Williamsburg, KY – Coming off another successful week in Patriots Athletics wrestler Ariana Pereira and linebacker Walker Dunn were selected as the Pepsi Athletes of the Week, announced by the athletic department Monday.
 
Ariana Pereira earned athlete of the week honors after going 5-0 and winning the 170 lbs. weight class at the Falcon Invite.  Pereira recorded a pair of falls, two tech falls, and a decision to capture her first collegiate title.  The sophomore opened the tournament with a fall at the 2:08 mark in the first period.  Pereira followed that up with consecutive 10-0 tech falls wins to advance to the semifinals.  There the Newark, CA native jumped out to a 4-2 lead on tenth-ranked Leilana Hernandez of Texas Wesleyan before earning a fall to advance to the championship match. Pereira faced her second straight ranked opponent, 11^th-ranked Darby Weidl of Ottawa, in the finals and never trailed as she earned a 6-4 decision and the tournament win.  
 
Walker Dunn earned athlete of the week honors after recording ten tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception, and a blocked field goal in the win over Campbellsville.  Dunn notched a season-high six solo tackles in the win and his first interception of the 2022 season.  With UC leading 7-0 in the first quarter, the Tigers went for a 32-yard field goal, however, Dunn came unblocked and blocked the kick to give the Patriots the possession.  Later in the opening quarter Dunn stopped Luke Sheperson for a nine-yard loss to help limit the Campbellsville offense.  In the third quarter, Dunn brought an abrupt halt to a Tigers drive as he intercepted a Jager Gillis pass and returned it 27-yards into Campbellsville territory.  Dunn was a key part of the Patriots defense that ultimately set a program record with ten sacks and 19 tackles for loss.
 
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