TCNJ student-athletes received nine NJAC weekly awards on Monday, as announced by the conference. The awards recognized performances from the previous week across several sports.
The men’s track and field team earned all three available honors. Maxim Rychkov was named Track Athlete of the Week after setting a program record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 47.95 at the Lions Indoor Invitational. His performance ranks sixth in Division III and 23rd overall in the NCAA. Braden Paulmenn was recognized as Field Athlete of the Week for his third-place finish in shot put (15.38m) and fourth place in weight throw (13.98m). Victor Akinboboye received Rookie of the Week, finishing ninth in the 300-meter dash with a time of 35.54, currently 18th-fastest in Division III.
On the women’s side, Lucia Garcia-Beltran was awarded Track Athlete of the Week after breaking a long-standing program record in her first race since transferring from Rutgers. She ran a 7.63 in the 60-meter dash to win her event, posting what is now the fifth-fastest time in Division III this season. Sarah Scepkowski took Field Athlete of the Week for recording a high jump mark of 1.60m, ranking twentieth nationally among Division III athletes.
In men’s swimming and diving, M.J. Hoban earned Swimmer of the Week following his performances at TCNJ’s tri-meet against Johns Hopkins and Washington and Lee. He won the 50 Free with a time of 20.96 seconds and placed second in the 100 Free at 46.14 seconds while contributing strong relay splits as well.
Gabe Beverini received Rookie honors after placing within the top five across three individual events: fifth in both breaststroke distances (100 Breast – 58.05; 200 Breast – 2:09.04) and second place in the 200 IM (1:55.38).
Matthew Solomon was named Player of the Week for men’s basketball after averaging double-doubles over two games that resulted in NJAC wins for TCNJ’s team, including surpassing career milestones such as reaching more than one thousand points scored for his college career.
Brooke McFadden was named Defensive Player of the Week for women’s basketball following two victories where she averaged double figures both scoring and rebounding, becoming TCNJ’s first player since 2019 to collect more than twenty rebounds in a single game.
“Rychkov set yet another program record this past Friday at the Lions Indoor Invitational, posting a 47.95 in the 400-meter dash,” according to information released by TCNJ Athletics staff.
“In her first race since joining the Lions as a transfer from Rutgers, Garcia-Beltran took down a program record which had stood for over a decade,” stated representatives from TCNJ Athletics.
Solomon “became the 27th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points,” marking an important achievement noted during Saturday’s victory against Rutgers-Newark.
McFadden “became the first TCNJ player to eclipse twenty boards since 2019” during her team’s win over Rutgers-Newark last week.
