BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for basketball, hockey, softball, and tennis on Monday. Student-athletes from Bethel, Carleton, Gustavus, Saint John’s, and St. Olaf claimed the Conference’s weekly honors.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by the Conference’s sports information directors and selected by MIAC staff. Transitioning from the winter to spring seasons, team sports (baseball, softball, and tennis) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (indoor track & field) announced on Tuesday afternoons. The winners of the latest Athlete of the Week awards are listed below, along with details on their outstanding performances.
To view each sport’s 2021-22 Athlete of the Week home page, navigate to the MIAC’s Awards page or visit the 2021-22 Athlete of the Week news archive for complete details on each week’s selections and winners.
MIAC Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week
Alex Gibbens
Carleton College
So. | Guard
New Canaan, Conn.
Alex Gibbens averaged 17.0, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks in a 2-0 week for the Knights. He shot 50 percent overall and 58.3 percent from 3-point range on the week. After averaging 9.2 points per game entering the week, Gibbens doubled that clip with an 18-point performance to go along with eight boards, three assists, two steals, and a block in a come-from-behind win versus Saint Mary’s on 2/14. Gibbens’ stellar defensive play helped the Knights erase an 11-point deficit with 7:30 left in regulation against the Cardinals. He followed up with a 16-point showing against Bethel on 2/16 to clinch Carleton the No. 3 seed in the MIAC Playoffs.
MIAC Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week
Rachel Kelly
St. Olaf College
Jr. | Forward
Northfield, Minn.
Rachel Kelly averaged a double-double of 12.5 points and 12.5 rebounds while shooting 57.9 percent from the field in two regular-season games last week for the Oles, including scoring 19 points and pulling down a career-high 20 rebounds in a 67-59 win over St. Scholastica on 2/16. The 20-rebound game was just the third by a MIAC student-athlete this season.
MIAC Men’s Hockey Athlete of the Week
Auggie Moore
Saint John’s University
Jr. | Forward
Edina, Minn.
Auggie Moore scored two goals, including the game-winner with 0:00.1 remaining in regulation, in the Johnnies’ 3-2 win over No. 4 Augsburg on 2/19. He scored the game’s first goal during a 4-on-4, 4:21 into the second period, and broke the 2-2 tie with the dramatic, game-winning goal to snap the Auggies’ win streak at 13. Moore took the puck at the Johnnies’ own blue line and skated into the offensive zone, stick-handled past two Auggie defenders into the slot, and ripped home a wrister for his 13th goal of the season.
MIAC Women’s Hockey Athlete of the Week
Brooke Power
Gustavus Adolphus College
So. | Forward
Lakeville, Minn. | North
Brooke Power tallied three points in the series sweep against St. Scholastica over the weekend, securing Gustavus its 17th MIAC regular-season championship and the top seed in the conference tournament. Power had the game-winning goal in overtime on 2/17 that locked in the MIAC title, and assisted on another score in the 3-2 win. She then scored one more goal on 2/19, which ended in a 3-0 win, giving Gustavus an NCAA-leading and program record 14th shutout of the season.
MIAC Softball Player of the Week
Brooke McKelvey
Carleton College
Sr. | Right Field
West Linn, Ore.
Brooke McKelvey went 5-for-8 (.625) with a double, home run, six runs batted in, and a 1.125 slugging percentage in helping the Knights to a doubleheader sweep of Martin Luther on 2/19. McKelvey smashed Carleton’s first home run of the season to highlight the game one victory. In the second game of the series, she tied the score with a two-run double in the fifth inning and added an insurance RBI in the sixth inning as Carleton claimed the 12-10 victory.
MIAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
Faith Hanshaw
Carleton College
Jr. | Right-handed Pitcher
The Woodlands, Texas |Â The Woodlands Christian Academy
Faith Hanshaw recorded the victory for the Knights in the season lid-lifter against Martin Luther on 2/19, tossing 4.0 scoreless frames of three-hit ball with six strikeouts and no walks. After yielding a game-opening hit, she retired 13-of the next-15 batters and did not permit another runner past first base. She also contributed with the bat, with an RBI double in the opener and the game-winning RBI via a pinch-hit sac fly in game two.
MIAC Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week
Tarm Rojanasoonthon
Carleton College
Fy.
Bangkok, Thailand |Â Chulalongkorn
Tarm Rojanasoonthon won both his No. 1 singles matches and a No. 1 doubles match as Carleton faced a pair of regional opponents over the weekend. He secured a 6-1, 6-1 win in singles and an 8-3 victory in doubles as Carleton defeated Grinnell, 7-2, on 2/19. Against Carthage College on 2/20, he added a 6-4, 6-2 triumph atop the singles lineup.
MIAC Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week
Emma Thole
Bethel University
Fy.
St. Michael, Minn. | St. Michael-Albertville
Emma Thole picked up two crucial points for the Royals in their 5-4 MIAC-opening win over St. Olaf on 2/18. Playing at No. 2 doubles, Thole helped battle to an 8-6 decision to put BU up 2-0 early. With the match tied at 4-4, Thole pulled out a 6-2, 6-3 victory to secure the team win and her second consecutive individual win of the year in singles play.
