Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
AVON, Ohio – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the top athletes from the week of October 7 through 13. Sports Information Directors from the league nominate student-athletes for the award and vote on each week’s winners.
Volleyball
Attacker of the Week
Amanda Adams, Taylor
Adams carried Taylor to a five-set win over RV Saint Francis with 28 kills and 22 digs in TU’s lone match of the week. Adams set the tone with nine kills in the opening set, reached 21 kills with only two errors after three sets and completed the match with back-to-back terminations.
Defender of the Week
Ellie Ruby,
Mount Vernon Nazarene
Ruby repeated the honor with 67 more digs in two MVNU victories. The sophomore libero had 18 digs in a 3-0 win over SAU and 29 in a four-set win against Shawnee State. Ruby averaged 6.7 digs per set in the two outings and continues to lead the Crossroads League in that stat.
Men’s Soccer
Offensive Player
Zack Hargreaves, IWU
Hargreaves assisted IWU’s game-winner in a 1-0 triumph against RV Grace, before scoring twice in a 4-1 win against Marian.
Defensive Player
Christopher Banfi,
Spring Arbor
Banfi and the No. 13-ranked Cougars kept rolling with two more shutout victories over Goshen and Bethel. The sophomore keeper upped his Crossroads League-leading shutout total to nine with the two clean slates and picked up 10 total saves.
Women’s Soccer
Offensive Player
Lexis Garcia, IWU
Lexis Garcia found the back of the net three times, scoring the game-winners in No. 23 Indiana Wesleyan’s wins over No. 20 Grace and No. 15 Marian. Garcia scored both of IWU’s goals in a 2-1 win over the Lancers and added another in a 2-0 victory against the Knights.
Defensive Player
Sam Castaneda, IWU
Castaneda piled up 17 saves and allowed only one goal as No. 23 Indiana Wesleyan scored a 2-1 win over No. 20 Grace and a 2-0 victory over No. 15 Marian.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Hannah Stoffel, Huntington
Stoffel won the Bethel Invite with a new course-record time of 17:32, topping the field of 217 runners and helping No. 17 Huntington to a second-place team finish.
Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Haile Stutzman, Huntington
Stutzman finished second overall out of 218 competitors at the Bethel Invite, posting a time of 25:46 to help No. 10 Huntington to a second-place showing.
