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 August 31-September 6, 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 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. This week, honorees are recognized on Tuesday and Wednesday following the Labor Day holiday.
The Performer of the Week award winners are as follows:
Football Offensive Performer of the Week
Russell Frye, University of Chicago
Frye hauled in a career-high seven catches for 254 yards and a touchdown in the 48-34 loss to Trine on Thursday night. In 2025, Frye finished the year with just five catches for 40 yards, but the junior made an immediate impact to open the 2026 campaign, finishing just 16 receiving yards shy of breaking the all-time UChicago single-game record of 270. He was the only wide receiver in NCAA Division III to top the 200 receiving yards threshold and earned a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week.
Football Defensive Performer of the Week
Kaden Foglesong, Monmouth College
In his first career start, Foglesong had an immediate impact against #9 Wartburg. He ended the first Knights drive by sacking the QB on 4th down inside the red zone. Later in the first quarter he had a strip-sack fumble, recovered by Monmouth and the Scots went on to grab a 14-0 lead. He finished the game with six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Football Special Teams Performer of the Week
Sean Medcalfe, Luther College
Medcalfe punted three times for 156 yards with an average of 52. He had two punts that went for 50-plus yards and one that landed inside the 20.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Grayson Ogren, Lawrence University
Ogren is off to a fast start for his collegiate debut. The first-year forward found the back of the net five times this past week, including a four-goal performance in the season opener versus Lakeland. He finished the week by scoring an equalizer against Rockford to keep the Vikings out of the loss column. Ogren currently sits atop the MWC in goals scored.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
TJ Esseily, Illinois College
Esseily posted a win and a draw in his first two starts of the season. He posted a shutout in the scoreless draw with Illinois Wesleyan on Tuesday, recording three saves in the process. In Thursday's win over Westminster, Esseily recorded two saves.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week
Kylie Melonis, Lawrence University
Melonis started the year off scoring three goals this past week for the Lawrence women's soccer team. She currently is the leading scorer in the MWC this season and has helped the Vikings get off to one of their best starts in program history, amassing a 3-0-1 record through four matches.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Performer of the Week
Gianna Logue, Lake Forest College
Logue anchored a Lake Forest defense that allowed just one goal and a total of 13 shot attempts (four on goal) during a pair of victories last week. She played all 90 minutes of both games as Lake Forest defeated MSOE 3-1 at home on Wednesday and Concordia Wisconsin 2-0 on the road on Saturday.