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 February 2-8, 2026, on Tuesday.
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 winter and spring seasons, Performers of the Week will be recognized every week on Monday (basketball, baseball, softball) and Tuesday (swimming and diving, indoor track and field, men’s tennis, outdoor track and field) 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:
Men’s Swim and Dive Performer of the Week
Matthew Strada, Lake Forest College
Strada was victorious three times as Lake Forest rolled 147-31 against Beloit and edged out host St. Norbert 113-100 on Saturday. The sophomore started his day by winning the 1000-freestyle by 53 seconds and setting a pool record in the event with a time of 10:06.47. Strada also touched the wall first in the 100-IM in 55.77 seconds before contributing to a meet-clinching three-tenths-of-a-second victory in the 200-freestyle relay.
Women’s Swim and Dive Performer of the Week
Audrey Kilmer, Lake Forest College
Kilmer won three times as Lake Forest defeated Beloit but fell to host St. Norbert in a double dual on Saturday. Swimming the backstroke, the junior gave the Foresters the early lead in the 200-medley relay, an event they eventually won by .54 seconds. She also won the 50-freestyle in 25.39 seconds and the 500-freestyle by nearly 18 seconds with a time of 5:19.70.
Men’s Indoor Track Performer of the Week
Josh Yearby, Beloit College
For yet another weekend, Josh Yearby put on a masterclass in the 200-meter dash, taking first place with a blistering time of 21.98 seconds, breaking his school record for the second time this year. In the 60m prelims, he ran the fastest time (6.92) to take the top seed, but did not run in the finals due to a coach’s decision. In the MWC standings, he still sits first in the 200 and second in the 60. Nationally, he sits 14th in both events.
Men’s Indoor Field Performer of the Week
John Deary II, Beloit College
Deary continued to lead the Buccaneer jumps squad with yet another podium finish last weekend. He soared to the top of the podium in the men’s long jump, clearing a distance of 6.82 meters to take gold. En route to his first-place finish, he defeated the conference leader in the head-to-head matchup.
Women’s Indoor Track Performer of the Week
Joley Berger, Ripon College
Berger became the first woman in Ripon history to run a sub-10-minute 3K this weekend, finishing with a time of 9:51.39 in the event at the IWU Keck DIII Select. Berger's time came in as the 24th-fastest in Division III this season.
Women’s Indoor Field Performer of the Week
Jillian Toth, Monmouth College
At Saturday's loaded Keck Select Meet at Illinois Wesleyan, Jillian Toth took second in the weight throw with a season-best 16.11m. She also placed fourth in the shot put at 10.96m. Her weight throw leads the MWC by nearly half a meter and she ranks 32nd nationally after Saturday's performance.
Men’s Tennis Performer of the Week
Maxi Gutbezahl, Grinnell College
Gutbezahl was a perfect 6-for-6 as Grinnell posted a 2-1 mark at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Invite over the weekend. In the Pioneers’ 7-0 blanking of Wheaton College, he posted a 6-0, 6-0 shutout at No. 1 singles and teamed with Alex Doane ’28 to win 6-4 at No. 2 doubles. He followed that up with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles against Luther College and 7-5 victory at No. 3 doubles with Doane. In the Pioneers’ 4-3 win over 35th-ranked UW-Whitewater, Gutbezahl won 6-4, 6-0 at No. 2 singles and 6-2 with Doane at No. 2 doubles.