Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
GRINNELL, Iowa – The Midwest Conference (MWC) announced its Performers of the Week award recipients for games played October 7-13, 2024, on Monday.
MWC sports information directors nominate student-athletes for the Performer of the Week honor by sport and vote as a committee to select the winners.
For the fall season, Performers of the Week will be recognized every week on Monday (football, soccer) and Tuesday (cross country, swimming & diving, women’s tennis, volleyball) once their seasons have been triggered (three MWC institutions competing) and will conclude the week prior to the sport-specific Conference tournament/championship.
The Performer of the Week award winners are as follows:
Football Defensive Performer of the Week
Zane Vetter, Ripon College
Vetter came up with the game-winning interception for Ripon on Saturday in the Red Hawks' 24-17 Homecoming win over Knox. With Knox driving near midfield with two and a half minutes left in the game, Vetter stepped in front of Anthony Vazquez's pass for the sophomore's first career interception. Vetter added three tackles on Saturday, his fifth game this season with at least three solo tackles.
Football Offensive Performer of the Week
Destin Chance, Illinois College
The senior quarterback had a big night in the air and on the ground. Chance was 22-for-37 for 327 yards and four touchdowns while rushing 10 times for 86 yards and scoring a pair of touchdowns in the 50-37 win over the University of Chicago on Saturday night. His TD passes were for 57, 71, 38, and 7 yards while his touchdown runs were 38 yards and 1 yard.
Football Special Teams Performer of the Week
Tony Gomez, Cornell College
Gomez played a huge role in the punting game in Cornell's 28-0 win at Beloit. The senior punted four times for a 35.0-yard average with one downed inside the 20. Gomez also passed for a 47-yard touchdown on a fake punt early in the fourth quarter to break the game open.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
Daniel Happach, Illinois College
The freshman goalkeeper started in the 1-0 victory at Knox, achieving a shutout and making six saves in his only appearance of the week.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Aidan Greer, Lawrence University
Aidan Greer recorded his first career hat trick and led Lawrence to its first Midwest Conference victory of the season. Greer recorded a natural hat trick as he scored the first three goals of the contest in a 4-0 road victory at Beloit. Greer scored the game's first goal at 20:27 and added a second tally at 27:11. He finished the hat trick on a penalty kick less than two minutes into the second half. Greer also assisted on Lawrence's final goal of the day to finish with seven points for the match.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
Darby Wallig, Knox College
First-year Darby Wallig secured her first career shutout in a scoreless tie with Illinois College on Tuesday, making eight saves in the process. Her performance helped Knox snap a seven-game losing streak in Midwest Conference play, dating back to last year when the Prairie Fire battled to a scoreless draw with Illinois College. Wallig lowered her GAA to 2.26 on the season and increased her save percentage to .837.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Anna Gracia, Lake Forest College
Gracia scored twice to help Lake Forest overcome a two-goal deficit in Saturday night's 2-2 draw at Lawrence. After the Vikings struck twice in the game's first 15 minutes, she cut the lead in half at the 22:14 mark and then tied the score with 17:16 remaining in a match-up of the top two teams in the league standings.