Prep athletes of the week: Hockey tourney of reckoning for Xavier-bound baseball player

Until last weekend, Nick Zwack was known primarily as a three-sport athlete whose best sport was baseball. He's even signed a national letter of intent to play at Xavier University in Cincinnati.

But Zwack emerged from the boys' hockey state tournament as the surprise player of weekend. The senior wing scored four goals, added an assist and showed the type of big-moment moxie that turns ordinary players into instant stars.

Zwack scored twice in his team's 5-2 quarterfinal victory over No. 2-seeded Delano. Then he notched the game winner with 2.3 seconds left in regulation in a 3-2 semifinal victory over Northfield. In the Class 1A championship game, he had a goal and an assist in a 4-3 double-overtime loss to No. 1-ranked and top-seeded Hermantown.

All this from a player who wasn't listed among the Minnesota Hockey Hub's pre-tournament list of top 50 players in the tournament, on a team that most felt wouldn't survive the opening round.

"We showed a lot of people around the state that we are a team to be reckoned with," Zwack said.

MONIKA CZINANO

After a season played largely out of the spotlight, the 6-foot junior center – who has committed to Iowa – scored 25 points in an 85-59 victory over Litchfield in the Class 2A, Section 5 seminfinal. In the finals, she had 22 points and 18 rebounds in a 55-44 victory over Holy Family.

The Islanders are back in the Class 3A state tournament for the first time since 2013, paced by the offensive skills of the 5-7 junior guard. She scored 48 points in three games, including 23 in an 84-51 victory over St. Anthony in the Section 4 finals.

The 6-5 senior forward showed the offensive skills that have made him the leading scorer in team history in the Hawks' 73-61 victory over Edina in the Class 4A, Section 2 semifinals. He made seven three-pointers and scored 46 points – his second game over 45 points this season.

The junior guard, who reached the 1,000-career point plateau this season, led the Redhawks to the Class 2A, Section 4 championship. She had 12 points in a 58-40 victory over St. Agnes and 18 more in a 62-44 victory over St. Croix Lutheran in the finals.

The 6-9 University of Texas-signee scored 69 points in two Class 1A, Section 4 games last week – 32 in a victory over West Lutheran, 37 in a victory over Maranatha. He led the Pumas to a section semifinal matchup on Tuesday against Minneapolis North.

JIM PAULSEN