ST. PAUL, Minn.-- The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced their Athlete of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball. The awards are nominated by UMAC coaches and athletics communications staff and selected each week by the latter group.
Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Noah Johnson, Sr, Minnesota Morris
Murdock, Minn./ Kerkhoven, Murdock, and Sunburg
Johnson led the Cougars at the Kent Finanger 4k. The senior set a new personal record of 13:35.9 for the 4K race placing 15th.
Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Megan Widell, Fy, Minnesota Morris
Rush City, Minn./Rush City
Widell ran a personal best at the Tricia Serres 4K. The Rush City, Minn., native finished with a time of 17:44.7.
Football Offensive Athlete of the Week
Elijah Alexander, Northwestern, QB
Minneapolis/Andover
Alexander had a hand in all six touchdowns UNW scored in its 46-14 win over Minnesota Morris on Saturday, throwing four and ran in two. The senior completed 67% of his passes for 235 yards, and also led the team in rushing with 53 yards on 8 carries, including a highlight-reel hurdle for one of his two rushing scores. In conference play, he leads the UMAC in rushing TDs (5), passing yards (477), and is tied for the lead in passing TDs (4).
Football Defensive Athlete of the Week
Isaiah Voss, So, Northwestern, DE/TE
Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie
Voss did a little bit of everything in UNW's 46-14 win over Minnesota Morris. The converted tight end led the Eagles in tackles (7) and tackles for loss (1.5), and also registered half a sack. He also flipped the field in Northwestern's favor on multiple occasions, recovering 2 fumbles and blocking a punt, all of which led to touchdown drives.
Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Jamarion Cobbins, Jr, Greenville, S
Pana, Ill./Pana
Jamarion forced and recovered a fumble for the Greenville punt team. The turnover would lead to the final Greenville touchdown sealing the victory for the Panthers.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Rosalem Tendaie, So, Bethany Lutheran, F
Kinshasa, Dominican Republic of the Congo/Milo Adventist Academy
Tendaie scored five goals with two assists for 12 points during the week as Bethany went 3-0. Tendaie started the week with a goal and an assist in a 5-1 win over Martin Luther. The next day, Tendaie posted his first career hat trick and led the Vikings to their first win in program history over Gustavus. Tendaie finished the week with a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win over Crown. Tendaie is now second in the UMAC in both goals (10) and points (26).
Men’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Jamie van Wijland, Sr, Bethany Lutheran, D
Hoorn, Netherlands/Oscar Romero
Jamie van Wijland helped Bethany go 3-0 during the week, highlighted by the Vikings' first win in program history over Gustavus. Against the Gusties, van Wijland led the defense and limited the opposition to just one goal in the run of play. He had an impressive strike, rifling a shot from 30 yards out into the top-left corner of the net over the diving keeper. In the other two victories, van Wijland and the defense allowed just four shots on goal.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Anna Kramer, So, Martin Luther, F
Gibbon, Minn./Minnesota Valley Lutheran
Kramer scored three of MLC's five goals in a 2-0 week in UMAC action. She scored the first goal against Bethany and then scored twice against Minnesota Morris. Kramer's performance vaulted her into the top seven in the conference in goals, assists and points.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Baylee Nygard, Jr, UW-Superior, GK
Saint Peter, Minn./Saint Peter
Nygard played in two of three matches for Superior this past week. She played a full 180 minutes and made a total of 17 saves, going 1-0-1 with a pair of shutouts.
Volleyball Offensive Athlete of the Week
Makenna Hohbein, Jr, UW-Superior, OH
Holdingford, Minn./Holdingford
Hohbein had a strong week for the Yellowjackets, leading the squad with 59 kills while also adding 50 digs defensively. During the Blugold Alumni Weekend Invitational, she made her 1,000th dig as a Yellowjacket.
Volleyball Defensive Athlete of the Week
Savanna Hering, Jr, UW-Superior, DS/L
Superior, Wis./Superior
Hering led with 67 digs during last week's matches, averaging 4.47 per set.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Sella Fleming, Fr, Minnesota Morris
Fleming tallied 25 assists in the lone match for the Cougars this week. She averaged 8.33 per set as the Cougars won their sixth conference match of the season. Fleming also led the team with 15 digs. The Hawley, Minn., native also tallied five kills.