ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced their Athlete of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of softball, men's and women's basketball, men’s and women’s track and field, and men’s and women’s tennis. The awards are nominated by UMAC coaches and athletics communications staff and selected each week by the latter group.
SOFTBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Emily Doyle, Junior, Bethany Lutheran Vikings
Winnipeg, MAN, CAN / St. Boniface
- Doyle had a strong opening weekend for Bethany, getting a hit in all four of the team's game and going 6-for-12 in total. She also took three walks to reach base successfully in 60 percent of her at-bats.
SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Emily Meyer, Sophomore, Bethany Lutheran Vikings
Swea City, Iowa / North Union
- Meyer had a great opening weekend for the Vikings, picking up all three of the team's wins in the circle. She opened her season with a complete game against St. Olaf, striking out 12 and allowing just two hits and runs in the contest. She followed that up by pitching in all three of Bethany's other contests, allowing no runs in 12 innings of work and picking up 15 more strikeouts.
MEN'S BASKETBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Pal Dak, Senior, Minnesota Morris Cougars
Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln East
- Dak had another electric week for the Cougars, leading the team to a one-point victory over Martin Luther with a clutch and-one in the final seconds. He averaged 27.5 points over the two contests this week. Dak also totaled up 10 rebounds and 5 steals last week.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Maddy Grove, Sophomore, Minnesota Morris Cougars
Morris, Minn. / Morris Area
- Grove led the Cougars to two vital wins last week while averaging 25.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, and 2.5 spg.
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Samuel Plocher, Sophomore, Martin Luther Knights
Kent, Wash. / Evergreen Lutheran
- Plocher competed at the Maverick Premier hosted by Minnesota State on Friday and went up against tough DII competition from across the U.S. including Cal Poly Pomona, Sioux Falls, and Minnesota State. The sophomore qualified for the finals in the 60-meter hurdles, finishing in fifth (8.33 seconds) and took third in the high jump (1.95 meters).
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Joyce Horton, Freshman, North Central Rams
Rosemount, Minn. / United Christian Academy
- Horton continued her impressive freshman season this weekend at the SJU/CSB Invitational. She finished 9th overall in the 400m dash with a PR time of 1:04.70, the top UMAC finisher in the event. This ranks 3rd best in the UMAC this season. She also finished 7th in the triple jump with a mark of 9.86m.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Carson Wilhorn, Sophomore, UW-Superior Yellowjackets
Necedah, Wis. / Necedah
- Wilhorn took part in the weight throw this weekend at the Maday Classic. His mark of 15.54 meters stands as a personal record, while placing himself atop the UMAC standings. His mark snaps his previous best heave by .24 meters.
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Stephanie Witbrod, Senior, Bethany Lutheran Vikings
Douglas, Wyo. / Douglas
- Witbrod posted a season best in the shot put on Saturday at the CSB/SJU Invite with a toss of 12.86m. That mark currently leads the UMAC and is the 11th in the North Region and 35th nationally.
MEN’S TENNIS NORTH DIVISION ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Matt Comings, Freshman, Crown Polars
Wahpeton, N.D.
- Comings went 4-0 on the weekend leading Crown to their first win of the season. He went 2-0 in doubles play in the #1 doubles match winning by scores of 6-1 over MLC and 7-6 over Ripon. He also went 2-0 in singles play in the #2 singles match winning by scores of 6-3, 6-3 and 6-2, 6-1.
WOMEN’S TENNIS NORTH DIVISION ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Britney Prahl, Sophomore, Martin Luther Knights
New Ulm, Minn. / Litchfield
- Prahl brought in three victories as the Knights topped Crown and Ripon in Owatonna this past weekend. On Friday, Prahl won her No. 1 doubles match 6-1 and then topped her No. 1 singles opponent 6-1, 6-2. On Saturday against the Red Hawks, Prahl won No. 1 singles 6-2, 6-4.
MEN’S TENNIS SOUTH DIVISION ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jesús Soto Bossa, Junior, Principia Panthers
Cartagena, Colombia
- Soto Bossa was instrumental as Principia defeated a tough NAIA opponent in University of Saint Mary's 5-2 in their opening match of the season. Saint Mary's was 4-1 coming into the match, while Principia was playing their first official match of the season. Jesus played 2nd Doubles, and helped Principia earn the doubles point as he and his partner Nacho Zamora defeated Saint Mary's 6-4. At 1st singles, Jesus got Principia on the board with an important 7-5, 6-4 victory. The win makes Principia 1-0 on the young season.
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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