Huntingdon’s Swiger and Murphy earn USA South weekly honors
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Linebacker John-David Swiger and defensive back Jeremy Murphy both played key roles in Huntingdon's 34-27 win over Louisiana College on Saturday.
Both players were recognized by the USA South with the release of the conference Athletes of the Week on Monday. Swiger was named the Football Defensive Player of the Week and Murphy was named the Football Special Teams Player of the Week.
Swiger, a senior from Gulf Shores, Ala., tied the Huntingdon record for tackles in a game with 17 and also recorded 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Swiger was also recognized on Monday by Beyond Sports Network as one of six national Division III Defensive Players of the Week.
Murphy, a junior from Sylacauga, Ala., made his presence felt early in Saturday's game. Murphy blocked a Louisiana College punt and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown in the first two minutes of the game.
Below is the complete list of USA South Athletes of the Week.
Football Offensive Player of the Week
Travis Felder, Maryville - The senior running back from Orange Park, Florida rushed for two touchdowns in a 42-30 victory over Sewanee. Felder carried the ball 34 times for a total of 176 yards, good for a 5.2 yard-per-rush average. He also caught two passes out of the backfield in the win. Also Nominated: Lyndon Garner, Christopher Newport; Warren Scott, Greensboro; Xavier Morgan, Averett.
Football Defensive Player of the Week
John-David Swiger, Huntingdon - The Gulf Shores, Alabama senior linebacker tied a school single-game record with 17 total tackles in a 34-27 win over Louisiana College. Swiger tallied nine solo tackles and eight assisted take downs, including 3.5 tackles for a total loss of 13 yards. Also Nominated: Dylan Wolfenbarger, Maryville; Evan Moog, Christopher Newport; Dontae Gilbert, Averett; Mart Grinton, Greensboro.
Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Jeremy Murphy, Huntingdon - The Sylacauga, Alabama junior defensive back gave the Hawks an early lead with a special teams touchdown in a 34-27 win over Louisiana College. Just two minutes into the first quarter, Murphy blocked a punt, picked it up and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead. Also Nominated: Lucas Underwood, Maryville; Mason Studer, Christopher Newport; Hobie Proctor, Averett.
Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Joel Friesen, Covenant - The junior midfielder from Waxhaw, North Carolina helped the Scots to a 2-1 record last week with six points on two goals and two assists. In a 2-1 win over previously unbeaten Birmingham Southern, Friesen scored the first goal of the match in the 50th minute. In a 2-0 loss to USA South foe Greensboro, Friesen was held scoreless but did manage one shot. Finally, in the program's first-ever USA South win, a 4-1 victory over Ferrum, Friesen notched the eventual game-winning goal in the 19th minute and also tallied two assists. Also Nominated: Konner Dozark, Maryville; Aaron Gustine, Ferrum; Magnus Ferngren, Averett; Craig Gage, Greensboro; Vincent Thomas, Piedmont; Eric McGinnis, Methodist.
Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Nick Martens, Methodist - The junior goalkeeper from Portsmouth, Rhode Island posted a 2-1 record last week while tallying two shutouts and eight total saves in 270 minutes between the posts. In a 2-0 loss to Virginia Wesleyan, Martens collected three saves. In a 4-0 win over Southern Virginia, Martens stopped the one shot he faced. Finally, in a 1-0 victory over USA South rival Greensboro, Martens pushed aside all four shots on goal. Also Nominated: Martin Erenstedt, Averett; Connor Cunningham, Greensboro.
Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Charlotte Thibault, Averett - The Espoo, Finland junior defender tallied two goals and two assists for six points in a 2-0 week versus USA South competition for the Cougars. In a 5-0 win over N.C. Wesleyan, Thibault assisted on the match's first and eventual-game winning goal before scoring a goal of her own in the 13th minute. In a 4-0 victory over Maryville, Thibault tallied the first and eventual game-winning goal in the 14th minute then assisted on the final score of the match in the 74th minute. Also Nominated: Sierra Siegel, Maryville; Jessie Davis, Meredith; Ruth Terry, Covenant; Laura Goodwin, Piedmont; Christian Boldin, Huntingdon.
Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Malin Borjesson, Averett - The Stenungsund, Sweden senior goalkeeper posted a 2-0 record versus USA South competition while stopping all three shots she faced in 145 minutes played in net last week for the Cougars. In a 5-0 win over N.C. Wesleyan, Borjesson pushed aside the two shots she faced. In a 4-0 victory over Maryville, Borjesson collected one save in the win. Also Nominated: Lucy Johnson, Covenant; Kelsey Schaffernoth, Piedmont; Josie Byard, Huntingdon.
Volleyball Player of the Week
Allison Sparks, Averett - The senior outside hitter from Ruffin, North Carolina averaged 5.0 kills, a .392 hitting percentage and 2.5 digs per set last week as the Cougars posted a 3-0 record versus USA South competition. In a 3-0 win over Ferrum, Sparks recorded 18 kills, eight digs and one service ace. In a 3-0 victory over Meredith, Sparks posted 14 kills, two digs, two service aces and two blocks. Finally, in a 3-1 victory over Methodist, Sparks notched a double-double of 18 kills and 15 digs to go along with four assists, one service ace and one block. Also Nominated: Molly Markley, Meredith; Allison Graves, Methodist; Kelsey Handel, Maryville; Liz Widenhouse, Greensboro; Megan Mansfield, William Peace; Jennifer Opper, Piedmont; Hannah Rogers, Covenant.
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Katie Faith, Piedmont - The sophomore defensive specialist from Simpsonville, South Carolina averaged 5.44 digs per set last week as the Lions posted a 3-0 record. In a 3-0 win over Agnes Scott, Faith recorded 16 digs and one kill. In a 3-0 victory over USA South foe Huntingdon, Faith 12 digs, two kills, one assist and one service ace. Finally, in a 3-0 victory over USA South rival LaGrange, Faith totaled 21 digs and one service ace. Also Nominated: Jasmine Aguinaldo, Meredith; Karly Klimas, Methodist; Mallory Bonee, Maryville; Katelyn Holley, Averett; Maddie Irvin, William Peace; Estes Carlson, Covenant.
Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Jude Swanson, Averett - The junior from Appomattox, Virginia placed 65th out of 106 runners at the Adidas Cross Country Challenge last week. Swanson completed the 5K course in a time of 18:38, helping the Cougars to a ninth place team finish. Also Nominated: Esteban Salazar, Piedmont.
Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Allie Gallagher, Meredith - The sophomore from Raleigh, North Carolina placed 60th out of 142 runners at the Adidas Cross Country Challenge last week. Gallagher completed the 5K course in a time of 20:27, helping the Avenging Angels to a seventh place team finish. Also Nominated: Mary-Kate Cobb, Averett; Carrie Ruis, Piedmont; Wendy Deptula, Mary Baldwin.
Rookies of the Week
Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
Dante' Pinkston, Averett - The freshman wide receiver/running back from Kannapolis, North Carolina touched the ball twice and scored twice in a 30-27 win over Guilford. Pinkston totaled one rush for a 21-yard touchdown and one pass reception for a six-yard touchdown. Also Nominated: Daquan Davis, Christopher Newport.
Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
Or'Shon Sampson, Greensboro - The freshman defensive back from Manteo, North Carolina grabbed his first career interception in a 34-21 win over Apprentice School. Sampson also tallied four total tackles, one for a loss of two yards with a pass break-up in the victory. Also Nominated: Allen Hayes, Christopher Newport.
Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Kyle Simpkins, Ferrum - The freshman forward from Princess Anne, Maryland tallied two goals in a 1-2 week for the Panthers. In a 6-1 victory over USA South foe Piedmont, Simpkins scored the first goal of the match in the 38th minute and the final tally in the 77th minute. In a 2-1 loss to Guilford and a 4-1 defeat to USA South foe Covenant, Simpkins was held scoreless but did manage two shots. Also Nominated: Shaun Watt, Greensboro; Thomas Palmer, Maryville.
Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Savannah Castles, Piedmont - The Helen, Georgia freshman midfielder helped the Lions to a 2-0 record last week versus USA South competition with one goal and one assist for three points. All three of her points came in a 2-1, overtime, victory over Ferrum as she assisted on the first goal of the match before scoring the game-winning goal just over a minute into the extra period. Also Nominated: Gabby Billstrom, Maryville; Samantha Siomkos, Meredith; Jennie Nilsson, Averett; Anna Porch, Covenant; Christian Boldin, Huntingdon.
Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Karlie Long, Meredith - The freshman outside hitter from Roxboro, North Carolina averaged 4.0 kills, a .345 hitting percentage and 2.9 digs per set last week as the Avenging Angels posted a 2-1 record versus USA South competition. In a 3-1 win over Methodist, Long tallied a double-double of 19 kills and 11 digs to go along with three blocks and two service aces. In a 3-0 loss to Averett, Long tallied a double-double of 14 kills and 12 digs with one service ace. Finally, in a 3-0 victory over Ferrum, Long contributed seven kills, six digs, one assist, one service ace and one block. Also Nominated: Emily Krochmal, Methodist; Julia Vineyard, Maryville; Holly Anders, Greensboro; Liana Solomon, William Peace; Mariah Corney, Covenant.
Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Jacob Santangelo, Averett - The freshman from Westfield, Massachusetts placed 71st out of 106 runners at the Adidas Cross Country Challenge last week. Santangelo completed the 5K course in a time of 18:56, helping the Cougars to a ninth place team finish. Also Nominated: Esteban Salazar, Piedmont.
Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Ann Chapin Meekins, Meredith - The freshman from Shelby, North Carolina placed 66th out of 142 runners at the Adidas Cross Country Challenge last week. Chapin Meekins completed the 5K course in a time of 20:44, helping the Avenging Angels to a seventh place team finish. Also Nominated: Mary-Kate Cobb, Averett; Carrie Ruis, Piedmont.