VALDOSTA, Ga.- Valdosta State football graduate student Blake Hester and Blazer soccer freshman Maria Rojas were named this week's Steel's Jewelry Athletes of the Week. This marks Hester's second Blazer athlete of the week award this season while it marks Rojas' first of the year.
 
Hester was one of the key contributors for the Blazer rushing attack in the 52-0 shutout of Chowan on Saturday afternoon. The Ashland, Ky. native rushed for a season-high 121 yards and three touchdowns in the weekend victory. Hester carried the ball for 12 attempts, good for 10.1 yards per carry, with a game-long 38-yard run in the second quarter. He also had one catch for six yards.
 
Rojas secured her first Blazer Athlete of the Week honor and second-career GSC Freshman of the Week award following a week that saw her score a goal, including her first-career game winner, and have four shots overall. The freshman came out on the attack in the Blazers' 2-0 win over Mississippi College as she broke a scoreless draw in the 72^nd-minute with her fifth goal of the season. She then continued her active week with three more shots overall, including one on net, in a 1-1 draw against Delta State.
 
Hester and the No. 1 Blazer football team will now prepare for their biggest test yet this season when they head to Delta State to take on the Statesmen on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. Meanwhile, Rojas and the VSU soccer team kick off the GSC tournament this weekend, taking on Lee in Cleveland, Tenn. on Sunday at 1 p.m. For more information on all things VSU athletics, visit vstateblazers.com.