P.J. Theisen gets elite MIAC award

May 07, 2008

Here's a new video to salute St. Thomas All-Americans and Academic All-Americans P.J. Theisen, and Maria Bye, the MIAC Student Athletes of the Year for 2007-08:

Click here to access Theisen/Bye highlight video:

http://stream.stthomas.edu/view.htm?id=AthletesOfTheYear

St. Thomas seniors P.J. Theisen (football/track & field) and Maria Bye (softball) have been named the MIAC Student-Athlete of the Year for their respective genders by College Sporting News.

The third annual-award honors one female and one male for career excellence in athletics, academics and campus and community service. It's the first time St. Thomas has had a winner and the first time one institution has swept the honor.

Click here for the College Sporting News story:

http://www.collegesportingnews.com/article.asp?articleid=91635

Here's a link to Maria Bye's resume:

http://www.tommiesports.com/sftbl/news/20080424Bye.html

Here's Theisen's resume:

P.J. Theisen, SR, Elko, Minn./New Prague HS (Football, Track & Field)  

Major: Accounting, GPA: 3.93  

Academics/National Honors

--Twice voted CoSIDA Academic All-American in Football

--2006 CoSIDA Academic All-American in Track & Field

--2008 wil be nominated again for CoSIDA All-American in Track & Field

--2008 will be nominated for NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

--2006 winner of National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award ($18,000 postgraduate scholarship)... of of four players from MIAC to win the award in 40-year history

--2006 American Football Coaches' Association Good Works Team -- one of 22 players in all levels of college football honored for exceptional campus and community service  

Community/Campus Service  

•Red Ribbon Ride to raise money for AIDS research and service organizations. (Summer 06)
•Assist "Athletes Committed to Educating Students" (ACES) in putting on the Twin Cities Triathlon (Summer 06)
•New Prague Youth Football and Track Camps (2003-2006)
•Irondale Youth Football Camp (Summer 2005)
•The National Veterans Wheelchair Games (Summer 2005)
•St. Paul Schools "Read, Read, Read Program" reading to elementary students (Spring 2004)
•Home Church of St. Nicholas (New Market, MN) Chicken Cookout (2000-2004)
•Member UST Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)/Co-President for 2006-07 (Organized Homecoming Pep Fest and Toys for-Teens Drive in 05-06)
•Annual UST Faculty-Staff Christmas Party (2003-2007)
•Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast (2004-2006)
•Member of UST Accounting Club (2005-present)
•Guest Speaker at alma mater Holy Cross Grade School Athletic Banquet (Spring 2006)
•UST Football Co-Captain (2006 & 2007) and Track Team Captain ()
•UST Football Alumni Golf Tournament (2004-2007)
•Work in UST Football Department (2003-present)  

Football Honors

--Theisen started all 41 games he was helathy on his Tommie career. Closed his career last November as he caught 16 passes for 278 yards and two TDs in a 54-28 loss to 8-2 St. Olaf. The 16 catches tied a UST single-game record, and the 278 yards are the second most by a receiver in MIAC history. (Carleton's Jim Bradford had 285 yards in receiving yards against Gustavus in 1990). 

--Theisen finished his career in the top five among MIAC players in two categories -- he was third in receptions with 218 and fourth in receiving yards at 3,223 yards. He also had 25 touchdown catches to finish with 150 points, sixth best in school history. He finished third in career all-purpose yards at 4,025

--Theisen finished the 2007 season with 86 catches for 1,192 yards and 14 TDs. In his last five games he had 10 TDs and 52 catches for 824 yards. He had 100-plus yard receiving days in 13 of his last 19 games.

--He was named d3Football.com HM All-American in 2007; and in 2005 was named FB Gazette HM All-American and FB Gazette West Region Return Speicalist of the Year

--Twice team co-captain  

Track & Field Honors

--Twice team co-captain

--5X All-American

--Named 2006 MIAC Indoor Meet Outstanding Male Athlete

--Missed 2007 indoor and outdoor season with an injury

--Placed third in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2006 national outdoor meet

--Placed sixth in 2006 national indoor meet in 55 hurdles

--Has several times/marks ranked in the top-10 all-time in conference history

--3X relay All-American with top-8 placing (indoors and outdoors) in the 4x400 relay, including two NCAA runner-up relay finishes

--Likely will qualify in 2008 for NCAA meet for fourth time in 400 hurdles --He has 28 career top-5 MIAC meet finishes (13 firsts in relay or individual events).

--Has scored remarkable 201 career individual points in his seven MIAC meets (indoors and outdoors) and helped UST win 6 of a possible 7 team championships

--In lone 2008 outdoor meet thus far, provisionally qualified for nationals in three events

--In March 2008, led Tommies to 24th consecutive MIAC indoor team championship as he anchored the winning 4x400 relay and also had four runner-up finishes (triple jump, 55 hurdles, 400 meters, long jump) to record 32 points.

--In first 2008 outdoor meet, provisionally qualified for nationals in three events

Click here for more on the award:

http://www.collegesportingnews.com/article.asp?articleid=91635