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 November 4-10, 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, basketball) and Tuesday (swimming & diving, 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
Thomas DeChesaro, Lake Forest College
DeChesaro matched his career-high with 13 tackles and added an interception and 50-yard return in Lake Forest's 35-28 conference title-clinching victory over Monmouth College on Saturday. Among his stops were seven solos and a tackle for loss and four of his tackles came in the final four minutes of the game.
Football Offensive Performer of the Week
A.J. Jackson, Lake Forest College
Jackson amassed 312 all-purpose yards and scored all five of Lake Forest's touchdowns, including two in the final 70 seconds, in Saturday's 35-28 triumph over Monmouth that clinch the 2024 MWC title. The grad student carried the ball 28 times for 159 yards and four touchdowns, caught five passes for 77 yards and another score, and added 77 yards on three punt returns. In the first half he reached the end zone on a 19-yard run, 47-yard reception, and 1-yard run. The Foresters trailed 28-21 late in the game before he turned in a 59-yard punt return and, two plays later, a 9-yard touchdown run to tie the score with 1:10 remaining. The game-winning score came on a 6-yard run with 22 seconds left.
Football Special Teams Performer of the Week
Fernando Torres, Knox College
First-year Fernando Torres successfully converted all five PATs at Lawrence, the fifth proving to be the most crucial as Knox hung on to beat the Vikings by one point, 35-34. He also kicked off six times for an average of 55.0 yards per kick, all of which were fair caught. Since taking over the place-kicking duties four weeks ago, Torres has converted all 13 of his attempts.
Men’s Basketball Performer of the Week
Nathan Valentine, Lawrence University
Nathan Valentine poured in 25 points in just his second game in a Lawrence uniform to lead the Vikings to a 79-74 victory over Clarkson at the Oberlin Tip-Off Tournament. Valentine went 10-for-14 from the floor, including 5-for-7 from 3-point range, to go along with five assists and two rebounds in the victory over Clarkson. In the season opener against host school Oberlin the day before, Valentine finished with 13 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals in a 78-69 setback. For the weekend, he averaged 19 points while shooting 54.2 percent from the floor, including 53.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Women’s Basketball Performer of the Week
Erin Knowles, Cornell College
Knowles was outstanding in her collegiate debut, posting 26 points and 18 rebounds in a 56-51 home win over Crown. The 6-foot-1 forward secured her double-double by halftime with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Knowles also made three 3-pointers and had two blocks and two steals.