Monday, February 22, 2021

PORTLAND, Ore. – Taking advantage of perhaps its only opportunity to compete in the shortened 2020-21 cross country season, Seattle Pacific not only swept the team titles but also swept the GNAC Athlete of the Week awards.

The Falcons swept after picking up a pair of victories at the CWU Winter Invite in Ellensburg, Washington. Sophomore Jared Putney was named the Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after he covered the 8,000-meter course in a time of 26:06.5. His win led the Falcons to the team title with 19 points.

Senior Dania Holmberg was named the Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after winning the first race of her collegiatee career, covering the 6,000-meter course in a time of 22:46.3. That performance led the Falcons to the team title with a score of 18 points.

Freshman Kinsey Langin led a Northwest Nazarene sweep of the second set of track and field awards for the season. Langin was named the Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after she placed fifth in the pole vault at the BYU Cougar Collegiate Indoor III meet in Provo, Utah. She earned an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark with her clearance of 12 feet, 0.5 inches, and moved into No. 2 on the NNU all-time list.

Junior Kalen Johnson received the women’s track award, placing second in the 3,000 meters at the BYU meet with a time of 10:51.77. The mark moves Johnson into No. 7 on the NNU all-time list.

Freshman Dylan Tidwell was named the Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after he took second in the 800 meters in Provo with a time of 1:57.27. The performance debuts Tidwell at No. 8 on the NNU all-time list. Junior Colton Burr was named the Men’s Field Athlete of the Week for the second time this season after he set a personal best in the weight throw at 54 feet, 1.5 inches. His mark placed fifth and moved Burr into No. 5 on the NNU all-time list.

Northwest Nazarene also netted the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week as senior guard Ezekiel Alley earned the award for the fourth time this season. Alley averaged 18.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in a home sweep of Saint Martin’s. He led all scorers with 26 points in Friday’s 92-86 win, connecting on 8 of 14 from the field and 5 of 9 from three-point range to go with five rebounds and four assists. Alley then scored 11 points with six rebounds and two assists in Saturday’s 71-53 victory.

Saint Martin’s junior forward Claire Dingus was named the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the third time this season after posting back-to-back double-doubles in a weekend sweep of Northwest (Wash.). On Friday, Dingus finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, five steals, three assists and a block in the Saints’ 94-55 victory. She took that one step further on Saturday, finishing with 25 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in an 84-59 victory. For the week, Dingus connected on 66.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. Of her 25 rebounds, 11 were on the offensive glass.

The Saints also earned a sweep of the first softball weekly awards of the season. Sophomore Kylee Vanderbout was named the Softball Player of the Week after she went 3 for 8 with a double, a home run and five RBI in a doubleheader sweep at Pacific (Ore.) on Saturday. She went 2 for 4 with a three-run double in the critical sixth inning for the 10-3 game one win. She then delivered on a two-run homer to straightaway center field in the second inning of game two to stake SMU to the 3-0 win.

Freshman Tia Ridings was named the Softball Pitcher of the Week after she went the distance in game two to win her first collegiate game. Ridings allowed just five hits and a walk and struck out five in the 3-0 shutout.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 7
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Ezekiel Alley (Northwest Nazarene, G, 6-0, Sr., Tucson, Ariz. – Fullerton Coll.): Alley led the Nighthawks to a sweep of Saint Martin’s in the team’s home finale, averaging 18.5 points and 5.5 rebounds over the two games. In Friday’s 92-86 victory, Alley led all scorers with 26 points on 8 of 14 from the field and 5 of 9 from three-point range to go with five rebounds and four assists. It was his fifth 20-point game of the season. Alley then added an 11-point performance in Saturday’s 71-53 win to go with six rebounds and two assists. Also Nominated: David Thompson (Central Washington), Demonte Malloy (Saint Martin’s).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Claire Dingus (Saint Martin’s, F, 6-0, Jr., Spokane Valley, Wash. – University): Dingus averaged 22.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, posting double-doubles in a weekend sweep of Northwest (Wash.). On Friday, Dingus finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 94-55 victory, going 8 for 11 from the field and 2 of 3 from three-point range. She also had five steals, three assists and a block. On Saturday, Dingus posted totals of 25 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in an 84-59 win. She connected on 8 of 13 from the field and 8 of 10 from the free throw line. For the week, Dingus shot 66.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. Of her 25 rebounds, 11 were on the offensive glass. Also Nominated: Cariann Kunkel (Montana State Billings), Erin Jenkins (Northwest Nazarene).

SOFTBALL PLAYER
Kylee Vanderbout (Saint Martin’s, C/IF, 5-7, So., Happy Valley, Ore. – Clackamas): Vanderbout led Saint Martin’s offensively with a 3 for 8 performance as the Saints swept Pacific (Ore.). The sophomore went 2 for 4 in the opener, which included a three-run double in the sixth to secure the 10-3 victory. She added a two-run homer to straightaway center field in the second inning of game two, providing the offense needed for the 3-0 win. Also Nominated: Taylor Anderson (Montana State Billings).

SOFTBALL PITCHER
Tia Ridings (Saint Martin’s, P, 5-4, Fr., Tualatin, Ore. – Tualatin): Ridings threw a complete-game five-hitter in her collegiate debut, leading Saint Martin’s to a 3-0 second-game win over Pacific (Ore.) on Saturday. Ridings allowed just five hits and one walk, striking out five, as the Saints swept the twinbill to start the 2021 season.

MEN’S TRACK
Dylan Tidwell (Northwest Nazarene, Fr., South Jordan, Utah – Weber State Univ.): Running in his first race as a Nighthawk, Tidwell took second in the 800 meters at the BYU Cougar Collegiate Invite III on Saturday. His time of 1:57.27 ranks No. 8 on the NNU all-time indoor list. Also Nominated: Logan Straus (Montana State Billings).

MEN’S FIELD
Colton Burr (Northwest Nazarene, Jr., Weiser, Idaho – Weiser): Burr placed fifth out of 10 athletes in the weight throw at the BYU Collegiate Cougar Invite III on Thursday. His mark of 54 feet, 1.5 inches moved him into No. 5 on the NNU all-time list was a personal best by three feet.

WOMEN’S TRACK
Kalen Johnson (Northwest Nazarene, Jr., Zillah, Wash. – Zillah): Johnson placed second in the 3,000 meters at the BYU Collegiate Cougar Invite III. Her time of 10:51.77 moved her to No. 7 on the NNU all-time list. Also Nominated: Kailee Stoppel (Montana State Billings).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Kinsey Langin (Northwest Nazarene, Fr., Meridian, Idaho – The Ambrose School): In just her second collegiate meet, Langin posted a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the pole vault at the BYU Collegiate Cougar Invite III. She placed fifth with a clearance of 12 feet, 0.5 inches, which ranks 39th in Division II this season and No. 2 on the NNU all-time list.

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Jared Putney (Seattle Pacific, So., Issaquah, Wash. – Issaquah): Putney picked up his first collegiate victory on Saturday, running away from the field at the CWU Winter Invite. Putney covered the 8,000-meter course in 26:06.5, beating teammate Austin Weise by 44 seconds. Putney led the Falcons to the team title with a score of 19 points.

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Dania Holmberg (Seattle Pacific, Sr., Eagle, Idaho – Eagle): Holmberg led Seattle Pacific to the team title with her individual victory at the CWU Winter Invite on Saturday. Holmberg covered the 6,000-meter course in a time of 22:46.3, scoring a 52-second victory over teammate Belle Brandenfels. It was Holmberg’s first collegiate race victory and led the Falcons to the team title with 18 points. Also Nominated: Molly Mattson (Central Washington).