BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its men’s golf awards on Monday and the Gusties placed four on the All-Conference list, highlighted by first-year Chris Gutuza (Fy., Johannesburg, South Africa), who was named MIAC Rookie of the Year. Wyatt Wasko (Sr., Lake Elmo), Teddy Kaste (So., Apple Valley), and Sam Skaar (Sr., Coleraine) also earned the All-Conference nod.
Gutuza became the eighth Gustavus player to receive MIAC Rookie of the Year honors, and the first since the 2018-19 season. Gutuza played 20 rounds of golf in his debut season, averaging 76.3 shots at the nine events he attended. Gutuza had two top-10 showings and played a crucial role in the Gusties’ win over nationally-ranked Saint John’s, tying for fourth at the event with an even-par 72.
Wasko led the team with a 74.7 average in 18 rounds, placing in the top-5 three times throughout the season. Wasko, earning the second All-Conference honor of his career, finished 10th at the conference championship in the fall.
Skaar finished the season with a 76.4 average in 20 rounds, placing in the top-10 at three events. Skaar’s best performance came against the Johnnies, joining Gutuza and Wasko at fourth with an even-par 72.
Kaste picked up his first conference honors after averaging 75.9 in 19 rounds this season. Kaste posted two top-10 finishes, and led the Gusties on three different occasions, including an even-par performance at the Fall Minnesota Golf Classic, helping the team to a seventh place finish and a sixth place finish at the Bobby Krig Invitational, carding a 71-78-149 (+8).
Nate Loxtercamp of Saint John’s and Conor Schubring of Bethel earned Co-Player of the Year, while the Johnnies’ Head Coach Bob Alpers was selected as the MIAC Coach of the Year by his peers.