Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | March 24-30
Crossroads League Athletes-of-the-Week Page
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league's top individual performances from March 24 through 30. Sports Information Directors from the league institutions nominate student-athletes for the awards and vote on each week's winners.
Baseball Player of the Week
Brayden Manning, Taylor
Manning slugged .933 in No. 13 Taylor's four-game sweep of Bethel, swatting two home runs and two doubles in his 15 at bats. The junior outfielder also hit .400, scored five times and drove in six runs for the Trojans.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Parker Newby, Grace
Newby piled up 10 whiffs over six frames in a win against IU Columbus and also posted a scoreless outing in relief during a win against Goshen. On the week, Newby fanned 12 over 6.1 innings without allowing an earned run.
Softball Player of the Week
Paiton Iliff, Saint Francis
Iliff powered USF to a 6-0 record with sweeps of SAU, Taylor and Grace. The sophomore catcher hit .533 with an OPS of 1.921 over 15 at bats, while scoring six times, hammering six extra-base hits and driving in 10 runs.
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Olivia Stunkel, Marian
Stunkel won all three of her starts in the circle for No. 11 Marian, posting a 0.70 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 20 innings of action. The senior ace also fanned 20 batters and allowed only seven hits over her three dominant outings.
Women's Outdoor TF Track Athlete of the Week
Kylie Sauder, Grace
Sauder posted a Grace record-time of 4:30.00 to win the 1,500-meters at the Defiance Open. In addition to the first-place finish, Sauder provisionally qualified for NAIA Nationals with her performance and also finished runner-up in the 800-meters.
Women's Outdoor TF Field Athlete of the Week
Lyssi Snouffer, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Snouffer led MVNU at the Denison Lid-Lifter, scoring individual wins in the high jump and long jump. The senior automatically qualified for NAIA Nationals with a mark of 1.69 meters in the high jump.
Men's Outdoor TF Track Athlete of the Week
Tristan Trevino, Marian
Trevino set a new Marian record in the 1,500-meters with a winning and A-standard time of 3:48.99 at the Pacesetter Invite. The sophomore also topped the field and posted a B-standard time of 1:51.38 in the 800-meters.
Men's Outdoor TF Field Athlete of the Week
Christian Rios, Marian
Rios hit three NAIA qualifying marks for Marian at Indiana State's Pacesetter Invite. The senior finished top-five in the hammer, discus and shot put and highlighted his meet with a mark of 60.05 meters in the hammer for the second-best distance in the NAIA this season.
Women's Golfer of the Week
Camille Short, Grace
Short highlighted RV Grace's performance at the Simpson Spring Invite with a fourth-place place finish out of 39 individuals. Short carded rounds of 77 and 78 to lead the Lancers.
Men's Golfer of the Week
Porter Dick, Taylor
Dick paced the Taylor lineup at the Blue Mountain Christian Spring Classic, firing rounds of 73, 75 and 73 to finish 12-of-92 at the tournament.
Women's Tennis Player of the Week
France Antezana, Indiana Wesleyan
Antezana led No. 24 Indiana Wesleyan past Georgetown and RV Campbellsville by going 2-0 at No. 2 singles and 2-0 at No. 1 doubles for the Wildcats.
Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Sebastian Smith, Spring Arbor
Smith went 4-0 for Spring Arbor to help the Cougars secure team wins over Calvin and Adrian. In those two matches, Smith scored singles wins at No. 3 and 4, and doubles wins at No. 2 and 3.