The University of Minnesota Crookston celebrated the 2023-24 season at the second annual Regal’s Choice Award, hosted by the UMC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) last week in Kiehle Auditorium. The Golden Eagles announced award winners for the season during the event.
Blaize Sagna (London, England) of the men’s basketball program, was named the Male Athlete of the Year. Sagna was an All-NSIC Second Team performer and also earned the Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year nod. He had a phenomenal season, averaging 20.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Sagna is the first Golden Eagle to earn all-conference since Harrison Cleary at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season.
Emma Miller (Albertville) of the women’s basketball team was named the Female Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season. Miller was named to the All-NSIC Second Team and became the first player since the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons to earn back-to-back all-conference nods for the women’s basketball program. She became the 13th player in program history to earn 1,000 points. Miller averaged 17.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Miller also received the Highlight Player of the Year for her three-quarters court shot against Northwest Missouri State University. The shot ended up being a Top 10 play on ESPN’s Sportscenter.
Josh Lunak and Holly Roepke of tennis were awarded the Coaching Staff of the Year award after the turnaround they have ushered in with the tennis program, helping the team to a school-record 10 wins and their first-ever NSIC Tournament appearance.
Teddy Giefer (Courtland) was named the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. Giefer has been one of the top performers on the baseball team in 2024 after splitting time as a starter at first base in 2023. Giefer is hitting .360, with 24 runs scored, 11 doubles, six home runs, and 44 RBIs.
Gabriella Siefkes (Aberdeen, S.D.) of the equestrian team was named the Female Senior Student-Athlete of the Year. She is headed to the IHSA National Championships in early May in Mill Spring, N.C. She was named the APHA NCEA All-Academic First Team and competed for the Cacchione Cup at Zone Championships this year.
Jackson Fuller (Bloomington) of the hockey team was named the Male Scholar Student-Athlete of the Year and also earned the Super Geag Award. Fuller is active in a variety of activities on and off the ice for the Golden Eagles, as well as being a team captain. He has a 4.0 GPA in biology and was named to the All-WCCHA Honorable Mention team during the 2023-24 season.
Madeleine Schneider (Gartringen, Germany) of the tennis team was named the Female Scholar Student-Athlete of the Year. Schneider has a 4.0 GPA in software engineering and information technology management. She was an All-NSIC First Team pick in 2023, and has had an equally impressive season in 2024. She has been an integral part of getting the team to their first-ever NSIC Tournament. Schneider is the all-time singles win holder at Minnesota Crookston.
The women’s golf team earned the award for the Highest Team GPA.
Xzavier Jones (Milwaukee, Wis.) of the men’s basketball team earned the Justin Knebel Memorial Award. The award given to a men’s basketball player who exemplifies the things Justin did, being the ultimate team player. Jones suffered an injury in 2023-24, but was the ultimate teammate on and off the court.
Rayna French (La Salle, Manitoba) of the softball team was named as the Female Newcomer of the Year. French is second on her team for qualified players with a batting average of .284, she has 15 runs scored, four doubles, two home runs, and 22 RBIs. Kodi Miller (Grand Rapids) was selected as the Male Newcomer of the Year. The baseball player, who transferred from Minnesota North College-Itasca, has started 22 games at catcher, hitting .260, with 18 runs scored, six doubles, four home runs, and 14 RBIs. He also has a 1.000 fielding percentage, with three runners caught stealing.
Bailey Schaefer (Brandon) of volleyball and Brody Sorenson (Grand Forks, N.D.) of baseball were the Iron Eagle Award, selected by Strength and Conditioning Coach Nick Stone.
Jake Hjelle (East Grand Forks) of the baseball team received the Record-Breaking Performance Award. Hjelle already held records for career home runs, and RBIs. This season he broke marks for doubles, and at-bats, and is closing in on records for runs scored and hits.
