SAINT PETER, Minn. – Men’s track & field throwing specialist Michael Hensch (Sr., North Branch, Minn.) and women’s tennis player Bri Hartmann (Sr., Owatonna, 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
Track and Field
Hometown: North Branch, Minn.
High School: North Branch
Major: Exercise Physiology
Parents: Dennis and Barb Hensch
Hensch had a spectacular month of April for the Gustavus track and field team finding himself at the top of the pack at every meet in the throwing events. In his 12 throwing events throughout the month, the senior from North Branch finished first nine times, while taking three second-place finishes. Hensch started the month at the Mustang Open at Mount Mercy where he took first in the shot put and hammer throw while finishing second in discus. A week later he competed in both the Tomcat Twilight and Carleton Relays and finished first in the discuss and hammer throw at the Twilight before taking first in the hammer, discus, and javelin at Carleton, while placing second in the shot put. At Carleton, his 200-4 throw in the hammer set the Gustavus school record. In his last event of the month, the Drake Alternative, Hensch finished first in the shot and hammer throw, while taking second in discuss. For his efforts, Hensch was awarded MIAC Athlete of the Week the last two weeks of April.
Bri Hartmann
Women’s Tennis
Hometown: Owatonna, Minn.
High School: Owatonna
Major: Management
Parents: Jerry and JoAnne Hartmann
Hartmann continued her senior season with a solid April to help the Gustavus women’s tennis team to an 8-4 record in the month and second place finish in the MIAC. After the team started April 0-3, Hartmann was a huge reason for the team’s 8-1 finish to end the regular season. Hartmann finished the month on an impressive run with doubles partner Ginger Valentine. The duo won their final seven matches of the season, including wins over the No. 1 doubles teams of Bethel and Carleton, who rank No. 4 and No. 7 respectively in the ITA Central regional doubles rankings. Hartmann also finished strong at No. 1 singles, winning seven of her final eight matches with her only loss coming to the No. 8 player in the region.