LOGAN, Utah – Utah State track and field graduate Logan Garnica has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, April 19. 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.
 
Garnica broke the school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase this past weekend at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California. Garnica, who set the previous school record of 8:33.91 last spring on the same Azusa Pacific track, finished with an eighth-place time of 8:29.62 that ranks fourth in Mountain West history. The NCAA Elite 90 Award winner in cross country ranks third in the NCAA West Region and ninth in the nation in 2026.
  
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Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
SOFTBALL – Senior catcher Grace Matej (Orangevale, California) led Utah State to a 3-1 showing last week with a win at Weber State (W; 5-1) and a series victory over San José State (W, 6-5 (8); L, 5-10; W, 7-6). Matej began the week by going 0-for-3 with a base on balls against the Wildcats. In game one against the Spartans, she went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, an RBI and two runs scored. In the second game, she went 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs and two runs scored. She finished the week by going 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run, a base on balls, an RBI and a run scored. In total, Matej hit .500 (7-for-14) on the week with a double, two triples, three home runs, two bases on balls, five RBIs and five runs scored. She had a .563 on base percentage and a 1.500 slugging percentage.
 
MEN'S TENNIS – Sophomore Xavier Calvelo (Las Vegas, Nevada) posted a singles and doubles win during Utah State's 7-0 win at Weber State. In doubles, Calvelo teamed with freshman Jakub Medved to record a 6-2 win at the top spot in the lineup. At No. 2 singles, Calvelo earned a 6-4, 6-4 victory to help the Aggies to the 7-0 sweep.
 
WOMEN'S TENNIS – Sophomore Maria Paula Ramos Garcia (Guatemala City, Guatemala) led Utah State during a 4-1 loss to No. 60 Boise State. Ramos Garcia recorded USU's lone point of the match with a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 3 singles.
 
WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD – Senior Sarah Ellis (Issaquah, Washington) broke the school record in the 5,000 meters this past weekend at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California, with a time of 15:50.07. Ellis, who held the school record for two weeks last season, beat Emma Thornley's 2025 record time by 11.37 seconds and her previous best by 14.51 seconds in a fourth-place finish in the field. Her time places her fourth in the Mountain West and 32nd in the NCAA West Region 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
April 20 – Logan Garnica, Track and Field

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