St. Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced the 2008-09 MIAC Women's Golf Awards today, May 15, 2009. Leading the award winners is MIAC Player of the Year Laura Heck of St. Thomas.
Also receiving honors were: Gustavus' Kimbra Kosak (MIAC Senior of the Year), Gustavus' Taylor Drenttel (MIAC Rookie of the Year) and Gustavus' Scott Moe (MIAC Coach of the Year).
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the third annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for women's golf. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition.
MIAC Player of the Year - Laura Heck, University of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas junior Laura Heck (Chisholm, Minn./Hibbing) had the lowest stroke average in the MIAC at 78.7 in 2008-09. Heck, now a two-time MIAC Player of the Year, won the MIAC Championship in October by five shots. She also won the Midwest Classic and UW-Stevens Point Invite in the fall as well as the Wartburg Invite this spring.
MIAC Senior of the Year - Kimbra Kosak, Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College senior Kimbra Kosak (Grand Rapids, Minn.) enters this weekend's NCAA Championships with a stroke average of 82.5, which is good for sixth in the conference. She turned in seven top-ten finishes this season with her best results being a second place finish at the Wartburg Invitational and tying for second at the MIAC Championships.
MIAC Rookie of the Year - Taylor Drenttel, Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College first-year Taylor Drenttel (Eagan, Minn.) posted a 83.5 stroke average in 2008-09 with five top-ten finishes in 10 events. This spring, Drenttel placed fourth at the St. Thomas Invitational. She also was also named an All-MIAC performer after finishing eighth at the MIAC Championships with at 54-hole total of 251 (+35).
MIAC Coach of the Year - Scott Moe, Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College head coach Scott Moe led Gustavus to the program's first MIAC Championship in October. After finishing second to St. Thomas the previous four seasons, the Gusties posted a nine-stroke victory at the championships. Moe, in his sixth season, had four players finish in the top ten at the championships and earn All-MIAC honors. Moe's Gusties are currently fourth after two of four days at the NCAA Championships in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
2008-09 All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team
Augsburg - Kelsey Corrick (So., Glencoe, Minn./Glencoe-Silver Lake)
Bethel - Bree Eastlack (Sr., Rockford, Minn.)
Carleton - Laura Knutson (So., Edina, Minn.)
Concordia - Afton Pender (Sr., Cohasset, Minn./Grand Rapids)
Gustavus - Kimbra Kosak (Sr., Grand Rapids, Minn.)
Macalester - Ellen Bubak (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln)
Saint Benedict - Ann Dressen (Sr., Alexandria, Minn./Jefferson)
Saint Mary’s - Katelyn Rizzi (Jr., Austin, Minn.)
St. Olaf - Emily Segar (Sr., Iowa City, Iowa/West)
St. Thomas - Stephanie Hird (Sr., Madison, Wis.)