MONMOUTH, Ill. – Competing against a field that included Division I athletes at the Butler Twilight Meet in Indianapolis, Ind., the Monmouth College track team took three of the four Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honors in men’s and women’s track & field.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – Competing against a field that included Division I athletes at the Butler Twilight Meet in Indianapolis, Ind., the Monmouth College track team took three of the four Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honors in men’s and women’s track & field.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – Competing against a field that included Division I athletes at the Butler Twilight Meet in Indianapolis, Ind., the Monmouth College track team took three of the four Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honors in men’s and women’s track & field.

In a field that included 28 men’s teams, Clay Staley (Hanna City, Ill./Illini Bluffs) ran a personal-best in the steeplechase and received the MWC Performer of the Week honor in men’s track. His time of 9:26.76 placed him third and was just under four seconds off the NCAA provisional qualifying time. The sophomore distance man shaved more than nine seconds off his conference-leading time in the event.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – Monmouth College senior shortstop Emily Willems (Moline, Ill./Rockridge) helped the Fighting Scots to their first Midwest Conference tournament berth since 2004 and was named the MWC Performer of the Week.

In a make or break game against the Grinnell Pioneers Sunday, Willems delivered for the Senior Day crowd in a dramatic 5-4 come-from-behind victory that punched the Scots’ ticket to the postseason. Her third hit of the day, a two out double drove in Ashley Parer (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) with the tying run. Willems scored from second one batter later when Anna Coutts’ (Ladd, Ill./Hall) ground ball was mishandled. She picked up two more hits in the nightcap, including her 34th career triple as the Scots completed the sweep with a 6-2 win.

For the week, Willems hit .429 with a .571 slugging percentage and six runs scored.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – Monmouth College senior distance man Aaron Etienne (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland) had the meet of a lifetime and was named the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week in men’s track after last week’s performance at the Benedictine Invitational in Lisle, Ill.

Etienne set a pair of career marks while winning two events. He broke the tape in the 1,500-meters with his career-best time of 4:00.84. The time leads the MWC by nearly nine seconds. He held off the second-place runner in the 5,000- to finish first in 15:19.05. His personal-best time in the 5,000- ranks him third in the MWC.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – Monmouth College junior pitcher Sarah Christensen (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) was nearly perfect in the circle last week and picked up her first Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Week honor in softball.

Christensen was 3-0 as a starter and came in from the bullpen to earn a save last week as the Fighting Scots went 5-0 to run their win streak to six games, the Scots’ longest streak since the 2001 season. At last Monday’s abbreviated Midwest Conference Classic in Janesville, Wis., the junior right-hander threw a complete game shutout in a 6-0 win over Lawrence. Against defending league champion and north division favorite St. Norbert, Christensen hurled five innings of two-hit ball in a 9-0 victory. Between the pair of shutouts, the junior came on in relief to get the final out in the Scots’ 7-6 win over Ripon. She then allowed just one run in Monmouth’s 3-1 divisional win over Illinois College.

For the week, Christensen posted an ERA of 0.38 with 16 strikeouts and four walks.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – For the second week in a row the Monmouth College track teams swept the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honors in men’s and women’s track & field.

White continued her climb up the national rankings in the pole vault. The senior tied for first with a vaulter from Western Illinois University. White cleared a season-best and provisional-qualifying 12’5-1/2 to move her into a tie for third in the national rankings.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – For the second week in a row the Monmouth College track teams swept the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honors in men’s and women’s track & field.

Staab turned in outstanding times in the distance events despite cold, windy conditions at the Macomb meet. The sophomore was the first Division III runner to cross the finish line in the 5,000-meters, clocking a lifetime best of 19:13.26 to finish sixth. She ran a 5:13.41 in the 1,500- to place 19th.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – For the second week in a row the Monmouth College track teams swept the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honors in men’s and women’s track & field.

Stott had the best meet of the season and his career at the meet. The junior sprinter turned in a pair of lifetime bests in the 100- and 200-meters. His 100-meter career time of 11.11 placed him seventh, just .42 back of the winner from Eastern Illinois University. His second-place time of 22.10 in the 200- was also just .42 behind the winner from EIU. He also ran the anchor leg on the third place 4x100 relay which finished second in 42.66.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – For the second week in a row the Monmouth College track teams swept the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honors in men’s and women’s track & field.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – Monmouth College freshman Jason Pinns (St. Charles, Ill./Glenbard South) was named the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week in men’s golf after an outstanding performance at Monday’s Springfield College of Illinois Invitational.

The one day event called for the golfers to play 36 holes and Pinns didn’t disappoint. The freshman carded an opening round even par 72 before touring the course with a 78 over the final 18 holes. His 150 total placed him third in the tournament, just three strokes back of the winner. Pinns’ 72 is the second-best 18-hole score in the MWC this season.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – The Monmouth College track teams swept the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honors in men’s and women’s track & field after outstanding performances at last weekend’s Wartburg Select meet held in Waverly, Iowa.

Reschke won the 200- and 400- meter races. He ran a conference-best 22.54 in the 200- and turned in the MWC’s top time in the 400- clocking a 48.82. The junior sprinter also ran a leg on the second-place 4x400 relay and was part of the Scots’ 4x100 relay which turned in the conference’s top time of 42.32.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – The Monmouth College track teams swept the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honors in men’s and women’s track & field after outstanding performances at last weekend’s Wartburg Select meet held in Waverly, Iowa.

Sprecher, the 2007 NCAA Division III outdoor pole vault national champion, continued his dominance in that event. The senior cleared a conference-best 17’0-3/4 to win the pole vault. The height automatically qualifies Sprecher for next month’s National Championships with the nation’s top mark.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – The Monmouth College track teams swept the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honors in men’s and women’s track & field after outstanding performances at last weekend’s Wartburg Select meet held in Waverly, Iowa.

Clennon improved her two conference-best marks while winning the high jump and javelin. The senior cleared a personal-best 5’5-3/4 which also provisionally qualifies her for next month’s NCAA outdoor championships. The mark ranks her second in the nation. Clennon then logged a personal-best in the javelin, winning the event with a throw of 115’9.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – The Monmouth College track teams swept the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honors in men’s and women’s track & field after outstanding performances at last weekend’s Wartburg Select meet held in Waverly, Iowa.

Turczyn had her best meet of the outdoor season, turning in a national provisional qualifying time and two conference-best times. The junior speedster won the 100-meter hurdles and improved her provisional time, breaking the tape in 14.43. She placed seventh in the 200-meters, logging a time of 26.77, and clocked a 12.74 in the 100- prelims. Her 100- hurdle and 100- dash times rank her first in the MWC.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – A stellar week has led to Monmouth College senior shortstop Emily Willems (Moline, Ill./Rockridge) picking up her first Midwest Conference softball Performer of the Week honor.

Babos blasted her competition in the weight throw. The senior slung the weight a provisional-qualifying 51’5, beating her nearest competitor by six feet.

The mark ranks her 10th in the nation. She then threw a personal-best 40’2-1/4 in the shot to finish second, less than four inches behind the winner.

Wentzlaff won the 200-yard breaststroke (2:52.46), the 1000- freestyle (12:04.97) and the 200- individual medley (2:35.79). The senior teamed with classmates Jessica DeMink, Heather Plum and sophomore Jessica Houser to win the 200- medley relay (2:10.39).

Yeast helped the Fighting Scots hand league-leading St. Norbert their first conference loss, defeating the Green Knights 70-59. The 6-1 center threw in 14 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in the Friday night win.

Yeast continued her rampage with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 72-59 loss to Beloit on Saturday. She leads the conference in rebounding (9.8 rpg) and is just three rebounds from becoming Monmouth’s all-time rebounding leader, men or women. Her 937 career rebounds is second only to Roger Sander’s 939 boards set from 1974-78.

White, an All-American pole vaulter last season, took first place at last weekend’s Knox College Quadrangular with a vault of 11’10. Her mark is ranked second in the nation. She is now provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor National Championships in March.

Wilson hit provisional marks in both of his events. The senior took first in the weight throw (59’2-1/4) and shot put (51’2-3/4). His mark in the weight throw bested his closest competitor by nearly eight feet and ranks him third in the nation. His shot put is ranked sixth.

Playing against much taller opponents, Terwelp poured in a season-high 26 points against the Division II Minnesota State Mavericks. The 6-5 senior connected on 10-of-20 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-4 treys and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. He also pulled down seven rebounds and recorded two steals, an assist and a blocked shot. Terwelp ranks among the top 10 in the MWC in scoring (14.9 ppg), rebounding (6.7 rpg) and field goal percentage (.558).

A business major, Terwelp is the son of Lawrence and Joyce Terwelp of Quincy.

Gorski had back-to-back double-doubles in a pair of games last week. Wednesday against conference foe Grinnell, the junior guard poured in 22 points and pulled down 13 rebounds as the Scots broke open a tight game to win 83-64. The Scots picked up a road win at Augustana Friday, winning 74-48. Gorski helped the Scots break open another close game, scoring seven of her 22 points in the final 5:35 of the first half as Monmouth went on a 15-0 run. She pulled down 12 rebounds in the game and hit all nine of her free throw attempts.

For the week, Gorski averaged 22 points, 12.5 rebounds and four assists per game while shooting 48-percent from the floor (13-27). She is in the top 5 in the Midwest Conference in scoring (15.6 ppg), rebounding (8.7 rpg), assists (4.14 apg), steals (2.57 spg), free throw percentage (.804) and 3-point percentage (.476).

The Scots’ 5-2 start is the program’s best since the 1995-96 squad opened 6-1.

Raske set the pool and school record in the 1,650-yard freestyle. His time of 16:58.70 was nearly two full minutes ahead of his nearest competitor. The freshman also set the school and pool record in the 200- butterfly with his winning time of 1:58.92 and he swam a personal-best 56.39 in the 100- backstroke. Raske wasn’t finished there. His leg in the 200- freestyle relay helped the Fighting Scots set the new pool mark at 1:32.20. He holds the conference’s top times in four different events

Lane swam a leg in the opening 200-yard medley relay and swept her three individual events, taking first in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100- and 200-yard butterfly. The sophomore logged the conference’s top time in the 100-yard butterfly (59.34) and the 200-yard butterfly (2:24.49). Her efforts led the Scots women to a 160-89 win over Lake Forest College, the Scots first dual meet win over the Foresters in the history of the program.

Tanney spread the ball around, throwing to 10 different receivers and compiling 309 yards passing as the Fighting Scots downed Knox College 42-14. The quarterback was 24-of-29 with no interceptions as he posted a pass efficiency rating of 229.16. He also threw for five touchdowns ranking second on the Monmouth all-time single-game list.

Norman picked off two passes and forced a fumble as Monmouth defeated Illinois College 26-23 in overtime. The cornerback’s second interception of the day came at the Monmouth one-yard line and stopped a potential winning drive by the Blueboys with 39 seconds remaining. He also forced a fumble that was recovered by the Scots.

Shepherd returned the second half kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown and helped the Scots turn a tight game into a blowout win over the Foresters.

Palkovic put the Scots ahead with a 36-yard field goal just before halftime and booted the game-winner with 4:28 to go in the game. Monmouth’s all-time leading scorer also averaged more than 35 yards per kick on six punts.

Monmouth College sophomore goalkeeper Owen Robinson (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) continued his shutout streak and was named the Midwest Conference Defensive Performer of the Week in men’s soccer.

Staley posted a time of 26:03 at last week’s Bradley University Open, improving on his career best by 10 seconds. His time on the 8K course was the best in the Midwest Conference this season.

Beyer improved even more on her 5K time, dropping nearly a full minute off her season-best mark, to lead the MWC.

Graeber and the rest of the Monmouth defense made it easy for Scots goalkeeper Owen Robinson as they did not allow the Red Devils to post a shot on goal. The junior also posted an assist on Trevor Neff’s second goal of the game.