2022-2023 Athletics Recap

Minnesota Crookston wrapped up their 2022-23 athletics season and the Golden Eagles had some great successes including hockey making it to the Central Region Tournament, baseball winning their most games in program history, as was the case for tennis and softball. The women’s basketball team made it to the NSIC Tournament for the fifth time since 2011. The men’s and women’s golf teams produced some of their best rounds in program history. The University of Minnesota Crookston honored some of the top individuals and teams from the 2022-23 season at their first-ever Regal’s Choice Awards banquet on April 20.

Jackson Fuller (So., Minneapolis, Minn.) of the hockey team earned the first-ever Super Eagle Award, given to a student-athlete who displays outstanding athletic performance, academic excellence, and campus involvement. Fuller is a bioinformatics major with a 4.0 GPA. He is involved with SAAC, He is the NSIC SAAC Representative, and also active with GEE, the Sports and Rec Management Association, UMN Crookston music department, and the information desk. Fuller scored 19 goals and 30 assists for the hockey team, who made it to the ACHA Division II Central Region Tournament. He was an All-WCCHA Third Team selection.

Emma Miller (Fr., Albertville, Minn.) of women’s basketball earned three awards. For the honors the recipients received a Golden Eagle chain. Miller was named Female Athlete of the Year, she had the Record-Breaking Performance of the Year for her school-record 37 points against Bemidji State, and earned Female Newcomer of the Year. Miller was named NSIC Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Golden Eagle to win the honor. She was the program’s first First Team All-NSIC pick since the 2018-19 season. She averaged 18.1 points per game, good for second in the NSIC.

Jake Dykhoff (R-Sr., Wadena, Minn.) of baseball was named Male Athlete of the Year. He is 6-4 with a 3.92 ERA, with 82 strikeouts. Dykhoff is a three-time NSIC Pitcher of the Week, one-time NCBWA Central Region Pitcher of the Week, and one-time NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week recipient. He has three games with over 10 strikeouts, including a record 14 strikeouts. Dykhoff has four complete games this season.

Madeleine Schneider (Jr., Gartringen, Germany) of tennis was named the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for her performance in the classroom and on the court. Schneider has a 4.0 GPA in software engineering and information technology management. Schneider went 14-2 in singles, setting the single-season mark for singles wins and setting the program record for No. 1 singles wins in a career.

Alex Koep (Sr., Parkers Prairie, Minn.) of baseball was named Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Koep posted a 3.95 GPA in natural resources. He has been a staple on the Chancellor’s List and the Dean’s List. He is a member of the National Wildlife Society and the UMN Crookston Natural Resources Club. On the mound, Koep is 6-1 with a 2.52 ERA, with 65 strikeouts, and 28 walks.

Bailey Schaefer (So., Brandon, Minn.), and Matthew Allman (Sr., London, England), of volleyball and men’s basketball, were named the department’s Iron Eagles for their work in the weight room.

Mitchell Coleman (So., Hatton, N.D.) of hockey, was selected as the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. Coleman scored six goals and 10 assists, for 16 points, improving from only five points a season prior. He had two multi-goal games for the Golden Eagles.

Mike Hallquist (Jr., Fargo, N.D.) of baseball, was named the Male Newcomer of the Year. Hallquist leads the NSIC in home runs, OPS, runs scored, total bases, and slugging percentage. He is hitting .411, with 55 runs scored, 14 doubles, 16 home runs, and 52 RBIs. He transferred to UMN Crookston from Bismarck State College.

The tennis team was recognized as having the highest team GPA, with a cumulative 3.724 GPA.

Rambo Badyal (Sr., Kelowna, British Columbia) earned the Justin Knebel Memorial Award given to a men’s basketball player who exemplifies the things Justin did, being the ultimate team player who works hard on the court and in the classroom. He had a 3.32 GPA and averaged 9.0 points per game for the Golden Eagles as a senior.

Jared Aamold (So., Breckenridge, Minn.) had the Highlight of the Year after recording 36 saves on 40 shots to defeat the University of Minnesota in overtime at the 2023 WCCHA Tournament in Blaine, Minn.

The 2022-23 Coaching Staff of the Year was the baseball staff of Head Coach Steve Gust, and assistants Dalton Parks, Clarke Peterson, T.J. Hokanson, and Anthony Lupa. The staff has put in countless hours for practice, getting the field ready, and helping the team to a program-record 29 wins.