Battle Lake's Kristen Gronbeck among five Saints to garner UMAC accolades

St. Scholastica football's Alex Thiry (Cambridge, Minn./Braham HS (Minn.-Duluth)), men's soccer's Kyle Farrar (Sevenoaks, England/Kelsey Park Sports College), women's soccer's Maggie Dolan (St. Anthony, Minn./St. Anthony Village HS), along with Tony Bye (Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell HS) and Kristen Gronbeck (Battle Lake, Minn./Battle Lake HS) from cross country have been named Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Players of the Week in their respective sports; it was announced on Tuesday.

Thiry was named the UMAC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 292 yards and three first half touchdowns in the football team's 30-26 victory over Greenville College (Ill.) on Saturday. Just a week and a half prior, Thiry had to go in and have an emergency appendectomy performed. The loss for Greenville was the first since joining the UMAC as an associate member.

Farrar was the conference offensive player of the week in men's soccer. Farrar led the Saints to a 3-0 record to open conference play, outscoring their first three opponents 20-1. He recorded 11 points in the three games with four goals and three assists.

Dolan was the conference defensive player of the week for women's soccer. Dolan spearheaded a defense that allowed just six shots in the first three conference games of the season last week. The Saints shut out each of the three opponents.

Bye was the UMAC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week after leading the Saints at a strong field at the St. Olaf Invitational. Bye finished 59th overall with a time of 28:01.

Gronbeck was the UMAC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week, pacing the Saints with a 60th place finish and a time of 24:44 at the St. Olaf Invitational on Saturday.

Courtesy: Jesse Robinson/College of St. Scholastica