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 and women’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
Henry Itani, So, Bethany Lutheran, DH
Sao Paulo, Brazil/CK School
 
Itani helped Bethany to a 12-6 win over Bethel University last Monday. Itani was a triple shy of the cycle, batting 3-for-4 with four runs, two RBI, a walk, double, and a home run.
 
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Alex Luepke, Sr, Northwestern
Mankato, Minn./Mankato West
 
Luepke was terrific in his 3 innings of relief in UNW's 13-12, 10-inning loss at UW-River Falls. The senior struck out 4, and gave up just 1 hit and 0 earned runs in the high-leverage, 7th-10th innings.
 
Men’s Golf Athlete of the Week
Andrew Slatten, Fr, UW-Superior
Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing
 
Slatten had a strong weekend for the Yellowjackets as they opened their spring season at the Illinois Wesleyan Invite. He carded a nine-over 80 on day one before rattling off a seven-over 79 on the day. He collected 20 pars and a birdie on the par-three eighth hole on the weekend.
 
Women’s Golf Athlete of the Week
Paige Johnson, Jr, Northwestern
Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool
 
Johnson showed no signs of rust un UNW's first tournament of the spring season, claiming medalist honors at the Giant Compression Invitational in Texas. The junior finished with a two-round total of +9, shooting scores of 76 and 77 to win by 3 strokes and tie Northwestern for fourth as a team.
 
Softball Player of the Week
Olivia Losee, Sr, Minnesota Morris, OF
Merrill, Wis./Merrill
 
Losee had an impressive series against North Central, batting 6-for-11 (.545). In the series opener, the senior outfielder went 3-for-5 with two doubles and one triple, recorded three RBIs, and scored two runs. Across the series, Losee had four extra-base hits (two doubles and two triples), scored six runs, recorded four RBIs, stole three bases, and drew three walks.
 
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Ireland Strubbe, Sr, Northwestern
Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian
 
Strubbe went the distance in the circle in the Eagles' 6-inning 8-run rule over Crown last week. She allowed just 4 hits with 11 strikeouts. The win was her sixth of the season.
 
Men’s Tennis South Division Athlete of the Week
Ernesto Botero, Sr, Principia
Cartagena, Colombia/Gimnasio Cartagena
 
Botero came away with a win in both of his matches at #2 singles and #2 doubles against a strong St. Olaf team. He won 6-3, 6-4 in singles and 7-6 (5) in doubles.
 
Women’s Tennis South Division Athlete of the Week
Mafe Quintero, Principia
Bogotá, Colombia/ Colegio RR Oblatas al Divino Amor
 
Quintero continued her strong season by going a combined 4-0 this week. At #1 singles, she won 6-1, 6-1 over Illinois College on Tuesday, and then won a hard-fought match in a third set tiebreaker 7-5, 3-6, 10-8 over St. Olaf on Thursday. At #1 doubles, she won 6-1 vs IC and 7-5 vs St. Olaf with two different partners.
 
Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Dylan Uitto, Jr, UW-Superior
Ashland, Wis./Ashland
 
Uitto ran a lifetime PR in the 5k at the Hamline Invite on Monday. His race time of 15:32.22 not only gave him the event title, but serves as the new UMAC leader.
 
Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Remi Fagerland, Fr, Northwestern
Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Central
 
Remi Fagerland got the team off to a great start, winning the javelin event with a throw of 46.22m (151' 7). In just his second time in this event for UNW, Fagerland added nearly a meter to his personal best extending his current lead in the UMAC. He also threw the shot put and finished 16th with an 8.65m (28' 4.5") throw.
 
Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Alaina Wojtowski, Fr, Northwestern
Oshkosh, Wis./Valley Christian
 
Wojtowski broke a Northwestern record that has been set since 1987 in the 100-meter dash, running it in 12.45 seconds (first in the UMAC), which was .23 seconds faster than the previous UNW record. Her time placed her third overall, behind two unattached runners from the University of Minnesota. She had also just completed a personal record in the open 400m (1:09.13) before turning around to run the 100.
 
Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Bel Dimaze, So, UW-Superior
Monticello, Minn./Spectrum
 
In a jump off, Dimaze took second place in the high jump at the Hamline Invite. She capped her day with a leap of 1.50 meters before setting a new PR in the javelin. Her heave of 24.23 meters gave her ninth place overall while throwing two meters farther than her previous best.