WePlayed Sports Players of the Week - Jan. 26
Men's Basketball
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Anderson forward Osmar Garcia-Araujo has been named the South Atlantic Conference WePlayed Sports Men's Basketball Player of the Week for games played during week 10 of the 2025-26 season, the Conference announced today. This is the third time this season that Garcia-Araujo has brought home the conference's weekly honor.
Garcia-Araujo, a junior from Sugar Hill, Ga., was a standout for nationally-ranked Anderson as they beat #15 Lenoir-Rhyne 102-96 and then topped Emory & Henry 61-54. In the two victories, he scored 25 points at Lenoir-Rhyne and 20 against Emory & Henry while recording his third double-double of the season. Anchoring the team defensively, he added 14 boards, four steals and two blocks on the week. At LR, Garcia-Araujo shot 80% from the field and 100% from the charity stripe before posting a 55.6 field goal percentage and a 71.4 free throw percentage against E&H. His performance contributed to the Trojans undefeated record at home with just one loss on the season.
Basketball Players of the Week
Nov. 17 – Drake Downs, Newberry
Nov. 24 – Jack Browder, Carson-Newman
Dec. 1 - Conrad Luczynski, Lenoir-Rhyne
Dec. 8 – Yoro Diallo, UVA Wise
Dec. 15 – Osmar Garcia-Araujo, Anderson
Dec. 22 – Osmar Garcia-Araujo, Anderson
Jan. 5 – Jordan Simpson, Catawba
Jan. 12 – Drake Downs, Newberry
Jan. 19 – Yoro Diallo, UVA Wise
Jan. 26 – Osmar Garcia-Araujo, Anderson
Women's Basketball
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Lenoir-Rhyne guard Aaliyah El has been named the South Atlantic Conference WePlayed Sports Women's Basketball Player of the Week for games played during week 10 of the 2025-26 season, the Conference announced today.
El, a junior from Charlotte, N.C., led the Bears to a 2-0 week, including a win over No. 23 Lincoln Memorial. For the week, El averaged 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, four steals and 1.5 blocks per game. Against LMU, she dropped 21 points and added four steals, three rebounds, two assists and a block and scored the game-tying layup. In overtime, El had seven of the Bears 11 points.
Basketball Players of the Week
Nov. 17 – Caroline Mullins, UVA Wise
Nov. 24 – Lexi Patty, Lincoln Memorial
Dec. 1 – Lyndie Ramsey, Emory & Henry
Dec. 8 – Kamari Thompson, Coker
Dec. 15 – Caroline Mullins, UVA Wise
Dec. 22 – Kamil Collier, Lincoln Memorial
Jan. 5 – Jada Brown, Newberry
Jan. 12 – Abigail Brown, Lenoir-Rhyne
Jan. 19 – Jennifer Sullivan, Carson-Newman
Jan. 26 – Aaliyah El, Lenoir-Rhyne
Men's Indoor Track & Field
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference announced its WePlayed Sports Men's Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for meets contested during the third week of competition. Carson-Newman's Rylan Jordan earned the track honor while Tusculum's Lansford Cunningham earned the field honor.
Jordan, a sophomore sprinter from Johnson City, Tenn., continues to cement himself as one of the best on the track after setting a new Carson-Newman record in the 400m at the Liberty Open. Jordan started his day strong with the fastest time in the prelims for the 60m dash at 6.79 seconds. However, he did not participate in the finals to rest up for the 400m race. Jordan claimed third place overall and etched his name in the Carson-Newman history books with a 47.97-second performance for a new school record.
Cunningham, a junior jumper from Montego Bay, Jamaica, broke his own school record in the long jump with a mark of 7.42 meters (24 feet, 4 1/4 inches) and took second place at the Hokie Invitational. Cunningham is currently ranked fifth in Division II in the long jump.
2025-26 SAC Men's Track and Field Athletes of the Week
Track
Dec. 9 – Klaus Scholz, Wingate
Jan. 20 – Victor Smith, Catawba
Jan. 27 – Rylan Jordan, Carson-Newman
Field
Dec. 9 – Cadence Dolgin, Carson-Newman
Jan. 20 – Javier Maxwell, Wingate
Jan. 27 – Lansford Cunningham, Tusculum
Women's Indoor Track & Field
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference announced its WePlayed Sports Women's Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for meets contested during the third week of competition. It was a sweep for Anderson as Emma Whittaker earned the track honor while teammate Avery Marshall earned the field honor.
Whittaker, a senior distance runner from Inman, S.C., notched a personal record 800m with a time of 2:14.85. She finished 11th out of 22 while competing against top NCAA Division I programs at the Orange and Purple Invitational hosted by Clemson University on Friday.
Marshall, a sophomore pole vaulter from York, S.C., leads the conference in women's pole vault after an outstanding performance amongst top Division I programs at the Orange & Purple Invitational hosted by Clemson University on Friday. She cleared the 3.49m bar for a 17th place finish.
2025-26 SAC Women's Track and Field Athletes of the Week
Track
Dec. 9 – Kennedy Roush, Anderson
Jan. 20 – Jahzara Hart, Tusculum
Jan. 27 – Emma Whittaker, Anderson
Field
Dec. 9 – Hayat Abdeselam, Wingate
Jan. 20 – Amber Lawless, Wingate
Jan. 27 – Avery Marshall, Anderson