ST. PAUL, Minn. - Despite a lighter week, schedule-wise, the University of Northwestern sure produced some impressive performances. Five Eagles were recognized by the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference as UMAC Athletes of the Week on Tuesday morning.
The full UMAC press release can be found
here.
After a stellar relief performance,
Alex Luepke (Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) was named UMAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week for the first time in his career. In Wednesday's 13-12, 10-inning loss at UW-River Falls, the senior struck out four and gave up just 1 hit and 0 earned runs in the high-leverage, 7th-10th innings.
Down in Texas,
Paige Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool) showed no signs of rust un UNW's first tournament of the spring season, claiming medalist honors at the Giant Compression Invitational, leading to her fifth-career UMAC Women's Golf Athlete of the Week honor, and her third this season. 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.
On the softball diamond, Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian) went the distance in the circle in the Eagles' 6-inning, 8-run rule win over Crown last week. The senior allowed just 4 hits with 11 strikeouts. The win was her sixth of the season.
A newcomer to the UMAC Athlete of the Week honor roll, Remi Fagerland (Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Central) got Men's Track & Field 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. For his efforts, he was named UMAC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week.
Last but not least, Alaina Wojtowski (Oshkosh, Wis./Valley Christian) was named UMAC Track Athlete of the Week for the second time in her freshman season, and the first time in the outdoor season. The rookie broke a Northwestern record that was set in 1987 in the 100-meter dash, running it in 12.45 seconds (first in the UMAC), which was .23 seconds faster than the previous 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.
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Northwestern's 2025-26 UMAC Athlete of the Week Honors (54)
Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week (1)
9/3: Tyler Dueber (Bloomington, Minn./Homeschool)
Women's Golf Player of the Week (6)
9/3: Morgan Eckman (Jordan, Minn./Jordan)
9/9: Paige Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool)
9/16: Morgan Eckman (Jordan, Minn./Jordan)
9/23: Paige Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool)
9/30: Morgan Eckman (Jordan, Minn./Jordan)
4/7: Paige Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool)
Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week (4)
9/3: Naomi Meehan
10/7: Marie Kendall
10/21: Haley Mersberger
11/4: Haley Mersberger
Volleyball Setter of the Week (8)
9/3: Addeson Jenniges
9/16: Addeson Jenniges
10/7: Addeson Jenniges
10/14: Addeson Jenniges
10/21: Addeson Jenniges
10/28: Addeson Jenniges
11/4: Addeson Jenniges
11/11: Addeson Jenniges
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week (3)
9/3: Marley Aune
9/9: Marley Aune
11/11: Marley Aune
Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week (1)
9/9: Troy Johnson
Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week (3)
9/9: Marie Kendall
10/7: Mallory Moseman
11/4: Mallory Moseman
Men's Golf Player of the Week (3)
9/16: Jakob Swanson
9/23: Shane Seiffert
9/30: Jakob Swanson
Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week (1)
10/7: Emery Maki (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing)
Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week (2)
10/7: Ana Egge
10/21: Anja Jarchow
Football Defensive Player of the Week (2)
10/28: Jayden Goodwin
11/11: Austin Ahrendt
Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week (1)
11/4: Jay'ce Jones
Men's Basketball Player of the Week (2)
11/25: Japheth Nyamari
2/10: Japheth Nyamari
Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week (3)
1/27: Emery Maki (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing)
2/10: Alaina Wojtowski (Oshkosh, Wis./Valley Christian)
2/17: Emery Maki (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing)
Men's Tennis North Division Player of the Week (4)
2/3: Carson Haack
3/3: Sam Majerus
3/17: Griffen Jarchow
3/31: Carson Haack
Women's Tennis North Division Player of the Week (3)
2/3: Rein Hayashi
2/10: Rein Hayashi
3/24: Sarah Langridge
Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week (1)
2/17: John Shevchuk (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine)
Softball Pitcher of the Week (2)
3/17: Emma Morrissey (Wasilla, Alas./Colony)
4/7: Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian)
Baseball Pitcher of the Week (2)
3/24: Dreyer Homan (Clara City, Minn./MACCRAY)
4/7: Alex Luepke (Mankato, Minn./Mankato West)
Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week (1)
3/31: Katie Shilts (Cameron, Wis./Cameron)
Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week (1)
4/7: Remi Fagerland (Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Central)
Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week (1)
4/7: Alaina Wojtowski (Oshkosh, Wis./Valley Christian)