General | 4/23/2026 3:10:00 PM

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) held the fourth-annual Regal's Choice Awards to cap off the 2025-26 athletic season April 21 at Kiehle Auditorium on the University of Minnesota Crookston campus.

The Golden Eagles awarded their highest honors Tuesday night. Isaac Wensloff (Sr., Roseau, Minn.) of baseball was named the Male Athlete of the Year. He is 6-1 with a 4.22 ERA in 53.1 innings pitched with 50 strikeouts and 16 walks so far in his senior campaign. Wensloff has anchored the Golden Eagle pitching staff. Minnesota Crookston is 9-2 in games where Isaac Wensloff has pitched. 

The Female Athlete of the Year was Emma Miller (Sr., Albertville, Minn.) for the fourth-consecutive season. Miller is the NSIC's all-time leading scorer in women's basketball. She is also the program's all-time leading scorer. Miller finished her career with 2,235 overall points. As a senior, she was named All-NSIC First Team for the third time in her career. Miller averaged 19.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. Miller also took home the Record-Breaking Performance of the Year for capturing the NSIC's all-time leading scoring title. She also was awarded the Female Senior Student-Athlete of the Year honor. Miller finishes her career with 11 awards. 

The Male Super Golden Eagle (Super Geag) Award was presented to Minnesota Crookston baseball player Kyle Odenbach (Sr., Thompson, N.D.), who has been a stand-out in the classroom, as the school's Britton Award nominee. He is an NSIC All-Academic with Distinction recipient, and he was Minnesota Crookston's Male Scholar Student-Athlete of the Year. Odenbach has a 3.95 GPA in biology.

The Female Super Golden Eagle (Super Geag) was presented to Sarah Burgum (Sr., Mandan, N.D.) of soccer, the SAAC President, former Vice President, and our represented SAAC at the Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was selected as one of three student-athletes representing the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and spent four days participating in leadership training and deep discussions about the student-athlete experience.

The Female Newcomer of the Year was Minnesota Crookston dual-sport student-athlete Emma Pierson (Fr., Cherry Valley, Ill.) of the women's golf and women's basketball. Pierson held a 79.8 scoring average, and a low round of 74, including a top-five finish, and three top 10 finishes as a freshman. In women's basketball, Pierson appeared in 18 games, averaging 2.5 points per game with a high of eight against the University of Sioux Falls.

The Male Newcomer of the Year was Golden Eagle men's basketball player Spencer Swenson (Fr., Sauk Rapids, Minn.), who led the team averaging 14.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He also added 35 blocks. Swenson shot 51.1 percent from the field, and 32.8 percent from beyond the arc. Swenson scored a season-high 31 points against UMary and was named the NABC/D2CIDA National Player of the Week.

Emmah Burnes (Jr., Tulare, Calif.) of the soccer team earned Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Highlight Performance of the Year for her game-winning goal to capture the Highway 75 Rivalry Rock against MSU Moorhead. Burnes has a 4.0 GPA in communication, and has been a NSIC All-Academic stalwart, as well as an Academic All-District presented by CSC performer. She was also All-NSIC Second Team in 2025. 

Riley Hanson (R-Jr., Farmington, Minn.) of the men's cross country team was the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. Hanson moved into the Top 10 in the 8K with his personal best of 26:17.24 at the Holiday Inn Express Classic. He also set his personal record in the 10K, the sixth-best time in program history in 33:27 at the Central Region Championship.

Steve Krouse, head coach of the men's and women's cross country teams, was the Coach of the Year, after helping the programs to their best-ever finishes at the conference and regional levels. The men's cross country team finished fifth of 14 at the NSIC Championship, and 18th of 30 at the NCAA Central Region Championship, while women's cross country finished seventh of 16 at the NSIC Championship, and 18th of 36 at the NCAA Central Region Championship.

The softball team earned the Highest Team GPA for their performance in the classroom. They have all 15 of 15 eligible student-athletes who will earn NSIC All-Academic honors.

Connor Bushbaum (R-Sr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.) was named the Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year. He has a 3.73 GPA in sport and rec management and is hitting .290 in 37 games played, with 25 runs scored, three doubles, two home runs, and 19 RBI. He also has 11 stolen bases, and has made several highlight reel plays in the outfield.

The Iron Eagle Awards presented by Strength and Conditioning Coach Mitch Pomeroy were presented to Americo Sculati (R-Sr., Golden Valley, Minn.) of baseball and Madison Carsten (Jr., Wadena, Minn.) of volleyball.

The Athletic Student Employee of the Year was Jada Schimke, for her work with marketing and communications.

G.D. Deng (Sr., Des Moines, Iowa) of men's basketball was awarded the Justin Knebel Memorial Award. The Justin Knebel Memorial Award is given to a men's basketball player who exemplifies the things Justin did, being the ultimate team player.

The Student Athlete-Advisory Committee put on the award show, doing a spectacular job, led by SAAC President Sarah Burgum, SAAC Vice President Grace Alwardt, and emcees Sophie Juntunen, Irelyn Spencer, and Carsen Barta. SAAC is advised by Hunter Plante.