ST. PAUL, Minn. - The St. Catherine University athletic department selected five Fleur-de-lis award recipients on April 15, all of which are first-time receptients. This selection includes honors for leadership and athletics representing basketball, golf, and softball. 

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.

Lolla Magrann | Sr., Golf | Athletic Performance
Mission Viejo, Calif. / JSerra Catholic
Senior golfer Lolla Magrann earns her first individual Fleur-de-lis award in her time at St. Kate's for her performance at the Mount Mercy Spring Invite in Iowa. Magrann tallied back-to-back 77's to finish the 36-hole event ten over par. Her two-day score of 154 earned her 3rd place as an individual, as the team finished first overall with a team score of 634. 

Layla Nguyen | Fy., Softball | Leadership
Brooklyn Park, Minn. / Champlin Park
First-year Layla Nguyen earns her first Fleur-de-lis Award at St. Kate's for her leadership planning and hosting the final Wildcats in Community and Culture event of the year, honoring the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Layla worked alongside Madalena Nguyen (basketball) to bring their culture to the department with support from Geno Bullard, the department's Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee. 

Madalena Nguyen | Fy., Basketball | Leadership
Irving, Texas / Coppell
First-year Madalena Nguyen earns her first Fleur-de-lis Award at St. Kate's for her leadership, planning, and hosting the final Wildcats in Community and Culture event of the year, honoring the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Madalena worked alongside Layla Nguyen (softball) to bring their culture to the department with support from Geno Bullard, the department's Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee. 

Mayci Larson | Jr., Softball | Athletic Performance
Elk River, Minn. 
Junior Mayci Larson earns her first Fleur-de-lis Award following a 12-hit, six-run, and three home run week, leading the Wildcats to a 5-1 record against MIAC opponents. In the game two win over St. Scholastica, Larson set the tone early with a solo home run in the first inning, then came through again in the sixth with a two-run single, finishing the game a perfect 3 for 3 with a home run, three RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. Larson went 3 for 5 with a home run, double, two RBI, and a stolen base, proving a major spark in the back-and-forth, extra-inning battle. Her final at-bat drove in the winning run to help complete the MIAC sweep over Carleton. At Bethel, she opened scoring in game one, finishing with two hits and two runs scored, and continued her strong day at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a run scored and a stolen base.

Taylor Graf | Jr., Softball | Athletic Performance
Prescott, Wis. 
Taylor Graf earns her first Fleur-de-lis Award for her knockdown performance in the team's six conference games. She went 3-0 in the circle last week, guiding the Wildcats to wins over St. Scholastica (4/7), Carleton (4/11), and Bethel (4/12). In 17.0 innings of work, Graf allowed six hits and six earned runs while striking out 24 batters and holding opposing hitters to a .103 average. Graf struck out a career-best 13 against the Saints and added eight Ks against the Knights before coming on in relief duty against the Royals and striking out three more to help the Wildcats to a series split with Bethel.