Feb. 8, 2010

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's Mike Pyrtle named the America First Credit Union Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week, which is voted on by a state media panel, for the period ending on Sunday, Jan Feb. 7. It is the first time in his career that Pyrtle has received USU's top weekly individual honor.

Junior Mike Pyrtle (Ocala, Fla.) set a new Utah State record in winning the 60m in a time of 6.69 (6.71 altitude venue adjusted) Saturday at the New Mexico Classic. Pyrtle's time is an NCAA provisional mark, as well as the fastest in the WAC and a new personal-record. Pyrtle's mark betters the Utah State school record in the 60m by 0.03, as the previous mark was held by DJ Smith in 2006 of 6.72.

Pyrtle and the Aggies will continue indoor action this Saturday at the Boise State Open Saturday, Feb. 13. The Aggies will also be sending some athletes to the Washington Open in Seattle, Wash. Saturday.

Nominees from other sports for USU Athlete of the Week honors include:
MEN'S BASKETBALL - Junior forward Tai Welsey (Provo, Utah) led Utah State to a pair of home wins against Idaho (80-62) and Nevada (76-65) last week. Against the Vandals, he had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists in just 20 minutes. He then added 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists against the Wolf Pack. For the week, Wesley averaged 16.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, while shooting 57.1 percent from the field (12-21) and 80.0 percent at the free throw line (8-10).

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - Junior guard LaCale Pringle-Buchanan (Seattle, Wash.) scored a team-leading 17 points (5-of-11) in the Aggies loss to Louisiana Tech, 74-54, on Feb. 6. She also added five rebounds and two steals in the USU's only game of the week. She was one point away from tying her career high of 18 points against UNLV on Jan. 2.

GYMNASTICS - Senior Heather Heinrich (Littleton, Colo.) was USU's top all-arounder, finishing third with a season-high 38.675, Friday night as USU finished third at the BYU tri-meet with No. 20 Denver, posting a 190.475. Heinrich was also USU's top scorer on both vault and bars, scoring a 9.750 on vault, good for a tie for sixth, and posting a 9.700 on bars to place 10th. Heinrich tied for top USU honors on floor with teammates Chelsea Marquardt and Lyndsie Boone all with 9.750's and tying for ninth. She also tallied a 9.475 on beam (13th).

MEN'S TENNIS - Senior Amit Maharaj (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) went 2-0 over the weekend, helping USU go 1-1 in action, sweeping Lewis-Clark State, 7-0, and nearly-upsetting No. 23 Boise State, falling 4-3. Playing at No. 5 singles, Marhaj beat Lincoln Gay of Lewis-Clark State, 6-1, 6-3. Marhaj also beat Boise State's Michael Gillaland, 7-6, 6-1. Maharaj and freshman partner Sven Poslusny extended their win streak to five matches in a row, dispatching LCSC's Cesar Uauy and Oliver Sindayigaya, 8-6, before having the streak halted with a tight, 8-7, loss to BSU's Christian Hodel and Jeff Mullen.

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD - Senior Erin Stratton (Aurora, Colo.) finished second in the mile Saturday at the New Mexico Classic, clocking in at 5:05.57.

2009-10 Utah State Athlete of the Week WinnersAug. 31 - Lauren Hansen, SoccerSept. 7 - Liz McArthur, VolleyballSept. 14 - Liz McArthur, VolleyballSept. 21 - Diondre Borel, FootballSept. 28 - Robert Turbin, FootballOct. 5 - Benjamin Schilleman, GolfOct. 12 - Natalie Norris, SoccerOct. 19 - Emily Kortsen, VolleyballOct. 26 - Walter McClenton, FootballNov. 2 - Brian McKenna, Cross CountryNov. 9 - Diondre Borel, FootballNov. 16 - Amber White, Women's BasketballNov. 23 - Bobby Wagner, FootballNov. 30 - Robert Turbin, FootballDec. 7 - Jared Quayle, Men's BasketballDec. 14 - Pooh Williams, Men's BasketballDec. 21 - Tai Wesley, Men's BasketballDec. 28 - Tai Wesley, Men's BasketballJan. 4 - LaCale Pringle-Buchanan, Women's BasketballJan. 11 - Amber White, Women's BasketballJan. 18 - Jared Quayle, Men's BasketballJan. 25 - Sven Poslusny, Men's TennisFeb. 1 - Nate Bendall, Men's BasketballFeb. 8 - Mike Pyrtle, Men's Track