Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
OSHKOSH, Wisconsin – The Midwest Conference (MWC) announced its Performers of the Week award recipients for games played September 29-October 5, 2025, 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, 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
Ethan James, Monmouth College
Ethan James was all over the field for the Fighting Scots in a 49-9 win at Grinnell on Saturday. He led the team with nine tackles, 2.5 for loss and also returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown. His play at the linebacker position helped to limit Grinnell to 28 passing yards as the Scots totaled seven TFL, one sack, one interception and two fumbles.
Football Offensive Performer of the Week
Brayden Deem, Monmouth College
Brayden Deem led the Monmouth offense to 497 yards and 49 points on Saturday at Grinnell and the Scots never punted. Deem completed a career-high 26 passes on 34 attempts, throwing for 278 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran seven times for 45 yards and he was not sacked on the day.
Football Special Teams Performer of the Week
Timo Kato, Illinois College
Kato had four total returns for 106 yards and a touchdown in IC's 59-0 win over Lawrence on Saturday. Kato returned three punts for 89 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown return in the first quarter. He also added one kickoff return for 17 yards.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Eziah Hernandez, Beloit College
Hernandez continues his goal-scoring streak for the Buccaneers. He scored all three goals in the Bucs' 3-0 win over Lawrence on Tuesday, the first hat-trick in the MWC this season. He now leads the MWC with eight goals total. He added another goal in the Bucs' 2-0 win over Knox. Hernandez and the Bucs are off to their best start in over a decade and sit atop the MWC standings.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
Jack Alexander, Grinnell College
Alexander weaved a shutout against Monmouth College and followed that up by not allowing a goal in over 85 minutes of work in a victory over Ripon College. He made three saves in the 1-0 blanking of Monmouth and added two against Ripon, a victory that pushed the Pioneers to 3-0 in the league for the first time since 2022.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
Sophia Dietz, Beloit College
Freshman keeper Sophia Dietz has transitioned into the starting role for the Bucs with ease. She started and played in all 90 minutes of both games this week, accumulating 14 saves while giving up just one goal. She was instrumental in the Bucs' 0-0 tie against conference-leading Lawrence. Dietz leads the MWC in save percentage with .838.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Anna Hoffman, Lake Forest College
Hoffman scored three goals and assisted on another as Lake Forest won twice and extended its season-opening win streak to a dozen games. After striking twice in the second half to help secure Monday's 4-1 victory over Concordia University Wisconsin, she scored the first goal and assisted on the last in a 4-2 triumph over Illinois College on Saturday. She is currently tied-for-second in the nation with 15 goals and 33 points on the year.