COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University senior student-athletes Alex Niederloh (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Sam Sura (South St. Paul, Minn.) were co-winners of the 2016 Fr. Wilfred Theisen Student-Athlete of the Year Award, sponsored by the J-Club, at the SJU Senior Banquet held April 24.

A two-time National Soccer Coaches' Association of America All-North Region and All-MIAC first-team selection, Niederloh started all 18 games for the Johnnies and tied for the second in assists (3) and tied for third with seven points this past fall. He ended his career with 34 points (9g/16a), including six game-winning goals, in 76 career games. The two-time team captain was a three-time Academic All-MIAC honoree. He also earned College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District honors and was named to the NSCAA Men's Scholar All-North/Central Region first team in 2015.

A D3football.com first-team All-American and the MIAC Most Valuable Player in 2014, Sura was a two-time All-MIAC first-team selection. He finished runner-up for the 2015 Gagliardi Trophy, as the most outstanding football student-athlete in NCAA Division III, Dec. 16. Sura ended the regular season fourth in NCAA Division III in both rushing touchdowns (23) and yards per carry (5.83), among running backs with 250 attempts or more, despite not playing the equivalent of nearly two full games. 

Sura rushed for 1,614 yards and 24 touchdowns in 12 games and ended his career as SJU's all-time leader in rush attempts (730); rushing yards (4,031); rushing yards per game (108.9); and rushing touchdowns, with Matt Malmberg '95 (48). He also finished fourth in school history with 4,445 all-purpose yards, despite never returning a kick or punt.

Theisen 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.

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)