Cotney, Peppers Win Offensive and Defensive Athletes of the Week
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK – 10/4/21
FOOTBALL
Football Offensive Player of the Week
Landon Cotney, Huntingdon - The junior quarterback from Alexander City, Alabama accumulated 305 total yards of offense and five touchdowns in a 48-21 win over Methodist last week. Through the air, Cotney was 11-of-16 for 180 yards and three scores while on the ground, Cotney carried the ball 14 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Also Nominated: Trevon Crank, N.C. Wesleyan; Kobe Praylow, Methodist; Mitchell Yoder, Brevard; Jacob Cortez, Maryville.
Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
Trevon Crank, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman running back from Gastonia, North Carolina rushed for 217 yards and scored two touchdowns in a 17-9 win over Averett last week. Crank carried the ball 24 times for an average of 9.0 yards per attempt and scored on an 83-yard run to open the game's scoring. Also Nominated: Devonte Murray, Brevard.
Football Defensive Player of the Week
Casey Peppers, Huntingdon - The Panama City Beach, Florida junior linebacker accumulated 11 total tackles, including three, all sacks, for a loss of 45 total yards, in a 48-21 win over Methodist last week. Peppers had eight solo tackles with three assisted take downs and also broke up two passes. Also Nominated: Charles Sias, N.C. Wesleyan; Nate Jones, Methodist; Joc Pledger, Brevard.
Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
Moses Kemp, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman defensive back from Anderson, South Carolina accumulated eight total tackles, all of the solo variety, while also breaking up two passes in a 17-9 win over Averett last week. Kemp's eight take downs were the second-most on the team in the victory. Also Nominated: Jamarcus Dunn, Maryville.
Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Stamati Damalos, Brevard - The senior place kicker from Tarpon Springs, Florida hit two out of three field goals and all three of his point-after-touchdown attempts to accumulate nine points in a 27-7 win over Greensboro last week. He connected on field goals from 36 and 24 yards out. Also Nominated: Rafa Niederleytner, N.C. Wesleyan; Kobe Praylow, Methodist; Trevor Thomas, Maryville; Fred Flavors, Huntingdon.
MEN'S SOCCER
Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Cameron Earls, Piedmont - The Tifton, Georgia senior forward scored five goals, including both game-winners, as the Lions posted a 2-0 record last week. In a 3-1 win over Birmingham Southern, Earls notched a hat trick by scoring all three goals for Piedmont. In a 4-0 victory over Warren Wilson, Earls scored the team's first and third goals of the match. Also Nominated: Johnny Kummander, Averett; Augustin Rodriguez, N.C. Wesleyan; Kade Theunissen, Covenant; Sam O'Callaghan, Brevard; William Curry, Greensboro; Ndubueze Henry, Maryville; Rhajee Scarlett, Mary Baldwin.
Men's Soccer Defender of the Week
Thiago Leopardi, Brevard - The Jundiai, Brazil sophomore goalkeeper posted a 1-0-1 record with two shutouts and nine total saves in 200 minutes played last week for the Tornados. In a 1-0 win over Pfeiffer, Leopardi stopped all three shots he faced. In a scoreless draw with Covenant, Leopardi made six saves. Also Nominated: Anton Lindberg, Averett; Tobias Borzel, N.C. Wesleyan; Henry Hooks, Covenant; Cristian Del Cid Portillo, Greensboro; Noah Putman, Maryville; CJ Wyborn, Piedmont.
Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
CJ Wyborn, Piedmont - The Alpharetta, Georgia freshman goalkeeper earned a 2-0 record with nine total saves and one goal allowed in 156 minutes played last week for the Lions. In a 3-1 win over Birmingham Southern, Wyborn stopped eight of the nine shots he faced. In a 4-0 victory over Warren Wilson, Wyborn came on for the last 66 minuts and made one save. Also Nominated: Anton Lindberg, Averett; Craig Thomas, Greensboro; Jacob Newton, Maryville; Andrew Cole, LaGrange.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Kailey Burrell, Covenant - The Trenton, Georgia senior forward scored twice in a 2-0 week for the Scots. In a 1-0 victory over Maryville, Burrell scored the game-winner 80th minute. In a 2-0 win over Asbury, Burrell scored an insurance goal with just five seconds remaining in the contest. Also Nominated: Maiju Hyvarinen, Averett; Laura Harris, Methodist; Baylee Greenwood, Salem; Rian Pecci-Young, N.C. Wesleyan; Erin Cembrale, Huntingdon; Tae Brown, Brevard; Kaylee King, Piedmont; Hailey Cartt, Maryville; Makinna Winterton, Southern Virginia; Shea Rider, Mary Baldwin; Erica Bower, LaGrange.
Women's Soccer Defender of the Week
Lucy Sandhoff, Covenant - The Lookout Mountain, Georgia junior goalkeeper posted a 2-0 record with two shutouts and seven total saves in 180 minutes played last week for the Scots. In a 1-0 victory over Maryville, Sandhoff stopped five shots and in a 2-0 win over Asbury, she collected two saves. Also Nominated: Miranda Lutz, Meredith; Morgann Dills, Averett; Mary Newman, Methodist; Jordan Tomberlin, Salem; Alicia Jacobs, N.C. Wesleyan; Doren Staley, Huntingdon; Rebeccah Rojas, Brevard; Laila Allen, Piedmont; Alex Smith, Maryville.
Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Celia de Diego, Averett - The Vallodolid, Spain freshman forward scored three goals in a 2-0 week for the Cougars. In a 3-0 win over William Peace, de Diego tallied the final two scores of the contest. In a 3-1 victory over Salem, de Diego opened the scoring with a goal in the 18th minute. Also Nominated: Kelsey Burge, Methodist; Ashley Linden, Salem; Rachel Wall, Covenant; Ashlyn Purvis, Huntingdon; Laila Allen, Piedmont; Julia Hayes, Pfeiffer; Sierra Lee, Maryville; Erica Bower, LaGrange.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball Player of the Week
Mackenzie Russell, William Peace - The senior setter from Sparta, North Carolina averaged 10.00 assists and 4.11 digs per set as the Pacers posted a 2-1 record last week with wins over Pfeiffer and Averett plus a loss to Virginia Wesleyan. Russell notched double-doubles against Virginia Wesleyan (25 assists/14 digs) and Averett (30 assists/15 digs) while her week-highs included 35 assists, 15 digs, two service aces, one kill (three times) and one block. Also Nominated: Lauren Bissette, Meredith; Morgan Barnes, Averett; Jeanana Fowler, Methodist; Lauren Weaver, N.C. Wesleyan; Rachel Bartlett, Covenant; Bri King, Piedmont; Morgan Ilsley, Huntingdon; Kaitlyn Pressley, Brevard; Meredith Bonee, Maryville; Mattie Burris, Pfeiffer; Elle Warnick, Southern Virginia; Deanna De La Torre, Berea.
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Emma Steiger, Southern Virginia - The junior defensive specialist from Waynesboro, Pennsylvania averaged 4.70 digs and 1.20 service aces last week as the Knights posted a 2-1 record with wins over N.C. Wesleyan and Methodist plus a loss to Averett. Steiger's week-highs included 18 digs (twice), seven service aces, three assists and one kill. Also Nominated: Lauren Phillips, Meredith; Erin Gray, Averett; Aubrey Nicholson, N.C. Wesleyan; Kamea Nash, Huntingdon; Kendall Rockstad, Brevard; Logan Moore, William Peace; Natalie Watts, Maryville; Reagan Wyatt, Pfeiffer; Lauren Kunke, Greensboro; Jessica Beil, Piedmont; Fabiana De Jesus, Berea.
Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Idymel Ayala Rivera, Berea - The freshman setter from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico averaged 5.55 assists and 2.00 digs per set as the Mountaineers posted a 3-1 record last week gaining wins over Boyce, Wesleyan and Piedmont with a loss to Maryville. Ayala Rivera's week-highs included 22 assists (twice), nine digs (twice), one service ace (twice) and one kill. Also Nominated: Carlie Deason, Averett; Jeanana Fowler, Methodist; Jenna Ash, Piedmont; Ashley Hoxit, Brevard; Georgia Grace Anderson, William Peace; Landry Frisch, Maryville; Anya Parker, Pfeiffer; Sydney Hopkin, Southern Virginia.
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Luke Wilson, Berea - The sophomore from Point Pleasant, West Virginia placed 24th out of 340 runners at the Live in Lou Invitational (Silver race) last week. Wilson completed the 8,000-meter course in a time of 25:04. Also Nominated: Anthony Ponce-Mexicano, Averett; Micaiah Allison, Covenant; Connor Moranos, Piedmont.
Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Robert Immell, Berea - The freshman from Chiliocothe, Ohio placed 83rd out of 340 runners at the Live in Lou Invitational (Silver race) last week. Immell completed the 8,000-meter course in a time of 26:14. Also Nominated: Josiah Mellott, Covenant; Jadon Gonzales, Piedmont; Joseph Grubbs, LaGrange.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Val Angel, Piedmont - The senior from Duluth, Georgia placed 63rd out of 277 runners at the Live in Lou Invitational (Silver race) last week. Angel completed the 6,000-meter course in a time of 23:52. Also Nominated: Claire Mackes, Covenant.
Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Alyssa Epperson, Mary Baldwin - The sophomore, competing in her first year of collegiate cross country, from Las Cruces, New Mexico placed first out of 21 runners at the Mary Baldwin Golden Acorn Invitational last week. Epperson completed the 6,000-meter course in a time of 27:07. Also Nominated: Jahdayna Samuels, Averett; Kali Hina, Covenant; Summer Behr, Berea.
PLEASE NOTE: At least half of the teams in a sport must have competed within the previous week for honors to be awarded.