General

USA South Athletes of the Week - October 28, 2024

  • Football Offensive Player of the Week
    Anthony Byrd, N.C. Wesleyan - The Rose Hill, North Carolina senior running back rushed for 218 yards and a touchdown in a 34-31 win at USA South foe Southern Virginia last week. Byrd carried the ball 32 times for an average of 6.8 yards per attempt. Also Nominated: Jadien Deaton, Brevard; Jasharie Anderson, LaGrange; Tyreeck Hall, Southern Virginia.

    Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
    Javen Ball, Southern Virginia - The Rexburg, Idaho freshman wide receiver caught two passes for 71 yards in a 34-31 loss to USA South rival N.C. Wesleyan last week. Also Nominated: None.

    Football Defensive Player of the Week
    James Woods, Brevard - The Lincolnton, North Carolina senior defensive back took an interception back for a touchdown in a 25-21 win over USA South rival Huntingdon last week. Woods picked-off a second quarter Hawk pass and returned it 60 yards to put the Tornados up by ten points at the time. He also added five total tackles in the victory. Also Nominated: Braylon Miller, Huntingdon; Seth Carter, Maryville; Andrew Brown; Spike Adams, Southern Virginia.

    Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
    Chase Pfeiffer, Brevard - The Clermont, Florida sophomore defensive lineman grabbed what would become a game-winning pick-six in a 25-21 win over USA South rival Huntingdon last week. With less than eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, and the Tornados trailing by three points, Pfeiffer grabbed a Hawk pass and rumbled 23 yards for the go-ahead score. Also Nominated: Ched Smith, LaGrange; Tyler Jackson, Methodist; Spike Adams, Southern Virginia.

    Football Special Teams Player of the Week
    Braxton Green, N.C. Wesleyan - The Live Oak, Florida place kicker/punter was 2-for-2 on field goals including the game-winner with less than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter in a 34-31 victory over USA South foe Southern Virginia last week. Green's field goal makes were from 36 and 20 yards out while he also notched an average of 41.6 yards per punt. Finally, Green was 4-for-4 on point-after-touchdown attempts. Also Nominated: Zackary Orr, Brevard; Aubrey Carter, LaGrange; Tyler Barrett, Maryville.

  • Men's Soccer Player of the Week
    Ryan Lynch, Brevard - The Charlotte, North Carolina senior forward scored one goal and assisted on three others as the Tornados posted a 5-0 win over USA South foe Mary Baldwin in the team's lone game last week. Lynch assisted on the first goal, which eventually became the game-winner, scored one of his own before assisting on the following two Brevard tallies. The three assists tie a single-game program record. Also Nominated: Benjamin Simister, Southern Virginia; Brady Mowers, Greensboro; Ausar Omwenga, William Peace; Silas Hartkaemper, N.C. Wesleyan.

    Men's Soccer Defender of the Week
    Gavin Beaupre, William Peace - The Newport, North Carolina sophomore defender scored the game-tying goal and helped the defense hold-off USA South rival Methodist in the team's lone contest last week, a 2-1 victory over Methodist. Beaupre's goal tied the game in the 61st minute. Also Nominated: Tom Percival-Smith, Brevard; Jaden Delos, N.C. Wesleyan; Thomas Cordova, Southern Virginia.

    Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
    Landon Stock, Southern Virginia - The Murray, Utah freshman forward scored one goal and assisted on another as the Knights posted a 5-3 win over USA South foe Pfeiffer in the team's lone game last week. Stock assisted on the team's second goal of the match and scored one of his own in the 51st minute to give the Knights a 3-0 lead. Also Nominated: Justin Labhart, Brevard; Giovanny Jacon, Greensboro; Zach Marlier, William Peace; Wesley Hooker, Pfeiffer; Tom Roantree, N.C. Wesleyan.

  • Women's Soccer Player of the Week
    Kelsey Burge, Methodist - The Hope Mills, North Carolina senior forward scored three times last week as the Monarchs posted a 1-1 record. In a 5-1 loss to second-ranked Christopher Newport, Burge gave Methodist an early 1-0 lead becoming the first player in the last eight games to score on the Captains defense. In a 3-0 win over USA South foe William Peace, Burge registered her first multi-goal game which included the eventual game-winner. Also Nominated: Mikayla Zvekan, Brevard; Mia Rumachik, William Peace; Amery Skinner, Greensboro; Rebecca Morrison, Meredith.

    Women's Soccer Defender of the Week
    Abby Nunez, Brevard - The Homestead, Florida sophomore goalkeeper helped the Tornados secure the USA South regular season championship by posting a 2-0 record, including notching a shutout and scoring a goal. In a 3-1 win over William Peace, Nunez collected one save. In a 2-0 win over Southern Virginia, Nunez stopped all five shots faced while also scoring an insurance goal off of a free kick. Also Nominated: Lindsay Fox, Greensboro; Carolina Simpkins, Methodist; Emma Mayer, William Peace.

    Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
    Kinlee Mozley, Brevard - The Lexington, South Carolina freshman forward scored twice last week as the Tornados posted a 3-0 record. In a 3-0 victory over Johnson & Wales, Mozley notched the second and third tallies of the match. In wins over USA South foes William Peace and Southern Virginia, Mozley was scoreless with three shots in each contest. Also Nominated: Kate Conoley, Meredith; Emily Walsh, Greensboro.

  • Volleyball Player of the Week
    Hannah Hewett, Methodist - The graduate student setter from Whiteville, North Carolina averaged 12.13 assists and 5.00 digs per set as the Monarchs posted a 2-0 record last week against USA South foes William Peace and Greensboro. Hewett posted double-doubles in each match with highs of 61 assists, 25 digs, four kills, two blocks, and one service ace. Also Nominated: Makenna Parkins, Brevard; Sydney Bassett, Southern Virginia; Aspen Bradley, Salem; Emma Duncan, Meredith; Madison Tate, Pfeiffer; Taylor Cotie, Greensboro.

    Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
    Blake O'Brien, Methodist - The senior libero from St. Louis, Missouri averaged 7.00 digs and 1.63 assists per set as the Monarchs posted a 2-0 record last week against USA South foes William Peace and Greensboro. O'Brien posted week match-highs of 34 digs, eight assists, and three service aces. Also Nominated: Gracie Fulton, Southern Virginia; Morgan Mayfield, Greensboro; Bailey Lance, Brevard; Gabby Edwards, Pfeiffer; Megan Murray, Meredith; McKenzie Tullock, Salem.

    Volleyball Rookie of the Week
    Leah Rymer, Salem - The first-year setter from China Grove, North Carolina averaged 10.89 assists and 3.00 digs per set as the Spirits posted a 3-0 record last week with wins over USA South foes Meredith and N.C. Wesleyan (twice). Rymer posted one double-double with week match-highs of 37 assists, 13 digs, four kills, and one service ace (twice). Also Nominated: Carlyn Tanis, Methodist; Summer Hahn, Southern Virginia; Izzy Boulay, Brevard; Molly Wright, Pfeiffer.

PLEASE NOTE: At least half of the teams in a sport must have competed within the previous week for honors to be awarded.