Indiana Wesleyan, highlighted by Kyle Mangas’ (24) fourth straight Player of the Year award, had a major haul in the Crossroads League basketball awards. Photo courtesy IWU Athletics

By Mike Deak
InkFreeNews

AVON, Ohio – Despite falling short of a team goal, Indiana Wesleyan’s Kyle Mangas had a sweep of his own.

Mangas, a senior for the top-ranked Wildcats, earned his fourth Crossroads League Most Valuable Player award, as it was announced Wednesday by the league.

Mangas, who was also named First Year All-League, led the league in points-per-game (30.7), total points (491), steals (34) and assists (87). He was a 10-time league Player of the Week and two-time NAIA Player of the Week. The reigning Bevo Francis Award winner was a 60-percent shooter from the floor, only trailing Defensive Player of the Year and teammate, Seth Maxwell, in that category.

The Wildcats took home three of the league’s top honors and claimed 10 total awards, highlighted by Mangas’ POY nod, Greg Tonagel being named the Crossroads League Coach of the Year, and Maxwell repeating as the Crossroads League Defensive Player of the Year. Clay Hilliard of Mount Vernon Nazarene claimed the fourth top honor, as the Crossroads League Freshman of the Year.

The Crossroads League First-Team was filled by Mangas and Maxwell of IWU, along with TreVion Crews of Bethel, Cameron Wolter and Christian Stewart of Marian, Jevon Knox of MVNU, Antwaan Cushingberry of Saint Francis, Zach Goodline of Huntington, Jason Hubbard of Taylor and Haden Deaton of Grace.

The Marian Knights dominated the postseason women’s awards, claiming all five top honors and collecting nine other All-Crossroads League nods. The Marian honors were highlighted by Katie Gearlds repeating as the Crossroads League Coach of the Year, with Imani Guy being named the Crossroads League Player and Defensive Player of the Year and Ella Collier being named the Crossroads League Freshman and Newcomer of the Year.

Guy and Collier were joined by teammate Abby Downard on the All-Crossroads League First-Team, with Lauren James of Taylor, Taylor Gregory of Mount Vernon Nazarene, Sam Vaughn of Huntington and the duo or Anne Secrest and Dayton Groninger of Indiana Wesleyan rounding out the eight-member team.

2020-2021 Men’s First-Team All-Crossroads League

Kyle Mangas, Indiana Wesleyan
TreVion Crews, Bethel
Cameron Wolter, Marian
Jevon Knox, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Seth Maxwell, Indiana Wesleyan
Antwaan Cushingberry, Saint Francis
Zach Goodline, Huntington
Christian Stewart, Marian
Jason Hubbard, Taylor
Haden Deaton, Grace

2020-2021 Men’s Second-Team All-Crossroads League

David Ejah, Saint Francis
CJ Penha, Taylor
Tahj Curry, Goshen
Caleb Middlesworth, Huntington
Clay Hilliard, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Jared Dehart, Bethel
Noah Smith, Indiana Wesleyan
Christian Harvey, Marian
Jalen Mull, Saint Francis
Jake Wadding, Grace

2020-2021 Men’s Honorable Mention All-Crossroads League

Nathan Aerts, Bethel
Austin Branagan, Goshen
Kyle Kegley, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Cade Gibbs, Grace
Michael Thompson, Indiana Wesleyan
Hank Pulver, Huntington

2020-2021 Crossroads League Men’s All-Defensive Team

Seth Maxwell, Indiana Wesleyan
Jason Hubbard, Taylor
Tyrie Johnson, Marian
Noah Smith, Indiana Wesleyan
Jalen Mull, Saint Francis

2020-2021 Crossroads League Men’s All-Freshmen Team

Clay Hilliard, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Jake Wadding, Grace
Cade Gibbs, Grace
Kade Ruegsegger, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Tayson Parker, Indiana Wesleyan

2020-2021 Women’s First-Team All-Crossroads League

Imani Guy, Marian
Ella Collier, Marian
Lauren James, Taylor
Taylor Gregory, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Sam Vaughn, Huntington
Anne Secrest, Indiana Wesleyan
Abby Downard, Marian
Dayton Groninger, Indiana Wesleyan

2020-2021 Women’s Second-Team All-Crossroads League

Cassidy Crawford, Saint Francis
Kyannah Stull, Grace
Rylee Pireu, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Madisyn Fischer, Taylor
TaNiece Chapman, Goshen
Macy Willoughby, Marian
Kelsey Brickner, Bethel
Meleah Leatherman, Saint Francis

2020-2021 Women’s Honorable Mention All-Crossroads League

Gabby Suarez, Indiana Wesleyan
Kinnidy Garrard, Marian
Graysen Cockerham, Goshen
Kayla Kirtley, Taylor
Emily Seboe, Huntington
Jordan Reid, Indiana Wesleyan
Sidney Crowe, Saint Francis

2020-2021 Crossroads League Women’s All-Defensive Team

Imani Guy, Marian
Sam Vaughn, Huntington
Taylor Gregory, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Abby Downard, Marian
Meleah Leatherman, Saint Francis

2020-2021 Crossroads League Women’s All-Freshmen Team

Ella Collier, Marian
Jordan Reid, Indiana Wesleyan
Emily Seboe, Huntington
Taylor Westgate, Taylor
Tamia Perryman, Marian