General

USA South Athletes of the Week - March 9, 2026

  • Baseball Player of the Week
    Gavin Turner, William Peace - The sophomore third baseman from Cary, North Carolina went a combined 11-for-19 (.579) with a .692 on-base percentage, and a .579 slugging percentage to go along with seven runs scored, six RBI, two doubles, seven walks, and one stolen base as the Pacers posted a 5-1 record last week. In taking two of three games from Johnson & Wales (R.I.), Turner was a combined 6-for-9 with three runs scored, four RBI, two doubles, and three walks. In a three-game sweep of Rhode Island College, Turner was a combined 6-for-10 with four runs scored, two RBI, four walks, and one stolen base. Also Nominated: Austin Rinzel, Methodist; Davis Anders, Brevard; Ben Agnew, Southern Virginia; Evan Sykes, Greensboro.

    Baseball Pitcher of the Week
    Sam Safrit, Pfeiffer - The senior from China Grove, North Carolina appeared in one game last week out of the bullpen for the Falcons, earning a win in a 4-2 victory over RPI. Safrit tossed 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Also Nominated: Matthew Evans, Brevard; Michael Richards, Greensboro; Bryson Pope, Methodist; Zack Geertsen, Southern Virginia; Landon Coleman, William Peace.

    Baseball Rookie of the Week
    Patrick Sido, Mary Baldwin - The freshman outfielder from Springfield, Virginia went a combined 7-for-15 (.467) with a .529 on-base percentage, and a .933 slugging percentage to go along with four runs scored, five RBI, four doubles, one home run, and two walks despite the Fighting Squirrels posted an 0-4 record last week. In a 13-6 loss to Washington & Lee, Sido was 3-for-5 with one run scored, one run batted in, and two doubles. In a 13-1 loss to Roanoke, Sido was 1-for-4 with one double. Finally, in two games against Hood, Sido was a combined 3-for-6 with three runs scored, four RBI, one double, one home run, and two walks. Also Nominated: Moe Love Jr., Brevard; Brayden Sands, Greensboro; Ben Mecimore, Pfeiffer; Hayden Heath, William Peace; Logan Austin, Southern Virginia.

    Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
    Bryson Pope, Methodist - The freshman from Lillington, North Carolina started one game last week for the Monarchs and collected his first collegiate victory. In a 7-6 win over Piedmont, Pope tossed six scoreless innings, allowing six hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Also Nominated: Austin Federspiel, Greensboro; Benjamin Jackson, Southern Virginia.

  • Softball Player of the Week
    Landry Stewart, Pfeiffer - The junior outfielder from China Grove, North Carolina went a combined 9-for-21 (.429) with a .556 on-base percentage, and a .429 slugging percentage to go along with six runs scored, one run batted in, five walks, and 11 stolen bases as the Falcons posted a 7-1 record last week, including two games against nationally-ranked opposition. In a 5-3 win over Gettysburg, Stewart was 1-for-2 with two runs scored, two walks, and tied her own USA South single-game stolen base record with five. Also Nominated: Andrea Furr, Brevard; Marissa Fuller, William Peace; Brooke Markiewicz, N.C. Wesleyan; Berkeley Whitten, Southern Virginia; Raven Taylor, Greensboro; Ashbee Standridge, Meredith.

    Softball Pitcher of the Week
    Reagan Stewart, William Peace - The senior from Garner, North Carolina earned a 2-0 record last week for the Pacers. In two starts and 11.0 total innings pitched, Stewart posted a 1.27 ERA while allowing two runs on five hits with seven walks and six strikeouts. In a 4-0 win over sixth-ranked Rowan, Stewart tossed a no-hitter while working around five walks with four strikeouts. In a 7-2 victory over Eastern Mennonite, Stewart totaled four innings and allowed two runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Also Nominated: Mollie Bulla, Pfeiffer; Lillie Davis, Meredith; Raina Hampel, Greensboro; Addyson Romanczyk, N.C. Wesleyan.

    Softball Rookie of the Week
    E.A. Nance, Pfeiffer - The freshman catcher from Cleveland, North Carolina went a combined 9-for-25 (.360) with a .433 on-base percentage, and a .640 slugging percentage to go along with four runs scored, six RBI, one double, two home runs, four walks, and two stolen bases as the Falcons posted a 7-1 record last week, including two games against nationally-ranked opposition. Against those two teams, Belhaven (#24) and Huntingdon (#14), Nance was a combined 3-for-7 with one run scored and one run batted in. In a 5-3 win over Gettysburg, Nance was 2-for-3 with one run scored, three RBI, one double, and a two-run walkoff home run. Also Nominated: Emma Payne, Brevard; Lexi Howerton, N.C. Wesleyan; Kenly Brown, Greensboro; Makenzie Grose, Southern Virginia.

    Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
    Kendall Wallace, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman from Holly Springs, North Carolina appeared in three games, two starts, and went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA, allowing four runs, two earned, on 14 hits with 14 walks and 15 strikeouts. In an 8-0 win over Elmira, Wallace tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing seven hits and four walks with nine strikeouts. In a 6-3 victory over 25th-ranked Salisbury, Wallace again went the distance, allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits with six walks and two strikeouts. Also Nominated: Kenly Brown, Greensboro; Victoria Phagan, Brevard; Abigail Bowman, Pfeiffer; Annabelle Cossa, Southern Virginia.

  • Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week
    Ethan Miles, Pfeiffer - The junior attackman from Charlotte, North Carolina totaled eight points on four goals and four assists with two ground balls and two caused turnovers in the team's lone contest last week. a 26-8 win over USA South foe Huntingdon. Also Nominated: Jay Legg, Methodist; William English, William Peace; Stetson Hogge, Southern Virginia; Josh Tamarkin, Piedmont; DiMaggio Wilson, Greensboro; Jaxon McMonigle, Huntingdon.

    Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
    Jace Lightfoot, Southern Virginia - The junior goalie from Jacksonville, Florida totaled 15 saves with four eight ground balls in the team's lone contest last week, a 16-9 victory at USA South rival Piedmont. Also Nominated: Jacob Harrison, Pfeiffer; Braeden Mitchell, Greensboro; Max Peek, Piedmont; Carson McGee, William Peace.

    Men's Lacrosse Rookie of the Week
    Logan Garrett, Methodist - The freshman attackman from Gibsonville, North Carolina totaled 15 points on seven goals and eight assists with two ground balls and one caused turnover in a 2-0 week for the Monarchs. In an 18-6 win at Averett, Garrett scored three times with five assists. In a 22-2 victory at USA South foe Brevard, Garrett totaled four goals, three assists, two ground balls, and one caused turnover. Also Nominated: Caleb Garey, William Peace; Stetson Hogge, Southern Virginia; Grady Eyler, Piedmont; Landen Nary, Huntingdon.

  • Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week
    Analise Robinson, Pfeiffer - The graduate student attacker from Winston-Salem, North Carolina totaled 14 points on 12 goals and two assists to go along with seven ground balls, five caused turnovers, and four draw controls as the Falcons posted a 2-0 record last week. In a 20-7 win over Warren Wilson, Robinson scored six goals with one assist, four ground balls, two caused turnovers, and one draw control. In a 20-7 victory over Huntingdon, Robinson again scored six goals with one assist to go along with three ground balls, caused turnovers, and draw controls each. Also Nominated: Lovette Choloh, Piedmont; Ellie Patterson, Southern Virginia; Nicole Triassi, N.C. Wesleyan; Reese Walker, Meredith.

    Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
    Ellie Patterson, Southern Virginia - The senior midfielder from Meridian, Idaho totaled ten caused turnovers, 11 ground balls, and two draw controls, to go along with eight goals and three assists, as the Knights posted a 1-1 record last week against USA South opponents. In a 19-1 win over William Peace, Patterson collected eight ground balls and two caused turnovers with six goals and three assists. In a 15-9 loss to Piedmont, Patterson caused eight turnovers with three ground balls and two draw controls, along with two goals scored. Also Nominated: Keiri Velasquez, Pfeiffer; Brooke Murrell, Methodist; Katherine Couch, Meredith; Felicity Demanche, N.C. Wesleyan; Ansli Cannon, Piedmont.

    Women's Lacrosse Rookie of the Week
    Quinn Branca, Pfeiffer - The freshman midfielder from Mays Landing, New Jersey totaled 13 points on ten goals and three assists with 19 draw controls, seven ground balls, and seven caused turnovers as the Falcons posted a 2-0 record last week. In a 20-7 win over Warren Wilson, Branca scored four goals with two assists, ten draw controls, four ground balls, and two caused turnovers. In a 20-7 victory over Huntingdon, Branca totaled six goals, one assist, nine draw controls, five caused turnovers, and three ground balls. Also Nominated: Loni Rogers, Southern Virginia; Avery Washington, Piedmont; Alana Rabon, Methodist; Madelynn Maday, Meredith.

  • Men's Tennis Player of the Week
    Matthew Hurley, Methodist - The senior from Faulconbridge, New South Wales, Australia posted a 3-0 singles record with a 2-1 doubles mark last week for the Monarchs. In singles, at the number-one spot, Hurley defeated opponents from Salisbury, Gettysburg, and York. In doubles, he teamed with Decklan Rayner at the number-two position to grabs wins over Gettysburg and York. Also Nominated: Adam Singleton, N.C. Wesleyan; Bogdan Stan, Pfeiffer.

    Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week
    Shea McCarthy, Methodist - The freshman from Lynnfield, Massachusetts posted a 2-0 singles record last week for the Monarchs. He grabbed a win at the number-five spot over an opponent from Gettysburg then another at number-four over opposition from York. Also Nominated: Largo Koch, N.C. Wesleyan; Aden Burgoyne, Pfeiffer.

    Men's Tennis Doubles Team of the Week
    Harry Crokam and Aaron Zoubek, Methodist - The Monarch duo earned a 3-0 record last week at the number-one spot. The two grabbed wins over opposition from Salisbury, Gettysburg, and York. Also Nominated: Brody Brice and Largo Koch, N.C. Wesleyan; Aden Burgoyne and Jayden Wellman, Pfeiffer.

  • Women's Tennis Player of the Week
    Emma Hulicki, Methodist - The junior from Raleigh, North Carolina earned 2-1 singles and doubles records last week, all at the number-one positions. In singles, Hulicki earned wins over opposition from Gettysburg and York with a loss to Salisbury. In doubles, she teamed Shea Bieniek to collect victories over Gettysburg and York. Also Nominated: Renata Torres, N.C. Wesleyan; Brynlee Weir, Southern Virginia.

    Women's Tennis Rookie of the Week
    Shea Bieniek, Methodist - The freshman from Fayetteville, North Carolina earned a 3-0 singles record with a 2-1 doubles mark last week for the Monarchs. In singles at the number-four spot, Bieniek grabbed wins over opposition from Salisbury and Gettysburg before collecting a win at the number-three position over an opponent from York. In doubles, she teamed with Emma Hulicki to collect victories over Gettysburg and York at the number-one position. Also Nominated: Molly Zuburg, Meredith; BreAnn Ferguson, N.C. Wesleyan; Brynlee Weir, Southern Virginia.

    Women's Tennis Doubles Team of the Week
    Bethan Fothergill and Renata Torres, N.C. Wesleyan - The Battling Bishop duo earned a 3-0 record at the number-one spot last week. The victories came over opponents from Hendrix, Rhodes, and DePauw. Also Nominated: Helen Hofmann and Caitlin Tihanovich , Methodist; Lucy Dalgleish and Erika Read, 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.