ST. PAUL, Minn. The Concordia-St. Paul department of athletics has announced its 2023-24 CSP Female and Male Athletes of the Year with senior
Arika Harbo (track & field) earning the nod as Female Athlete of the Year for the third-straight year, while junior
Brandon Sperling (golf) secured the honor as Male Athlete of the Year, the first in the DII-era for the men's golf program.
The honor awards the top athletic performers among Concordia's student-athletes with criteria focused on, but not limited to, performance in competition. Nominations for the award were solicited from head coaches of each program, and voted on by athletic department head coaches, administrators, and support staff.
Harbo becomes the first three-time CSP Female Athlete of the Year after becoming the school's third two-time Female Athlete of the Year in 2022-23. She is one of three female track & field athletes to earn the honor, which has also been secured by Toni Canfall (2020-21), and Wakpor Ighovojah (2017-18).
Sperling's selection on the men's side snaps a three-year streak produced by the men's track & field program, with
Jakob Tordsen earning the honor the past two years, with Marcus Gustaveson (2020-21) starting the three-year streak.
Arika Harbo, track & field
(Multi-Event, 5-8, Sr., St. Paul, Minn. / Concordia Academy / Sioux Falls)
NCAA Outdoor National Champion this season – High Jump
Two-time First Team All-America this season – High Jump & Heptathlon (NCAA Outdoor)
Three-time National Champion – High Jump
11-Time All-American
Nine-Time NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence
Has met the minimum standard in the high jump for the US T&F Olympic Trials
"Arika is the most decorated track and field athlete in school history. Throughout her career, she has shown the ability to elevate her performance during the most crucial times of championship meets at the conference and national level, and this year was no different." -
head coach Sam Johnson
- 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor National Champion (high jump)
- 2022-23 NCAA Division II Indoor National Champion (high jump)
- 2021-22 NCAA Division II Indoor National Champion (high jump)
- 2022 NCAA Division II Outdoor National Champion (high jump)
- 2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor National Runner-Up (high jump)
- 2024 USTFCCCA First Team Outdoor All-America (high jump)
- 2024 USTFCCCA First Team Outdoor All-America (heptathlon)
- 2023 USTFCCCA First Team Outdoor All-America (high jump)
- 2023 USTFCCCA First Team Outdoor All-America (heptathlon)
- 2022-23 USTFCCCA First Team Indoor All-America (high jump)
- 2022-23 USTFCCCA First Team Indoor All-America (pentathlon)
- 2022 USTFCCCA First Team Outdoor All-America (high jump)
- 2022 USTFCCCA Second Team Outdoor All-America (heptathlon)
- 2021-22 USTFCCCA First Team Indoor All-America (high jump)
- 2021-22 USTFCCCA Second Team Indoor All-America (pentathlon)
- 2020-21 USTFCCCA Second Team Indoor All-America (high jump)
- Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team
- Two-time USTFCCCA Central Region Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year
- Seven-time USTFCCCA All-Region in the high jump
- Five-time USTFCCCA All-Region in the multi-event
- Five-time NSIC Champion (high jump)
- Two-time NSIC Champion (heptathlon)
- Two-time NSIC Champion (pentathlon)
- NSIC record holder (high jump)
- NSIC record holder (heptathlon)
- NSIC record holder (pentathlon)
- Two-time CSC Academic All-Region
- Nine-time NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence
2023-24 Stats Snapshot: 72.07 avg, 28 rounds, 759-194 W-L (.796), 12 par/minus rounds, 5 top-5 finishes in 11 tournaments
Career Stats Snapshot: 73.95 avg, 85 rounds, 2,037-807 W-L (.716), 22 par/minus rounds, 11 top-5 finishes in 33 tournaments with one individual tournament win
2023-24 NSIC Most Outsanding Senior of the Year
Three-time NCAA Central Region Championships competitor (two-time individual)
Career stroke average record holder for CSP men's golf
Set CSP single-season stroke average in 2023-24
"The greatest compliment we can give Brandon is that he is 'The Example' of what it takes to turn yourself into an exceptional student-athlete. His growth both on the golf course and in the classroom makes us proud to call him a Golden Bear. Brandon's commitment and tenacity to compete is second to none. The culture he has helped build leaves a great legacy." - head coach Peter Maki
- 2023-24 NSIC Most Outstanding Senior of the Year
- Three-time NCAA Region Championship competitor (two-time as an individual, once with team)
- Two-time First Team All-NSIC Selection
- Two-time NSIC All-Tournament Team
- 2022-23 NCAA Division II PING All-Central Region Team
- 2021-22 Second Team All-NSIC
- Three-time NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence
- Six-time NSIC Golfer of the Week with three in 2023-24
- Third-ranked golfer in the NSIC in 2023-24 (72.07)
- Lowest career scoring average in program history (73.95)
- Lowest season scoring average in program history (72.07)
- Shot 65 (-7) at Maverick Desert Classic for lowest round in school history
- Shot 66 (-4) in final round at 2024 NCAA Central/Midwest Region Championships for lowest regional round in program history
