Three Spartans Earn Athlete of the Week Honors
Feb 28, 2017
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The University of Dubuque’s Tanasha Atwater, Alec Bass and Brooke Crossen were named Athlete of the Week by the IIAC and CCIW for their performances for the week of February 20th-25th.
Tanasha Atwater (Junior, Davenport, Iowa/Davenport Central) earned IIAC Indoor Track and Field – Female Performer of the Week for the second time in the Indoor season by winning two events at the IIAC Championships. In the process, Atwater set two IIAC championship records by winnning the women's shot put with a toss of 14.67m/48'-1.75", and the weight Throw in 18.71m/61'-4.75”. With the two record setting throws also earned Most Valuable Performer honors at the IIAC Championships. “The Iowa Conference meet was amazing! Everyone worked so very hard and supported each other throughout it all,” commented Atwater. “Congratulations to the Men for claiming their first indoor championship ever!” This is the fifth time in her career being selected as Indoor Track and Field – Field Performer of the Week (1/29/17, 2/15/16, 1/25/16, 1/18/16).
Alec Bass (Junior, Spring Green, Wis./River Valley) was selected as the IIAC Indoor Track and Field – Male Track Performer of the Week for his performance at the IIAC Indoor Championships. Bass completed the Distance Triple, winning the 5,000m run in 14:44.41, 3,000m run in 8:32.65 and the mile in 4:22.74, setting new school records in the 5,000 run and 3,000m run. Bass' performace helped lead UD to their first IIAC Indoor team title ever. This is the third time Bass has been named IIAC Indoor Track and Field – Male Track Performer of the Week this season, he was also named IIAC Male Runner of the Week once in the 2016 cross country season as well.
Brooke Crossen (Senior, Madison, Wis./Oregon HS) helped lead the Spartans to two wins to start off the 2017 season. She totaled four ground balls and four caused turnovers in a 15-4 victory over Clarke in the season opener last Wednesday. She followed up with two ground balls and one caused turnover in a 14-4 win against Monmouth (Ill.) on Saturday. “I am just thankful that my hard work showed during senior year. After coming off my severe ankle injury from last season and finally being cleared to run in August I had a lot to make up for,” said Crossen. “Getting honored as Defensive player of the week makes happy knowing my hard work has paid off and hasn't gone unnoticed. It's making up for my lost season junior year.”
