MANKATO, Minn. – Katrina Barthelt from Bemidji State University was named the 2025 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for women's soccer. Barthelt was presented the award during the pregame of the Bemidji State semifinal match at the NSIC Tournament, which is taking place at The Pitch in Mankato, Minnesota. Barthelt is a senior from Bartlett, Illinois and a graduate of South Elgin High School. She owns a 4.0 grade point average while majoring in exercise science: medical fitness.  

As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration during the 2016-17 academic year, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in their sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among their peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NSIC's 18 Championships.

Barthelt is just the fourth student-athlete in NSIC history to be named NSIC Player of the Year in two consecutive seasons after she led the NSIC in points in conference games totaling 25 in 15 conference matches.  She scored 10 goals in conference play, second most in the league and added five assists to tie for the fourth most. She earned NSIC Offensive Player of the Week honors twice during the season and finished the regular season leading the league with 32 points and tied for the league lead with 13 goals. She finished the regular season tied for 12th in Division II in goals and total points and ranks sixth in program history in career points (87) and fourth in career goals (38).