Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | February 9-15
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league’s top individual performances from February 9 through February 15. Sports Information Directors from the league institutions nominate student-athletes for the awards and vote on each week’s winners.
Women’s Basketball Offensive Player of the Week
Cali Gregory, Saint Francis
Gregory filled the nets to the tune of 26.0 points per game for No. 7 USF against RV Taylor and No. 4 Marian. The sophomore shot 55.6 percent from the floor and also averaged 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 thefts per contest.
Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Madisyn Bailey, Marian
Bailey helped No. 4 Marian to wins over Grace and No. 7 Saint Francis by posting 3.5 steals per game on the defensive end, as MU held its foes to 62.0 points per contest. Bailey closed the week with 11.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.5 steals and 0.5 blocks per win.
Men’s Basketball Offensive Player of the Week
Karson Rogers, Saint Francis
Rogers averaged 32.5 points per game for USF, scoring 25 at Taylor, before pouring in 40 on 13-of-14 shooting in a win over Marian. The sophomore forward shot 77.4 percent from the floor and added 12.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game for the Cougars.
Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Kaden Johnson, Huntington
Johnson led No. 19 Huntington past Goshen and Taylor with 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 0.5 steals per game on the defensive end. The senior forward finished with 15.5 total rebounds per game, in addition to 15.0 points and 4.0 assists, posting double-doubles in each affair.
Women’s Indoor TF Track Athlete of the Week
Katie Woods, Marian
Woods continued her roll this indoor season, breaking her own MU record in the mile and 800-meters and hitting NAIA-A standards in each race. Woods posted a time of 4:42.70 in the mile for the fastest mark in the NAIA this season.
Women’s Indoor TF Field Athlete of the Week
Gabrielle Zeilenga, Bethel
Zeilenga won the pole vault and long jump at the NCCAA National Championships, hitting the NAIA A-standard in the pole vault at 3.85 meters and the B-standard in the long jump with a distance of 5.66 meters.
Men’s Indoor TF Track Athlete of the Week
Jan Busam, Huntington
Busam hit NAIA-A standards in the 400-meters and 4×400-meter relay, finishing top-three in each event at the Grand Valley State Big Meet. Busam set new HU records and posted top-five times in the NAIA this season in each event.
Baseball Player of the Week
Brayden Manning, Taylor
Manning went nine-for-17 for a .529 batting average in No. 9 Taylor’s four-game sweep at RV St. Thomas. The senior clubbed one home run and one double, while driving in seven runs and having multi-hit games in all four outings.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Jake Boyer, Taylor
Boyer extended his scoreless streak to 13.1 innings to open the season, tossing four shutout innings of relief in No. 9 Taylor’s 5-3 series-opening win at RV St. Thomas. Boyer fanned eight and allowed just four hits to notch the save.
Softball Player of the Week
Summer Ambler, Spring Arbor
Ambler powered SAU to a 4-0 week by hitting .533 with two home runs, one double, six runs batted in and five runs scored. The senior also stole three bases without getting caught and had a trio of multi-hit performances.
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Emilee Underwood, Spring Arbor
Underwood went 2-0 with a 1.57 earned-run average and 16 strikeouts over two starts in the circle for Spring Arbor. The junior did not issue a walk in her 13.1 innings of work and posted a sub-one WHIP of 0.90.
Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Isabella Herrera, Huntington
Herrera won each of her matches in a narrow 4-3 team loss at Lawrence Tech. The senior won 6-4, 6-0 at No 1 singles and took a 6-1 win at No. 2 doubles.
Men’s Tennis Player of the Week
Julian Tantera, Huntington
Tantera led No. 17 Huntington past Lawrence Tech in a 7-0 outcome by taking a 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 1 singles and a 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles.
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