ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Missouri Valley Conference announced this week's Athlete of the Week selections Tuesday afternoon.

Sophomore Ryan Schaefer was selected as this week's Missouri Valley Conference Male Field Athlete of the Week following a personal best performance in the decathlon at the 97th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays hosted by the University of Texas.

Schaefer scored 6607 points across the 10 events and is now the eighth most points scored in Illinois State history. Schaefer's point total also surpassed his previous best by 263 points.

Schaefer sits first in the Missouri Valley Conference and fourth in the midwest region for the men's decathlon. 

Schaefer also became the sixth Redbird this year to earn Athlete of the Week honors and joins teammates Senior Ariel Atias and Senior Kiley Sanders to earn the award as a multis athlete.