GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- One award is special. Two will get your attention. Five? That says something much bigger is happening.

Aquinas College Athletics put together a remarkable Monday as five Saints representing three different programs were recognized by the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference with weekly honors. Kyle Pranger was named the WHAC Men's Bowler of the Week, Parker Burns and Simon Johnson swept the conference's Men's Hockey Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards, while Cece Pelak and Natalie West claimed two of the three weekly honors in Women's Volleyball.

Five Saints. Three programs. One very good week for the Maroon and White.

More importantly, it is another sign that The AQ Way continues to gain attention.

Built around doing things the right way in competition, in the classroom and throughout the Aquinas community, The AQ Way isn't about chasing individual recognition. It is about creating an environment where Saints can succeed together. But when that happens consistently, people notice.

This week, the WHAC certainly noticed.

For Aquinas Athletic Director Damon Bouwkamp, seeing Saints regularly appear among the conference's weekly award winners has become another reflection of the standard being established throughout the department.

"This is an incredible accomplishment for these five student-athletes, but I think what makes it even more special is that seeing Aquinas represented among the WHAC Players of the Week has really become a recurring theme," Bouwkamp said. "That speaks to our student-athletes, our coaches and the culture they continue to build across our entire athletic department. The AQ Way is about pursuing excellence the right way, and when you consistently do that, people are going to take notice. We are proud to see our Saints being recognized within the WHAC, and increasingly on the national stage, for what they are accomplishing."

And on this Monday, there was plenty to notice.

PRANGER ROLLS HIS WAY TO THE TOP

Kyle Pranger | Men's Bowling | WHAC Bowler of the Week

Pranger didn't just have a good weekend. He walked away as a champion.

The Aquinas standout captured the individual championship at the Midwest event after putting together a tremendous five-game performance. Pranger rolled games of 182, 230, 248, 265 and 235 to finish with 1,160 total pins and a 232.0 average.

After opening with a 182, Pranger found another gear. He averaged 244.5 over his final four games, including a 265 in his fourth game, as he surged to the top of the individual standings.

It was the kind of performance that separated Pranger from the field and earned him his place atop the podium — and now another honor as the WHAC Men's Bowler of the Week.

BURNS IGNITES THE SAINTS' OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION

Parker Burns | Men's Hockey | WHAC Offensive Player of the Week

What a weekend it was for Parker Burns.

Aquinas' Men's Hockey team entered its home-and-home series against Oakland looking to regain its swagger following a difficult weekend against Hope. Burns and the Saints did considerably more than that.

Burns scored seven goals in two games as Aquinas swept the Grizzlies by a combined score of 24-0.

He opened the weekend by recording a hat trick in Friday night's 13-0 road victory in Rochester before somehow finding another level Saturday at home.

Burns scored four times in the Saints' 11-0 victory, with three of those goals coming on the power play.

Seven goals. Two games. Two Aquinas victories.

It was a statement weekend for Burns and an Aquinas team that evened its record and showed just how much progress it has made under Head Coach Brandon Rozema.

JOHNSON SLAMS THE DOOR

Simon Johnson | Men's Hockey | WHAC Defensive Player of the Week

While the Saints' offense was filling the scoresheet Friday night, Simon Johnson made certain nothing was happening at the other end of the ice.

Johnson turned away all 14 shots he faced in Aquinas' 13-0 victory over Oakland, completing the 60-minute shutout with a 1.000 save percentage and 0.00 goals-against average.

A shutout can sometimes get lost in the excitement of an offensive performance like the Saints produced Friday. It shouldn't.

Johnson was perfect when called upon, giving Aquinas the steady presence behind its defense that allowed the Saints to dictate the game from beginning to end.

Burns and Johnson sweeping the WHAC's offensive and defensive awards put the finishing touches on a weekend in which Aquinas Men's Hockey rediscovered its confidence and sent a message that this year's Saints intend to keep climbing.

PELAK DELIVERS A RECORD-TYING PERFORMANCE

Cece Pelak | Women's Volleyball | WHAC Attacker of the Week

There are big matches, and then there are performances people will remember.

Cece Pelak provided one of those Friday.

The Aquinas attacker tied the program's single-match record with 30 kills against Spring Arbor, highlighting another huge week for one of the nation's top volleyball teams.

Across three Aquinas victories, Pelak totaled 60 kills, averaging 4.62 kills per set, while adding 42 digs and seven blocks.

Her 30-kill masterpiece against Spring Arbor came during an electric afternoon inside the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center and provided one of the defining individual performances of the Saints' season.

Pelak's week was more than one remarkable match, however. She remained a major part of the Aquinas attack throughout a demanding stretch as the Saints continued building a résumé that has them firmly in the national conversation.

For one of the leaders of the Maroon and White, the WHAC Attacker of the Week award was well earned.

WEST GOES BACK-TO-BACK

Natalie West | Women's Volleyball | WHAC Setter of the Week

At this point, Natalie West might want to keep a little extra room available for WHAC hardware.

For the second consecutive week, West has been selected as the WHAC Setter of the Week.

West orchestrated the Aquinas offense during a 3-0 week, totaling 129 assists for an average of 9.92 per set.

But, as has become the norm with West, her impact stretched well beyond setting.

She added 17 kills while hitting .395, collected 25 digs, recorded 11 blocks and served three aces. It was another complete week from the Saints' setter and another reminder of just how many different ways she can impact a match.

Back-to-back conference honors also reinforce something that has become increasingly clear — West is playing at an exceptionally high level while directing an Aquinas attack capable of creating problems from virtually anywhere on the floor.

THE AQ WAY: Different sports. Different performances. Same Maroon and White. Aquinas student-athletes continue finding ways to make people take notice.

THE AQ WAY IS GETTING NOTICED

Maybe the best part of Monday's announcement is its variety.

Bowling. Hockey. Volleyball.

And the Saints weren't far from adding to that list. Assistant Athletic Director Joey Sutherlin also submitted strong nominations in men's and women's soccer and golf, while the Aquinas men's and women's cross country teams did not compete over the weekend and therefore weren't in the running for weekly honors.

An individual tournament champion. A seven-goal weekend. A shutout. A school record-tying performance. A setter winning her conference honor for the second consecutive week.

There isn't one formula represented among these five Saints, and maybe that's exactly the point.

Aquinas Athletics continues to build something across its programs. The expectations are growing. The performances are following. And increasingly, whether it is within the WHAC, throughout the region or on the national stage, people are taking notice of what is happening in Grand Rapids.

That is The AQ Way.

It isn't about collecting awards. It is about creating the culture, preparation and opportunity for Aquinas student-athletes to become their best.

Sometimes, though, the awards provide a pretty good indication that it's working.

Five Saints earned WHAC Player of the Week honors this week.

So, what's next?

Can we top a week with five AQ student-athletes winning WHAC Player of the Week?

We certainly hope so.

Visit AQSaints.com for complete coverage of Aquinas Athletics and all of your favorite Saints teams.

It's a great day to be a Saint.