LOGAN, Utah – Utah State golfer Colten Cordingley has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Feb. 14. The award is voted on by a state-wide medial panel.
 
With their sponsorship of the Student-Athlete of the Week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.
 
Cordingley finished with a career-best 54-hole score of 9-under 207 (68-68-71) to tie for third at the Southern Utah-hosted Pizza Hut-Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational, which was held Feb. 6-8 at the Sunbrook Golf Course in St. George, Utah.
 
Cordingley played his last three holes during the final round at 3-under as he made birdie on each one to finish at 1-under 71, giving him three under-par rounds for the tournament. He was one of three golfers to lead the tournament in par-3 scoring (2.83).
 
Utah State finished tied for fourth against a 12-team field as the Aggies posted a 54-hole team score of 8-under 856 (290-276-290).
 
The tournament was the first action of the season for the Aggies, who had not competed since last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The native of Rexburg, Idaho, was also named the Mountain West Men's Golfer of the Week on Feb. 11.
 
Utah State returns to action Friday and Saturday, March 5-6, at the South Dakota-hosted Jackrabbit Invitational. The 36-hole tournament will be played at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev.
 
Fans can follow Utah State's golf program on Facebook at facebook.com/USUMensGolf and on Twitter at @USUMensGolf.
 
Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL – Graduate forward Jessica Chatman (Ridgefield, Wash.) led Utah State last week in a pair of Mountain West road losses at Wyoming by scores of 68-56 and 79-42. In the first game of the series, Chatman scored 21 points, the third-most of her career, while also bringing down 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. In the second game, she had five points, to go along with seven rebounds and a steal. For the week, Chatman averaged 13.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 37.0 percent (10-of-27) from the floor, 44.4 percent (4-of-9) from 3-point range and 66.7 percent (2-of-3) at the free throw line.

GYMNASTICS – Senior Leighton Varnadore (Aiken, S.C.) captured the all-around crown with a season-high 39.200 in No. 23 Utah State's Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference home loss against No. 21 Boise State by a final score of 196.400-195.325. Varnadore tied for eighth on vault with a 9.750 and tied for eighth on bars with a career-high-tying 9.850, which was also a season best. On beam in the third rotation, Varnadore tied for fifth with a 9.825. She closed the meet by tying for third on floor with a season-best 9.825. It marked just the second time this season that Varnadore has competed in the all-around.

SOFTBALL – Junior catcher/first baseman Gabriella Jimenez (Sacramento, Calif.) was a top performer for Utah State as the Aggies went 0-4 at the Easton Invitational hosted by Cal State Fullerton last weekend. USU dropped two games apiece to Oregon State (6-1, 6-0) and Cal State Fullerton (5-4, 4-3). In the opener against OSU, Jimenez went 1-for-3 at the plate with a home run, while adding six putouts and one assist. Against the Titans, she hit 1-for-4, hitting another home run and driving in three runs, tallying five putouts. In the second game against the Beavers, she was 0-for-3 at the plate with four putouts. In the weekend finale against CS Fullerton, she batted 1-for-3 with one RBI and one walk, adding seven putouts. On the weekend, Jimenez batted .231 (3-of-13) with two home runs. She scored two runs and batted in five, drawing one walk. Defensively, she recorded a team-best 22 putouts and one assist with no errors.

MEN'S TENNIS – Freshman Keanu Rigby (Tremonton, Utah) posted a straight-sets win at No. 6 singles (6-4, 6-2) to give Utah State a 5-2 home win against Weber State in its only match last week.

WOMEN'S TENNIS – Junior Zara Ryan (Dublin, Ireland) notched a 1-1 record last week in Utah State's 5-2 road loss at Northern Arizona. Ryan posted a straight-sets win at No. 2 singles (7-5, 6-3) and teamed with junior Annaliese County in a 6-4 loss at the second doubles position.

VOLLEYBALL – Junior middle blocker Corinne Larsen (Sandy, Utah) led Utah State last week in a pair of three-set Mountain West road losses at Boise State. In the first match, Larsen led the Aggies with 10 kills, hitting .185 (10-5-27). She also added three block assists and one dig. In the second match, she hit a team-best .412 (8-1-17), adding five block assists and two digs. On the week, Larsen hit .273 (18-6-44), tallying eight block assists and three digs.
 
2020-21 Utah State Athlete of the Week Winners
Nov. 30 – Andrew Peasley, Football
Dec. 6 – Jessica Chatman, Women's Basketball
Dec. 13 – Jessica Chatman, Women's Basketball
Dec. 27 – Neemias Queta, Men's Basketball
Jan. 3 – Neemias Queta, Men's Basketball
Jan. 10 – Neemias Queta, Men's Basketball
Jan. 17 – Neemias Queta, Men's Basketball
Jan. 24 – Camren Todd, Men's Cross Country
Jan. 31 – Rollie Worster, Men's Basketball
Feb. 7 – Autumn DeHarde, Gymnastics
Feb. 14 – Colten Cordingley, Golf
 
-USU-