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 15-21, 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
Luca Schoensee, Cornell College
Schoensee recorded two interceptions and a team-high eight tackles in Cornell's 20-0 shutout win at Lawrence. He netted 23 yards on the two interception returns. Schoensee fueled a strong defensive effort that limited Lawrence to 133 total yards in the game.
Football Offensive Performer of the Week
Chase Newman, Monmouth College
Chase Newman had a dominating day at Lake Forest on Saturday as the Scots won 49-6. He tied Monmouth's single game record with four receiving touchdowns, scoring once in each quarter. Newman posted career highs with 12 receptions and 163 yards in the game.
Football Special Teams Performer of the Week
Derek Chandler, Monmouth College
Derek Chandler blocked two punts for the Fighting Scots in their 49-6 win at Lake Forest on Saturday. In a 21-6 game he blocked a punt on the LFC 23 in the third quarter. Two drives later he blocked another punt on the LFC 39, returning it 20 yards. He also posted three tackles in the game and forced a fumble.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Peter Cirbo, Lake Forest College
Cirbo had a goal and assist in Lake Forest's 4-1 victory over Elmhurst on Wednesday. He helped set up the Foresters' third goal and scored the fourth on a penalty kick. Cirbo is tied for first in the league in goals (5) and points (13) and third in assists (3) so far this season.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
Ollie Francis, Lake Forest College
Francis helped Lake Forest post a pair of victories last week and remain perfect at 7-0 on the season. The junior defender played all 90 minutes and scored the only goal of Saturday's 1-0 triumph at Illinois Wesleyan, the eighth-ranked team in its region. The Titans were limited to just eight shots on the day. The Foresters also defeated Elmhurst 4-1 on Wednesday and, while he does not get credit for the goal, it was a cross by Francis that was deflected in for an own goal to start the scoring. The Bluejays attempted just four total shots in the contest.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
Darby Wallig, Knox College
Darby Wallig extended her shutout streak to four (most in the MWC) in a 4-0 road win at Eureka on Wednesday. Before she gave up her lone goal of the week at Carthage in the 18th minute on Saturday, she had gone more than 400 minutes without allowing a ball to slip past her. But Wallig didn’t hang her head, making eight saves after that to keep the Prairie Fire in a game they ultimately lost, 1-0. She leads the conference in minutes in goal and ranks third in GAA (1.007) and save percentage (.833).
Women’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Anna Hoffman, Lake Forest College
Hoffman had three goals and an assist as Lake Forest won twice last week to extend its season-opening win streak to nine games. She scored two second half goals and set up another to help secure Wednesday's 5-1 victory over Carthage. The Foresters prevailed 2-1 at North Park on Saturday and Hoffman started the scoring in the 38th minute. She now leads the league and ranks second in the nation with 11 goals.