Jan. 23, 2012

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State men's track and field member Silas Pimentel has been named the America First Credit Union Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending Sunday, Jan. 22, an award that is voted on by a state-wide media panel.

Pimentel, a sophomore from Orem, Utah, won the 200m last weekend at the University of New Mexico Cherry and Silver Invitational with an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 21.48. That time of 21.48 would have tied his career-best, which is the fourth-fastest in school history, but was altitude adjusted to a 21.55.

The win by Pimentel was one of four event victories by USU track and field on the weekend, and the Aggies collected a total of 30 top 10 finishes in the two-day meet.

This is the first USU weekly honor for a track and field student-athlete. It is also the second career USU weekly accolade collected by Pimentel.

The Utah State track and field teams continue their indoor season next weekend when they travel to Pullman, Wash., to participate in the Washington State Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27-28. Utah State will also compete at the Bronco Classic in Boise, Idaho on Feb. 4.

Fans can follow Utah State Athletics, including Aggie track & field and cross country, at http://twitter.com/USUAthletics.com or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:

MEN'S BASKETBALL - Sophomore guard Preston Medlin (Carrollton, Texas) scored in double-figures twice last week as Utah State lost a pair of road games at Seattle (73-66) and at Idaho (57-54). Against the Redhawks, Medlin had 19 points, four assist and two steals. He then scored 17 points against Idaho to go along with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. For the week, Medlin averaged 18.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 46.7 percent from the field (14-30), 17.6 percent from three-point range (3-17) and 83.3 percent at the free throw line (5-6).

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - Junior guard Devyn Christensen (Caldwell, Idaho) guided Utah State to a 1-1 record last week with a loss to first-place Fresno State (90-67) and a win against Nevada (91-69) as the Aggies set a school record for shooting percentage (.586) against the Wolf Pack. Against the Bulldogs, Christensen had 22 points as she was 10-of-19 from the field to go along with three steals, two assists and two blocked shots. Against the Wolf Pack, Christensen scored 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go along with two rebounds, one assist and one steal. For the week, Christensen averaged 22.0 points, 2.0 steals, 1.5 assists and 1.0 blocks per game, while shooting 60.0 percent from the field (18-30), 38.5 percent from three-point range (5-13), and 3-for-3 at the free throw line.

GYMNASTICS - Freshman Sarah Landes (Edmond, Okla.) took second in all-around competition last weekend in Utah State's third-place finish at the Texas Woman's quad meet with a team score of 192.325. Landes set a new career-high in all but one event, and bested her previous all-around score, for a total of 38.925. Landes was the highest-placing USU gymnast on beam, tying for seventh with a 9.750, also posting a 9.750 on floor (tied for 10th), 9.725 on vault (tied for ninth) and 9.700 on bars (tied for 13th).

MEN'S TENNIS - Junior Sven Poslusny (Loerrach, Germany) was the only Utah State men's tennis player to earn a win last week as the Aggies went 0-3 with road losses to Idaho State (6-1), No. 54 New Mexico State (7-0) and Texas A&M -Corpus Christi (7-0). In the loss to the Bengals, Poslusny and doubles partner Matt Sweet won at the No. 1 position, 8-5. Poslusny also captured a straight set singles win (6-1, 6-0) at the No. 1 spot against the Bengals.

WOMEN'S TENNIS - Freshman McKenzie Davis (Salt Lake City, Utah) posted a 2-0 record in singles play and a 1-1 mark in doubles action as Utah State lost at Boise State (5-2) and Denver (6-1) last weekend. Against the Broncos, Davis and doubles partner Jaci West posted an 8-7 (6) win at the first position. Davis also won her singles match at the No. 3 spot against BSU in straight sets (6-4, 6-2). Against the Pioneers, Davis won a come-from-behind match at No. 3 singles (0-6, 7-5, 10-6).

WOMEN'S TRACK - Senior Spela Hus (Celje, Slovenia) won the shot put with a mark of 14.58m (47-10.00) last weekend at the University of New Mexico Cherry and Silver Invitational.

2011-12 Utah State Athlete of the Week Winners
Aug. 29 - Shantel Flanary, Soccer
Sept. 5 - Chuckie Keeton, Football
Sept. 12 - Robert Turbin, Football
Sept. 19 - Brian McKenna, Cross Country
Sept. 26 - Marcus Fritz, Men's Tennis
Oct. 3 - Robert Turbin, Football
Oct. 10 - Chuckie Keeton, Football
Oct. 17 - Liz McArthur, Volleyball
Oct. 24 - Jennifer Flynn, Soccer
Oct. 31 - Brian McKenna, Cross Country
Nov. 7 - Molli Merrill, Soccer
Nov. 14 - Brockeith Pane, Men's Basketball
Nov. 21 - Robert Turbin, Football
Nov. 28 - Bobby Wagner, Football
Dec. 5 - Adam Kennedy, Football
Dec. 12 - Preston Medlin, Men's Basketball
Dec. 19 - Michael Smith, Football
Dec. 26 - Preston Medlin, Men's Basketball
Jan. 9 - Brooke Jackson, Women's Basketball
Jan. 16 - Ashlee Brown, Women's Basketball
Jan. 23 - Silas Pimentel, Men's Track & Field

-USU-