ST. PAUL, Minn.-- The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced their Athlete of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of baseball, men’s golf, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s track and field. The awards are nominated by UMAC coaches and athletics communications staff and selected each week by the latter group.
 
Baseball Player of the Week
Jayden Knutson, Fr, Bethany Lutheran, CF
Mankato, Minn./Mankato West
 
Knutson helped Bethany win a doubleheader at Crown on Thursday by scores of 22-9 and 9-6. In the two games, Knutson batted .600 (6-10) with six runs, four RBI, and his first career home run. He also was 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts. Knutson leads the UMAC in batting average (.429), on base percentage (.547), runs scored (36), and stolen bases (25).
 
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Zach Romans, Jr, UW-Superior
Saint Michael, Minn./Saint Michael
 
Romans hurled a gem on Friday as the Yellowjackets faced off against North Central. In nine innings he allowed just one hit while striking out 11 hitters in an 8-0 victory.
 
Men’s Golf Athlete of the Week
Carson Besonen, Fr, Northwestern
Madison, Minn./Lac qui Parle Valley
 
Besonen tied for sixth at the Howl at the Hill event in Lincoln, Neb. with a two-day score of +5. The freshman shot a 79 on day one before shooting up the leaderboard on day two with a two-under 70, which tied him for the lowest round of the tournament. The Eagles tied for fourth place as a team in the field of nine.
 
Softball Player of the Week
Olivia Sanborn, Fr, Bethany Lutheran, DP
Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chippewa Falls
 
Sanborn helped Bethany sweep the Crown series with wins of 9-1, 8-0, and 15-4. Sanborn batted .889 (8-9) with eight runs, four RBI, a double, triple, and a home run. She also walked three times with six stolen bases. Sanborn improved her season batting average from .412 to .468.
 
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Abby Mitchell, So, UW-Superior
Cloquet, Minn./Carlton
 
Mitchell pitched to a pair of victories this past weekend as the Yellowjackets took on North Central. In two appearances she threw a pair of complete games, hurling 10 innings of shutout softball allowing just four hits while striking out 10.
 
Men’s Tennis North Division Athlete of the Week
Carson Haack, Jr, Northwestern
Elk River, Minn./Elk River
 
On Thursday, Haack went 2-0 in his matches to lead UNW to its first win over UW-Superior since 2019. The junior began the day with a convincing 6-2 win at #1 doubles, then took his #1 singles match by a 6-1, 7-5 score.
 
Men’s Tennis South Division Athlete of the Week
Colton Hulme, So, Greenville
Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville
 
The Panthers were led to a 3-0 week by Hulme, as he went undefeated in his matches. Hulme went 2-0 in doubles, with 2 victories by a 6-2 scoreline. Hulme went 3-0 in singles, with a 4-6, 6-4, 10-6 victory as the clincher for the Panthers win over Millikin University.
 
Women’s Tennis North Division Athlete of the Week
Andreina Tejada, UW-Superior
Quito, Ecuador/Isaac Newton
 
Tejada was undefeated against UMAC opponents this week. In singles play she defeated UNW 6-3, 6-2, BLC 6-1, 6-0 and Morris 6-1, 6-0 all at the top spot. In doubles action alongside Claudia Curtis, they took down Northwestern 7-6 (7-2), BLC 6-4 and Morris 6-0.
 
Women’s Tennis South Division Athlete of the Week
Emily Kowalke, So, Greenville
Effingham, Ill./St. Anthony
 
Kowalke helped lead the Panthers to a 3-0 week, increasing their winning streak to six. Kowalke went 1-1 in doubles and 3-0 in singles, highlighted by a 3-set victory over Principia College by a score of 7-6, 2-6, 6-0. Kowalke also added an 8-2 and a 6-1, 6-0 victory in singles.
 
Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Sam Plocher, Jr, Martin Luther
Kent, Wash./Evergreen Lutheran
 
Plocher had another busy meet at Gustavus, placing second in the high jump with a season-best 2.00-meter leap. The junior would also claim fourth in a pair of events (400m hurdles, 57.23) and (110m hurdles, 15.04).
 
Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Carson Wilhorn, Jr, UW-Superior
Necedah, Wis./Necedah
 
Wilhorn placed second in the hammer throw this weekend at the CSB/SJU Invitational. His heave of 54.29 meters ranks him 32nd in all of NCAA Division III and places him second on the UW-Superior all-time list.
 
Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Alaina Wojtowski, Fr, Northwestern
Oshkosh, Wis./Valley Christian
 
Wojtowski delivered a standout sprint performance at the Gustie Twilight, placing 5th in the 100 meters with a 12.75-second finish before setting a new UNW program record in the 200 meters with a personal-best time of 26.03. Her mark broke the previous Northwestern record by .23 seconds, and she is currently leading the UMAC in the event by 1.31 seconds. She finished 5th on Wednesday, only behind Division I runners from St. Thomas.
 
Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Jordan Ohman, Sr, Minnesota Morris
Cable, Wis./Drummond
 
Ohman had top marks for the Cougars in the shot put, discus, and hammer throw at the CSB/SJU Invitational. She set personal records in the shot put and hammer throw at 11.27 meters and 41.30 meters, respectively. Ohman placed fourth in the discus with a throw of 37.56 meters, best in the UMAC last week. Her hammer throw also led the conference and she had the second-best mark in the shot put last week.