PORTLAND, Ore. – One of the best single-game performances in Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball history headlined the latest GNAC Player of the Week selections, as Western Washington’s
Hailey Rath broke the league record for RBIs in a game with 10.
SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hailey Rath – Western Washington University
Third-career player of the week, first this season.
Rath broke the GNAC record for RBIs in a game, becoming the first player in conference history to log 10. That bested the conference record of eight, set by Seattle University’s Jane Purdy on May 6, 2006 and matched by Jessica Hallmark of Western Oregon (Feb. 28, 2009) and Maia McNicoll of Northwest Nazarene (April 30, 2022). Rath went 4-for-5 with three home runs and three RBIs in the record-breaking game, as she also became the ninth player in conference history to tie the single-game record for home runs. Overall in a three-game non-conference series against Saint Martin’s, Rath was 4-for-8 (.500) with 11 RBIs, four runs scored and an on-base percentage of .692 (9-for-13). After her record-breaking game on Friday, the Saints elected to intentionally walk Rath four times in her eight plate appearances in Saturday’s doubleheader.
WWU Head Coach Sheryl Gilmore: “What Ratty did this weekend was special – to hit three home runs and drive in 10 in a single game is insane. She stepped up when our team needed it, including that go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh inning to change the momentum on Friday. Rat plays for her teammates and always finds a way to bring her best when her best is needed. She has been such a steady presence in our program for four years and continues to raise the bar for what’s possible for our team. She is a gritty competitor and leads our team both on and off the field.”
Also Nominated: Izzy Vargas, Central Washington; Ava Clark, Northwest Nazarene; Shelby Lawson, Saint Martin’s; Makena Simmons, Simon Fraser; Lauren Mauer, Western Oregon.
SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Zoey Theophilus – Central Washington University
First-career pitcher of the week.
Theophilus helped the Wildcats to a non-conference victory over Northwest Nazarene on Saturday, going the distance to pick up her fourth win of the year. The right-hander had a season-high eight strikeouts in her fourth complete game of the year, limiting the Nighthawk offense to a single run on six hits in the 106-pitch effort.
CWU Head Coach Ronnie Ladines: “Zoey has been a competitor in the circle, and last weekend she shut down a tough offense while staying poised and in control. Her steady presence in the circle sets the tone and the team feeds off the calm confidence she brings every inning. I am so proud of the way she continues to lead for us.”
Also Nominated: Miah Lusk, Northwest Nazarene; Monica Bourque, Simon Fraser; Kennedy Abbas, Western Oregon; Alanna Wirtala, Western Washington.
BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kaden Bertram – Montana State University Billings
First-career player of the week.
Bertram helped fuel the Yellowjackets to a series sweep of Saint Martin’s, producing runs in all four contests. He went 12-for-16 (.750) with four home runs and 13 RBIs in the four-game series, putting together one of the best offensive series performances in recent memory. Bertram’s huge weekend was highlighted by a two-home run performance in Game 3, as he went 4-for-4 with five RBIs in the contest. He also scored six runs and had a pair of sacrifice flies. Three doubles made it seven extra base hits and a slugging percentage of 1.688 in the series. Bertram ranks second in the GNAC with a batting average of .429, while leading the league with seven home runs and a slugging percentage of .791 on the season.
MSUB Head Coach Derek Waddoups: “Kaden Bertram had a great weekend for our team. He came through clutch in multiple RBI situations. He consistently swung at good pitches and found the barrel often over the weekend, leading to some big power numbers.”
Also Nominated: Kellen Berg, Central Washington; Kaleb Karpstein, Northwest Nazarene; Zane Garvey, Western Oregon.
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Brennen Chappell, Montana State University Billings
Fourth-career pitcher of the week, third this season.
Chappell earned his second straight weekly award and third of the season, this time posting the most strikeouts of any GNAC pitcher in a game this season with 14 in MSUB’s triumph over Saint Martin’s on Friday. Going the distance for the second straight week, Chappell allowed three runs – two earned – on five hits with one walk across his seven innings of work. The right-hander turned in a 105-pitch effort, and posted his second double-digit strikeout performance of the season. Chappell ranks third in NCAA Division II baseball this season with 45 total strikeouts.
MSUB Head Coach Derek Waddoups: “Chappell had an outstanding start for us on Friday. He really attacked the strike zone and pitched ahead the entire day. It has been a real confidence boost to see him pitch consistently and to continue to control the baseball.”
Also Nominated: Garet Hagy, Central Washington; Dillon Eden, Northwest Nazarene; Ayden Holker, Western Oregon.
WOMEN’S ROWING CREW OF THE WEEK
Western Washington University Varsity 8+
Cox –
Janisa Cook | Stroke –
Taylor Wall | 7 –
Finola Hufford | 6 –
Emilie Borberg | 5 –
Sarah Plemons | 4 –
Shae Mitchel | 3 –
Lex Clark | 2 –
Isabelle Mullick | Bow –
Anna Nightingale
The Vikings’ varsity 8+ boat clocked a time of 7:04.5 minutes across the 2,000-meter course at the Pacific Lutheran-hosted American Lake Sprints on Saturday. That was good enough for a head-to-head triumph over fellow GNAC school Seattle Pacific (7:07.1 minutes). Western Washington entered the 2026 season ranked third in the CRCA national poll and was picked second in the GNAC preseason coaches poll.
WWU Head Coach Courtney Moeller: ""We’re really proud of how our Varsity 8+ opened the season at the PLU Invite. They showed great composure and poise in tough conditions to earn a win over a very competitive SPU crew. The performance reflects not just the athletes in that boat, but the work the entire team has put in to prepare for the season. It’s a great way for our program to start the year, and we’re excited to keep building from here.”
Also Nominated: Seattle Pacific Varsity 4+.
MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Brody Kemble – Northwest Nazarene University
Second-career track athlete of the week, first this season.
Kemble turned in a stellar performance at Linfield’s Erik Anderson Memorial meet over the weekend, clocking a PR in the 10,000 meters with a time of 29;12.25 minutes. It was the fourth-fastest outdoor 10,000 meters time in GNAC history and the fastest by a conference runner since the 2017 season. Kemble finished second among a field of 104 competitors, with only University of Portland’s Kgadi Monyebodi (NCAA Division I) finishing ahead of him. Kemble is a three-time GNAC medalist in the event, winning gold in 2024 and taking silver medals in both 2025 and 2023.
NNU Head Coach Greg Mitchell: “Brody loves racing the 10,000 meters, so he's been looking forward to our annual trip to the Linfield Icebreaker 10k since cross country wrapped up. It was a good night - pretty good weather, strong competition, and he was ready to roll. Honestly, he exceeded my expectations. We're going to try to get him another shot at a fast one later this season. I'm not going to put any limits on him.”
Also Nominated: Ares Van Straaten, Central Washington; Andrew Bell, Seattle Pacific; Matthew Resnik, Western Oregon; Western Washington 4x100 Relay.
MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Wes Kriete – Central Washington University
Second-career field athlete of the week, first this season.
Kriete logged three event victories and a pair of PRs in the opening meet of his outdoor season. The junior set new personal top marks in both the discus at 157-11 feet (48.13 meters) and the hammer throw at 161-5 feet (49.20 meters) in the Wildcats’ home meet over the weekend. Kriete also won the shot put competition, posting a toss of 52-1 feet (15.87 meters). Kriete has four GNAC outdoor podium finishes in his career, including the shot put gold medal in 2024. He has also earned bronze in the discus in each of the last two seasons and was the shot put runner-up at last year’s outdoor conference meet.
CWU Head Coach Jonathan Hill: “Wes came away from our home opener with three event wins. He is becoming one of the GNAC’s most dynamic competitors across the throwing events, and he exemplifies Wildcat leadership. We are enthusiastic to see his progress over the rest of the outdoor season.”
Also Nominated: Eric Bushnell, Alaska Anchorage; Makhi Odoms, Saint Martin’s; Mason Hrcek, Seattle Pacific; Jacob Behrman, Western Oregon; Jakob Braunstein, Western Washington.
WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Ari Nguyen – Western Washington University
First-career track athlete of the week.
Nguyen got her outdoor season off to a strong start, posting two personal bests and two event victories at the Ed Boitano Invitational. Nguyen posted a personal-best 100-meter hurdles time of 14.64 seconds, topping a field of 25 competitors. Her other win came in the 400-meter hurdles, where she ran 1:04.12 minutes for the fastest mark among a field of 12 runners. The sophomore also hit a PR in the 100-meters with a time of 12.56 seconds, placing sixth overall among 30 sprinters. Nguyen is fresh off her first-ever GNAC medal, placing third in the 60-meter hurdles (8.84 seconds) at last month’s GNAC Indoor Championships.
WWU Head Coach Ben Stensland: “Ari had a lot of momentum finishing the indoor season setting PRs in the 60 hurdles, 60 meters and 200 meters her last two meets of that season. It is no surprise that she opened with PRs in both the 100 meters and 100-meter hurdles in her first outdoor meet. Ari and our hurdles coach, Laurent Birade, are expecting some exciting things this spring.”
Also Nominated: Ryann Smith, Alaska Anchorage; Dawn Hulstedt, Central Washington; Morgan Erler, Northwest Nazarene; Sarah Bailey, Seattle Pacific; Kyla Potratz, Western Oregon.
WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Maliyah Gordon – Central Washington University
First-career field athlete of the week.
In her first appearance since winning the gold medal in the weight throw at last month’s GNAC Indoor Championships, Gordon swept the first-place spots in three throwing events at the CWU Wildcat Opener last week. Gordon had marks of 42-8.25 feet (13.01 meters) in the shot put, 132-2 feet (40.28 meters) in the discus and 140-11 feet (42.95 meters) in the hammer throw. In her first season competing for the Wildcats, Gordon also logged a fourth-place finish in the shot put at the conference indoor meet, as she projects to be a major point scorer at the upcoming GNAC Outdoor Championships in May. Gordon was the NWAC champion in the hammer throw last year competing for Spokane Community College.
CWU Head Coach Jonathan Hill: “In Maliyah’s NCAA outdoor debut, she opened up with three event wins, the number nine shot put mark in CWU history and a conference lead in the shot put. Following a 15-point performance at the GNAC Indoor Championships, she is establishing herself as one of the GNAC’s most versatile throwers and is one of the best to ever wear the Wildcat uniform.”
Also Nominated: Janess Blackburn, Saint Martin’s; Lysandra Plant, Seattle Pacific; Guinevere Rydberg, Western Oregon; Nicole Avery, Western Washington.
WOMEN’S GOLF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ella Tannenberger – Montana State University Billings
First-career player of the week.
Tannenberger was the Yellowjackets’ top finisher at the Sapona Intercollegiate last week in Lexington, N.C. The reigning GNAC Freshman of the Year finished in a tie for fourth place among a field of 51 competitors, carding a two-round score of 8-over-par 152 (76-76). Tannenberger finished just three strokes behind the individual tournament champion, making five birdies and carding just one score worse than bogey across the 36-hole event. Tannenberger’s best stretch of the week was her final nine holes in the opening round, where she posted a 1-under-par 35 with three birdies across the front-nine. Tannenberger lowered her season scoring average to 78.2 strokes per round, and ranks No. 13 in the conference.
MSUB Head Coach Adam Buie: “Ella had a strong start to her spring with matching 76-76 scores to finish tied for fourth place. The course played pretty tough with the women’s event having the two coldest days of the week. Only one of the three players who finished higher than her were Division II players. She finished the tournament even-par on par-3s which led the field and she was also even on the par 5s.”
Also Nominated: Jana Knapp, Northwest Nazarene.