Hanna Sveen of Eyota, Minnesota was selected as the Fair Play Athlete of the Month for the Upper Midwest area that includes Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and North and South Dakota.
Athlete of the Month: Hanna Sveen
Age: 18
Hometown: Eyota, Minnesota
School: Spring 2018 graduate of Dover-Eyota High School in Eyota, Minnesota
Athletics: Softball (shortstop, third base), soccer (goalie), basketball (post)
Athletic highlights: Dover-Eyota High School varsity starter (softball) since age 12, played in the USSSA World Series and multiple national softball tournaments while representing Minnesota, played for Rochester SHOCK Club Basketball in fourth and fifth grades.
2018: .463 batting average, .547 OBP, six years on varsity, 28+ career home runs (does not include in-the-park), individual Academic All-State Softball Team, Team Gold Academic All-State Softball Team, MN Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Star Softball Team, All-Section Softball Honors, 1AA, All-Area Softball Honors, All-Three Rivers Conference Softball Honors
2017: Wendy’s High School Heisman Award Winner, Positive Coaching Alliance National Triple Impact Competitor Award Winner, USA Softball Balls & Strikes magazine featured athlete, varsity softball Team Eagle Award for leadership and spirit
2016: ASA Gold Level League and Gold State, PGF College Showcase, ASA Nationals representing Minnesota
2015: ASA/USA Junior Olympic National Player of the Week (Week 7 - selected by committee out of Oklahoma City), ASA Nationals - Final 4 and Championship Sunday, received 4th place while representing Minnesota, USSSA/NIT State Tourney
2014: ASA Tier 1 State - Consolation Runner-Up (100+Teams play state this weekend, PGF Nationals-qualified for Nationals, ASA Northern Nationals qualified and represented MN at USSSA World Series
2013: ASA State Tourney - 3rd Place, starter on high school varsity starting lineup as seventh grader (age 12 nickname: “Kids Meal!”)
2012: ASA Nationals - played and represented Minnesota
Academic achievements, awards, honors: Class of 2018 Graduate with Distinguished High Honors (3.75 GPA or higher) and is a state ambassador of the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) with GPA of 3.8. Taking college course (College in School and PSEO through the University of Minnesota and University of Northwestern-St. Paul).
Community involvement: Mayo Clinic Blood Bank Speaker and Volunteer, National Student Athlete Advisory Board through Positive Coaching Alliance (1 of 30 selected in the USA), Special Olympics Minnesota volunteer, Miracle Field Buddy for Miracle Field, 3ECHO–Active Shooter Training (volunteer victim), American Legion Member and volunteer, Peer Helpers, Talk It Up, Youth Leadership Academy (YLA), National Society of High School Scholars (member and state cohort ambassador), Home Health Aid working in Assisted Living and Memory Care, Olmsted County Adopt-A-Highway Volunteer, Environmental Club, Spanish Club, St. Jude Children’s Hospital fundraiser and 5K run, U of M Masonic Children’s Hospital Jason Zucker’s #16 Fundraiser, Girl Scout Volunteer to help them learn first aid and get their badge, Organ and Blood Donor, EMS Training Victim for mass casualty training, RYFSA volunteer: 8U and 10U assist players at practice and games, Work concessions and do field maintenance to support the Rochester Association, Cabin Fever Bean Bag Tourney (raised money for Childhood Cancer Research).
College: Early applied and was accepted to Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin (committed to play softball).
Favorite team or athlete and why: My favorite team is whichever one I get to play on. It is not just about winning, it is about the memories I have made and the friendships I have gained.
Fun fact: Started playing baseball with the boys at around age 5 because there was no girls' fastpitch.
Other Upper Midwest Finalists
EMMA STEFFENS
Age: 17
Hometown: Fairmount, North Dakota
School: Spring 2018 graduate of Fairmount High School
Athletics: Softball (first base, catcher), volleyball (middle or outside hitter), basketball (post or forward)
Athletic highlights: Entering her senior season had career batting average of .361, including a high of .450 her junior season, and OB percentage of over .500.
Academic achievements, awards, honors: 4.0 GPA, National Honor Society, Rotary Student of the Month, finalist for North Dakota Distinguished Junior Award.
Community involvement: Class President, Student Body President, Yearbook Editor, led a community wide food drive for the local food bank and spearheaded a toy drive to contribute to Jesse’s Toybox (a local drive to collect toys for children in the area hospitals), leads local GO PINK night for raising money for Cares for Cancer Benefit, organized a Food Bank Drive for the Richland/Wilkin Food Bank, local team leader for her school Fellowship of Christian Athletes, volunteers with local youth programs such as the Little Rebels Basketball Program, attending basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina for the North Dakota Army National Guard.
Favorite team or athlete and why: Carson Wentz. Carson is a North Dakota kid who has worked hard to play at the highest levels throughout his career. He has a strong work ethic and an even stronger faith and is outspoken and not ashamed to be vocal about it.
Fun fact: Emma has a huge soft spot for cats.
NICHOLAS REISIG
Age: 14
Hometown: Inver Grove Heights School
School: Recently completed ninth grade at Henry Sibley High School in Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Athletics: Baseball (outfield, second base, first base and pitcher), basketball, Nordic skiing, golf
Athletic highlights: Reisig missed seven months of playing time due to a stress fracture in his L5 vertebrae, worked hard in physical therapy and came back as a stronger player this spring for baseball. Nicholas is an all-around player who can take on any field position.
Academic achievements, awards, honors: 4.0 GPA, Presidential Gold Award, A Honor Roll, WEB leader (peer mentor program that works with new students).
Community involvement: Last season Nic helped coach a 5- and 6-year-old baseball team and, beyond that, has been a frequent volunteer mentoring younger players at every opportunity.
Favorite team or athlete and why: Minnesota Twins
Fun fact: Nicholas plays piano (well) and guitar (not as well) — and sings in the school choir.
