Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | January 20-26
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league’s top individual performances from January 20 through January 26. 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
Taylor Folkema, Indiana Wesleyan
Folkema poured in 32 points to lead No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan in a comfortable win over Huntington. The junior guard hit 12-of-18 shots from the field for a 66.7-percent clip and added eight free throws in nine tries.
Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Taylor Folkema, Indiana Wesleyan
Folkema was active on the defensive end for the second-ranked Wildcats in their 79-60 win over Huntington. Folkema helped IWU force 22 turnovers, while adding eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks to her 32-point total.
Men’s Basketball Offensive Player of the Week
Noah Lovan, Marian
Lovan was a bright spot for Marian in its loss to No. 14 Grace, pouring in 32 points, with 21 of those coming in the opening stanza. The freshman guard shot 57.9 percent from the field and added six rebounds, four assists and one steal.
Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Isaiah Malone, Saint Francis
Malone was a force in the paint for Saint Francis in its road win over Taylor. The sophomore forward posted 20 points on nine-of-14 shooting and added eight rebounds, five blocked shots and three steals.
Women’s Indoor TF Track Athlete of the Week
Katie Woods, Marian
Woods was at it once again, this time hitting A-standards in the distance-medley relay and 1,000-meters. Woods broke Marian’s program record in each event and posted the top time in the NAIA in both races.
Women’s Indoor TF Field Athlete of the Week
Lyssi Snouffer, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Snouffer continued her stellar indoor season by winning the high jump at the Ashland Invitational with a height of 1.70 meters. That mark was good for the A-standard for NAIA Nationals.
Men’s Indoor TF Track Athlete of the Week
Benjamin Riehle, Marian
Riehle helped Marian set a new school record and automatically qualify for Nationals with a runner-up finish in the distance-medley relay against Division I competition. One day later, the freshman scored a win in the 600-meters at Taylor’s indoor meet.
Men’s Indoor TF Field Athlete of the Week
Christian Rios, Marian
Rios led the throwers at Taylor’s George Glass Invitational with a win in the weight throw and a third-place effort in the shot put. Rios hit the A-standard in the weight throw with a distance of 18.7 meters.
Women’s Bowler of the Week
Kayla Tafanelli, Spring Arbor
Tafanelli topped the individual leaderboard at the third CL Tournament of the season. The SAU sophomore scored a winning margin by 90 pins and averaged a score of 228 over three games to help the Cougars to a runner-up team finish.
Men’s Bowler of the Week
Carson Kohler, Spring Arbor
Kohler highlighted Spring Arbor’s team title at the third CL Tournament of the season by winning the individual title. Kohler posted a three-game total of 709, average 236.0 pins per game.