Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
GRINNELL, Iowa – The Midwest Conference (MWC) announced its Performers of the Week award recipients for football and soccer games contested October 14 through October 20, 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.
Performers of the Week are recognized every week 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
Jahlan Paul, Lawrence University
Jahlan Paul intercepted two passes, including one he returned 50 yards for a touchdown, to key Lawrence's 24-10 victory at Beloit. With Lawrence holding a 17-10 lead, Paul intercepted a pass midway through the fourth quarter at the Lawrence 40-yard line to stop a Beloit drive. On Beloit's next drive, Paul intercepted a pass at midfield and returned it 50 yards for a back-breaking touchdown and a 24-10 advantage. It was Paul's first collegiate touchdown and helped Lawrence to its first victory since the 2021 season. Paul, who leads the Midwest Conference with six interceptions, finished with two tackles and a pass breakup.
Football Offensive Performer of the Week
Collin Brunstein, Illinois College
The senior wide receiver caught 10 passes for 155 yards and four scores in IC’s 77-34 win over Knox on Saturday. His four touchdown receptions made him the first player in school history to have 60 career touchdown receptions (he now has 61) and the yardage total increased his school-record total to 4,224.
Football Special Teams Performer of the Week
Jayvon Bolds, Knox College
Jayvon Bolds set a Knox program record by racking up 257 kick return yards on Saturday against Illinois College, and saved his best return for last when he nearly went the distance but ultimately settled for a season-long 66-yard return. That long run set up the final Prairie Fire touchdown of the day, five seconds before the clock expired.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
Nicolas Lantzendorffer, Knox College
Lantzendorffer played a key role in Knox's first two Midwest Conference wins last week, saving three shots in a 2-1 triumph over Cornell College on Tuesday before earning his third shutout of the season and 16th of his career in a 3-0 defeat on the road at Beloit. The fifth-year is now third in the league in GAA at 1.40 while playing more minutes in goal than anyone, plus has the highest save percentage among MWC goalkeepers at .789.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Kestervens Dera, Knox College
Kestervens Dera came back from an injury and played sparingly in the 2-1 win over Cornell College on Tuesday, but he was back at full strength at Beloit, scoring all three goals in the Prairie Fire’s 3-0 victory. It was his first career hat trick and first by a Knox player in two years. Dera now has a team-best five goals, and his goals per game average of .714 is third in the league.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
Theresa Presberg, Lake Forest College
Presberg helped the Lake Forest defense allow just two shot attempts in a 7-0 shutout of Monmouth on Saturday. The senior also contributed at the offensive end of the field, assisting on four of the goals, including the first three of the game on corner kicks. In addition, Presberg played all 90 minutes as the Foresters blanked North Park University 1-0 on just four shots on Wednesday.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Cambrie Rickard, Lawrence University
Cambrie Rickard scored a pair of goals and handed out an assist in Lawrence's 6-0 victory over Mount Mary. Rickard scored back-to-back goals early in the second half to help the Vikings pull away. Rickard scored off a pass from Natalie Linebarger at 46:50 and then added a second goal at 51:27 off a pass from Kylie Melonis. Rickard played a long through-ball to Jessica Smith in the eighth minute that gave Lawrence its first goal of the afternoon. Rickard now has five goals and two assists for 12 points this season.