UMD Bulldogs "ALLETE" Moments: Classroom
Throughout this year, UMD Athletics is partnering with Minnesota Power, ALLETE to highlight the Bulldogs accomplishments in the 3 C's: Classroom, Competition, Community.
Brooke Olson of the University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team was named the CSC's DII Academic All-America Member of the Year on Wednesday, per a release. It's a next step after the graduate forward was named to the Academic All-District Team earlier in the season.
Olson becomes the second UMD women's basketball player to take home the accolade, joining Lindsey Dietz, who won it two years in a row between 2004 and 2006. A graduate senior, Olson's pursuing a bachelor's degree in biology. Even in the midst of all of her success on the court, the Rice Lake, Wis. native's still finding plenty of time to hit the books- she holds a 3.65 GPA.
All-told, the five members of the DII Academic All-America First Team hold am average GPA of 3.92. Factoring in the entire DII All-America field across all three of its teams, the average is 3.87.
You can find the full DII Academic All-America team list below:
CSC Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year: Brooke Olson, University of Minnesota Duluth
FIRST TEAM
Madison Frederick, Nova Southeastern University (Gr. 4.00 Leadership)
Jalei Oglesby, Arkansas Tech University Sr. (4.00 Rehabilitation Science)
Brooke Olson, University of Minnesota Duluth Sr. (3.65 Biology)
Samantha Pirosko, Gannon University Sr. (3.96 Physician Assistant)
Jami Tham, Tusculum University Gr. (3.91/4.00 Exercise Science (UG) / Sports Admin (G))
SECOND TEAM
Hannah Belanger, Truman State University, Sr. (3.67 Business Administration)
Kaylee DaMitz-Holt, Drury University, Gr. (4.00 Master in Integrative Leadership)
Sage Hawley, Harding University, Jr. (3.76 Information Systems)
Jaclyn Jarnot, University of West Florida, Sr. (3.76 Communications)
Annie Roshak, Ashland University, Sr. (3.83 Accounting)
Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman University, Sr. (3.59 Nursing)
THIRD TEAM
Paige Emborsky, Daemen University, Gr. (4.00 Leadership & Innovation)
Chloe Idoni, Ferris State University, Sr. (3.99 Elementary Education)
Leah Johnson, West Chester University, Sr. (3.88 Finance)
Audrey Ramsey, University of Tampa, Sr. (4.00 Cybersecurity & Information Technology Mgmt.)
Kaitlyn Zarycki, Saginaw Valley State University, Sr. (3.55 Education)
This award is another in what was been a sea of recognition for Olson throughout nothing short of a star-studded season. It goes well beyond the fact that she's averaging a team-high 23 points per game over the course of the season, the third-highest mark in the nation. Or even the 32 points per game figure across three NCAA Tournament games, the best average across the entire tournament field. The graduate forward's now a four-time NSIC North Player of the Year, the first NSIC athlete to ever accomplish that feat. She's also a three-time NSIC Tournament MVP, the first women's athlete in the conference's history to earn that accolade.
How much time do you have? Let's keep going. All-time leading scorer in NSIC history in terms of points scored in regular season contests (1615). Second in among all active DII players (and in UMD history) in points scored with 2455. The D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year. A figurehead on a UMD squad that three-peated as both NSIC regular season and NSIC Tournament Champions.
The thing is… there's plenty of time to add more to this list. And Olson will start her journey towards doing just that when the Bulldogs head to St. Joseph, Missouri to start their first ever Elite Eight bid. No. 2 UMD will take on No. 7 Assumption in the St. Joseph Civic Arena on Monday, March 20 at 2:30 p.m.
About Minnesota Power, ALLETE:
Our bold vision centers on our commitment to climate, customers and communities. We're a clean-energy leader under our EnergyForward strategy, already delivering 50% renewable energy ahead of all other Minnesota utilities. Now we're doubling down on that with a vision to deliver 100% carbon-free energy to customers reliably and affordably by 2050. Learn more at: https://www.mnpower.com/CarbonFreeEnergyVision
