ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced its Player of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of baseball, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field for the week of April 8-14, 2024. The UMAC Player of the Week awards are nominated by UMAC coaches and athletics communications/sports information staff and selected each week by the latter group.
BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nolan Spence,
Junior, Bethany Lutheran College
Zimmerman, Minn. / Ridgewater C.C.
- Spence had at least three hits in every game in the Vikings sweep of Crown this weekend, going 10-of-15 on the week while also drawing a pair of walks.
- The junior added five RBI and six runs scored to his resume with three extra-base hits including a double, triple, and home run.
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Christian Rodriguez, Senior, North Central University
Tuscon, Ariz. / Catalina Foothills
- Rodriguez led the Rams to their first UMAC victory over UWS last Friday as he pitched a complete game with five total strikeouts and gave up just four hits, one walk, and zero earned runs in 9 innings.
SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MyKenzie Leccia, Sophomore, University of Wisconsin-Superior
Somerset, Wis. / Somerset
- Leccia enjoyed a monster week at the plate, going 10-15 (.667) with 14 RBIs.
- Against UW-Stout she clubbed two home runs in game one while clubbing two more against North Central.
- Leccia now leads the Yellowjackets in average (.422), OPS (1.254), doubles (11), home runs (4) and RBI (31).
SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Emily Meyer, Freshman, Bethany Lutheran College
Swea City, Iowa / North Union
- After missing a portion of the season due to injury, Meyer came back and had an immediate impact.
- The freshman threw 23.2 innings this week and allowed zero earned runs while striking out 32 hitters.
- She also tossed a no-hitter against North Central on Wednesday, striking out 11 batters in the six inning win.
MEN’S TENNIS NORTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Stewart Morrell, Senior, University of Northwestern
Elk River, Minn. / Homeschool
- Morrell was unbeatable for UNW last week, going 7-0 and leading the Eagles to a 3-1 week.
- On Wednesday, the senior won 6-0, 6-2 in #1 singles and 8-5 in #1 doubles against Hamline before wins of 6-0, 6-0 (#1 singles) and 8-3 (#1 doubles) over Martin Luther.
- Followed that up by going 2-0 vs. UW-Superior on Saturday: 6-4, 6-2 at #1 singles and a thrilling, 8-7 (10-8) win at #1 doubles.
- Sat out singles vs. Crown but won 8-2 at #1 doubles.
WOMEN’S TENNIS NORTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Abby Johnson, Senior, University of Northwestern
Zimmerman, Minn. / Homeschool
- Johnson was a perfect 8-0 on the week, helping UNW go 3-1 as a team.
- Versus Hamline, she claimed victories at #1 doubles (8-3) and #2 singles (6-2, 6-2). Later that night, she won 8-1 in doubles and 6-2, 6-1 in singles against Martin Luther.
- Saturday, she won a tight, 7-5, 7-5 singles match vs. UW-Superior in addition to an 8-5 doubles win.
- She finished the week with a 6-1, 6-0 singles win and an 8-0 doubles win vs. Crown.
MEN’S TENNIS SOUTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rafael Rodriguez, Junior, Greenville University
Morelia, Mexico / UNLA
- Rafael won both of his matches in a hard fought 5-4 win over Rose Hulman.
- First, he partnered with Andres Sanchez to win at #1 doubles 8-6.
- He followed that up with a decisive 6-4, 6-1 victory at #2 singles.
- Rafa's leadership on and off the court continue to pay dividends for the 11-5 Panthers.
WOMEN’S TENNIS SOUTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kimbeley Peterson, Sophomore, Principia College
Harare, Zimbabwe / St. Dominic’s
- Peterson usually plays #5 singles and #3 doubles, but she moved up the lineup this week vs Illinois College and won #3 singles 6-2, 6-4 and #3 doubles 8-2.
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Aaron Stewart, Freshman, Bethany Lutheran College
Mankato, Minn. / Mankato East
- Stewart continues his impressive campaign on the track, once again one-upping his school record times in the 100m and 200m.
- His time of 10.69 in the 100m is currently 36th nationally while his 200m time of 21.50 is ranked 21st in Division III.
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Camille Ring, Freshman, Crown College
Waseca, Minn. / Waseca
- Ring earned a UMAC leading time of 12.69s in the 100m at the Bethel Invitational.
- She also finished the 200m with a time of 26.68s, good for 2nd in the UMAC.
- She posted the third-best UMAC time in the 100m hurdles, and competed in the 4x400m relay where Crown posted the second-best time in the UMAC.
MEN’S OUTDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Evan Barnett, Freshman, University of Minnesota Morris
Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville South
- Barnett broke a Minnesota Morris program record that had stood since 1980 by clearing a height of 6-5.50 (1.97m) at the Minnesota State Open.
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Stephanie Witbrod, Junior, Bethany Lutheran College
Douglas, Wyo. / Douglas
- Witbrod had a monumental weekend for the Vikings, all but securing herself a spot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
- Her triple jump mark of 12.16m currently ranks eighth in the nation and is 0.28m farther than her mark last year that qualified her.
- She also set a new personal best and school record in the hammer throw at the MSU Open with a toss of 45.84m.