Monday, April 12, 2021

PORTLAND, Ore. – Zach Berryman had a record-tying performance in a big offensive effort by Central Washington over the weekend, leading the list of GNAC Player of the Week winners.

The freshman was named the GNAC Baseball Player of the Week after he hit .533 in the Wildcats’ series with Saint Martin’s, going 8 for 15 with nine runs, eight RBI, a double and two stolen bases. He tied the GNAC single-game record for runs scored in a game with five in the Wildcats’ 30-6 rout on Sunday as he went 5 for 7 with five RBI and a double in the leadoff spot in the lineup.

Sophomore teammate Dylan Weese was named the Baseball Pitcher of the Week for his complete-game win in Saturday’s second game. He allowed four hits and two walks while striking out five in the 4-0 victory. It was Weese’s first win of the season.

Montana State Billings freshman Marin Penney earned the Softball Player of the Week award after she batted .727 in the Yellowjackets’ series win over Western Oregon. She went 8 for 11 with three runs, four RBI, three doubles and a home run. Penney went 3 for 3 in Saturday’s second game and Sunday’s first game, which included two runs, a double and an RBI single on Saturday.

Northwest Nazarene sophomore Sidney Booth was named the Softball Pitcher of the Week after she won twice in three appearances in the Nighthawks’ six-game Bay Area road trip. She punctuated the week by throwing a one-hitter against No. 14 Concordia Irvine on Saturday, walking two and striking out five in the 4-0 victory. Booth improved to 10-2 on the season.

The John Knight Twilight in Monmouth, Oregon provided three of the four Track and Field Athlete of the Week award performances. Alaska Anchorage senior Lawson Sims was named the Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after he won the steeplechase in a time of 9:05.98 that provisionally qualified him for the NCAA Championships and ranks No. 12 in Division II this season.

Western Washington freshman Trent Kibler was selected as the Men’s Field Athlete of the Week after he won the high jump by two inches, turning in a clearance of 6 feet, 6.75 inches. The mark is the second-best in the GNAC this season.

Western Oregon freshman Maya Hopwood was named the Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she won the 100 meters in a personal-best time of 12.25 seconds that ties her for first in the GNAC this season. Hopwood also placed second in the 200 meters in 26.43 seconds.

Northwest Nazarene freshman Kinsey Langin earned Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honors after she broke the NNU record in the pole vault at the Aggie Invitational in Logan, Utah. Langin tied for first with a clearance of 12 feet, 5.5 inches. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark ranks Langin No. 7 on the GNAC All-Time List and is tied for 25th in Division II this season.

Saint Martin’s swept this week’s golf awards. Senior Tyler Fitchett was named the Men’s Golf Player of the Week after he tied for seventh at the Mustang Intercollegiate. He carded a three-round score of 4-under-par 212, which included individual scores of 70 in the first and third rounds.

Sophomore Kathryn Crimp was named the Women’s Golf Player of the Week after she led the Saints at the West Texas A&M Invite. She carded a two-round score of 170 to tie for 59th place.

Northwest Nazarene swept the men’s soccer honors after splitting with Saint Martin’s in its final matches of the season. Junior Brandon Parsio was named the Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after he scored a goal in each of the matches, including the game-winner in Saturday’s 1-0 victory. Junior Lorenzo Valentini collected the Defensive Player of the Week award as he anchored an NNU defense that allowed just two shots on goal on Saturday.

The Nighthawks also collected the Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week award as sophomore Makayla Roggow was honored as she led an NNU defense that allowed just two shots on goal in two matches. She also scored a goal in the 68th minute in the Nighthawks’ 4-0 win over Montana State Billings on Thursday.

Western Oregon senior Alyssa Tomasini was named the Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after she scored a hat trick in the Wolves’ 4-1 exhibition win over Humboldt State on Sunday in Medford, Oregon. She scored the opening goal in the 10th minute and then had insurance goals in the 53rd and 77th minutes.

Alaska Anchorage swept the volleyball awards after the Seawolves won all three of their matches in Ellensburg. Junior Eve Stephens was named the Offensive Player of the Week after she averaged five kills per set. She posted back-to-back 20-plus kill efforts in Sunday’s wins over Central Washington with 22 kills in the opening match and 21 kills in the nightcap.

Junior Talia Leauanae earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after she averaged 4.64 digs per set in the three matches, topped by 31 digs in Sunday’s second match with Central Washington.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 14
BASEBALL PLAYER
Zach Berryman (Central Washington, UT, 5-11, Fr., Ephrata, Wash. – Walla Walla CC): Berryman hit .533 as the Wildcats took three of four games from Saint Martin’s, going 8 for 15 with nine runs, eight RBI, a double and two stolen bases in the leadoff spot. Berryman opened Saturday by going 1 for 3 with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly before going 1 for 3 with a run scored in the nightcap. In Sunday’s opener, Berryman tied the GNAC record for runs scored in a game with five as he went 5 for 7 with five RBI and a double in the 30-6 rout. He closed the week by going 1 for 2 with an RBI and two runs in the 5-1 series-ending victory. Also Nominated: Grant Kerry (Northwest Nazarene), Cody Isa (Saint Martin’s), Josh Berman (Western Oregon).

BASEBALL PITCHER
Dylan Weese (Central Washington, P, 6-2, So., Poway, Calif. – San Diego Mesa Coll.): Weese went the distance in the finale of Saturday’s doubleheader, a 4-0 victory over Saint Martin’s. He allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out five in the seven-inning game to earn his first win of the season. Also Nominated: Max Holtzclaw (Northwest Nazarene), Ryan Ancheta (Saint Martin’s), Mike Peterson (Western Oregon).

SOFTBALL PLAYER
Marin Penney (Montana State Billings, 3B, 5-6, Fr., Portland, Ore. – Lake Oswego): Penney batted an impressive .727 as the Yellowjackets took three of four games from Western Oregon, going 8 for 11 with three runs, four RBI, three doubles and a home run. After going 1 for 2 with a solo homer in Saturday’s opener, Penney went 3 for 3 with two runs, a double and an RBI single in the 10-5 nightcap win. Penney opened Sunday by going 3 for 3 with two RBI, including a sacrifice fly that scored the winning run the seventh for the 5-4 win. Also Nominated: Gracee Dwyer (Central Washington), Brittany Genuardi (Northwest Nazarene), Julia Lucas (Saint Martin’s), Zoie Recolan (Western Oregon), Tatum Dow (Western Washington).

SOFTBALL PITCHER
Sidney Booth (Northwest Nazarene, P, 5-4, So., Puyallup, Wash. – Puyallup): Booth went 2-0 and amassed a 1.45 earned run average in three appearances as the Nighthawks went 4-2 on their Bay Area road trip. She took a no-decision in Wednesday’s 5-4 win over Academy of Art, allowing four runs on six hits with seven strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Booth allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out seven to beat Dominican (Calif.) on Friday, 2-0. She closed the week by throwing a one-hitter against No. 14 Concordia Irvine, walking two and striking out five in the 4-0 victory. Also Nominated: Isabel Womack (Central Washington), Julia Qualteri (Montana State Billings), Abby Runyon (Saint Martin’s), Jada Young (Western Oregon), Anna Kasner (Western Washington).

MEN’S TRACK
Lawson Sims (Alaska Anchorage, Sr., Casper, Wyo. – Notre Dame de Namur Univ.): Sims provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships with his victory in the steeplechase at the John Knight Twilight. His time of 9:05.98 ranks No. 12 in Division II this season and is the fifth-fastest in UAA history. Sims also ran the third leg on the Seawolves 4x400-meter relay team that finished second in 3:30.42. Also Nominated: Ryan Thoma (Central Washington), Mason Schram (Montana State Billings), Logan Blake (Northwest Nazarene), Michael Russell (Saint Martin’s), Hunter Hutton (Western Oregon), Koby Okezie (Western Washington).

MEN’S FIELD
Trent Kibler (Western Washington, Fr., Tumwater, Wash. – Tumwater): Kibler won the high jump at the John Knight Twilight by two inches, finishing with a clearance of 6 feet, 6.75 inches. The mark is the second-best in the GNAC this season. Also Nominated: Aidan Cain (Central Washington), Beau Ackerman (Montana State Billings), Matt Mitchell (Northwest Nazarene), Micah Au-Haupu (Saint Martin’s), Austin Goldstein (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Maya Hopwood (Western Oregon, Fr., Bend, Ore. – Bend): Hopwood ran the fastest time in the GNAC this season in the 100 meters at the John Knight Twilight. She won the event with a personal-best time of 12.25 seconds, tying her with Seattle Pacific’s Julia Stepper for the top mark in the conference. She also took second in the 200 meters in a time of 26.43 seconds. Also Nominated: Elena Cano (Alaska Anchorage), McCall DeChenne (Central Washington), Kailee Stoppel (Montana State Billings), Lauren Wuertz (Northwest Nazarene), Cassidy Walchak-Sloan (Saint Martin’s), Karlie Hurley (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Kinsey Langin (Northwest Nazarene, Fr., Meridian, Idaho – The Ambrose School): Langin tied for first in the pole vault at the Aggie Invitational, breaking the NNU outdoor record with her mark of 12 feet, 5.5 inches. The mark surpassed the previous record of 12-2.25 set by Alison Silva in 2014. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark ranks in a tie for 25th in Division II this season and is No. 7 on the GNAC All-Time List. Also Nominated: Avery Fisk (Central Washington), Jordan Cookman (Montana State Billings), Jocelyn Saribay (Saint Martin’s), Moana Gianotti (Western Oregon), Hannah Nienaber (Western Washington).

MEN’S GOLF
Tyler Fitchett (Saint Martin’s, Sr., Yakima, Wash. – Eisenhower): Fitchett led GNAC golfers at the Mustang Intercollegiate in Arizona, tying for seventh place with a three-round score of 4-under-par 212. He carded scores of 2-under-par 70 in the first and third rounds. He led the Saints to an eighth-place team finish. It was Fitchett’s second top-10 finish of the season. Also Nominated: Garrett Woodin (Montana State Billings), Devin Andrews (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S GOLF
Kathryn Crimp (Saint Martin’s, So., Ellensburg, Wash. – Ellensburg): Crimp led Saint Martin’s as she tied for 59th place at the West Texas A&M Desert Invite with a two-round score of 170. She carded consistent scores of 85 in both rounds.

MEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE
Brandon Parsio (Northwest Nazarene, D, 6-2, Jr., Lake Forest Park, Calif. – El Toro): Parsio scored a goal in each of the Nighthawks’ matches last week against Saint Martin’s. He scored NNU’s opening goal in the 55th minute of Thursday’s 4-3 loss. He then scored the only goal of the match in the 59th minute to allow NNU to close the season with a 1-0 victory. Also Nominated: Arjun Gill (Saint Martin’s).

MEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE
Lorenzo Valentini (Northwest Nazarene, D, 6-5, Jr., Saarbrucken, Germany – Saarland University): Valentini anchored a Northwest Nazarene defense that limited Saint Martin’s to two shots on goal in Saturday’s 1-0 shutout of the Saints, which included a key clearance on a corner kick in the final seconds. Also Nominated: Brian Licona (Saint Martin’s).

WOMEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE
Alyssa Tomasini (Western Oregon, F, 5-8, Sr., Camas, Wash. – Camas): Tomasini netted a hat trick in the Wolves’ 4-1 exhibition win over Humboldt State on Sunday in Medford, Oregon. She connected on the opening goal of the match in the 10th minute and added insurance goals in the 53rd and 77th minutes. Also Nominated: Kianna Harris (Central Washington), Haylee Gunter (Montana State Billings), McKenzie Buell (Northwest Nazarene), Kiersten Madsen (Saint Martin’s).

WOMEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE
Makayla Roggow (Northwest Nazarene, D, 5-8, So., Kelso, Wash. – Kelso): Roggow anchored an NNU backline that did not allow a goal and allowed opponents just two shots on goal and 10 total shots. The Nighthawks allowed just one shot on goal while Roggow scored an insurance goal in the 68th minute of Thursday’s 4-0 win over Montana State Billings. The defense limited Carroll (Mont.) to one shot on goal in Saturday’s 2-0 win, with Roggow contributing an assist. Also Nominated: Taylor Gertsch (Montana State Billings), Lexi Caceres (Saint Martin’s).

VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE
Eve Stephens (Alaska Anchorage, RS, 6-1, Sr., Palmer, Alaska – Colony): Stephens led Alaska Anchorage to a 3-0 week with 55 kills, 28 digs and five aces, averaging five kills per set. She opened with 12 kills in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Western Oregon. On Sunday, Stephens opened with a team-leading 22 kills, two aces, nine digs, two blocks and a .348 hitting percentage in a four-set win at Central Washington. In the second match of the day, she notched a double-double of 21 kills and 17 digs with three aces in another four-set win over the Wildcats. Also Nominated: Analia Vasquez (Central Washington), Brooke Foster (Northwest Nazarene), Kylie Coon (Saint Martin’s), Maddie Pruden (Seattle Pacific), Isabel Hurliman (Western Oregon).

VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE
Talia Leauanae (Alaska Anchorage, DS/L, 5-8, Jr., Wailuku, Hawaii – Kamehameha-Maui): Leauanae averaged 4.64 digs per set as the Seawolves won all three road matches in the week. Her best efforts came against Central Washington on Saturday where she finished with 16 digs and three aces in the first match before adding 31 digs and three assists in the second match, both four-set victories. Also Nominated: Caroline McMahon (Northwest Nazarene), Giselle Benetti (Saint Martin’s), Allie Spear (Western Oregon).