Monday, October 28, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. – A career-day for Central Washington junior running back Michael Roots tops the selections for GNAC Player of the Week awards.

Roots rushed for a season-high of 221 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead the Wildcats in a 62-10 win over Simon Fraser. In the process, Roots became the 15th player in GNAC history to surpass 2,000 career rushing yards. Roots finished the game with 237 all-purpose yards and had a long rush of 82 yards to score a touchdown early in the third quarter.

Joining Roots in weekly honors for CWU was senior linebacker Grady Graff, who earned the Defensive Player of the Week award after he finished with nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for and 1.5 sacks. He also forced a fumble which the CWU offense converted into a field goal.

Azusa Pacific freshman Ramzee Jaridly was named the Special Teams Player of the Week after he made two field goals in the Cougars’ 49-27 loss to nationally-ranked Colorado Mines. He hit a career-long 45-yarder in the second quarter, which is Jaridly’s third field goal this season of 40 or more yards.

Western Washington earned three of the conference’s four soccer weekly awards as both the men’s and women’s programs continue to surge at the top of the standings. Junior midfielder Georg Cholewa was named the Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after he assisted in both goals in Thursday’s 2-1 win at Montana State Billings and scored both goals in the 2-1 win at Simon Fraser on Saturday.

Sophomore defender Teagan Eldridge was named the Defensive Player of the Week. He played all 180 minutes over the week as the Western Washington defense played to a pair of 2-1 victories. Eldridge also assisted on the game-winning goal in Saturday’s win at Simon Fraser.

Freshman forward Estera Levinte earned the Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week award after she played a role in all three goals in the Vikings’ 3-0 shutout of Seattle Pacific on Thursday, which included scoring an unassisted goal in the 56th minute.

Western Oregon senior goalkeeper Alex Qualls was named the Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week. She made six saves in the Wolves’ 1-0 win over Concordia on Thursday and then made two saves in a 1-0 win at Saint Martin’s on Saturday. It was Qualls’ fifth and sixth shutouts of the season.

Montana State Billings’ junior right-side hitter Bayli Monck was named the Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week after she finished with 46 kills, 39 digs, five blocks and eight aces in three matches. She had double-doubles in all three matches. Monck finished with 15 kills, 14 digs and five aces in Tuesday’s win over crosstown rival Rocky Mountain. She added 16 kills, 11 digs and two aces against Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and 15 kills, 14 digs, three blocks and a .419 hitting percentage against Alaska on Saturday.

Western Washington sophomore middle blocker Chloe Roetcisoender earned Defensive Player of the Week honors with her 15 blocks and 17 kills in a pair of three-set sweeps. She finished with a double-double of 11 kills and 10 blocks with a .615 hitting percentage against Concordia on Thursday before adding six kills and five blocks against Western Oregon on Saturday.

The Vikings also had the Men’s Golf Player of the Week in senior Ethan Casto. He tied for third at the Otter Invitational with a three-round score of 2-under-par 214. His opening-round of 3-under-par 69 was his 10th under-par round of the season.

Simon Fraser senior Emily Leung was named the Women’s Golf Player of the Week after she won the Division II West Region Preview with a two-round score of 2-under-par 142. She shot a 3-under-par 69 in the opening round, tying the GNAC single-round low score record.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 9
FOOTBALL
Offensive: Michael Roots (Central Washington, RB, 5-10, Jr., Sacramento, Calif. – Southern Oregon Univ.): Roots carried 14 times for a GNAC season-high of 221 yards and three touchdowns in Central Washington’s 62-10 win over Simon Fraser. He also caught two passes for 16 yards to finish with 237 all-purpose yards. In the process, Roots surpassed 2,000 rushing yards for his CWU career, making him the 15th in GNAC history to cross that plateau. Also Nominated: Gil’Scott Jackson (Azusa Pacific), Solomon Hines (Simon Fraser), Ty Currie (Western Oregon).

Defensive: Grady Graff (Central Washington, LB, 6-0, Sr., Pasco, Wash. – Chiawana): Graff led the Central Washington defense with nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in the Wildcats’ 62-10 win over Simon Fraser. He also forced a fumble in the first quarter, which the Wildcats converted into a field goal. Also Nominated: Griffin Barrett (Simon Fraser), Nate Proctor, Jr. (Western Oregon).

Special Teams: Ramzee Jaridly (Azusa Pacific, P/K, 6-1, Fr., Chino Hills, Calif. – Ayala): Jaridly made both of his field goals in the Cougars’ 49-27 loss to Colorado Mines on Saturday, connecting on kicks of 35 yards and 45 yards. The 45-yarder was a career-long. Jaridly now has three field goals of 40 yards or longer this season. Also Nominated: Patrick Hegarty (Central Washington), Curtis Anderson (Western Oregon).

MEN’S SOCCER
Offensive: George Cholewa (Western Washington, M, 5-11, Jr., Leipzig, Germany – Sportgymnasium Chemnitz): Cholewa finished with a six-point week, scoring two goals and adding two assists in two victories. He assisted on both goals in Thursday’s 2-1 victory over Montana State Billings. Cholewa then scored both goals, including the game-winner in the 77th minute, in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Simon Fraser. Also Nominated: Nicholas Denley (Concordia), Ignacio Crespo (Montana State Billings), Sebastian Navarro (Saint Martin’s), Matteo Polisi (Simon Fraser).

Defensive: Teagan Eldridge (Western Washington, D, 5-11, So., Enumclaw, Wash. – Enumclaw): Eldridge helped anchor the Western Washington defense in a pair of hard-fought road wins. Playing all 90 minutes in both matches, WWU limited Montana State Billings to one goal and four shots on goal in Thursday’s 2-1 victory. Simon Fraser was allowed just one goal and Eldridge assisted on the game-winning goal in Saturday’s 2-1 victory. Also Nominated: Kenneth Symmes (Concordia), Luca Battistotti (Montana State Billings), Marcello Polisi (Simon Fraser).

WOMEN’S SOCCER
Offensive: Estera Levinte (Western Washington, F, 5-7, Fr., Bothell, Wash. – Bothell): Levinte played a role in all three goals in the Vikings’ in a 3-0 shutout of Seattle Pacific on Thursday. She assisted on goals in the 38th and 42nd minutes and later added her own goal unassisted in the 56th minute. Levinte played 43 minutes off the bench and had one shot on goal in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Central Washington. Also Nominated: Sophia Keenan (Central Washington), Jaida Nyby (Concordia), Julia Keller (Montana State Billings), Maddie Wolff (Saint Martin’s), Kiara Buono (Simon Fraser), Kalli Brundage (Western Oregon).

Defensive: Alex Qualls (Western Oregon, GK, 6-0, Sr., Gresham, Ore. – Boise State Univ.): Qualls was in goal for her fifth and sixth shutouts of the season in a pair of road victories. Qualls made six saves as Concordia rattled off 18 shots in a 1-0 shutout. She then had two saves in another 1-0 win at Saint Martin’s on Saturday. Also Nominated: Emily Thomson (Central Washington), Hailey Asato (Concordia), Ali Campigotto (Saint Martin’s), Nicole Anderson (Simon Fraser), Grace Eversaul (Western Washington).

VOLLEYBALL
Offensive: Bayli Monck (Montana State Billings, RS, 5-10, Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo. – Vista Ridge): Monck finished with three double-doubles as she compiled 46 kills, 39 digs, five blocks and eight aces in three matches. She opened the week with 15 kills, 14 digs and five aces in Tuesday’s win over crosstown rival and NAIA nationally-ranked Rocky Mountain. Monck added 16 kills, 11 digs and two aces against Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and ended the week with 15 kills, 14 digs, three blocks and a .419 hitting percentage against Alaska on Saturday. Also Nominated: Ellen Floyd (Alaska Anchorage), Gabrielle Aihara (Central Washington), Alyssa Bartlett (Saint Martin’s), Kristen Pinkney (Simon Fraser), Chloe Roetcisoender (Western Washington).

Defensive: Chloe Roetcisoender (Western Washington, MB, 6-0, So., Duvall, Wash. – Cedar Park Christian): Roetcisoender finished with 15 blocks, averaging 2.50 blocks per set, while adding 17 kills in a pair of three-set sweeps. She finished with a double-double with 11 kills and 10 blocks to go with a .625 hitting percentage in a sweep of Concordia on Thursday before adding six kills and five blocks in Saturday’s win over Western Oregon. Also Nominated: Talia Leauanae (Alaska Anchorage), Kyla Morgan (Central Washington), Bridgette Bourgouin (Saint Martin’s), Delaney Dunham (Seattle Pacific), Kalyn Hartmann (Simon Fraser).

GOLF
Men: Ethan Casto (Western Washington, Sr., Snohomish, Wash. – Snohomish): Casto led Western Washington as he tied for third place at the Otter Invitational. Casto carded a three-round score of 2-under-par 214, tying with Alis Svard of Cal St. Monterey Bay. It was Casto’s third top-five finish of the season. He shot a low round of 3-under-par 69, his 10th under-par round of the fall.

Women: Emily Leung (Simon Fraser, Sr., Richmond, B.C. – Yew Chung International School): Leung was the medalist at the Division II West Region Preview, carding a two-round score of 2-under-par 142. She shot a low round of 3-under-par 69 in the opening round, which tied the GNAC record for lowest single round. Leung led the Clan to a tie for third place in the team standings. Also Nominated: Elise Sumner (Western Washington).