Last week in Wolves Athletics, Wolves Softball started the season with a sweep, as well as sweeping Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honors.

Abby Rux and Emma Owens led the Wolves to a 4-0 weekend defeating all four teams in 5 innings. The pitcher-catcher duo locked in NSIC Player of the Week, and NSIC Pitcher of the Week.

They kicked off their season with a 11-0 shutout victory over Valley City State, and followed it up with a 9-1 win over Montana State Billings on Day 1. On Day 2 from Jamestown, the Wolves beat Valley City State again, this time 20-5, and beat NSIC foe UMary 12-1 after dropping both games against the Marauders last year.

On the weekend, Owens led the offensive attack going 12-16 (.750) with four doubles, one triple and 10 RBIs starting all four games. Freshman Aune Boben opened up her collegiate career batting .600 getting nine hits on 15 at bats. Abby Rux led the Wolves in the circle with a 0.58 ERA, with two wins on 12 innings pitched. She struck out nine batters and gave up only eight hits and a .190 opponent’s batting average.

Last Thursday, the men’s basketball team secured its first win in NSIC action as the Wolves put away Minnesota Crookston 62-59. In that game, Marcus Burks was the leading scorer with 18 points shooting 8 of 13, followed by Kwat Abdelkarim with 15 points. Kaleb Mitchell collected his third double-double of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The women fell to Minnesota Crookston 79-74. A slow first half for the Wolves kept them fighting an uphill battle all game as they found themselves down 48-28 at halftime. Madelyn Bragg recorded her 1,000 career point in the loss, and is the 37th Wolf to join the 1,000 point club. She put up 27 points on the night, and brought in seven rebounds as well. Michaela Jewett had her 5th double-double in a row on a 16-point and 13-rebound night.

The scripts flipped on Saturday as the Wolves returned home. The men lost to Bemidji State 84-70. Tobi Oriora was the leading scorer with 16 points on the night coming off the bench, with James Glenn matching his total. Marcus Burks brought in a double-double for the Wolves with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The women put away Bemidji State 77-65 with the help of another 20+ point performance from Bragg, who had 24 on the night. Jewett’s double-double streak ended, but she still put up 20 points and six rebounds.

The NSU Track and Field teams competed at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invite. Nathan Alto and Jonathan Burkhalter took 5th and 6th respectively in the 3000m, with Burkhalter tallying a personal best time. Alli Jackson recorded a personal best in the 600m with a 6th place finish.

Wolves wrestling took on the top team in the country, St. Cloud State, dropping their third dual of the season 28-6. The two wins of the night came from Braydon Mogle at 141, and Nathan Schauer at 285.

The Wolves bounced back against Minot State with a 27-13 dual victory. The dual started at 174, with Mason Fey and Damen Pape securing two wins for the Wolves off the bat. Sloan Johannsen and Braydon Mogle both won by fall with Wyatt Turnquist winning his 149 bout by technical fall, and Griffin Lundeen also winning by decision.

This upcoming week in Wolves Athletics, the NSIC Swimming and Diving Championships are in the swing of things, starting Wednesday and concluding on Saturday. The Track and Field teams will compete at the SDSU Classic Friday and Saturday.

Wolves Basketball will travel to take on Concordia St. Paul on Friday night, with the men tipping off first at 5:30 p.m., followed by the women at 7:30. The next day, the two will travel to Duluth to take on Minnesota Duluth to conclude their final road trip of the year, the men starting 3:30 p.m. and the women at 5:30.

Wolves wrestling will close out the regular season with a home dual against receiving votes, Minnesota State. The Wolves will hit the mat against the Mavericks Friday night at 7 p.m., so spend your Valentines with the Wolves on the mat.