CHICAGO, Ill. – The North Park University Athletics staff, as part of the 2019-20 NPU Virtual Awards Banquet, selected four senior student-athletes as the Athletes and Sportspersons of the Year on Friday afternoon. Softball saw two winners, with captains Hayley Jackson and Ellie Manderfeld named Female Athlete and Female Sportsperson of the Year, respectively, while men's soccer midfielder Peder Olsen garnered Male Athlete of the Year and football's defensive lineman Harold Alexander was named Sportsperson of the Year.
Athlete of the Year Nominees:
Niki Ahlstrand
Hayley Jackson
Elise Ruud
José Barrio
Frank Mauigoa
Peder Olsen
Jake Reinhardt
Sportsperson of the Year Nominees:
Ellie Manderfeld
Alisha Panthier
Kajsa Meyer
Harold Alexander
Brandon Davis
Colin Wong
Jackson, a two-way player as a starting pitcher and four-year starting shortstop for the Viking softball program, leaves behind a decorated career at North Park. The Calgary, Alberta, Canada native was a three-time All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) selection, and two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Central Region selection. Jackson concludes her Viking career with a number of appearances in the NPU All-Time Record Books, including:
- 2nd in RBI (102)
- 2nd in doubles (37)
- 2nd in walks (49)
- 5th in strikeouts (173)
- 5th in hits (152)
- 6th in triples (8)
- 10th in wins (13)
- 3rd in home runs (11)
Olsen, in just three seasons, has already established himself as one of the greatest soccer players North Park and the CCIW has ever seen. The Larvik, Norway native is a three-time All-CCIW selection, a three-time United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Central Region selection, and two-time USC All-American. Additionally, Olsen was named the CCIW Offensive Player of the Year in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons and was the league's Newcomer of the Year for the 2017 season. Olsen is currently the Vikings' all-time points leader (101) and ended the 2019 season with a Division III 11th-best 19 goals.
Manderfeld, a three-year captain and four-year starting center fielder for the Viking softball program, has made a significant impact on the campus of North Park and beyond. The Sauk Rapids, Minnesota native was a member of the Army ROTC program and will attend flight school for the National Guard. In addition to her ROTC and softball responsibilities, Manderfeld was a double major in Sport Management and Graphic Design, interned with the NPU and CCIW Sports Information staff, was a Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative, and worked for NPU Athletics Event Staff at numerous Viking sporting events.
Alexander, a three-year starting defensive lineman for the Viking football program, is recognized around campus as much more than an impact student-athlete. The Chicago, Illinois native is extremely involved on campus and within the North Park community. Alexander worked as a Resident Assistant, a Student Ambassador, a Freshman Orientation Leader, an Aramark Food Service student worker, and is a member of the Black Student Union at NPU. This past season, Alexander record three tackles for a loss and recovered a fumble.
