PORTLAND, Ore. – Putting forth a dominant performance at last week’s WIRA Championships, the Western Washington women’s rowing varsity 8+ headlined the latest Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week selections announced on Monday.
WOMEN’S ROWING CREW OF THE WEEK
Western Washington University Varsity 8+
Cox – Janisa Cook | Stroke – Emilie Borberg | 7 – Finola Hufford | 6 – Taylor Wall | 5 – Sarah Plemons | 4 – Kallie Lechtenberg
3 – Lex Clark | 2 – Shae Mitchel | Bow – Illy Schneiderman
The Vikings had a stellar showing at the site of the upcoming GNAC Women’s Rowing Championships, with the varsity 8+ boat winning the grand finals convincingly. WWU posted a time of 6:53.422 minutes to win the race by more than four seconds ahead of runner-up Cal Poly Humboldt (6:57.781 minutes). The victory came after the Vikings posted the top qualifying time on Saturday of 6:51.912 minutes. The nine-time Division II national champions entered last week ranked No. 2 in the latest CRCA coaches poll. The WIRA Championships results gave the Vikings a strong boost as they look to add to their national trophy collection, with the most recent NCAA crown coming in 2024.
WWU Head Coach Courtney Moeller: "It was a great day to be a Viking, and we’re really proud of how the entire team showed up this weekend. The Varsity 8+ led the charge against some tough competition and kept their focus from start to finish. We’re excited to keep building on this as we head toward GNACs."
Also Nominated: Cal Poly Humboldt Varsity 8+; Seattle Pacific Varsity 4+.
MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Colton Magruder – Central Washington University
Second-career track athlete of the week, second this season.
Magruder was on fire at the Washington State Cougar Classic last week, winning both the 100-meters and 200-meters. His 200-meters time of 21.04 seconds tied him for fourth in GNAC outdoor history as he topped a field of nine competitors. His 100-meters time of 10.62 seconds was enough to beat a field of eight competitors. Ahead of the upcoming GNAC Championships, Magruder leads the conference in the 200-meters while ranking third in the 100-meters so far in 2026.
Also Nominated: Brock Grossman, Montana State Billings; Jacob Hall, Simon Fraser; Nolan Mickenham, Western Washington.
MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Calvin Gutierrez – Wester
n Washington University
Third-career field athlete of the week, third this season.
Gutierrez broke the GNAC record in the hammer throw, with a toss of 210-1 feet (64.03 meters) at the Pee Wee Halsell Invitational last week. That moved his name up to No. 9 on the NCAA Division II national performance list. Gutierrez took down a 23-year-old GNAC record set by Western Oregon’s Pro Escobedo with a throw of 206-4 feet (62.89 meters) in 2003.
Also Nominated: Dan Close, Central Washington; Braedon Ferris, Montana State Billings; Gage Pedro, Saint Martin’s; Leopold Wang, Simon Fraser.
WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Charlie Bosma – Simon Fraser University
First-career track athlete of the week.
Bosma had a standout showing in Bellingham last week, clocking a personal-best time of 53.91 seconds in the 400-meters. That stands as fifth-fastest in GNAC outdoor history, and it was the second-fastest time by a conference competitor in 2026. Bosma also hit a personal best in the 200-meters, running 24.46 seconds to move her name up to No. 5 in the conference this season.
SFU Head Coach Brit Townsend: “We have been so impressed with Charlotte’s performances over the last few weeks. She continues to inspire those around her. Her most recent breakthrough in the 400 puts her in the top-12 in the NCAA rankings, but also importantly she achieved the Athletics Canada minimum standard for the World U20 Championships. We are so excited for her first opportunity to run at the NCAA level as a freshman in an individual event.”
Also Nominated: Ryann Smith, Alaska Anchorage; Ellie DeGroot, Central Washington; Micah Strong, Montana State Billings; Ella Edens, Western Washington.
WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Sydney Mohlman – Western Washington University
First-career field athlete of the week.
Mohlman had a major breakthrough at the Pee Wee Halsell Invitational on Friday, hitting a personal best to win the pole vault competition. The junior cleared 12-7.25 feet (3.84 meters) to top a field of six competitors at the meet. That stands as the seventh-best outdoor pole vault in GNAC history, and it moved her name inside the top-30 in NCAA Division II so far in 2026.
Also Nominated: Cariann Bryant, Central Washington; Rae Smart, Montana State Billings; Janess Blackburn, Saint Martin’s; Domfo Abekah, Simon Fraser.
BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ryker Fortier – Montana State University Billings
First-career player of the week.
Fortier helped lead the Yellowjackets to an important 3-1 series victory over first-place Northwest Nazarene over the weekend. He went 8-for-14 (.571) with three doubles, five RBIs and six runs scored. Fortier also drew a pair of walks and was hit by a pitch, finishing the series with an on-base percentage of .647. He reached base in all four games multiple times, stole a pair of bases, and capped his week by going 4-for-4 with two RBIs in the series finale. Fortier raised his season batting average to .361, and he now ranks second in the conference with 25 stolen bases this season.
MSUB Head Coach Derek Waddoups: “Getting Ryker on base is a key to our offensive success. His ability to swipe bags and put pressure on the defense is game-changing. He had a great offensive weekend utilizing the entire game and was clutch for us defensively.”
Also Nominated: Logan Blank, Central Washington; Kyle Schabot, Saint Martin’s.
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Blaze Wong – Saint Martin’s University
First-career pitcher of the week.
Wong delivered perhaps the best start of his four-year career with the Saints, collecting his first collegiate shutout. The right-hander matched his season high with five strikeouts, while keeping Central Washington off the board throughout the seven-inning contest. Wong scattered seven hits and issued just one walk, en route to earning his fifth victory of the season. It was also his second-career complete-game effort, and he has tossed a career-high 63 1/3 innings so far in 2026.
SMU Head Coach Jacob Garsez: “Blaze commanded his fastball extremely well, which increased the effectiveness of all his pitches. He also worked ahead in the count well and let our defense work. He did a great job of setting the tone for the game.”
Also Nominated: Garet Hagy, Central Washington; Hayden Mullins, Montana State Billings; Corbin Talley, Northwest Nazarene.
SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mia Flores – Central Washington University
Second-career player of the week, first this season.
Flores was the catalyst in the Wildcats’ four-game sweep of Montana State Billings last week, recording at least one hit and one RBI in all four contests. The senior went 8-for-13 (.615) at the plate, collecting a pair of doubles and hitting her first home run of the season. Flores also drew a pair of walks, reaching base at a clip of .667 in the series. She saved her best performance for last, capping the weekend going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including her long ball. Flores upped her season batting average to .338 with the big performance.
CWU Head Coach Ronnie Ladines: “Mia was absolutely stellar last weekend. She dominated and stepped up in every clutch moment. To top it all off on senior weekend makes it that much more unforgettable.”
Also Nominated: Marleigh Nieto, Montana State Billings; Lola Crosby, Northwest Nazarene; Jennessy Lopez, Saint Martin’s; Laila Carpenter, Western Washington.
SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Miah Lusk – Northwest Nazarene University
Fifth-career pitcher of the week, second this season.
The reigning GNAC Freshman of the Year impacted all four of the Nighthawks’ wins last week, as NNU came through with a crucial sweep of Western Oregon at home. Lusk allowed just two earned runs in 10 innings pitched across four appearances in the circle. She logged 15 strikeouts while allowing just 11 total baserunners in the series, as she collected her 14th victory and second save of the season. Lusk ranks second in the GNAC with a 2.81 ERA, while leading the league with 167 strikeouts across her 129 2/3 innings pitched.
NNU Head Coach Rich Wagner: “Miah has been improving every week, partially because she works incredibly hard both on the field and in the classroom. Miah is ready all four games each weekend to help her teammates win. It is exciting to think about how good she can be.”
Also Nominated: Zoey Theophilus, Central Washington; Alanna Wirtala, Western Washington.