson’s time was the top in her heat and best overall, qualifying her for the 100-hurdle finals tomorrow afternoon, where she will look to defend her national title from the year before.

Madi Kes (Jr., Jordan) opens competition for the Gusties on the final day of the meet in the triple jump prelims and finals at 9 a.m. CDT. Josh Beiswanger (Sr., Mankato) competes in the hammer throw at noon (CDT) before Nelson races for national titles at 1 p.m. and 2:25 p.m.

Gustavus schedule at the NCAA Outdoor Championships (all times CDT):

Thursday, May 25

400-hurdles prelims (Nelson) — 59.41 (third)

200-meter prelims (Geraets) — 25.07 (18th)

Friday, May 26

Shot put (Poe) — 46-08.00 (seventh)

100-hurdles prelims (Nelson) — 13.47 (first)

Saturday, May 27

9 a.m. — triple jump prelims and finals (Kes)

12 p.m. — hammer throw prelims and finals (Beiswanger)

1 p.m. — 100-hurdles finals (Nelson)

2:25 p.m. — 400-hurdles finals (Nelson)

Live Results | Watch Live | Schedule of Events | Accepted Entries | Championship Webpage

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RESULTS | PHOTO GALLERY

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Gustavus track & field team began competition at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships, led by Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina) and Megan Geraets (So., Mankato). Nelson competed in the 400-hurdles prelims and Geraets the 200-meter prelims to start the weekend.

Nelson, in her third national meet appearance, qualified for the 400-hurdles final with a time of 59.41. Nelson placed second in her heat and third overall. Nelson will race in the 100-hurdle prelims tomorrow at 4:15 p.m. CDT before competing in the 400H finals Saturday.

“The goal was to survive and advance to the finals, and it’s pretty cool knowing that if all goes as planned I will be an All-American again,” said Nelson following her first race of the weekend. “I’m really excited for the 100-hurdle heats, and especially the final. It’s not very often that I get to run against so many talented women, and everybody in that heat is so deserving of being here. It will be a great opportunity for me to run fast.”

Geraets, in her first national meet appearance, finished 18th overall in the 200-meter preliminary race, finishing with a time of 25.07.

“I’m ecstatic. I’m so excited to be able to run and be here to compete. Coming here was definitely a dream, and I’m glad I got to have this experience, and hopefully I can continue to get better and come back again,” said Geraets after her 200-meter performance.

The Gusties continue competition tomorrow, beginning with Annika Poe (Sr., Big Lake) in the shot put at 3 p.m. CDT.

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SAINT PETER, Minn. – The 2022-23 Academic All-District Men’s and Women’s At-Large Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA), were released Tuesday and 10 Gustavus student-athletes received recognition for their combined performances on the playing field and in the classroom.

The At-Large category features Gustavus student-athletes in gymnastics, golf, and hockey. Annie Corbett (Sr., Brookfield, Wis.) represents the Gustavus gymnastics team. Annika Reierson (Jr., Delano) represents the women’s golf team. Katie McCoy (Sr., Grafton, Wis.), Tina Press (Sr., Cottage Grove), and Kayla Vrieze (Sr., Eagan) represent the women’s hockey team. Ben Forsberg (Jr., Shafer), Andrew Hoppe (Sr., Mankato), and Sam Skaar (Sr., Coleraine) represent the men’s golf team. And Jackson Hjelle (Jr., Delano) and Toby Sengvongxay (Sr., Luverne) represent the men’s hockey team.

To be eligible for Academic All-District recognition, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, and have played in at least 50 percent of the team’s competition throughout the season.

Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First-, Second-, and Third-Team Academic All-America honorees will be announced next month.

2022-23 Academic All-District Men’s At-Large Teams

2022-23 Academic All-District Women’s At-Large Teams

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The participants of the 2023 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships were announced today and five Gustavus student-athletes were accepted to compete in six events.

Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina) returns as the defending national champion in the 100-hurdles with a national-leading time of 13.32. Nelson, who is making her third consecutive appearance at the national meet, will also compete in the 400-hurdles. Her time of 59.87 ranks fourth. Last year at the outdoor championships, Nelson finished second in the 400H.

Annika Poe (Sr., Big Lake) also makes her third consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships. Poe ranks third in the shot put with a mark of 14.90 meters. Poe took sixth place in the shot last year.

Madi Kes (Jr., Jordan) will compete in her second national championship, ranking 21st in the triple jump with a mark of 11.89 meters. Kes took 17th place in the triple jump in 2021.

Two other Gusties will make their debut on the national stage. Megan Geraets (So., Mankato) will run the 200-meter after being accepted as the 22nd and final entry with a time of 24.74. And Joshua Beiswanger (Sr., Mankato) was accepted in the hammer throw with a 20th-ranked distance of 57.93 meters.

The five Gusties are the most to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships since 2010 when Gustavus had five women compete in a two events (4×400 relay and heptathlon) and five men compete in three events (4×400 relay, 800-meter, shot put).

The championships will be held May 25-27 at the Polisseni Track & Field Complex at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, N.Y.

ACCEPTED ENTRIES

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