ST. PETER, Minn. – Men’s field specialist Michael Hensch (So., North Branch, Minn.) and softball pitcher/outfielder Hannah Heacox (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) have been selected as the Gustavus Adolphus College April Male and Female Student-Athletes-of-the-Month, presented by Thrivent Financial and voted on by the Gustavus Sports Information Department.
Michael Hensch
Men’s Track & Field
Hometown: North Branch, Minn.
High School: North Branch
Major: Exercise Physiology
Parents: Dennis and Barb Hensch
Hensch and the Gustavus Men’s Track and Field squad competed in five events during the month. Hensch excelled in all throwing events, collecting five first place finishes, four runner-up finishes along with a third place finish while setting career highs in each the shot put, discus throw, hammer throw, and javelin throw.
At the Saint John’s University Invitational on April 8, Hensch finished first in the shot put with a mark of 49 feet, 3.75 inches. He then claimed a second place finish with a javelin throw of 180-8.
The Gusties hosted the Lee Krough invitational on April 15 in which Hensch set personal bests in the javelin and hammer throw. His 181-8 javelin throw was a career-best and was good for first place and also claimed a top hammer throw. In addition, he was second in the hammer throw while establishing a career-high throw of 177-11.
Hensch continued his success the following weekend at the Carleton Relays, claiming two runner-up finishes in the hammer throw and the discus. His 138-88 discus throw was a personal best. The Gusties finished April competition on April 29, hosted the Drake Alternative. Hensch totaled two top marks including a career-high shot put throw of 51-2.75 while claiming first place in the javelin.
Among the MIAC competition, Hensch ranks in the top-10 in each of his respective throwing events. He ranks first in the javelin (181-8), second in the hammer (177-11), fourth in the shot put (51-2.75), and 10th in the discus (138-8).
Hannah Heacox
Softball
Hometown: Stillwater, Minn.
High School: Stillwater
Major: Athletic Training
Parent: Debbie Heacox
Heacox appeared in all 24 games for the Gusties as a pitcher and outfielder during the Month of April, in which Gustavus owned an overall record of 11-13 while going 6-8 during conference play.
In the pitcher’s circle, Heacox led the team with a 1.62 earned run average and 107 strikeouts in 86.1 innings pitched. In 14 appearances and 13 starts, she posted a 7-7 record, highlighted by three no-hitters, 11 complete games, and four shutouts. On April 29 against Carleton College on senior day, Heacox threw her fifth career no-hitter in her final start in Black and Gold and set a Gustavus record with 20 career shutouts.
In 72 at bats, Heacox tallied 24 hits to lead the Gusties at the plate with a .333 batting average. She notched 13 runs scored, three doubles, one triple, nine runs batted in, and five stolen bases. Heacox also collected seven multi-hit games, reached base in all but three games, and recorded an eight-game hitting streak April 7-20. She finished the season with a team-best .359 average, 46 base hits, 30 runs, and 19 RBI.
Heacox finished her career at or near the top of several categories in the Gustavus record book. She is the career leader with 629 all-time strikeouts, 61 complete games, and 20 complete game shutouts. Heacox also finishes second with 103 career appearances, 77 starts, and 56 wins.