Around the Big Ten – September 25

This week’s look at individual award winners in Big Ten Sports.

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September 25, 2024

Northwestern Field Hockey is undefeated Photo: NU/Big Ten

Northwestern Field Hockey is undefeated Photo: NU/Big Ten

More on this week’s edition of “Big Ten Whip Around” — start listening to SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (Ch. 372) on the SiriusXM app now.

Northwestern and Ohio State Receive Field Hockey Honors

Offensive Player of the Week
Makenna Webster, Ohio State
Gr. – F – St. Louis, Mo. – Wisconsin

Produced seven points in Ohio State’s weekend sweep of Michigan State and Brown
Compiled two goals, three assists and a .667 shooting percentage as the Big Ten’s leading scorer on the weekend
Has points in eight-straight games, helping the Buckeyes match their best start to a season (8-0)
The two-sport athlete (hockey) collects her second award of the year, third of her career
Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Makenna Webster (Sept. 3, 2024)

Defensive Player of the Week
Annabel Skubisz, Northwestern
Gr. – G – Houston, Texas – The Kinkaid School

Helped Northwestern to a pair of Big Ten wins with shutouts over fifth-ranked Iowa and at Indiana
Extended shutout streak to 365 minutes, having not allowed a goal in 24 quarters
Leads the NCAA in goals-against average (0.13) and save percentage (.971)
Earns her second Defensive POW Award of the season and the eighth of her career
Last Northwestern Big Ten Defensive Winner: Annabel Skubisz (Sept. 9, 2024)

Freshman of the Week
Nadia Nemeth, Northwestern
Fr. – M/F – Malvern, Pa. – Great Valley

Made her first starts of the season as top-ranked Northwestern knocked off No. 5 Iowa in Evanston and Indiana on the road
Playing at midfield against the Hoosiers, helped the Wildcats to their sixth-straight shutout win
Claims her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolade
Last Northwestern Freshman of the Week: Ilse Trump (Oct. 9, 2023)

Offensive Player of the Week
Luciano Pechota, Ohio State
Jr. – M – Avon, Ohio – St. Ignatius – Major: Finance

Scored three goals on the week to help No. xx Ohio State score a pair of shutout wins
Recorded two goals in victory at Penn State and added another in a win over Rutgers
Garners his first Offensive Player of the Week award
Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Xavier Green (Sept. 20, 2022)

Defensive Player of the Week 
Nick McHenry, Ohio State
Fr. – D – Loveland, Ohio – Loveland – Major: Finance

Played all 180 minutes as the Buckeyes opened Big Ten Conference play with a pair of shutouts
Earns his first Defensive Player of the Week award
Last Ohio State Defensive Player of the Week: Keegan McLaughlin (Sept. 13, 2022)

Goalkeeper of the Week 
Jadon Bowton, Washington
Sr. – Spokane, Wash. – Ferris – Major: Computer Science

Freshman of the Week 
Malick Daouda, Penn State
Fr. – M – Montreal, Canada – Ontario Virtual – Major: Health & Human Development

Scored the game-winning goal in the 87^th minute to give Penn State a 2-1 win over Michigan State
Earns his first Freshman of the Week award

Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Dennis Chapman, Nebraska
Fr. – Omaha, Neb. – Creighton Prep School – Major: Electrical Engineering

Finished the 8K course at the Greeno/Dirksen Invitational in 25:22.17 to come in 15th among a field of 326 runners
Helped Nebraska earn a second-place team finish

Men’s Cross Country Freshman of the Week
Weston Day, Ohio State
Fr. – Dublin, Ohio – Dublin Scioto – Major: Business

Was the Buckeyes’ second-best finisher and placed 18th overall at the Roy Griak Invitational
Completed the 8K course in 25:28.3

Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Ali Weimer, Minnesota
Jr. – Saint Michael, Minn. – Saint Michael-Albertville – Major: Sociology

Won the individual title at the 2024 Roy Griak Invitational in a time of 21:08.5
Helped Minnesota win the 2024 Roy Griak Invitational team title, upsetting No. 25 Utah Valley, for its third women’s title in the last six years
Was part of a Gopher duo that claimed first and second place, marking the first time any team has had the top two runners at the Griak since 2018
First Gopher to win the Roy Griak Invitational title since 2018