ST. PETER, Minn. – For the second month this academic year, junior gymnast Alex Kopp (Long Lake, Minn.) and sophomore men’s tennis player Mohanad Alhouni (Tripoli, Libya) have been selected as the Gustavus Adolphus College March Female and Male Student-Athletes-of-the-Month, presented by Thrivent Financial and voted on by the Gustavus Sports Information Department.
Alex Kopp
Gymnastics
Hometown: Long Lake, Minn.
High School: Providence Academy
Major: Management
Parents: Terry and Debbie Kopp of Long Lake, Minn.
Kopp shined for the Gusties in March. She set a program record in the all-around at the WIAC Championships on March 4 with a score of 38.525, breaking Amanda Parker’s mark of 38.050 set in 2004. Kopp took first on the beam with a career-high score of 9.700 and first on the floor with a then career-high score of 9.775. Kopp’s beam score was the second highest in program history, while her floor score was the third highest in program history. Kopp also set a career-high on the bars with a score of 9.475. Her vault score of 9.575 placed seventh. By taking first in both the beam and floor, Kopp became the first Gustie to record two event titles at the WIAC Championships in program history. Kopp then etched her name among elite company in a decorated program on March 18 at the NCGA Championships in Brockport, N.Y. Kopp placed ninth in the all-around competition to earn All-America honors, becoming the 52nd Gusties to do so, while attaining the 94th All-America award in program history. Kopp recorded scores of 9.625 on vault (career-high), 9.225 on bars, 9.600 on beam, and 9.650 on floor for a total of 38.100, placing ninth in the nation. The Providence Academy product saved her best performance for last during the individual events on March 19. Kopp tied for first on the floor with a program record 9.850, claiming the 32nd national event title in program history. Kopp is the first Gustie to win a national event since Alyssa Cox won the vault in 2003, and first to win the floor (eighth overall) since Molly Nemes in 2001. Kopp also placed 11th on vault with a score of 9.525, earning Second Team All-America status, and rounded out the day with a 9.200 on beam. For her performance, Kopp was named the National Association of College Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W) Division III West Region Gymnast of the Year.
Mohanad Alhouni
Men’s Tennis
Hometown: Tripoli, Libya
High School: West Lutheran
Major: Management
Parents: Eenam and Khaled Al-Houni
Alhouni had his work cut out for him throughout the month of March by facing some of the best competition in the country in both singles and doubles. Alhouni went 5-3 in singles play and 4-4 in doubles throughout the month. In singles, the West Lutheran product defeated nationally ranked opponents No. 20 Jake Humphreys of UW-Whitewater 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, No. 22 Jake Yasgoor of Pomona 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, No. 26 CJ Krimbill of Case Western 6-4, 6-2, No. 21 Daniel Budd of UT-Tyler 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, and No. 48 Michael Maciel of St. Mary’s (TX) 6-4, 6-2. His three losses came against Dan Rodefeld of DePauw 6-0, 6-7 (7-9), 0-1 (5-10), Marco Locatelli of St. Cloud State 7-5, 2-6, 0-1, and No. 7 Paxton Deuel of Trinity 4-6, 0-6. In doubles play with partner Andres Saenz, the pair went 4-4 throughout the month. Alhouni and Saenz had signature victories over No. 7 Humphreys/Treis of UW-Whiterwater 8-4 and No. 25 Fischer/Fajundes of UT-Tyler 8-1. Alhouni and Saenz also posted a close match against the Division II No. 1-ranked doubles team of Deuel/Tyler of Trinity, but lost 8-6.