Three wildcats won player of the week awards last week. Tre’jon Henderson won Lonestar Conference (LSC) Offensive Player of the Week. Hannah Stires won volleyball Greater Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Defensive Player of the Week. Payton Lindell won women’s soccer GNAC. 

“I celebrated with my family,” said Henderson. “They’re down in Texas, so they were giving calls. My grandparents sent me some cash for the touchdowns … They all see me work when I’m home, and they’re happy that I’m up here competing and having fun.”

Henderson commented on how important it was to have fun when playing and how it attributes to success.  

“It’s the most important thing,” Henderson said. “When you miss out on the fun aspect, you miss out on the little things. When you’re having fun, you’re playing your best … That’s where good players and good teams come from. It’s a children’s game, we’re just playing as adults. Remembering that is the key to winning.”

Henderson logged 152 yards on 19 targets/attempts, averaged eight yards per carry and scored three touchdowns. He led CWU to a victory against Eastern New Mexico University. 

“It means that the team is playing good,” said Henderson about winning the award. “I can’t get the award without them. I’m very hard on myself … I take it and I appreciate it, but I always look at how the team performed.”

Stires led the volleyball team in digs through two games, earning 53 in total. CWU went 1-1 in the two games against Simon Fraser University (SFU) and Western Washington University, getting the win against SFU. 

Stires, the sophomore libero from out of Lakeside High School, was unaware that she had won the award.

“I was pretty excited,” Stires said. “Coach Mario texted me and told me ‘Congratulations on winning player of the week,’ and I didn’t know yet, so I saw and was like ‘What?’”

Stires credits the hard work she has been putting in as what led to her winning the award. 

“Our whole team has been working really hard,” said Stires. “We’ve been working on our defense, extending rallies and keeping the ball alive. I’m glad to see it was recognized. We really put emphasis on that and it paid off.”

Similarly to Henderson, Stires credits the team for her recognition. Pointing out a team-wide change in culture. 

“As a whole, our defensive mindset has changed,” Stires said. “We were all really able to hone in on keeping the ball up. It felt like a team win, not that I had a crazy game. Everyone was on the same page, working so well together.”

Stires said she has begun to accept a leadership role amongst the team, and doesn’t want to be anywhere else. 

“We talk a lot about leadership,” said Stires. “I feel like my role on the team is inspiring my teammates to believe in themselves and know that I pick them over anyone else in the GNAC. I pick them over any team, any players. I see all the potential and greatness that we are able to do.”

Lindell led the Wildcats in shots in the win against Saint Martin’s University, and scored the game-winning goal, putting the women’s soccer team at a 2-6-3 record.