LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men's tennis sophomore Roman Venger has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, April 12. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.
 
With their sponsorship of the student-athlete of the week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.
 
Venger went 2-0 across singles and doubles to help Utah State clinch the outright Mountain West title with a 4-2 win against No. 65 Boise State. In doubles, Venger teamed with sophomore Eliot Nobel to post a 6-2 victory at the third position. Venger then outlasted his opponent in singles play for a 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1 victory at the third position to provide the clinching point in the victory.

This is Venger's first time in his career being named the AFCU USU Student-Athlete of the Week.

Fans can follow USU's men's tennis team on Twitter @USUMensTennis, on Facebook at /UtahStateMensTennis or on Instagram at USUMensTennis. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
 
Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
GOLF – Sophomore Chase Goetschel (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) tied for 11th at 1-over 217 (73-74-70) at the UC Santa Barbara-hosted Gaucho Invitational held last week at the Sandpiper Golf Club. For Goetschel, it is his second-best finish this season, including his second top 20 placing. Goetschel began the tournament with a 1-over 73, followed by a 2-over 74 and concluded the tournament with a 2-under 70 for his ninth round under par this year.   
 
SOFTBALL – Freshman infielder Kate Vance (Chandler, Arizona) led Utah State during an 0-4 showing last week with games against Boise State (L, 6-11; L, 2-13 (6)) and at UNLV (L, 4-7; L, 8-12). Vance began the week by going 3-for-4 in the first game against the Broncos with an RBI and a run scored. In the second contest, she went 1-for-3. Against UNLV in the first contest, she went 3-for-3 with a run scored, then closed out the week going 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a base on balls. In total, Vance hit .615 (8-for-13) on the week with two RBIs, three runs scored and a base on balls. She had a .643 on base percentage and a .615 slugging percentage. In the field, Vance had four putouts and six assists with no errors.
  
WOMEN'S TENNIS – Junior Magdalena Nunez Pureco (Merida, Yucatan, Mexico) posted a pair of singles wins over the weekend to help USU to a 4-1 win at New Mexico before falling to Air Force, 4-2. Against the Lobos, Nunez Pureco posted a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 6 singles to put the Aggies up, 3-1, in the match. Against the Falcons, Nunez Pureco tied the match at 2-2 with a three-set win at No. 5 singles, posting a 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 victory.
 
MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD – Senior Javin Richards (Perry, Ohio) posted the second-best decathlon performance in Utah State history, accumulating 7,203 points to place sixth in Section A of the decathlon competition at the Bryan Clay Multis in Azusa, California, this past weekend. The USU record-holder in the indoor heptathlon set personal bests in the 400 meters, long jump and shot put as he topped his previous-best overall score by 102 points, moving up from fifth on the Aggie decathlon top 10 list. Richards currently leads the Mountain West in the decathlon and ranks 27th in the nation.
 
WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD – Senior Valerie Clark (Mona, Utah) won the women's javelin at the Utah Spring Classic in Salt Lake City, Utah, this past weekend with a mark of 47.78 meters (156-09). Battling strong winds throughout the afternoon, Clark earned her fourth top two finish in as many meets this season when she launched her winning throw on her third attempt before the competition was ended after four rounds by the day's second lightning delay. Her mark places her fourth in the Mountain West so far this season.
 
2025-26 America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week Winners
Sept. 1 – Miles Davis, Football
Sept. 8 – John Miller, Football
Sept. 15 – Bryson Barnes, Football
Sept. 22 – Bryson Barnes, Football
Sept. 29 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Oct. 6 – Kaylie Kofe, Volleyball
Oct. 13 – Tess Werts, Soccer
Oct. 20 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Oct. 27 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Nov. 3 – Mara Štiglic, Volleyball 
Nov. 10 – Rine Yonaha, Soccer
Nov. 17 – Garry Clark, Men's Basketball
Nov. 24 – MJ Collins Jr., Men's Basketball
Dec. 1 – Andrea Simovski, Volleyball
Dec. 8 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Dec. 15 – Javin Richards, Track and Field
Dec. 22 – Mason Falslev, Men's Basketball
Jan. 5 – MJ Collins Jr., Men's Basketball
Jan. 12 – MJ Collins Jr., Men's Basketball
Jan. 19 – Ayodele Ojo, Jr., Track and Field
Jan. 26 – Sydney Jelen, Gymnastics
Feb. 2 – Landon Bott, Track and Field
Feb. 9 – Mason Falslev, Men's Basketball
Feb. 16 – Jayden Holdsworth, Track and Field
Feb. 23 – Olivia Orengo, Gymnastics
March 2 – Logan Hammer, Track and Field
March 9 – Nyla Morabito, Gymnastics
March 16 – Logan Hammer, Track and Field
March 23 – Mya Witte, Gymnastics
March 30 – Ayodele Ojo, Jr., Track and Field
April 6 – Jean-Baptiste Badon, Men's Tennis
April 13 – Roman Venger, Men's Tennis

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