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 15-21, 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
Tyler Olson,
Freshman, Crown College
Saint Croix Falls, Wis. / Saint Croix Falls
- Olson went 14-23 (.609) to help lead the Polars to five conference wins.
- Totaled 11 RBI and scored four runs.
- He also had 4 putouts on 4 chances.
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Aaron Severson, Senior, University of Northwestern
Columbia Heights, Minn. / Columbia Heights
- Severson threw a gem on the mound to defeat the first place BLC Vikings.
- Pitched a nine-inning complete game, gave up only one earned run, and struck out two.
SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lisa Hoffer, Senior, Martin Luther College
Plymouth, Minn. / West Lutheran
- Hoffer had a stellar three-game series in the Knights' sweep of North Central this past weekend.
- The fifth-year senior went 8-for-14 at the plate (.571) with two HR, 11 RBI, and six runs scored.
- Played a pivotal role in the second game of the series, recording a multi-home run game to go along with six RBI.
SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Kayla Senne, Junior, Bethany Lutheran College
Northwood, Iowa / Northwood-Kensett
- Senne tossed 14 innings this weekend against Northwestern and picked up a pair of wins over the Eagles.
- She allowed one run in each contest and five total hits in a weekend where she struck out 19.
MEN’S TENNIS NORTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jacob Zacharias, Senior, University of Wisconsin-Superior
Cambridge, Minn. / Cambridge-Isanti
- Zacharias was a perfect 6-0 over the week, as he earned 8-1 and 8-0 victories at No. 2 doubles while sweeping Crown 6-0, 6-0 and defeating Martin Luther 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4 and No. 5 singles, respectively.
- Against Bethany Lutheran he picked up a doubles victory while also sweeping his Vikings counterpart 6-0, 6-0 in singles action.
WOMEN’S TENNIS NORTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Elise Jarchow, Junior, University of Northwestern
Luverne, Minn. / Luverne
- Jarchow went 4-0 in singles matches, including a three-set thriller on Saturday against Division II Bemidji State to give herself 100 career wins (the 10th Eagle to hit that mark).
- The junior won 6-3, 6-4 vs. St. Kate's, 6-0, 6-1 vs. BLC, and 7-6 (7-5), 6-0 vs. UW-River Falls.
- Jarchow also teamed with Analise Marquardt to win two doubles matches on the week against. Bethany Lutheran and UW-River Falls.
MEN’S TENNIS SOUTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nacho Cachaza, Junior, Principia College
Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Nacho helped Principia defeat Greenville for first time in two years as he won both of his matches – 6-4, 6-3 at #2 singles and 8-6 at #1 doubles.
- Principia's 7-2 victory clinched an undefeated regular season in the UMAC South.
WOMEN’S TENNIS SOUTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bissola Lassissi, Junior, Principia College
Cotonou, Benin / La Manne de Princes
- Bissola won both of her matches against Greenville this week with a 6-1, 6-4 win at #1 singles and a 8-4 win at #1 doubles as Principia won 9-0 to complete an undefeated regular season in the UMAC South.
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jacob Lee, Sophomore, University of Minnesota Morris
New Prague, Minn. / New Prague
- Lee won two events at the Carleton Relays on Saturday, turning in a time of 52.25 in the 400 Meter.
- Lee then ran the lead leg of the 4 x 100 Meter Relay team which won the event with a time of 44.24.
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Stephanie Witbrod, Junior, Bethany Lutheran College
Douglas, Wyo. / Douglas
- Witbrod had a big weekend at the Carleton Relays, winning both events she competed in.
- In her 100m hurdles win she posted the fastest time in the UMAC this season, coming in at 15.77 seconds.
MEN’S OUTDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Steven Petkau, Junior, Crown College
Rib Lake, Wis. / Rib Lake
- Petkau broke his own school record in the triple jump with a distance of 13.59m which is good for first in the UMAC and is 0.76 meters further than the next competitor.
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Anna Briggs, Junior, University of Minnesota Morris
Clear Lake, Minn. / Becker
- Briggs won the shot put and finished third in the hammer throw at the Carleton Relays.
- Took the shot put with a distance of 33-4.25 (10.17m) before adding a 127-2 (38.76m) in the hammer.