Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | February 17-23
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JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league’s top individual performances from February 17 through 23. 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
Alana Nelson, Spring Arbor
Nelson averaged 27.0 points per game for Spring Arbor in games with Bethel and No. 9 Saint Francis. Nelson posted double-doubles in each contest with 11.5 rebounds per outing, shot 47.2 percent from the field and poured in 32 of her team’s 57 points in the loss to USF.
Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Abbey McNally, Marian
McNally did it all for No. 12 Marian in wins over MVNU and No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan. The junior averaged 21.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 2.5 assists and 1.0 blocks per outing while posting double-doubles in each contest.
Men’s Basketball Offensive Player of the Week
Caedmon Bontrager, Indiana Wesleyan
Bontrager helped Indiana Wesleyan extend is win streak to five by posting 26.0 points per game on 68.8-percent shooting in wins over Goshen and Marian. The sophomore forward added 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per victory.
Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Gabe Newhof, Spring Arbor
Newhof helped SAU to two key victories to secure a top-four seed for the Cougars in the upcoming CL Tournament. Newhof logged three blocks in an upset of No. 10 Bethel and finished the week with 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks in the two wins.
Baseball Player of the Week
Sam Gladd, Taylor
Gladd was in the middle of No. 19 Taylor’s drubbing of Madonna, as TU outscored the Crusaders by a 23-3 margin in a doubleheader sweep. Gladd hit .500 with a home run, one double, two runs and four runs batted in to fuel the onslaught.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Dalton Swinehart, Taylor
Swinehart closed out No. 19 Taylor’s doubleheader sweep of Madonna by working the final two frames of an 8-0 shutout. Swinehart fanned four and yielded just one hit and one walk in his brisk two-inning appearance out of the pen.
Softball Player of the Week
Brooke Meeker, Spring Arbor
Meeker helped the Cougars to a split with Concordia by knocking out three hits in four at bats and adding a walk in an 8-3 victory. The sophomore also drove in two runs and scored two of her own to account for half of SAU’s tallies.
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Emilee Underwood, Spring Arbor
Underwood went the distance in her season debut for Spring Arbor, hurling eight innings in the circle for the Cougars in an 8-3 victory. Underwood did not allow an earned run in the win and fanned seven Concordia batters.