ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced their Athlete of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of football, volleyball, and men's and women's soccer. The awards are nominated by UMAC coaches and athletics communications staff and selected each week by the latter group.
FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Thomas Koelpin, Junior, Martin Luther Knights
Folsom, Calif. / Luther Prep
- Koelpin had six catches, 164 yards, and 2 TD in a 46-14 victory over Westminster on Saturday. The wide receiver went over 150 yards receiving for the second consecutive week and is currently in second in the UMAC in receiving yards (615) and receptions (31), while leading the conference in touchdown receptions (5).
FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Andrew Esmay, Junior, Martin Luther Knights
Temple, Texas / Luther Prep
- Esmay finished with three tackles in a 46-14 win over Westminster on Saturday, but forced crucial turnovers to disrupt the Blue Jays' offense all game long. Esmay had two forced fumbles and sacks, that included one in which he took to the house for a 51-yard touchdown in the second half. The junior currently leads all of Division III in total sacks (12.5) and forced fumbles (6).
FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Micah Koschnitzke, Junior, Martin Luther Knights
Waukesha, Wis. / Wisconsin Lutheran
- Koschnitzke had an all-around performance as the MLC kicker in a 46-14 win over Westminster on Saturday. Koschnitzke hit two field goals including a 29-yarder and 40-yard field goal, while also making all four of his extra point attempts to aid the Knights. Additionally, the junior played on defense in the second half and grabbed his first career interception. Koschnitzke's two field goals put him in second-place for made field goals in a career at MLC.
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Makenna Hohbein, Freshman, UW-Superior Yellowjackets
Holdingford, Minn. / Holdingford
- Hohbein had another strong week for the Yellowjackets. The freshman outside hitter collected 37 total kills in three UMAC matches. Most notably she finished the match against North Central with a .778 attack percentage, grabbing 14 kills off 18 attack attempts.
VOLLEYBALL SETTER OF THE WEEK
Abby Distad, Freshman, Bethany Lutheran Vikings
Kasson, Minn. / Kasson-Mantorville
- Distad put up 30+ assists in all three matches for the Vikings this past week, combining for 106 over three matches. Her 43 assists against Morris on Saturday were the second most she has had this season.
VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jenna Anderson, Senior, UW-Superior Yellowjackets
Bemidji, Minn. / Bemidji
- Collecting 63 digs in three matches last week, Anderson spearheaded the Yellowjacket defense once again. She scooped 23 against Northland on the road, while posting 15 digs against North Central before finishing her day with 25 against Northwestern, leading the Yellowjackets past all three UMAC opponents.
MEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Timmy Jackson, Sophomore, Crown Polars
West Jordan, Utah / West Jordan
- Jackson added 3 goals and 1 assist on the week leading Crown to 2 wins.
MEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jamie van Wijland, Sophomore, Bethany Lutheran Vikings
Hoorn, Netherlands / Oscar Romero
- Van Wijland helped the Vikings to a pair of shutouts this week from his center defensive midfield position. The sophomore played all 90 minutes in the 2-0 win over Northwestern before playing 71 minutes in Saturday's win at Northland
WOMEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Ashley Pierce, Senior, Crown Polars
Colorado Springs, Colo. / Palmer Ridge
- Pierce had 2 goals and 1 assist in the Polars 7-0 win over North Central.
WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Arayah Baker, Sophomore, Bethany Lutheran Vikings
Andover, Minn. / Andover
- Baker made 6 saves in the team's 4-2 win over Northwestern on Tuesday afternoon while allowing just two goals.
The UMAC is an NCAA Division III member comprised of eight full-time member schools from Minnesota and Wisconsin: Bethany Lutheran College, Crown College, Martin Luther College, North Central University, Northland College, University of Minnesota Morris, University of Northwestern, and University of Wisconsin-Superior.
Watch UMAC games on the
UMAC Sports Network: available on the
web, as a mobile app for
iOS and
Android, and as a TV app for
Apple TV,
Android TV,
Amazon Fire, and
Roku.