MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Frankline Kipruto of UT Southern was named NAIA Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week, Andre Ferreira of Faulkner was named NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week and Maggie Rickerd of Dalton State was named NAIA Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the national office announced.
The awards are based on performance for the week of Oct. 19-25.
Frankline Kipruto (UT Southern – SO – Eldoret, Kenya)
- He has won seven career weekly SSAC honors
- Kipruto captured the individual championship at the Appalachian Challenge, winning a loaded field that featured three of the NAIA's top 10 teams
- He averaged 4:44.3 per mile to cross the finish line of the 8K race at 23:33.4, four-tenths of a second faster than second place
Andre Ferreira (Faulkner – SR – GK – Maia, Portugal)
- This is his third NAIA weekly honor
- Ferreira delivered a six-save shutout in a 2-0 win at No. 3 ranked Cumberland
- It was the first loss of the season for the Phoenix and Faulkner is 3-0 against top-five teams this year
Maggie Rickerd (Dalton State – SO – GK – Chattanooga, Tenn.)
- She is the second-straight SSAC goalkeeper to claim the honor
- Rickerd delivered an 11-save shutout against the NAIA’s top scoring team, UT Southern. The win against the Firehawks was the first in program history for the Roadrunners
- She also had a one-save shutout against Blue Mountain Christian
2026-27 Winners
Konsti Witte, Faulkner: NAIA Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Sam De Gier, UT Southern: NAIA Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Tanner Boxberger, Mobile: NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Leo Testas, Faulkner: NAIA Men’s Golfer of the Week
Reese Day, Dalton State: NAIA Women’s Golfer of the Week
Julia Gurgel, Xavier: NAIA Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Andre Ferreira, Faulkner: NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Bernardo Juca, Faulkner: NAIA Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Millie Rayner, UT Southern: NAIA Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Tibo Jacobs, Life: NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
2025-26 Winners
Victoria Vieten, William Carey: NAIA Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Darius Barge, Life: NAIA Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Jayden Sawyer, William Carey: NAIA Softball Pitcher of the Week
Avery Harrell, Mobile: NAIA Softball Pitcher of the Week
Jayden Sawyer, William Carey: NAIA Softball Pitcher of the Week
Taamtond Nivasananda, William Carey: NAIA Women’s Golfer of the Week
Omarion Smith, Dalton State: NAIA Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Emeline Delaville, Life: NAIA Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Makeem Roberts, William Carey: NAIA Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Ashley Dickey, UT Southern: NAIA Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Barnabas Aggerh, William Carey: NAIA Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Avery Abram, William Carey: NAIA Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Andrew Gilipps, Xavier: NAIA Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Deniya Thornton, Loyola: NAIA Women’s Basketball Offensive Player of the Week
Gil Gonzalez, Brewton-Parker Christian: NAIA Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Kameron Johnson, Loyola: NAIA Men’s Basketball Offensive Player of the Week
Andre Ferreira, Faulkner: NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Jamie Barry, William Carey: NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Ben McFadden, Dalton State: NAIA Men’s Golfer of the Week
Sara Burger, Dalton State: NAIA Women’s Golfer of the Week
Sacha Millward, Life: NAIA Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Louis Hester, UT Southern: NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Sara Burger, Dalton State: NAIA Women’s Golfer of the Week
Lauren Entremont, William Carey: NAIA Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Jamie Barry, William Carey: NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week