10-Year Celebration: UMAC Softball All-Decade honors
ST. PAUL, Minn.---As part of its 2018-19 "10-Year Celebration," the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) named 15 individual athletes to the UMAC Softball All-Decade Team and selected a Coach of the Decade and the Softball Team of the Decade, the conference announced Thursday.
The 15 individuals named to the All-Decade Team include Alexa Bremer (College of St. Scholastica, 2015-18), Jen Falk (St. Scholastica, 2009-11), Mindy Forcier (University of Northwestern, 2016-Present*), Sam Hanson (University of Minnesota Morris, 2013-14), Tiff Hudack (St. Schoalstica, 2011-14), Bonnie Kowalczyk (St. Scholastica, 2010-13), Nikki Logergren (St. Scholastica, 2013-16), Chrisi Mizera (St. Scholastica, 2014-17), Molly Olson (Minnesota Morris, 2012-15), Anna Pipenhagen (Bethany Lutheran College, 2015-18), Kristin Swartz (St. Scholastica, 2009-10*), Theresa Tauer (St. Scholastica, 2009-12), Merryssa Tiedeman (St. Scholastica, 2009-12), Elisabeth Trickey (North Central University, 2013*) and Kara Warren (St. Scholastica, 2013-16). The UMAC also recognized former St. Scholastica head coach Jen Walter as the Coach of the Decade and the 2009 St. Scholastica team as the Softball Team of the Decade.
All-Decade Team
Alexa Bremer, College of St. Scholastica (2015-2018)
Bremer was a key part of four-straight regular season championship for the Saints and two NCAA tournament appearances during her four years. She was a two-time All-UMAC First Team selection and the 2018 UMAC Player of the Year. Additionally, Bremer was twice named to the UMAC All-Defensive Team as a shortstop and was a two-time NFCA All-Region Third Team selection. She is one of two Saints ever to record 200 career hits and 140 career runs.
Jen Falk, College of St. Scholastica (2009-2011)
During her three seasons on the mound, Falk helped the Saints to three-consecutive UMAC regular and postseason championships. She was a three-time All-UMAC First Team honoree and led the Saints to a NCAA regional win in 2011. Falk currently ranks third all-time in program history for ERA (2.28), wins (37), shutouts (10) and strikeouts (340).
Mindy Forcier, University of Northwestern (2016-Present*)
In just three seasons so far in her career, Forcier is one of the top Eagles in program history after leading Northwestern to its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance in 2018 following a UMAC tournament title. Forcier has twice been named All-UMAC First Team and was a NFCA All-Region Third Team pick as a junior. In 2018, Forcier scored a UMAC-best 50 runs and posted 20 stolen bases. She is currently the Eagles' all-time leader in stolen bases.
Sam Hanson, University of Minnesota Morris (2013-2014)
In just two seasons, Hanson rewrote the Minnesota Morris softball record books. She was a two-time All-UMAC selection and was a 2013 All-Region pick. Her UMAC career statistics include a .511 avg., .853 slugging percentage and .526 on-base mark. Hanson was a utility player for the Cougars pitching 94.2 with a 10-5 record in her two-year stint. She holds three Minnesota Morris career records and three single season records.
Tiff Hudack, College of St. Scholastica (2011-2014)
Hudack was a key part of St. Scholastica's dominance in the UMAC during her four years which included four-straight UMAC titles and three NCAA appearances. She was a UMAC First Team all-conference selection in back-to-back seasons. In 2014, Hudack was the UMAC Player of the Year and a NFCA Seoncd Team All-Region honoree. Hudack currently owns the Saints' single-season program record for runs scored (50).
Bonnie Kowalczyk, College of St. Scholastica (2010-2013)
Kowalczyk is one of the top catchers in UMAC history after leading the Saints to four conference titles and two NCAA tournament trips. She was four times named All-UMAC First Team and was the 2011 Player of the Year. Kowalczyk was three times selected All-Region including First Team in 2012. Her strength behind the plate also earned her two UMAC All-Defensive team selections. Currently, she owns program records for career doubles (60) and single-season RBI (56).
Nikki Logergren, College of St. Scholastica (2013-2016)
Logergren had a decorated career with St. Scholastica helping lead her squad to four UMAC titiles and two NCAA tournaments. During her four years, Logergren was a three-time All-UMAC First Team performer and 2015 NFCA Second Team All-Region honoree. She is one of just eight Saints to record 100 hits, 100 RBI and 100 runs in a career. Logergren is second all-time at St. Scholastica for career home runs (24).
Chrisi Mizera, College of St. Scholastica (2014-2017)
Mizera is one of the most decorated pitchers and players in UMAC history. She earned All-UMAC First Team accolades in each of her four seasons and was the 2014 UMAC Rookie of the Year and the 2015 Player oft he Year. Three times Mizera was picked NFCA All-Region Third Team. In 2014, Mizera was named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team. Currently, Mizrea ranks second in Saint history for career wins (53), shutouts (18) and strikeouts (502).
Molly Olson, University of Minnesota Morris (2012-2015)
Olson continues the trend of decorated UMAC catchers in the UMAC. During her four seasons with the Cougars, Olson was four times named All-UMAC First Team and All-Defensive. She was the 2012 Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year. That same season, she also earned All-Region honors. As of 2015, Olson was one of only two NCAA players to own two 20-plus-game hitting steaks in their careers. She also owns five Cougar career records.
Anna Pipenhagen, Bethany Lutheran College (2015-2018)
Pipenhagen is also one of the most decorated pitchers in UMAC history joining Mizera as a four-time All-UMAC First Team honoree. She earned the 2015 Rookie of the Year nod and was three times selected to the All-Defensive Team. Pipenhagen finished her dominant career first in Bethany Lutheran history for ERA (3.08), opponent avg. (.236), wins (40), shutouts (12) and strikeouts (656). She is also in the top 10 at BLC in nearly every pitching and hitting category.
Kristin Swartz, College of St. Scholastica (2009-2010*)
Swartz had a successful four-year career for the Saints and was dominant in UMAC during the first two NCAA seasons. During that time, Swartz was a two-time All-UMAC First Team pick and was named the 2009 Player of the Year. She twice earned NFCA All-Region status including second Team in 2009. Swartz also is one of eight Saints to record 100 hits, 100 RBI and 100 runs in a career.
Theresa Tauer, College of St. Scholastica (2009-2012)
Tauer helped lead the Saints to success at the beginning of the first NCAA decade of the UMAC which included four UMAC titles. She was a three-time All-UMAC First Team selection and two-time NFCA All-Region Second Team pick. She also was a UMAC All-Defensive performer as a senior. Currently, Tauer holds the Saints' record for career RBI (155) and is one of just three Saints to record at least 200 hits, 150 RBI and 120 runs in a career.
Merryssa Tiedeman, College of St. Scholastica (2009-2012)
Tiedeman is one of the most decorated Saints during the first 10 years of UMAC membership in Division III. During her time, she was twice picked All-UMAC First Team and three times All-Defensive. In 2010, Tiedeman was the UMAC Player of the Year and NFCA All-Region First Team. As a senior, Tiedeman was selected to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team. Tiedeman owns the longest-known Saint hitting streak (23-straight games) and is the only player to ever record at least 190 career hits, 120 RBI and 160 runs.
Elisabeth Trickey, North Central University (2013*)
While North Central competed just one season as an associate member in the UMAC in 2013 with Trickey on the roster, she had an unprecedented career with the Rams. In 2013, Trickey was selected All-UMAC First Team and was a NFCA All-Region selection. Prior to that time, Trickey accomplished the outstanding feat of twice finishing as the NCAA statistical champion – in 2011 she led the NCAA in stolen bases per game (1.65) and in 2012 led in batting avg. (.581).
Kara Warren, College of St. Scholastica (2013-2016)
Warren is among the elite UMAC catchers after a storied career at St. Scholastica.. She was twice named All-UMAC First Team and All-Region including a Second Team nod in 2016. The 2016 UMAC Player of the Year was also selected to the 2015 Region All-Tournament team and is one of eight St. Scholastica players to record 100 hits, 100 RBI and 100 runs in a career. She also threw out 35 base runners in her career and holds the single-season CSS record for doubles (21).
Coach of The Decade
Jen Walter, College of St. Scholastica
Walter served as head coach of St. Scholastica from 2000-2015 winning 15 UMAC regular season titles and seven-straight to start the Saints perfect streak in the NCAA era of the conference. During the last 10 years, Walter guided the Saints to six UMAC tournaments championships and four NCAA tournaments as the UMAC automatic qualifier. Walter was eight times named UMAC Coach of the Year and had 11 UMAC Players of the Year.
Team of The Decade
College of St. Scholastica, 2009
The 2009 St. Scholastica softball team won both the UMAC regular season and postseason championships. The Saints led the UMAC with five First Team All-UMAC nods and two NFCA All-Region Second Team selections. During the regular season, the Saints defeated two nationally-ranked programs and set program records for runs scored (351), batting average (.373) and slugging percentage (.561). The team members were Kali Carlson, Michaela Carlson, Jena Dieryck, Jen Falk, Mya Gordon, Kayla Jenkins, Dobin Lake, Mary Jo McNamee, Sam Quenette, Jenn Shaw, Erika Solin, Kristin Swartz, Theresa Tauer, Merryssa Tiedeman, Betsy Wehseler, Chelsey Weiss and Brynn Wollack. Head coach was Jen Walter.
*Only seasons a student-athlete competed during the 10-Year timeframe (2009-2018 for softball) 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