Saint John's University seniors Tanner Dufault (Kasson, Minn.) and Brady Labine (Detroit Lakes, Minn.) were named co-recipients of the 2021 Fr. Wilfred Theisen Student-Athlete of the Year Award, sponsored by the J-Club, on Monday, June 28.
The award recognizes an SJU varsity, senior student-athlete (or two) who has excelled in the classroom and in their sport.
Theisen '52 taught physics at SJU for 47 years and was named professor emeritus at his retirement in 2005. He is a former SJU faculty representative to the MIAC and continues as treasurer of the J-Club. He received the J-Club Distinguished Service Award in 2019, six years after the Student-Athlete of the Year Award was established in his honor.
Dufault, who graduated in May with a 3.84 GPA, has already started his nursing career as a member of the Mayo Clinic's medical cardiac progressive care unit (PCU) in Rochester. He totaled 21 points (11g/10a), including two power-play goals and two game-winning goals, in 53 career games (29-17-7 record) at forward for the SJU hockey team. Dufault was a three-time Academic All-MIAC honoree off the ice, including a 2020-21 distinction to be announced later this month.
A music major with a 3.45 GPA, Labine is likely to return for SJU's 2022 indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. He is a three-time participant at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships and two-time All-American as a member of SJU's 4x100-meter relay, including the 2019 national-title and school-record team (40.78 seconds in 2019). Labine is a four-time U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) All-Central Region and two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree, and is poised to earn his third next month. At the conference level, Labine is a three-time MIAC champion and has earned All-MIAC distinction (top three individually, champion relay) four times.
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Dufault and Labine will be honored during the J-Club Hall of Honor induction ceremony on Homecoming Saturday, Oct. 9, in Collegeville.
Past Fr. Wilfred Theisen Student-Athlete of the Year Award Recipients
2013 - Dennis Granath '13 (Golf)
2014 - Michael Coborn '14 (Soccer)
2015 - J.T. Ford '15 (Football)
2016 - Alex Niederloh '16 (Soccer)/Sam Sura '16 (Football)
2017 - Mack Farley '17 (Golf)/Carter Hanson '17 (Football)
2018 - Sam Olson '18 (Golf)
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2019 - Will Gillach '19 (Football)/David Stokman '18 (Basketball)
2020 - Ben Bartch '20 (Football)
2021 - Tanner Dufault '21 (Hockey)/Brady Labine '21 (Track)
