Football

USA South Athletes of the Week - September 15, 2025

  • Football Offensive Player of the Week
    Devin Watson, Southern Virginia - The West Jordan, Utah junior quarterback passed for 295 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for another score in a 46-14 win over Averett last week. Watson was 22-for-29 through the air with zero interceptions while carrying the ball nine times for 39 yards. Also Nominated: Kyjuan Westmoreland, Greensboro; Nahir Seagraves, N.C. Wesleyan; Jadien Deaton, Brevard; CJ Ferguson, Methodist; Timothy McReynolds, Huntingdon.

    Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
    Kyjuan Westmoreland, Greensboro - The Mooresville, North Carolina freshman running back scored twice in a 32-22 loss to Roanoke last week. Westmoreland carried the ball 22 times for 173 yards while also catching three passes for 46 yards. Also Nominated: Zion Fauntleroy-McDaniel, Brevard; Crew Sage, Southern Virginia.

    Football Defensive Player of the Week
    James Laycock, Brevard - The Orange Park, Florida sophomore defensive linemen collected six tackles, of which four resulted in a loss, made two sacks, and was in on a tackle for a safety in a 26-10 win over Sewanee last week. Laycock made three solo tackles, all of which were for a loss of yardage, while his safety pushed the lead to 16 points heading into the fourth quarter. Also Nominated: Will Pailthorpe, Greensboro; Robert Vickers, Huntingdon; Spike Adams, Southern Virginia.

    Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
    Davarious Jessie, Greensboro - The Columbus, Georgia freshman defensive linemen collected six total tackles, including two sacks, and forced a fumble in a 32-22 loss to Roanoke last week. Also Nominated: Brandon Williams, LaGrange; Britton Tidwell, Southern Virginia.

    Football Special Teams Player of the Week
    Timothy McReynolds, Huntingdon - The Geneva, Alabama senior punt returner took a third quarter punt back 54 yards for a touchdown in a 30-28 loss to Hendrix. McReynolds' score brought the Hawks to within three points at the time of the touchdown. Also Nominated: Hayden Vandegriff, Brevard; Jalen Lackey, Southern Virginia.

  • Men's Soccer Player of the Week
    Cameron Lambert, Methodist - The Virginia Beach, Virginia sophomore forward scored one goal and assisted on two others in a 1-1-1 week for the Monarchs. In a 1-0 win over 15th-ranked Roanoke, Lambert scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick in the 35th minute. In a 2-2 draw with LaGrange, Lambert assisted on both Methodist goals, including the game-tying score in the 82nd minute. Finally in a 3-1 loss to Piedmont, Lambert was held scoreless on one shot on goal. Also Nominated: Kalle Hermansson, Greensboro; Ausar Omwenga, William Peace; Roi Abutbul, Brevard; Jaiden Wright, Pfeiffer; Jordi Rodriguez, N.C. Wesleyan.

    Men's Soccer Defender of the Week
    Tom Percival-Smith, Brevard - The Bournemouth, England sophomore goalkeeper stopped four of five shots in the only contest last week for the Tornados, a 1-1 draw with Centre. Percival-Smith played all 90 minutes in goal for Brevard. Also Nominated: Cole Sheehan, N.C. Wesleyan; Andrew Mesnard, William Peace.

    Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
    Kalle Hermansson, Greensboro - The Lerum, Sweden freshman midfielder scored three times with one assist in a 1-1 week for the Pride. In a 2-0 loss to Averett, Hermansson was held scoreless with one shot on goal. In a 11-2 win over Mid-Atlantic Christian, Hermansson notched a hat-trick with three goals while also adding one assist. Also Nominated: Santiago Escobar, William Peace; Gareth Siemers, N.C. Wesleyan.

  • Women's Soccer Player of the Week
    Darilyn Nieto, Salem - The Greensboro, North Carolina senior forward scored six times, including two hat-tricks and two game-winners, as the Spirits posted a 2-0 record last week. In a 4-2 victory over Hollins, Nieto scored in the ninth, 25th (the eventual game-winner), and 32nd minutes. In a 3-2 win over Berea, Nieto scored all three Salem goals, including the game-winner in the 72nd minute. Also Nominated: Mackenzie Shores, Mary Baldwin; Josie Tucker, William Peace; Makena Meyer, N.C. Wesleyan; Mikayla Zvekan, Brevard.

    Women's Soccer Defender of the Week
    Abby Nunez, Brevard - The Homestead, Florida junior goalkeeper posted a shutout in her only action last week for the Tornados, a 2-0 win over Piedmont. Nunez stopped all three shots faced for the clean sheet. Also Nominated: Beth Manwill, Southern Virginia; Grace Walls, N.C. Wesleyan; Carolina Simpkins, Methodist; Alexis Mansfield, Mary Baldwin; Sophia Zary, Salem.

    Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
    Josie Tucker, William Peace - The High Point, North Carolina freshman forward scored both goals in the team's lone contest last week, a 2-1 victory over Warren Wilson. Tucker opened the scoring with a goal less than a minute following halftime before tallying the eventual game-winner in the 53rd minute. Also Nominated: Addison Hannigan, Mary Baldwin; Ally Quiroz, Methodist; Kayden Comerford, N.C. Wesleyan; Sophia Zary, Salem; Beth Manwill, Southern Virginia.

  • Volleyball Player of the Week
    Reagan Kresho, Meredith - The sophomore outside hitter from Winterville, North Carolina averaged 5.00 kills, while hitting at a .353 clip, and 2.00 digs per set as the Avenging Angels defeated Roanoke, 3-0, in the team's lone contest last week. Also Nominated: Payton Shiflet, Greensboro; Aubrey Packer, Southern Virginia; Ashley Hinton, N.C. Wesleyan; Haedyn McGrath, Pfeiffer; Izzy Boulay, Brevard; Leah Rymer, Salem; Maegan Brylski, William Peace.

    Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
    Morgan Mayfield, Greensboro - The senior libero from Mount Airy, North Carolina averaged 6.50 digs per set as the Pride posted a 1-2 record last week with a win over USA South foe William Peace and losses to Lynchburg, who was receiving votes in the latest national poll, and Bridgewater. Mayfield posted week match-highs of 44 digs, six assists, three service aces (twice), and one kill. Also Nominated: Megan Murray, Meredith; Gracie Payne, William Peace; Madison Bozarth, Salem;  Gracie Fulton, Southern Virginia; Gabby Edwards, Pfeiffer.

    Volleyball Rookie of the Week
    Emma Broadbent, Southern Virginia - The freshman outside hitter from Oakley, Utah averaged 2.83 kills, with a .324 attack percentage, and 1.67 digs per set as the Knights posted a 2-0 record last week with wins over Ferrum and Eastern Mennonite. Broadbent posted week match-highs of 11 kills, five digs (twice), and one block. Also Nominated: Aaliyah Anderson, William Peace; Abigail Kelly, Brevard; Tenley McDonald, Salem; Emilee Wilson, N.C. Wesleyan; Ariyan Ford, Pfeiffer.

  • Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
    Sawyer Helms, Pfeiffer - The Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina senior placed first out of 91 runners at the Pfeiffer Invitational last week. Helms completed the 8,000-meter course in a time of 25:17. Also Nominated: Taylor Weiland, Southern Virginia.

    Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
    Jorge Clemente-Garcia, Pfeiffer - The China Grove, North Carolina freshman placed second out of 91 runners at the Pfeiffer Invitational last week. Clemente-Garcia completed the 8,000-meter course in a time of 26:07. Also Nominated: Chance McCubbin, Meredith; Taylor Weiland, Southern Virginia.

  • Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
    Delaney Bundy, Meredith - The Cary, North Carolina junior placed first out of 88 runners at the Pfeiffer Invitational last week. Bundy completed the 5,000-meter course in a time of 18:31. Also Nominated: Ryan Germain, Pfeiffer; Ashlynn Owens, Salem; Emma Hillam, Southern Virginia.

    Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
    Kaylee Horner, Southern Virginia - The Springfield, Virginia freshman placed 35th out of 60 runners at the Navy Cantello Invitational last week. Horner completed the 6,000-meter course in a time of 24:50. Also Nominated: Lily Bolz, Pfeiffer; Ashlynn Owens, Salem.

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