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 October 27-November 2, 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, swimming and diving) 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
Anthony Cikauskas, Monmouth College
Anthony Cikauskas had a monster game on the defensive line for the Scots on Saturday with two sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss and eight total tackles, He also had two QB hurries and one pass breakup in the game. He was part of the defense that held Chicago scoreless with 7 first downs, 5 rushing yards and 84 total yards of offense. He broke Monmouth's career sacks record with his first sack on Saturday and he leads the MWC in tackles for loss this season.
Football Offensive Performer of the Week
Ethan Springer, Lake Forest College
Springer was effective and efficient with his arm and legs in Lake Forest's 72-0 victory over Lawrence on Saturday. The sophomore signal-caller completed 15 of 22 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns (13, 8, and 4 yards) and carried the ball 10 times for 110 yards and two more scores (7 and 25 yards).
Football Special Teams Performer of the Week
Ethan James, Monmouth College
Ethan James put his mark on Monmouth's 29-0 win at Chicago in the first quarter with two special teams plays. He made the tackle on the opening kickoff to pin Chicago at their own 23. At the end of that drive, in which he made two tackles as linebacker, James burst through the line, blocked the Chicago punt, scooped up the ball and ran 38 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 Monmouth lead. This is the third straight week James has scored, with a fumble return, a pick six and now a blocked kick TD. He finished the game with 10 tackles, one TFL, one blocked kick and one touchdown.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Finley Manning, Ripon College
Manning scored two goals this week for the Red Hawks as Ripon went 1-1, defeating Lawrence to earn a Midwest Conference Tournament spot.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
Beacan Mottl, Grinnell College
Mottl’s play on both sides of the field paved the way for the Pioneers as they earned a 1-0 must-win victory at Knox College. The victory, Grinnell’s fourth shutout of the season, saw the Pioneers hold an 11-7 edge in shots and 4-0 edge in corners. The win propelled the Pioneers to their fifth-consecutive postseason berth.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
Lola Halsband, Lake Forest College
Halsband made contributions at both ends of the field in Lake Forest's 5-0 victory at Monmouth on Saturday that finished off the team's perfect regular season. The Foresters did not allow a shot attempt during her 66 minutes on the field and she assisted on the second goal of the contest before scoring the third just 50 seconds later. It was her first tally of the season.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Anna Gracia, Lake Forest College
Gracia scored a pair of goals in a 5-0 victory at Monmouth on Saturday that finished off Lake Forest's perfect regular season. She struck at 20:14 and 59:38 to finish the season tied for the league lead in goals (7) during conference play.