St. Thomas athletics put on a show this year. The football team made an appearance in the NCAA national championship. The volleyball team, on the brink of defeat in front of a hostile crowd, came roaring back to take home national title hardware. Five teams won MIAC playoff crowns and six teams made appearances in NCAA playoffs. Thirty-three students from 15 different sports were named to Division III All-America teams. And the list goes on.
The short story is that the more than 700 players and coaches involved in athletics at St. Thomas did the institution proud.
Collected for you here is a brief (and surely incomplete) visual record of the action and emotion that accompanied those achievements: Photo Services' "Best of Sport" for the 2012-13 season.
Read more from Depth of Field.
Jill Greenfield serves during a volleyball game against Concordia-Moorhead Oct. 2, 2012 in Schoenecker Arena. The Tommies won 3-0. (Photo by Mike Ekern ’02)
Katie Becker dives Dec. 7, 2012 during the St. Thomas Invite at the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex Aquatic Center. (Photo by Mike Ekern ’02)
Casey Nightingale dives Dec. 7, 2012 during the St. Thomas Invite at the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex Aquatic Center. (Photo by Mike Ekern ’02)
Tom Osmolak swims freestyle Dec. 7, 2012 during the St. Thomas Invite at the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex Aquatic Center. (Photo by Mike Ekern)
St. Thomas football players warm up prior to the NCAA semi-final game against the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Dec. 8, 2012. (Photo by Mark Brown)
Travis Baker celebrates a goal during a men’s hockey game against Bethel College Feb. 2, 2013 at the St. Thomas Ice Arena. (Photo by Mike Ekern ’02)
Brendan O’Connell serves during a men’s tennis match against Gustavus Adolphus College April 21, 2013 at the University of Minnesota’s Baseline Tennis Center. (Photo by Mike Ekern ’02)
The Tommies huddle during a softball game against Macalester College on April 25, 2013. (Photo by Mark Brown)
Cory Quinlan surveys the field during a baseball game against Concordia College, Moorhead April 30, 2013. (Photo by Mike Ekern ’02)
Allie Voigt throws in the shot put at the women’s MIAC outdoor track and field championship on May 10, 2013 in O’Shaughnessy Stadium. (Photo by Mark Brown)
Cody Jerabek yells in triumph after winning a heat during the men’s MIAC outdoor track and field championship on May 10, 2013 in O’Shaughnessy Stadium. (Photo by Mark Brown)
Eyo Ekpo competes in the high jump during the men’s MIAC outdoor track and field championship on May 10, 2013 in O’Shaughnessy Stadium. The Tommie men took first place. (Photo by Mark Brown)
Women’s track and field head coach Joe Sweeney exults in victory while holding his team’s first place plaque following the women’s MIAC outdoor track and field championship finals May 11, 2013. (Photo by Mike Ekern ’02)
Nick Rapisarda goes after the ball during a men’s soccer game against the University of Minnesota Morris on Sept. 9, 2012 on the South Athletic Fields. The Tommies won 2-0. (Photo by Mike Ekern ’02)
The baseball team practices on Koch Diamond as seen from a helicopter. (Photo by Mike Ekern)
Brian Parkhurst hits out of a sand trap during the third and final day of the men’s MIAC golf championship Oct. 8, 2012 at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids, Minn. (Photo by Mike Ekern ’02)
Mike Valesano stands for the National Anthem before a homecoming football game against Bethel University Oct.13, 2012. (Photo by Mike Ekern)
Brittany Cochlin celebrates after scoring the winning goal in double overtime at the end of a women’s soccer game against Bethel on Oct.27, 2012. (Photo by Mark Brown)
Kia Johnson hoists the national championship trophy as her teammates celebrate following the NCAA Division III Volleyball title game in Holland, Michigan Nov. 17, 2012. UST won the title after coming back from two sets down to defeat number one ranked Calvin 3-2. (Photo by Mark Brown)