Baptiste Badon Named America First Credit Union USU Student

Jean-Baptiste Badon Named America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week

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Men's Tennis 4/6/2026 9:47:00 AM

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men's tennis senior Jean-Baptiste Badon has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, April 5. 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.

Badon went 3-1 across singles and doubles play to help Utah State to a pair of Mountain West wins at San Diego State (4-0) and against Grand Canyon (4-1) to clinch a share of the MW regular season title. Against the Aztecs, the senior from Los Angeles, California, played alongside sophomore Dmitri Goubin to post a 6-2 win at the second position to help the Aggies take the doubles point. In singles, Badon doubled USU's lead with a 7-6 (1), 6-4 victory at the first position en route to the sweep. In the title-clinching match against the Lopes, Badon again won at No. 1 singles posting a 6-3, 6-2 win to restore USU's lead on the way to a 4-1 victory, clinching the team's fifth regular season conference title in program history, all of which have come in the Mountain West.

This is Badon's first time in his career being named the AFCU USU Student-Athlete of the Week.

Fans can follow USU's men's tennis team on Twitter @USUMensTennis, on Facebook at /UtahStateMensTennis or on Instagram at USUMensTennis. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.

Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:

GOLF – Sophomore Chase Goetschel (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) tied for 33rd at 1-under 215 (73-74-68) at the Wyoming-hosted Cowboy Classic held last week at the par-72, 7,330-yard Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club. It is his third under par finish this season, including his second in as many weeks. His 4-under 68 on his final 18 holes ties his career-low round as it is his fourth round in the 60s this year and eighth round under par. USU finished in 15th place out of 25 teams at 14-over 878 (292-299-287).

GYMNASTICS – Junior Sydney Jelen (Algonquin, Illinois) tied for fourth on bars with a 9.850 and tied for seventh on beam with a 9.825 in the second round of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional. USU finished in fourth place with a team score of 195.750.

SOFTBALL – Senior outfielder Kya Pratt (Temecula, California) led Utah State to a 2-1 showing last week as the Aggies earned the first series win at San Diego State in program history (W, 4-3; L, 1-9 (5); W, 5-4). Pratt began the week by going 1-for-4 in the first game with a double and a run scored. In the second contest, she went 1-for-2. In the final game, she went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. In total, Pratt hit .444 (4-for-9) on the week with one home run, one double, two RBIs and two runs scored. She had a .500 on base percentage and a .889 slugging percentage. In the field, Pratt had seven putouts with no errors.

WOMEN'S TENNIS – Freshman Terezia Mlkva (Piestany, Slovakia) went 4-0 across singles and doubles play to help Utah State to a pair of road wins at Fresno State (4-2) and San Jose State (4-3). Against the Bulldogs, Mlkva teamed with sophomore Kylee Sperry to record a 6-3 win to help secure the doubles point. Mlkva then supplied the clinching point in singles play, winning at the No. 1 position, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Against the Spartans, Mlkva again recorded a doubles victory alongside Sperry, this time winning, 6-2, to again help take the doubles point. At No.1 singles, Mlkva helped spur on the Aggie comeback, bouncing back from a first-set tiebreak to record a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3 victory to tie the match.

MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD – Senior Logan Hammer (Nampa, Idaho) cleared 5.50 meters (18-0.5) in the pole vault this past weekend at the Stanford Invitational. Hammer, who finished best among Division I vaulters and second overall, posted the top mark in the Mountain West so far this season and the 12th-best in Division I.

WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD – Sophomore Shay Jones (Plano, Texas) finished second in her heat and ninth overall in the 400 meters and anchored the women's 4x400-meter relay team this past weekend at the Pepsi Florida Relays in Gainesville, Florida. Jones ran her individual 400-meter race in 52.53, the second-fastest time in USU history, and helped her relay squad to a finishing time of 3:39.25, which ranks third all-time. The Plano West HS product leads the Mountain West and ranks 26th in the country in the 400 meters, while her 4x400-meter relay team ranks second in the conference and 46th in the nation.

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

- USU -

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