SAINT PETER, Minn. – Men’s track and field student-athlete Taylor Rooney (Jr., Andover) and women’s hockey player Hailey Holland (Fy., Aberdeen, S.D.) have been named Gustavus Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Month, which is voted on by the Gustavus Sports Information Department and presented by Thrivent Financial.
Taylor Rooney
Track and Field
Hometown: Andover, Minn.
High School: Andover
Major: Economics
Parent: Thomas Rooney
Taylor Rooney continued to cement his name into the Gustavus record book after a huge month of February. Rooney began his month at the Mark Schuck open, taking first place in the 60m hurdles and second in the 200m at the largely Division II event. After a second place finish in the high jump at MSU-Mankato on February 8, Rooney traveled to New Mexico on the 14th to compete in the 60m hurdles at the USATF Indoor Championships. The junior finished in 8.06 seconds, taking 17th at the event featuring a number of world class athletes. The following week Rooney set a new school record in the 60m hurdles, finishing in 8.00 seconds for the 13th-best performance in Division III history, and was named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week for his accomplishment. He capped off his month at the MIAC championships being named the MIAC 60m hurdle champion with a meet record time of 8.00 and high jump champion with a mark of 2.04m.
Hailey Holland
Women’s Hockey
Hometown: Aberdeen, S.D.
High School: Central
Major: Undeclared
Parent: Bryan and Amanda Holland
Hailey Holland ended her month of February with a bang, posting her second career hat trick in the Gusties 4-1 playoff win over Saint Mary’s on Feb. 29. Holland notched her first points of the month with a goal against Concordia on Feb. 7. She went on to post a big weekend against Saint Benedict on Feb. 14-15, scoring the game-winning goal in the series opening 4-1 win, before posting a pair of goals and an assist in Saturday’s 5-2 victory. The Aberdeen native then had a three-point weekend to close out the regular season as she posted two goals in the Feb. 21 contest against Bethel before dishing an assist in the matchup on the 22nd. The first-year closed out her month with the hat trick over Saint Mary’s to move the Gusties into the MIAC Championship game.