INDIANAPOLIS – The weather was clear for several programs to launch their campaigns with the first Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tennis Athletes of the Week being announced on Tuesday afternoon.
 
Men’s Athlete of the Week
John Sawyer
Kentucky Wesleyan
Freshman
Owensboro, KY (Apollo HS)
 
The storyline doesn’t get any better for the Panthers with the program’s first win of the season, official reinstatement in athletics as an intercollegiate sport since 1999 and a homegrown product from Owensboro contributing to the cause.
 
Sawyer helped lead the way for Kentucky Wesleyan in a season-opening victory against Oakland City on Wednesday.
 
The Panthers won by a team score of 7-2, sweeping OCU with the help of the women to start the year 1-0.
 
Sawyer won his No. 5 singles matchup against Carlos Steward in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, while also helping earn a doubles point with teammate Vincent Whatley. Sawyer and Whatley won in No. 3 doubles, 8-4.
 
Women’s Athlete of the Week
Abbie-Jade Riley
Tiffin
Junior
Wolverhampton, U.K. (Northern Illinois University)
 
Riley and the Dragons officially ushered in a new era as a member of the Great Midwest at the Oberlin Invitational, facing Division II and III opponents in a tournament format.
 
Riley put together a perfect 4-0 showing while beating opponents from Case Western (4-2, 4-1) and Indiana (PA) in three sets, 4-1, 0-4, 10-9.
 
Riley also teamed up with Anais Geslin for identical doubles victories via an 8-4 score against two tandems from Indiana (PA).