BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for swimming & diving and indoor track & field on Tuesday. Student-athletes from Carleton, Macalester, Saint Benedict, 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. Throughout the winter season, team sports (basketball and hockey) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (swimming & diving and 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.

The MIAC Athlete of the Week archive has complete details on each week’s selections and winners.

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MIAC Men’s Swimming Athlete of the Week
Brayden Slavik
Saint John’s University
Sr.
Green Isle, Minn. / Chaska

Brayden Slavik won two events with NCAA B-cut times and finished second in one more event at the Rochester Invitational on 12/4-6. Slavik won the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:30.15, which surpassed the NCAA B-cut time of 4:31.24. He added his second B-cut time of the weekend in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 15:43.14 to win the event. Slavik beat that cut time by nearly seven seconds. Slavik also finished second in the 400-yard individual medley (4:04.88) and was a member of three SJU freestyle relay teams at the meet.

MIAC Men’s Diving Athlete of the Week
Hans Anderson
Carleton College
Sr.
Watertown, Minn. / Watertown-Mayer

Hans Anderson was the top NCAA Division III diver in both the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions at the Rochester Invitational on 12/4-5. Anderson scored 440.30 points on the 1-meter board to place second overall on 12/4 before totaling 458.45 points off the 3-meter board on 12/5 for another runner-up performance overall.

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MIAC Women’s Swimming Athlete of the Week
Haley Zelen
College of Saint Benedict
Jr.
Shakopee, Minn. / Shakopee

Haley Zelen rewrote the CSB record book at the Rochester Invitational on 12/4-6, breaking three individual program records and contributing to a relay record while earning three NCAA Division III B-cut times. Zelen set new marks in the 50 free (23.07), 100 fly (54.72), and 100 free (50.79), and helped the 200 CSB medley relay team post a new record time of 1:46.69. Zelen’s time of 1:05.77 in the 100 breast ranks second in Saint Benedict history.

MIAC Women’s Diving Athlete of the Week
Nina Schwab
Carleton College
So.
Piedmont, Calif. / Piedmont

Nina Schwab won the 1-meter diving competition by nearly 80 points with a score of 486.00 at the Rochester Invitational on 12/5. That point total eclipsed her own program record set last season and also established a new MIAC overall standard, besting the previous mark of 485.40 that had stood since 2013. Schwab also won the 3-meter diving competition on 12/4 with a score of 427.90. She totaled 438.85 points during the preliminary round. 

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MIAC Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Lance Nemecek
St. Olaf College
Sr.
Minnetrista, Minn. / Mound-Westonka

Lance Nemecek ran the second-fastest 800-meter time in NCAA Division III this season with a meet record time of 1:54.02 at the M City Classic on 12/5. Nemecek’s time ranks third on both St. Olaf’s all-time performers’ and performances lists. He also led off the first-place 4×400-meter relay that won the event in a meet-record time of 3:21.77, which ranks fifth nationally and second on both St. Olaf lists.

MIAC Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Soren Kaster
Carleton College
Jr.
Horace, N.D. / West Fargo Sheyenne

Soren Kaster placed third overall and second among NCAA Division III competitors in the heptathlon with 4,606 points at the M City Classic on 12/5-6. Kaster’s score was the third-best in program history and ranks third in D-III this season. He clocked times of 7.44 in the 60-meter dash, 9.03 in the 60-meter hurdles, and 2:53.49 in the 1000-meter run; measured 10.09 meters in the shot put and a personal-best 6.31 meters in the long jump; and cleared 1.70 meters in the high jump and a MIAC-best 4.35 meters in the pole vault.

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MIAC Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Ariella Rogahn-Press
Macalester College
So.
Albuquerque, N.M / Bosque School

Ariella Rogahn-Press won the 400 meters by more than five seconds at the M City Classic in Minneapolis on 12/5 with a time of 57.43. Her converted time ranks third in NCAA Division III this season.

MIAC Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Svea Frantzich
St. Olaf College
Fy.
Stillwater, Minn. / Breck

Svea Frantzich recorded the fifth-highest pentathlon score in NCAA Division III this season with 3,005 points in her collegiate debut at the M City Classic on 12/5. Frantzich posted top-10 all-time performances on St. Olaf’s indoor list in the 60-meter hurdles (9.47) and long jump (5.44m) on her way to compiling the No. 8 pentathlon score on the Oles’ all-time performers’ list.

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison track & field unveiled its indoor slate for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday afternoon, as announced by Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Delethea Quarles.

The Dukes began the season at VMI’s Colonel Bev Read Opener on Dec. 6, and will return to action in 2026, starting with the Virginia Tech Invitational (Jan. 16-17). JMU will remain in the Commonwealth for another trip to Lexington for the VMI Invitational (Jan. 23-24).

From there, JMU will close January at the Penn State National Open (Jan. 30-31) before turning its attention to the ECAC Championship, taking place at Boston University’s Track & Tennis Center, Feb. 7-8.

The Dukes return to Virginia for Liberty’s Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational (Feb. 13-14). James Madison then turns its attention to the Sun Belt Championship in Birmingham, Ala. at the Birmingham CrossPlex, Feb. 23-24.

JMU will look to qualify individuals for the NCAA Championships (March 13-14), which will be held at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark.

PRINCETON, N.J. – After a record breaking showing in Boston over the weekend, sophomore Harlow Tong earned Ivy League Men’s Athlete of the Week status, becoming the first Crimson to receive the honor this season.

Racing in the opening heat of the men’s 300m at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, Tong made an instant impact. Tong finished in first place with a time of 33.07, as his mark represents a new school record in the men’s 300m, surpassing the former record of 33.67 set by Oliver Murcko ’25 at the 2021 HBCU & Ivy Challenge. Tong’s time is also a new facility record at the renowned Boston University Track & Tennis Center.

A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Tong is looking to build off a stellar first-year season as he begins his second campaign with the Crimson. Last year saw Tong breakout in the outdoor portion of the season, winning an Ivy League title as a member of Harvard’s men’s 4x100m relay team. Tong is also the school record holder the outdoor men’s 400m, running a 46.55 at the Tiger Track Classic.

The Crimson return to action on Saturday, Jan. 17, as Harvard hosts the Beantown Challenge at Gordon Indoor Track.

For complete coverage of Harvard Softball, follow the team on Twitter (@HarvardSB) and Instagram (@harvardsb).

 

When Roslyn Zentz first came to Montana Technological University from Eatonville, Washington, she imagined her college experience would revolve around volleyball. Instead, she found a community that helped her grow, on and off the court.

“I came to Montana Tech as a volleyball player,” Zentz said. “I took business classes in high school and really liked them—they were the classes I enjoyed the most. After my freshman year, I stopped playing volleyball, but I loved our community and how well our professors know us. You’re really part of a family here.”

That sense of belonging encouraged Zentz to stay in Butte even after leaving athletics. Over her four years at Tech, she has worked nearly full time while earning her business degree—starting as a barista at She Brews Coffee before taking on a management role at 5518 Designs in Uptown Butte.

As operations manager, Zentz oversaw scheduling, inventory, shipping, and wholesale accounts.

“I just oversee the day-to-day operations and make sure things are flowing smoothly,” she said. “I’ve always liked being busy and working with people.”

Her professors, she said, helped her balance academics and work.

“A lot of my classes have been flexible, which made it easy to apply what I was learning in the classroom to my job,” Zentz said. “Our professors are so willing to help. They want you to succeed.”

Zentz is currently looking for her next opportunity—ideally something in management that allows her to make a difference.

“I think I’d like something that gives back, so you feel like you’re having an impact in the community,” she said.

Zentz credits the tight-knit Butte community for helping her stay motivated.

“Everyone in town cares about Montana Tech,” she said. “You’ll see your professors at football games or in Safeway, and everyone’s cheering for the Orediggers. It’s fun because you just know them, and they know you.”

Her favorite experience at Montana Tech was the business capstone course, where seniors work in teams to run simulated companies.

“It’s really fun because you’re working hard alongside the same people you’ve known for four years,” she said. “It’s a good challenge and very rewarding.”

Zentz said her fiancé, Lucas—an environmental engineering student she met at Tech—has been her biggest supporter.

“We’ve stuck together since freshman year,” she said. “It’s crazy to look back and realize we’ve grown into the people we used to look up to.”

As graduation approaches, Zentz said she feels ready for what’s next. “I’m excited to find something that’s my thing—the way I can make a difference,” she said. “I feel prepared and ready to go into the workforce.”

Her advice to new students is simple: trust your instincts.

“Follow where you want to go,” she said. “There will be a lot of things thrown your direction, but life is easier when you’re doing what you love.”

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Carleton College junior Soren Kaster was selected as the MIAC Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week following his heptathlon performance at the M City Classic on Dec. 5-6. This is his third career conference weekly honor and second for indoor track & field.
 
Kaster placed third overall and second among NCAA Division III competitors in the heptathlon with 4,606 points. His score was the third-best in program history and ranks third in D-III this season. He clocked times of 7.44 in the 60-meter dash, 9.03 in the 60-meter hurdles, and 2:53.49 in the 1000-meter run; measured 10.09 meters in the shot put and a personal-best 6.31 meters in the long jump; and cleared 1.70 meters in the high jump and a MIAC-best 4.35 meters in the pole vault.
 
The Knights are off for the holidays but return to competition at the Ole Opener on Jan. 17.
 
 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kristen Birmingham of Charlotte Volleyball has been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-East Region Honorable Mention team, announced by the AVCA on Tuesday (Dec. 9). Birmingham becomes the first Charlotte 49er to receive AVCA All-Region honors since Emani Foster in 2022.

Birmingham led the 49ers with 412 kills this season, averaging 4.00 per set on a .311 hitting percentage, earning American Conference First Team honors alongside teammates Annika Thompson and Jessica Ricks. Within conference play, she was sixth in the American with 212 kills (3.79 per set) and seventh with 241.5 points. She recorded 12 double doubles during the season highlighted by 28 kills and 11 digs in a win over UNC Greensboro, the second most kills in a game for an American player in the season. That performance earned her conference Offensive Player of the Week honors while being tabbed to the Honorable Mention list four times.

Full List of AVCA All-Region

The Niners thrived under Jenkins’ leadership in year one, starting the season with a historic 10-game winning streak and winning 14 of 15 matches, the best stretch in program history since 1981. In addition to Birmingham’s All-Region selection, Annika Thompson was named the American Conference Libero of the Year while being named to the All-Conference First Team alongside Jessica Ricks and Birmingham. Charlotte was the only school in the American to have three players named to the first team. Finishing season 17-12, Charlotte improved on their win total by 12, tying for the fifth best win increase from last year in the entire NCAA.