ST. PAUL, Minn. – The St. Catherine University athletic department has announced its Fleur-de-lis Award honorees for October, recognizing seven student-athletes and the women's golf team for outstanding accomplishments in athletics and academics.
Introduced in the fall of 2017, the Fleur-de-lis award is an honor given to student-athletes who embody the three components of the Wildcat athletic department: sport, scholarship, and service. The Fleur-de-lis is a visual representation of the athletic department's mission. The three petals of the Fleur-de-lis represent the tenants of our mission: Scholarship, Athleticism, and Service. The band holding the three pedals together represents leadership and perseverance. Excellence in any of these areas is recognized by the department through this award.
The Fleur-de-lis award honors Wildcat student-athletes who have exemplified the department's mission on the field, the classroom, and through community service. The Fleur-de-lis, or "flower of the lily" in English, is a symbol used by the University and Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and is proudly incorporated into the St. Catherine shield as a representation of the Sister's French heritage and the seed from which their good works grow.
Caylin Cantwell, Jr., Golf | Athletics
Blaine, Minn./Totino Grace
Caylin Cantwell captured individual medalist honors at the 2026 MIAC Women's Golf Championships, delivering a record-setting performance at Braemar Golf Course. Cantwell finished the 54-hole tournament at six-under-par 210 (67-69-74), winning the individual championship by eight strokes. Her performance established new MIAC Championship scoring records for 18 holes (67), 36 holes (136), and 54 holes (210), helping lead the Wildcats to their sixth conference championship in program history.
St. Kate's Golf Team
The St. Catherine women's golf team claimed its sixth MIAC Championship in program history with a dominant performance at Braemar Golf Course. The Wildcats led the tournament from start to finish, posting a 54-hole score of 882 (+18) to win by 38 strokes. St. Kate's established new MIAC Championship team scoring records for 18 holes (291), 36 holes (585), and 54 holes (882). The championship also secured the Wildcats an automatic berth in the 2027 NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championship.
Eleanor Lindeman, So., Cross Country | Athletics
St. Louis Park, Minn.
Eleanor Lindeman put together an outstanding October, recording multiple personal-best performances and moving up the St. Catherine cross country record book. Lindeman claimed the individual title at the Women's College Classic 5K with a time of 18:28.6, helping the Wildcats secure a perfect team score of 15 points and earning MIAC Athlete of the Week honors. She followed with a personal-best 6K time of 23:11.4 at the St. Ben's & St. John's Autumn Classic, placing ninth overall and recording the sixth-fastest time in program history.
Lydia Feldhahn, So., Cross Country | Athletics
Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep
Lydia Feldhahn continued her impressive season with several standout performances throughout October. Feldhahn placed second overall at the Women's College Classic 5K with a time of 19:08.5, helping St. Kate's sweep the top five individual positions and capture the team championship. She also recorded consecutive personal-best 6K performances, culminating in a time of 24:01.3 at the St. Ben's & St. John's Autumn Classic, which ranks 19th on the program's all-time performance list.
Alice Wood, Fy., Swimming & Diving | Athletics
Newport, Minn./Park
Alice Wood opened her home collegiate competition schedule with an individual victory at the St. Kate's Pentathlon on October 16. Wood captured first place in the one-meter diving competition with a score of 294.10, earning the Wildcats' lone individual event victory of the evening. Her performance helped St. Catherine secure the overall team championship with 1,309 points.
Jordyn Grotbo, Sr., Swimming and Diving | Athletics
St. Bonifacius, Minn./Waconia
Jordyn Grotbo led the Wildcats in the pool at the St. Kate's Pentathlon, finishing second overall in the individual pentathlon standings with 149 points across five events. Grotbo highlighted her performance with a runner-up finish in the 100-yard freestyle (57.98) and a third-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke (1:06.40). She also placed fourth in the 100-yard butterfly and fifth in the 100-yard individual medley, contributing to St. Catherine's first-place team finish.
Raya Cassidy, Jr., Basketball | Scholarship
Shoreview, Minn./Spring Lake Park
Raya Cassidy earned first-place honors in the novice division at the 2026 Midwest Undergraduate Data Analytics Competition (MinneMUDAC), hosted by St. Catherine University on October 17. Cassidy, an economics major, competed alongside teammates Amie Tran, Ella Brefo, and Fern Zegarra as part of a community-engaged learning course focused on environmental economics and policy. The team analyzed real-world data for Minnesota nonprofit The Food Group, developing insights and recommendations to address food insecurity. Their first-place finish highlighted their ability to apply classroom knowledge to meaningful community challenges.
Melanie Gravdahl, So., Tennis | Scholarship
Roseville, Minn.
Melanie Gravdahl was recognized for her outstanding academic achievement as a member of a St. Catherine team that received The Food Group's Serendipity Award at the 2026 MinneMUDAC competition. Gravdahl and teammates Emma Holden, Nesteho Abdi, Betlehem Gebrewolde, and Katie Rivas Sanchez were honored for identifying an unexpected and meaningful finding in their data analysis: Minnesota counties overlapping with Tribal Nations experience disproportionately high rates of food insecurity. Competing against teams from across the region, Gravdahl and her teammates demonstrated the impact of data-driven research in addressing important social issues.
