General

USA South Athletes of the Week - September 30, 2024

  • Football Offensive Player of the Week
    Wes Kidd, Greensboro - The Sanford, North Carolina senior tight end caught seven passes for 116 yards with one touchdown in a 42-23 win over USA South foe Southern Virginia last week. Kidd hauled in a 44-yard touchdown pass at the beginning of the fourth quarter which but a bow on the win for the Pride. Also Nominated: Caleb Gallashaw, Belhaven; Jasharie Anderson, LaGrange; Christian Drumgoole, N.C. Wesleyan; Tyreeck Hall, Southern Virginia.

    Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
    De'yon Cannon, Greensboro - The Grayson, Georgia freshman quarterback tossed four touchdowns in a 42-23 win over USA South foe Southern Virginia last week. Cannon was 20-of-32 through the air for 363 yards including a long completion of 67 yards which resulted in the game's first touchdown. Also Nominated: Jordyn Erves, Belhaven; Jake White, Huntingdon; Jaelan Pile, Methodist; Tucker McCormick, Southern Virginia.

    Football Defensive Player of the Week
    Ched Smith, LaGrange - The Macon, Georgia freshman linebacker collected eight tackles, of with 3.5 resulted in a loss, made three sacks, and scooped up a fumble which he returned for a touchdown in a 40-24 win over USA South rival Methodist last week. Smith made six solo tackles with two assisted take downs while his 3.5 tackles for loss pushed back the opponents a total of 30 yards. Also Nominated: Eric Cooper, N.C. Wesleyan; Bailey Huston, Huntingdon; Wyatt Beck, Belhaven; Jacob Seawright, Southern Virginia; Deshawn Holman, Greensboro.

    Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
    Ched Smith, LaGrange - The Macon, Georgia freshman linebacker collected eight tackles, of with 3.5 resulted in a loss, made three sacks, and scooped up a fumble which he returned for a touchdown in a 40-24 win over USA South rival Methodist last week. Smith made six solo tackles with two assisted take downs while his 3.5 tackles for loss pushed back the opponents a total of 30 yards. Also Nominated: Tre Chaffier, Belhaven; Damon Brown, Southern Virginia; Frank Walker, Greensboro; Tyler Jackson, Methodist.

    Football Special Teams Player of the Week
    Landon Eaker, LaGrange - The Ringgold, Georgia junior place kicker was perfect on the day, accounting for ten points in a 40-24 win over USA South rival Methodist last week. Eaker hit on both field goal efforts from 35 yards and 34 yards out while also adding four successful point-after-touchdown attempts. Also Nominated: Mathew Cacamo, Belhaven; Thomas Chapman, Greensboro.

  • Men's Soccer Player of the Week
    Osei Darko, N.C. Wesleyan - The Satra, Sweden senior forward scored two goals and assisted on two others in a 2-0 week for the Battling Bishops. In a 5-2 win over Shaw, Darko assisted on the first goal of the match before notching two scores of his own, including the eventual game-winner in the 23rd minute. In a 1-0 victory over USA South foe Pfeiffer, Darko assisted on the game-winner in the 49th minute. Also Nominated: Steven Floyd, Methodist.

    Men's Soccer Defender of the Week
    Rafael Farina, N.C. Wesleyan - The Montevideo, Uruguay senior goalkeeper posted a shutout in his only action last week for the Battling Bishops. Farina stopped the lone shot faced in a 1-0 victory over USA South foe Pfeiffer. Also Nominated: Kenneth Hall, Greensboro.

    Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
    Antonio Rubino Zapata, Methodist - The Loxahatchee, Florida freshman forward scored twice in his only action last week for the Monarchs. In an 8-0 win over USA South foe Mary Baldwin, Zapata notched two insurance goals in the 63rd and 74th minutes. Zapata did not play against Johnson & Wales. Also Nominated: Giovanny Jacon, Greensboro; Tobie Smith, N.C. Wesleyan.

  • Women's Soccer Player of the Week
    Abby Klusman, Southern Virginia - The Lenexa, Kansas junior midfielder scored three times, including two game-winners, as the Knights posted a 2-0 record versus USA South competition. In a 4-2 victory over Salem, Klusman put the Knights ahead for good with a goal in the 60th minute. In a 3-2 win over Meredith, Klusman scored twice, including the eventual game-winner in the 41st minute. Also Nominated: Makena Meyer, N.C. Wesleyan; Kinlee Mozley, Brevard; Amery Skinner, Greensboro; Darilyn Nieto, Salem; Lucy Miller, Meredith; Quierra Hawkins, Methodist; Victoria Tita, Pfeiffer.

    Women's Soccer Defender of the Week
    Carolina Simpkins, Methodist - The Sanford, North Carolina junior goalkeeper helped the Monarchs to a 2-0 record last week against USA South competition by allowing one goal and making five saves in 135 minutes played. In a 2-0 win over Greensboro, Simpkins posted a shutout by making one save. In a 2-1 victory over Salem, Simpkins came on after halftime and collected four saves. Also Nominated: Khaliah Jones, Meredith; Kaylee Ollis, Pfeiffer; Nicole Arroyo, Brevard; Shae Brennan, Greensboro.

    Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
    Makena Meyer, N.C. Wesleyan - The Hobe Sound, Florida freshman forward scored twice and added an assist as the Battling Bishops posted a 1-1 record last week. In a 3-2 loss to currently unbeaten Randolph, Meyer scored both of her team's goals, including one which tied the game with 20 minutes remaining. In a 2-1 victory over USA South foe Mary Baldwin, Meyer assisted on the game's opening tally. Also Nominated: Kinlee Mozley, Brevard; Emily Walsh, Greensboro; Kathryn Angrave, Meredith; Cadence Brown, Methodist; Nessie Storey, Southern Virginia.

  • Volleyball Player of the Week
    Brenna Clyde, Southern Virginia - The senior right-side hitter from Idaho Falls, Idaho averaged 3.86 kills per set while hitting at a .442 clip as the Knights posted a 2-0 record last week against USA South foes Mary Baldwin and Meredith. Clyde posted week match-highs of 16 kills, three blocks, and one dig. Also Nominated: Payton Wright, Greensboro; Makenna Parkins, Brevard; Sloan Martin, N.C. Wesleyan; Alexis Edmonds, Mary Baldwin; Maegan Brylski, William Peace; Hannah Hewett, Methodist.

    Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
    Blake O'Brien, Methodist - The senior libero from St. Louis, Missouri averaged 6.14 digs and 1.14 assists per set as the Monarchs posted a 1-1 record last week against USA South opponents with a win over N.C. Wesleyan and a loss to Southern Virginia. O'Brien posted week match-highs of 22 digs, six assists, and two service aces. Also Nominated: Bailey Lance, Brevard; Morgan Mayfield, Greensboro; Gracie Fulton, Southern Virginia; Vivian Camplin, William Peace; Aajah Vazquez, N.C. Wesleyan; Alexis Edmonds, Mary Baldwin.

    Volleyball Rookie of the Week
    Maia Johnson, Salem - The first-year middle blocker from Mineral Wells, West Virginia averaged 4.00 kills per set with a .358 attack percentage as the Spirits posted a 2-0 record against USA South foes Brevard and Mary Baldwin last week. Johnson posted week match-highs of 20 kills, four blocks, and three digs. Also Nominated: Delaney Lowery, Meredith; Carlyn Tanis, Methodist; Izzy Boulay, Brevard; Summer Hahn, Southern Virginia; Katie Arens, William Peace; Alexa Ammerman, Mary Baldwin.

  • Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
    Jack Barriger, Methodist - The Stuttgart, Germany senior placed 12th out of 50 runners at the Greensboro Pacesetters Cross Country Invitational last week. Barriger completed the 5,000-meter course in a time of 17:19. Also Nominated: JR Alepa, Greensboro; Dwyan Rowe, N.C. Wesleyan; Kenyon Kemp, Southern Virginia.

    Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
    Tayson Farar, Southern Virginia - The Boerne, Texas freshman placed fifth out of 36 runners at the Virginia Union Panther Invitational last week. Farar completed the 8,000-meter course in a time of 30:06. Also Nominated: JR Alepa, Greensboro; Dwyan Rowe, N.C. Wesleyan.

  • Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
    McKenzie Ball, Southern Virginia - The Payson, Arizona sophomore placed fourth out of 43 runners at the Virginia Union Panther Invitational last week. Ball completed the 5,000-meter course in a time of 21:58. Also Nominated: McKenzie Koos, Greensboro; Caitlin Brown, Meredith; Kamiyah Wooten, N.C. Wesleyan.

    Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
    Nicole Black, Mary Baldwin - The Lexington, Virginia freshman placed 13th out of 85 runners at the Dickinson Long Short Invitational last week. Black completed the 4,000-meter course in a time of 15:13. Also Nominated: McKenzie Koos, Greensboro; Ashleigh Modlin, Meredith; Emma Wilson, Methodist; KeSondra Pickett, N.C. Wesleyan; Isabelle Walley, Southern Virginia.

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