10-Year Celebration: UMAC Women's Track and Field All-Decade honors
ST. PAUL, Minn.---As part of its 2018-19 "10-Year Celebration," the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) named 12 individual athletes to the UMAC Women's Track and Field All-Decade Team and selected a Coach of the Decade and an Indoor Team of the Decade and Outdoor Team of the Decade, the conference announced Thursday.
The 12 individuals named to the All-Decade Team include Brianna Buske (College of St. Scholastica, 2012-15), Nicole Christianson (St. Scholastica, 2013-16), Emily Ciesynski (University of Minnesota Morris, 2016-Present*), Kaylie Clark (Minnesota Morris, 2011-14), Megan Croatt (Minnesota Morris, 2008-11*), Casey Hovland (St. Scholastica, 2015-18), Becky Huberty (St. Scholastica, 2011-14), Chelsea Johnson (St. Scholastica, 2011-14), Linda Keller (Minnesota Morris, 2010-14), Svenja Ruehl (Wisconsin-Superior, 2016-18*), Hannah Russert (St. Scholastica, 2014-17) and Alec Seeley (St. Scholastica, 2009-12). The UMAC also recognized former St. Scholastica head coach Kirk Nauman as the Coach of the Decade, the 2014 St. Scholastica team as the Women's Indoor Track and Field Team of the Decade and the 2012 St. Scholastica squad as the Women's Outdoor Track and Field Team of the Decade.
All-Decade Team
Brianna Buske, College of St. Scholastica (2012-2015)
Buske was a relay and sprint specialist for a St. Scholastica squad that won eight team titles in her four seasons. She was a four-time individual event champion and part of nine UMAC champion relay teams. In 2015, Buske was the Indoor Track Athlete of the Meet. She also qualified for the NCAA Championship in both the indoor and outdoor 400-meter dash that season. Buske currently holds 10 Saint program records.
Nicole Christianson, College of St. Scholastica (2013-2016)
Christianson is one of the most decorated field athletes in UMAC history. She owns seven individual UMAC titles between high and triple jumps. Christianson twice qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championship in the high jump and finished with All-America honors in 2016. She was the 2015 UMAC Indoor Field Athlete of the Meet and boasts the UMAC record in both indoor and outdoor high jump. Christianson currently holds both Saint program high jump records.
Emily Ciesynski, University of Minnesota Morris (2016-Present*)
During her first three seasons with the Cougars, Ciesynski has successfully led the program in the sprints department. She collected four individual UMAC titles in that span and set a UMAC record in the outdoor 400-meter hurdles in 2018. Her performance also earned her a spot in the NCAA Championship. Ciesysnki also helped Minnesota Morris to the 2016 UMAC Outdoor Championship.
Kaylie Clark, University of Minnesota Morris (2011-2014)
Clark is one of the top performers in Cougar program history. During her time at Minnesota Morris, Clark won four individual UMAC titles and was the 2014 UMAC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Meet. She twice qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championship meet in the javelin and placed sixth in 2013 to earn All-America honors. Clark currently owns the Cougar program record in the javelin.
Megan Croatt, University of Minnesota Morris (2009-2011*)
Croatt dominated the UMAC sprints during the early part of the conference's NCAA era. She was named the Track Athlete of the Meet four times in her career. In outdoor track, Croatt was a four-time champion in each the 100-meter and 200-meter dash events, and also owned two titles in the pole vault. Additionally, Croatt twice qualified for the NCAA Championship in the 100-meter dash and earned All-America status in 2009 finishing sixth.
Casey Hovland, College of St. Scholastica (2015-2018)
Hovland is one of the most decorated track athletes in Saint history. During her time, she won 10 individual UMAC championship events and currently boasts three conference records. In 2018, she was named the UMAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Meet and qualified for the NCAA Championship in both the indoor and outdoor 5,000-meter run. Hovland owns six Saint program records. She capped her career as the UMAC nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year.
Becky Huberty, College of St. Scholastica (2011-2014)
Huberty is among UMAC track and field elite. During her time in a Saints uniform, Huberty won 11 UMAC championships between indoor and outdoor field events. Currently, she owns the top four marks in the UMAC outdoor shotput and still holds four conference and program records. Huberty was named the UMAC Field Athlete of the Meet four times. She twice qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championship in the weight throw and was an All-American in the shot put in 2014. Huberty competed in five events at the NCAA Outdoor Championship earning All-America finishes in the hammer throw in 2013 and 2014.
Chelsea Johnson, College of St. Scholastica (2011-2014)
Johnson's success in cross country also carried over into track during her time with the Saints. She won five individual conference titles including four in the 5,000-meter run between the indoor and outdoor UMAC meets. Johnson qualified for the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 5,000-meter run earning All-America status with a seventh-place performance. Currently, she owns two indoor Saint program records.
Linda Keller, University of Minnesota Morris (2010-2014)
Keller was one of the most successful distance athletes for Minnesota Morris track. During her time, she won 10 UMAC individual event titles and one relay-winning squad. Keller won the 1,500-meter run in each of her four years competing and she still holds two UMAC records. Additionally, Keller was named the 2014 UMAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Meet. Keller qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championship in both the 1,500-meter run (2011) and 5,000-meter run (2012).
Svenja Ruehl, University of Wisconsin-Superior (2016-2018*)
In her three seasons of UMAC competition, Ruehl put her name on the UMAC map. Ruehl won 12 individual event titles at the UMAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships including three-straight in the indoor long and triple jumps and the outdoor triple. She was three times named the UMAC Indoor Field Athlete of the Meet and currently holds two indoor UMAC records. She also qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2016 and 2017.
Hannah Russert, College of St. Scholastica (2014-2017)
Russert is one of the best all-around track and field athletes in St. Scholastica and UMAC history. She won six individual event titles at the UMAC Championships during her time in a Saint uniform including three titles in the 60-meter hurdles. In 2017, Russert was named the UMAC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Meet and qualified for the NCAA Championship in the heptathlon placing 13th. Russert still holds the UMAC 100-meter hurdle record and St. Scholastica heptathlon record.
Alec Seeley, College of St. Scholastica (2009-2012)
Seeley is one of the most decorated UMAC throwers in the conference's NCAA era. She won nine individual UMAC titles including three in each the weight throw and hammer throw. Three times Seeley was selected as the UMAC Indoor Field Athlete of the Meet. In 2012, Seeley qualified for both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships and placed 10th in weight throw and 14th in the hammer.
Coach of The Decade
Kirk Nauman, College of St. Scholastica
Nauman led the Saints' women's track and field program from 2008-16 and collected 15 UMAC team championships including seven-consecutive UMAC Indoor Championship titles beginning with the first conference meet in 2010 and eight-straight outdoor wins from 2008-15. Nauman was named the Coach of the Year six times in each indoor and outdoor seasons. Nauman also guided six Saints to All-America status.
Teams of The Decade
Indoor Track and Field - College of St. Scholastica, 2014
The 2014 St. Scholastica women's track and field squad captured the UMAC Championship winning 11 events with a score that was 155 better than the runner-up squad. The Saints had 17 individuals record All-UMAC finishes. Three individuals also earned All-America status including Nicole Christianson, Becky Huberty and Chelsea Johnson. The team members were Bre Adams, Maggie Bair, Alex Barsody, Jadyn Bonasera, Liz Braml, Brianna Buske, Amy Campbell, Christianson, Danielle Dickson, Sam Dills, Shelby Dugas, Cassidy Dunkley, Brea Durovec, Taylor Gibson, Sammi Gronski, Rachel Harmston, Rachel Hoium, Huberty, Lisa Ito, C. Johnson, Jordan Johnson,Olivia Krejcarek, Maggie Kurtovich, Brittany Ludwig, Emily Lundgren, Andrea Mogren, Kelsey Mudek, Paige Muehlhauser, Laural Ohaju, Bethany Reuter, Nikki Roach, Katharine Roetering, Marissa Russell, Hannah Russert, Emily Schwantke, Jodi Sila and Milana Walerius. Head coach was Kirk Nauman.
Outdoor Track and Field - College of St. Scholastica, 2012
The 2012 St. Scholastica women's track and field squad captured the UMAC Championship taking 14 of 20 events with a score of 338 points that was 81 points more than the other teams combined. The Saints had 18 individuals record All-UMAC finishes. The Saints were ranked in the top eight in the Central Region all season long. Three individuals qualified for the national meet including Becky Huberty, Tracy Perish and Alex Seeley. The team members were Sarah Aaseth, Bre Adams, Sammi Anderson, Maggie Bair, Megan Berg, Erika Birkeland, Alex Blair, Jalyn Britton, Molly Burgstahler, Brianna Buske, Bridgett Clark, Danielle Dickson, Christa Diedrich, Shelby Dugas, Brea Durovec, Erin Eckman, Tina Ewing, Maggi Ferry, Kaylee Gombold, Stacey Gustafson, Erica Himes, Huberty, Nikki Hughes, Chelsea Johnson, Melissa Kempenich, Katlin Krause, Olivia Krejcarek, Bre Lohn, Theresa Magliano, Eleanor Magnuson, Brittnie Menze, Rachel Miller, Hallie Miller, Kelsey Mudek, Kailee Ogden, Laurel Ohaju, Janae Pahlen, Perish, Jennifer Plaetz, Izzy Plantenberg, Kayla Roberge, Hannah Roy, Emily Schwantke, Ashley Schwantke, Seeley, Jackie Thelen, Rachel Thelen, Maria Valesano, Caitlin Vaughn, Alexa Verner and Katie Walrath. Head coach was Kirk Nauman.
*Only seasons a student-athlete competed during the 10-Year timeframe (2009-2018 for track and field) in the UMAC are listed.
Throughout 2018-19, the UMAC will recognize individual athletes and one coach for each conference sport on All-Decade Teams and name one team as Team of the Decade. Individuals and teams were nominated by UMAC full and associate member institutions and the teams were selected by a committee of administrators and coaches from the UMAC. The All-Decade recognition is part of the UMAC "10-Year Celebration" commemorating the first 10 years of NCAA Division III membership for the UMAC.
All-Decade Team Archives
"10-Year Celebration" Page