SPORTS

A SEASON FOR (ALMOST) ALL SPORTS

SQUEEZED INTO SPRING In the most unusual spring season, traditional fall and spring sports competed at the same time. From left, Anna Stutz (Jr., Dellwood), Trace Dobson (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D.), Kasie Tweet (Fy., Adrian), and Weston Lombard (Sr., Stillwater) made the most of the opportunity.

A home softball doubleheader at the exact same time as a home soccer match? That was a fi rst.

Not much has been normal about the past year and the same can be said for Gustavus athletics. This spring was a mashup of fall sports that had gone dark in 2020, and spring sports that hadn’t competed since the 2019 season.

For the most part, the traditional spring sports of men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s outdoor track & fi eld, baseball, and softball were able to compete in a full season (with the exception of out-of-state travel). Sliding into spring after a dark fall were volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer. Football did not play any o cial games but did compete against Minnesota State University, Mankato in a joint practice/scrimmage. Cross Country was the lone fall sport that did not compete at all during the spring.

Under strict COVID-19 protocols, player safety was the top priority. There were moments when some studentathletes were quarantined and missed time with their team. Some games and matches were cancelled or postponed. The protocols kept our student-athletes safe.

With no fans allowed for indoor sports and limited fans admitted for outdoor sports, Gustavus Sports Information brought the action from the players to the viewers at home through a signifi cant increase in livestreamed events. Sports schedules were intentionally spread out with minimal overlap, allowing other sports information departments with limited resources to broadcast as many events as possible. In total, Gustavus Sports Information broadcasted 73 of 80 home sporting events from February through May.

With what we’ve learned over the past year, we’re excited to enhance the fan experience this fall for those watching online and in person.

For where and when to watch, visit

In the Face of COVID-19—

Spring brought incredible performances.

• TAYLOR ROONEY (Sr., Andover) won the NCAA championship in the 110-hurdles with a Division III all-time record of 13.72 seconds. • BRYCE NOVAK (So., Cleveland) earned the baseball program’s first All-America honor since 2007 and was named MIAC Player of the Year. • JACOB PEDERSEN (Jr., Minnetonka) tied for eighth place at the NCAA Golf Championships, claiming the program’s first All-America honor since 2012–13. • BIRGEN NELSON (So., Edina) earned two All-America honors, taking second in the 100-hurdles and fifth in the 400-hurdles at NCAA Championships. • MEN’S TENNIS won its 32nd consecutive MIAC championship and 10th straight MIAC playoff title. • GINGER VALENTINE (Sr., Delano) capped her career with an All-American performance at the NCAA Singles Championships. • NICK ANEY (Jr., Rochester) and ALEX BUDDE (So., Menomonee Falls) went to semifinals of the NCAA Doubles Championships, earning All-America status. • STEVEN ORZOLEK (Jr., Darwin) claimed the 26th All-America award by a men’s thrower in Gustavus track & field. • AND EIGHT GUSTIES took nine All-America honors.

Men’s Golf

Jacob Pedersen was named AllRegion for the third consecutive season. The team took fourth at MIAC Championships.

Women’s Golf

Emily Kratz (Jr., Edina) earned AllRegion honors after leading the Gusties with a 79.5-stroke average. As a team, the Gusties took second at the MIAC Championships. Kratz took sixth, Erin Ericson (Jr., Onalaska, Wis.) took seventh, and Sydney Regalado (Jr., Rosemount) took 10th, each earning AllConference. Regalado received the MIAC Elite 22 Award.

Men’s Soccer

The Gusties played a truncated schedule, going 2-0 in official contests and 5-0 in exhibition matches. Cole Schwartz (Sr., Jakarta, Indonesia) was selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team.

Women’s Soccer

In a shortened spring schedule, the Gusties finished with a 4-3 overall record. Katie Ashpole (Sr., Chaska) scored three goals with an assist, while Taylor Hemme (Sr., Eden Prairie) added two goals and three assists.

Volleyball

The Gusties played just six matches this spring season, going 4-2 overall. Kate Holtan (Sr., Rochester) was selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team, joining her sister Nora Holtan as the only other Gustie volleyball player to earn the honor.

Men’s Outdoor Track & Field

Steven Orzolek (Jr., Darwin) took sixth place in the shot put at the NCAA meet. Josh Beiswanger (So., Mankato), Xander DuMoulin (Jr., Shorewood), and Andrew Stumbo (Sr., Boone, Iowa) joined Taylor Rooney and Orzolek on the All-Region Team. The Gusties took fourth at the MIAC Championships.

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field

Birgen Nelson (So. Edina) was selected CoSIDA Academic All-America. Halley Brocker (Jr., Ankeny, Iowa), Madi Kes (Fy., Jordan), Doris-Klein Mor (Jr., Saint Peter), and Annika Poe (So., Big Lake) joined Nelson on the All-Region Team. The Gusties took third at the MIAC Championships.

Baseball

The Gusties finished the season 27-7 overall (the most since 2006) and 18-3 in the MIAC for second place. Bryce Novak (So., Cleveland), Jack Hanson (Jr., Minnetonka), Damon Rademacher (Sr., Princeton), and Weston Lombard (Sr., Stillwater) earned D3baseball.com and ABCA/Rawlings All-Region honors.

Softball

The Gusties posted a 17-17 record and went 8-14 in the MIAC in Head Coach Coley Ries’s first season. Madelyn Mueller (Fy., North Mankato) and Ashley Neuenfeldt (Sr., Bloomington) were named All-Conference.

Men’s Tennis

The Gusties finished 17-3 overall and 9-0 in the league. Nick Aney (Jr., Rochester) was selected CoSIDA Academic All-America while Indraneel Raut (Jr., Oshkosh, Wis.) earned All-District honors. Aney also earned the MIAC Elite 22 Award.

Women’s Tennis

The Gusties went 16-2 overall and 8-1 in the MIAC for second place. Ginger Valentine, Sydney Douglas (Jr., North Mankato), Simona Potockova (Jr., Nova’ Dubnica, Slovakia), and Anna Stutz (Jr., Dellwood) were named All-Conference.