ST. PETER, Minn. – Women’s hockey player Kaitlyn Klein (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) and men’s track and field mid-distance runner Kyle Fredrickson (Sr., Victoria, Minn.) have been selected as the Gustavus Adolphus College February Female and Male Student-Athletes-of-the-Month, presented by Thrivent Financial and voted on by the Gustavus Sports Information Department.
Kaitlyn Klein
Women’s Hockey
Hometown: Plymouth, Minn.
High School: Wayzata
Major: Biology
Parents: Joseph and Dana Klein of Plymouth, Minn.
In the month of February, Klein helped Gustavus post a 6-1 record in the final month of the 2016-17 season. The Gusties closed out the regular season as the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Regular Season Champions before falling in a MIAC Playoff Semifinal matchup against St. Thomas, finishing the season with a 17-6-3 overall record. Klein contributed seven points with two goals and five assists during the month, scoring at least one point in six of seven games. She also tallied 33 shots on goal including a career-high nine against Hamline Feb. 17.
During the week of Feb. 10-11, Klein helped guide the Gusties to a series sweep over Bethel to push Gustavus into sole possession of first place in the MIAC. On Friday, Klein tied a career-high with two assists, including the assist on the game-winning goal in the 4-2 win. On Saturday, she scored her team-leading 10th goal of the season, the eventual game-winner in the 3-0 shutout victory.
After suffering a season-ending broken neck a season ago, Klein came back to play in all 26 games for the Gusties and share the scoring lead with 18 points (10g-8a). She led the team in goals scored, accumulating career-high scoring marks in goals, assists, and points in a season. Klein also led the Gustie power play unit with five tallies on the man advantage and was a proven finisher with a MIAC-leading six game-winning goals, earning a spot on the MIAC All-Conference Team.
Kyle Fredrickson
Men’s Track and Field
Hometown: Victoria, Minn.
High School: Mayer Lutheran
Major: Biology
Parents: Jason and Elizabeth Fredrickson of Victoria, Minn.
Fredrickson excelled in February, competing in four meets during the month. Feb. 11 at the Carleton Meet of the Hearts, he finished in first place in the 600-meter dash with a time of 1:21.00 to set a field house record and help the team earn a second place finish.
Feb. 18 at the St. Olaf Tostrud Classic, Fredrickson claimed two top-five times in the 400-meter dash and the 1,000-meter run. In addition, he contributed to a first place finish in the 4×400-meter relay as the team posted a time of 3:27.09.
At the MIAC Indoor Championships Feb. 23-25, Fredrickson’s performance was highlighted by an All-Conference finish in the 800-meter run. He finished just a second behind the top time at 1:55.29 to earn a runner-up crown. Fredrickson also posted an eighth place time of 1:23.14 in the 600-meter run and was a member of the fourth place 4×400-meter relay team, helping combine for a 3:23.72 time.