NNU's Laurenz Waldbauer unleashed the top javelin throw of 2025 across Division II competitors last week (Photo: Shayden Hoopai-Waikoloa).
PORTLAND, Ore. – Early top national marks in the 2025 outdoor track and field season highlighted the latest list of Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week performances, announced on Monday.
MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Johan Correa – Central Washington
Fifth-career track athlete of the week, second this season.
Correa clocked the fastest 800 meters time in NCAA Division II so far this spring, running 1:48.61 minutes at the Oregon Preview. He topped a field of 32 competitors featuring a mix of Division I and Division II runners, posting a PR performance at Hayward Field. A reigning All-American after finishing fourth in the event at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Correa moved his name up to No. 3 on the GNAC all-time performance list with last week’s time.
CWU Head Coach Jonathan Hill: “Johan remains on fire from indoors to this weekend. We are really proud of his racing efforts and are happy to have that mark this early in the year. He and Coach (Matt) Layten have goals to achieve, and a plan in place to hit those goals. Johan is doing all the right stuff to capitalize on a big senior outdoor season.”
Also Nominated: Ben Ralston, Montana State Billings; Brody Kemble, Northwest Nazarene; Samuel Gray, Saint Martin’s; Robert Joshua, Seattle Pacific; Jacob Hall, Simon Fraser; Maurice Woodring, Western Washington.
MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Laurenz Waldbauer – Northwest Nazarene
Fourth-career field athlete of the week, first this season.
Just like Correa, Waldbauer posted a national-leading mark at the Oregon Preview as he set the standard with his first javelin throw of the year. Waldbauer’s mark of 226-2 feet (68.93 meters) was good enough to top a field of 16 competitors at the event, including a mix of Division I and Division II competition. Twice finishing No. 13 at the national meet in the javelin, Waldbauer holds the second-best javelin throw in conference history at 237-6 feet (72.38 meters) which he achieved during the 2022 outdoor season. He won gold in the event at the 2022 GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and grabbed the silver medal last spring.
NNU Coach Jake Knight: “I am very pleased with how he performed at this meet in less-than-ideal conditions. It was a good opener to his season and the distance is great for where we are right now in training. It is always fun to see your athlete compete at a high level and fight for an event win.”
Also Nominated: Cal’von Baker, Central Washington; Payton Kokot, Montana State Billings; Jarrett Chong, Simon Fraser; Mark Warren, Western Oregon; Liam Wall, Western Washington.
WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Bec Bennett – Western Washington
Third-career track athlete of the week, third this season.
In a field that contained 37 runners, Bennett was the top Division II finisher in the 400 meters at the Willie Williams Classic in Arizona last week. The GNAC indoor champion in the event posted a PR time of 54.25 seconds, with only five Division I runners finishing ahead of her. Bennett’s mark stands as the fourth-best in GNAC outdoor history, and it was the second-fastest by any Division II runner thus far in 2025. Bennett is fresh off a PR indoor time of 54.03 seconds at the recent NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, which was the second-fastest indoor 400 meters time in conference history.
Also Nominated: Donna Marie Harris, Central Washington; Mya Richardson, Montana State Billings; Maya Ewing, Seattle Pacific; Emma Cannan, Simon Fraser; Kyla Potratz, Western Oregon.
WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Destany Herbert – Northwest Nazarene
Third-career field athlete of the week, second this season.
Herbert picked up her second straight weekly honor, after winning the shot put at the Oregon Preview with a personal-best toss. The Nighthawk senior bested a field of 16 Division I and Division II throwers last week, reaching 48-9.5 feet (14.87 meters). That upped her name to No. 2 on the national performance list, and it was the fifth-best shot put in GNAC outdoor history. Herbert will be looking for her seventh medal at this year’s GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, after staking three golds and three silvers to her name throughout her indoor and outdoor career.
NNU Coach Jake Knight: “I am very proud of Destany. To throw that mark and a personal best this early in the season is a testament to her competitive spirit. She fought for that win. Again, it was not ideal throwing conditions out there in the rain, but she didn’t let it affect her. That’s what you want to see as a coach with your athletes.”
Also Nominated: Payton Elenbaas, Central Washington; Alyssa Sanchez, Montana State Billings; Macy Clemens, Western Oregon; Kathryn Chapin, Western Washington.
WOMEN’S CREW OF THE WEEK
Cal Poly Humboldt Varsity 4+
cox - Emily Daniels, 4 - Adelaide Toll, 3 - Elsie Stevens, 2 - Dayanara Anaya, 1 - Ellie Walters
The Lumberjacks stole the show at the Falcon Regatta last week, clocking impressive times while competing against the other three GNAC women’s rowing programs. Highlighting the event was Cal Poly Humboldt’s varsity 4+ squad, which posted a time of 7:48.7 minutes to run away with a victory. That was more than 20 seconds ahead of runner-up Western Washington, as the Lumberjacks asserted themselves as a title contender at the upcoming GNAC Women’s Rowing Championships in May.
Also Nominated: Central Oklahoma Varsity 4+; Seattle Pacific Varsity 4+; Western Washington Varsity 8+.
BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jack Nehler – Montana State Billings
Third-career player of the week, second this season.
Nehler keyed the Yellowjacket offense in a 3-1 series victory over Western Oregon last week, producing in a big way in all four games. The junior posted a slash line of .647/.667/.882 while leading all GNAC players with 11 hits, seven RBIs and seven runs scored last week. Nehler’s big series included a 5-for-5 performance with his third triple of the season and three runs scored, as well as a 4-for-4 performance with four RBIs to set his season high. Nehler upped his season batting average to .430 with last week’s output, sending him to the top of the GNAC baseball leaderboard in that category.
MSUB Head Coach Derek Waddoups: “Jack is a pure hitter. He is tough to pitch to, and it’s great having protection behind him. He finds a way to barrel baseballs, and he did it again this weekend. He consistently puts the ball in play with hard, loud contact.”
Also Nominated: Cole Calnon, Northwest Nazarene; Owen Bischoff, Western Oregon.
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Brennen Chappell – Montana State Billings
First-career pitcher of the week.
A first-year Yellowjacket, Chappell delivered the best outing of his season with his new team as he shut out Western Oregon amid a 3-1 series victory. The right-hander went the distance on Friday, authoring a five-hit shutout and striking out six batters in his seven innings of work. Chappell posted a WHIP of 1.00 in the outing, earning his second straight win with a 95-pitch effort. Chappell’s outing didn’t come without adversity, as he stranded five runners on base in his first two frames of work. He settled in after that, allowing just two runners in scoring position the rest of the game and finishing the shutout by retiring the final eight hitters he faced. Chappell holds an ERA of 3.75 with 23 strikeouts in 24 innings of work thus far in 2025.
MSUB Head Coach Derek Waddoups: “He kept attacking the zone. They had a couple baserunners, but it didn’t change how he goes about it. He is real methodical in how he pitches, kept the ball down and was able to make pitches in tough spots.”
Also Nominated: Landen Parker, Northwest Nazarene; Devin Bell, Western Oregon.
SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mia Flores – Central Washington
First-career player of the week.
Flores was a powerhouse last week in the Wildcats’ series split at Montana State Billings, leading all GNAC players in batting average (.615), slugging percentage (1.615), on-base percentage (.688), home runs (4) and runs scored (10). The first-year Wildcat homered in 3 of 4 games, including a two-home run effort in a 4-for-5 performance in game two of the weekend. Flores scored multiple runs in each of the four games, and delivered seven total RBIs on the weekend. She also drew three walks, stole a base and did not strike out in 16 plate appearances. Flores raised her season average to .327 and collected her first four home runs of the year.
CWU Head Coach Joe DiPietro: “Mia had an amazing weekend for us at the plate. We have been working on using her leg drive more. She had struggled a little lately, so it was impressive to see her hard work pay off.”
Also Nominated: Jazlyn Kalehuawehe, Montana State Billings; Emma Bumatay, Northwest Nazarene; Heather Ebner, Saint Martin’s; Lauren Lugtigheid, Simon Fraser.
SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Jordyn Ruppel – Simon Fraser
First-career pitcher of the week.
Ruppel delivered a clutch shutout in Simon Fraser’s 3-0 triumph over Western Oregon on Sunday, helping her team collect a 3-1 series victory. The freshman allowed just seven baserunners in her seven innings of work, striking out four and walking one across a 98-pitch effort. Overall on the week in 10 innings pitched, Ruppel posted a WHIP of 1.00 while issuing just one walk and holding an ERA of 1.40. In her first collegiate season, Ruppel lowered her ERA to 3.75 and picked up her fourth victory of the year.
SFU Head Coach Stacy Fournier: “Jordyn had a great bounce-back weekend, especially in game three which we knew would be a pivotal game for us. She has shown a lot of growth already in her young career, and it was fun to watch it all come together for her first complete-game shutout. We are proud of her hard work and know she’ll continue to be a consistent option in our rotation.”
Also Nominated: Payton Kessler, Central Washington; Caitlyn James, Montana State Billings; Mia Traynor, Northwest Nazarene; Chloe Leverington, Saint Martin’s; Kennedy Abbas, Western Oregon.
MEN’S GOLF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
David Sibbett – Western Washington
First-career player of the week.
Sibbett was the conference’s top finisher at the Hot Dirt Desert Shootout last week, tying for 14th place among a field of 77 players. The Viking newcomer posted a two-round score of 3-under-par 141 (72-69), as he offset four bogeys with seven birdies across his two rounds of play. Sibbett posted a 3-under-par 69 in Round 2, playing at 2-under-par with nothing worse than a par across his final 11 holes on Friday. Across five rounds this season, Sibbett holds a scoring average of 71.6 strokes per round and has made par or better four times.
WWU Head Coach Luke Bennett: “David has put in a lot of work to make his game very consistent and repetitive. This was evident at Estrella, as he was very solid from tee to green.”
Also Nominated: Kasey Gaff, Northwest Nazarene; Davis Sheets, Saint Martin’s.
WOMEN’S GOLF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Zoe Garcia – Seattle Pacific
First-career player of the week.
Garcia was the top GNAC finisher at last week’s Southwest Minnesota State Classic, tying for third place among a field of 75 competitors. Garcia posted a two-round score of 157 (75-82), keeping herself towards the top of the leaderboard throughout the event. Her first-round score of 3-over-par 75 was tied for the best opener among the field, and it was SPU’s top individual finish of the 2024-25 season. Garcia holds a team-best scoring average of 79.7 strokes per round this year.
Also Nominated: Caroline Caven, Northwest Nazarene.