ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced their Athlete of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of men's basketball, women's basketball, men’s track & field, and women’s track & field. The awards are nominated by UMAC coaches and athletics communications staff and selected each week by the latter group.
MEN'S BASKETBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
J’Vaun Walker, Senior, UW-Superior Yellowjackets
Rosharon, Texas / Manvel
- Walker once again led the offensive charge for Superior over the weekend. Taking on UW-Eau Claire, he compiled 27 points and three steals while grabbing five rebounds. Walker was 8-14 (57.1 percent) from field goal range while converting four-of-five from long range.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Elise Besonen, Senior, UW-Superior Yellowjackets
Ewen, Mich. / Ewen-Trout Creek
- Besonen saw 78-of-80 minutes in two contests last week, taking on a pair of WIAC foes in UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire. She was responsible for seven points and three assists against the Blugolds, but turned in a new career-high scoring mark against the Blue Devils. Besonen shot 58.8 percent from the field while hitting seven-of-nine three pointers as she turned in a 29-point performance.
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Austin Carlson, Senior, Crown Polars
Montrose, Minn. / Delano
- Carlson took 4th at the SDSU Holiday Open in the Mile run with a solid time of 4:27.99 which would have been the best time in the 2023-24 UMAC Indoor Season.
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Mia Arroyo, Freshman, Crown Polars
Wadena, Minn. / Verndale
- Arroyo set a school record in the Women's 5000m at the SDSU Open with a time of 20:10.41.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Alexander Burnham, Sophomore, Crown Polars
New Prague, Minn. / New Prague
- Burnham set a new school record in the shotput with a distance of 13.44m.
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Stephanie Witbrod, Senior, Bethany Lutheran Vikings
Douglas, Wyo. / Douglas
- Witbrod had a good start to her senior season as the Chuck Peterson Open. She finished third in the shot put with a throw of 12.68m and sixth in the triple jump with a 10.80m
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.
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