BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) recognized some of its best and brightest winter sport student-athletes on Monday with the announcement of the basketball, hockey, swimming and diving, and indoor track and field Elite 22 Awards. Gustavus sophomore defender Kayla Vrieze (Eagan) claimed the award for women’s hockey.
The MIAC Elite 22 Award recognizes the true essence of the term “student-athlete” by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the conference championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. Modeled after the NCAA Elite 90 Award, the MIAC Elite 22 Award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest grade-point average (GPA) in each sport who meets similarly high, sport-specific athletic requirements.
Vrieze played in 27 games this season, accumulating three goals and three assists for six points. She boasted a +12 rating and had one game-winning goal in the MIAC semifinal playoff win over Saint Mary’s on Feb. 29. Vrieze is a public accounting major at Gustavus with a 3.98 GPA. She was a key contributor on a team that won both the MIAC regular season and playoff championships.
In all sports with MIAC team postseason tournaments, including basketball and hockey, the MIAC Elite 22 Award is presented to the individual with the highest GPA on the active roster at the MIAC Playoff championship contest. In swimming and diving and indoor track and field, the winner is the individual with the highest GPA who was named All-Conference. The recipient must be a sophomore, junior, or senior and in at least his or her second season of competition with their current team.