Monday, January 23, 2023

PORTLAND, Ore. – It was a big week for Central Washington both on the basketball court and on the track as the Wildcats took five of the six GNAC Player of the Week awards.

On the court, senior forward Matt Poquette was named the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he averaged 15 points and seven rebounds per game to lead the Wildcats to two road wins. Poquette finished with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds in Thursday’s 84-82 win at Western Washington, making 7 of 12 from the field and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to go with two assists, three blocks and a steal. He added 13 points and four rebounds in Saturday’s 72-65 win at Simon Fraser. He made 5 of 8 from the field and finished with two assists and two blocks.

Junior Johan Correa led a CWU sweep of the track awards thanks to the team’s performances at the Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open. Correa was named the Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after setting the CWU record in the mile, placing eighth in 4:16.95. The top non-Division I finisher, he bettered the previous school record of 4:17.33 set by John Wojtech in 2014.

Senior Braydon Maier earned the Men’s Field Athlete of the Week award with his second-place finish in the heptathlon. His score of 4,851 points is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and ranks No. 20 in Division II this season. Maier placed first in two of the competition’s seven events, tying for first in the pole vault at 14 feet, 3.25 inches and winning the 1,000 meters in 2:49.04.

Senior Erica Cabanos led the CWU sweep of the women’s track and field awards, winning the Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honor after placing third in the triple jump with a mark of 37 feet, 1.75 inches. Freshman Elise Hopper was named the Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after finishing fourth in the 400 meters in a GNAC season-best time of 57.74 seconds.

Montana State Billings sophomore guard Kortney Nelson broke up a full CWU sweep with her selection as the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week. Nelson was the prime mover behind the Yellowjackets’ 73-61 win over No. 5/6 Western Washington on Saturday, finishing with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds with six assists, four steals and a block. For the week, Nelson averaged 10.5 points and eight rebounds per game to help MSUB maintain in second place in the GNAC standings.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 22
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Matt Poquette (Central Washington, F, 6-6, Sr., Morton, Wash. – Morton-White Pass): Poquette led Central Washington to two wins, averaging 30 points and seven rebounds per game while connecting on 60% from the field. Poquette registered a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Wildcats to an 84-82 win at Western Washington on Thursday. He made 7 of 12 from the field to go with two assists, three blocks and a steal. Poquette finished with 13 points and four rebounds in Saturday’s 72-65 win at Simon Fraser. He made 5 of 8 from the field and also finished with two assists and two blocks. Also Nominated: Abdullahi Mohamed (Alaska), Dathan Satchell (Alaska Anchorage), Carrington Wiggins (Montana State Billings), Maui Sze (Seattle Pacific), Immanuel Oludele (Simon Fraser), BJ Kolly (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Kortney Nelson (Montana State Billings, G, 5-8, So., Scobey, Mont. – Scobey): Nelson averaged 10.5 points and eight rebounds per game to lead Montana State Billings to two wins and move into second place in the conference standings. Nelson led the Yellowjackets in their 73-61 upset of No. 5/6 Western Washington on Saturday, posting a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds to go with six assists, four steals and a block. Nelson opened her week with five points, five rebounds and three assists in Thursday’s 69-67 overtime victory over Simon Fraser. Also Nominated: Ellen Silva (Alaska), Jahnna Hajdukovich (Alaska Anchorage), Samantha Bowman (Central Washington), Anjel Galbraith (Saint Martin’s), Ashley Alter (Seattle Pacific), Jessica Wisotzki (Simon Fraser), Avery Dykstra (Western Washington).

MEN’S TRACK
Johan Correa (Central Washington, Jr., Kennewick, Wash. – Kennewick): Correa broke the CWU indoor school record in the mile on Friday at the Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open. The top non-Division I placer, his eighth-place time of 4:16.95 bettered the previous record of 4:17.33 set by John Wojtech in 2014 and ranks fifth in the GNAC this season. Correa also placed fourth in the 600 meters in 1:20.14 and ran the third leg of the Wildcats’ fourth-place 4x400-meter relay team. Also Nominated: Ase Ackerman (Montana State Billings).

MEN’S FIELD
Braydon Maier (Central Washington, Sr., Selah, Wash. – Selah): Maier placed second in the heptathlon with an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying score of 4,851 points. Maier tied for first in the pole vault (14-3.25) and took first in the final event, the 1,000 meters (2:49.04). Maier also had a fifth-place finish in the long jump. Maier’s score ranks 20th in Division II this season. Also Nominated: Bryce Olson (Montana State Billings).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Elise Hopper (Central Washington, Fr., Port Orchard, Wash. – South Kitsap): Hopper placed fourth in the 400 meters at the Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open on Saturday. Her time of 57.74 seconds leads the GNAC this season. Also Nominated: Kailee Stoppel (Montana State Billings).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Erica Cabanos (Central Washington, Sr., Puyallup, Wash. – John H. Rogers): Cabanos placed third in the triple jump at Saturday’s Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open. Her mark of 37 feet, 1.75 inches is third-best in the GNAC this season. Also Nominated: Kendall Lynn (Montana State Billings).