Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
HILBERT, Wisconsin – The Midwest Conference (MWC) announced its Performers of the Week award recipients for games played October 19-25, 2026, 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 Offensive Performer of the Week
Trent White, Luther College
Running back Trent White rushed for 169 yards on 22 carries – averaging 7.7 yards per carry – in Luther’s win over Ripon. He recorded a long run of 61 yards and had two touchdowns.
Football Defensive Performer of the Week
Carson Strating, Monmouth College
Linebacker Carson Strating had a statement game against Chicago on Saturday with three turnovers, a career-high 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups. Strating recovered a fumble from the Chicago quarterback on the Maroons first play of the day. On their second drive he picked off a pass and returned the ball to the UC 30 to set up a Scots touchdown. His final turnover of the day secured the win late in the fourth quarter with his second interception coming at midfield.
Football Special Teams Performer of the Week
Ryan Clayborn, Ripon College
Clayborn tallied 136 return yards against Luther this Saturday, including breaking out for a 97-yard touchdown kickoff return in the second quarter, the longest return in the conference this season. Clayborn currently holds the most kickoff return yards in the MWC (481) and the only kickoff return TD in the league this season.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Gustavo Machado, Lake Forest College
Machado had a goal and assist to help lead Lake Forest to a 3-2 victory at Ripon on Saturday that secured a top four seed for the Foresters in the MWC Tournament. The senior midfielder set up the contest's first goal in the ninth minute and then scored himself to make it a 2-0 game in the 26th.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
Elliot Lindberg, Luther College
Lindberg helped the Luther defense limit Cornell to three shots (two on goal) in the Norse’s MWC title-clinching 5-1 win on Saturday night. He also scored a goal against regionally ranked UW-Platteville on Tuesday, helping the Norse to a 2-2 draw.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Sophia Key, Lake Forest College
Key scored twice in a 100-second span to help lead Lake Forest to a 3-0 victory at Ripon on Saturday. Entering the game with one goal on the season, the sophomore midfielder struck at the 72:31 mark and again at 74:11 to put the game out of reach.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
Cadence Covert, Monmouth College
Freshman goalkeeper Cadence Covert had seven saves on the road as Monmouth shut out Knox 1-0 on Saturday. This was just the second time in the last 10 games that Knox had been shutout, and it marks the first MWC shutout for Covert and the Scots this season.