INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for October 2nd, 2023 are based on student-athlete performance from September 25th, 2023- October 1st, 2023.
 
Football
Defense: Riley Tolsma / Hillsdale College / Jr. / Defensive end / Hamilton, Mich.
The Hamilton, Mich. native totaled 11 tackles in the Chargers’ 40-18 win over Northwood. Tolsma added two sacks, three tackles for loss, and a forced safety. He is currently tied for sixth in the conference in sacks with three this season.
 
Offense: Ronald Blackman / Tiffin University / So. / Running back  / Gahanna, Ohio
Blackman rushed for 189 yards on 17 carries in Tiffin’s 49-7 win against Thomas More. He averaged 11.1 yards per carry and recorded a long run of 44 yards. He ranks first in the G-MAC in rushing, averaging 115.4  yards per game.  
 
Special Teams: Dezmin Lyburtus / Ashland University/ Sr. / Wide Receiver / Bellfontaine, Ohio
Dezmin Lyburtus of Ashland University recorded 162 all-purpose yards for the Eagles. Lyburtus had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a 20-6 win at Ohio Dominican. He is first in the conference in returns, with 322 yards through five games.   
 
Men’s Cross Country
Carson Laney / Northwood University/ Jr. / Jonesville, Mich.
Laney led all Timberwolves, improving his personal record by  25-seconds in the 8K at the Live in the Lou Classic. He finished 117^th overall in a field of Division I runners with a time of 25:08.4.
 
Women’s Cross Country
Charlotte Campbell / Tiffin University/ Jr. / Newark, Ohio
Campbell led the way for the Tiffin women’s cross country team with a second-place individual finish at the Ranger Open. She posted a time of 23:25.2 in the women’s 6K.

Men’s Golf
Kyle Buzaki / Walsh University/ Gr. / Stow, Ohio
Walsh’s Kyle Buzaki was named the Great Midwest Men’s Golfer of the Week after a record-breaking performance at the Cedarville Invite. He fired rounds of 68 and 65 to finish -11. Buzaki earned medalist status at the event, leading the field in par 4 and 5 scoring, while totaling three eagles.
 
Men’s Soccer
Defense:Ty Bowden / Ashland University / Jr. / Goalkeeper / Pickerington, Ohio
Bowden led the Eagles to an undefeated week with wins over Ohio Dominican and Findlay. He recorded a 4-0 shutout against the Panthers and finished the week with a .600 goals-against average and a .833 save percentage. Bowden totaled five saves on the week.

Offense: Rodri Fernandez / Ashland University/ Jr. / Midfield / Zaragoza, Spain
Ashland swept the men’s soccer awards as junior Rodri Fernandez claimed the offensive athlete of the week title. Fernandez had two goals and four assists for eight points. He is second in the conference in assists, averaging .500 per game.

Women’s Soccer
Defense: Lindsay Jacob / Northwood University / Fr. / Goalkeeper / St. Clair Shores, Mich.
Northwood’s Lindsay Jacob led the Timberwolves to a 2-0 record this week with shutout victories over Tiffin and Ohio Dominican. Jacob totaled 11 saves through both contests and currently leads the conference in saves at 49 this season.
 
Offense: Sydney Rhodes / Thomas More University/ Gr. / Forward/ Lebanon, Ohio
Sydney Rhodes recorded the Saints first hat trick of the Division II era in a 5-1 win over Ursuline. Rhodes scored her three goals in just one half of play to help the Saints improve to 2-3-1 in the conference.

Men’s Tennis
Ruben Fonga / Tiffin University/ Gr. / Nantes, France
Ruben Fonga claimed the first men’s tennis athlete of the month honor after a strong start to the 2023-24 season. Fonga has gone unbeaten in singles and doubles play as of Oct. 1. At the Everybody vs. Cancer Invitational hosted by the University of Toledo, he posted a 6-1, 6-2 win over Wayne State followed by a 6-1 doubles victory. He had another doubles win against Case Western, 6-1. He then went on to  defeat Holy Cross in singles 6-0, 6-1 and then registered two doubles wins (6-4 and 6-1) against Chicago. Fonga then competed at the ITA Midwest Championships in Allendale, Michigan. He posted a 6-3, 6-4 win over Maryville and then won his second-round match against Indianapolis 7-5, 6-2. He then tabbed two more singles victories to reach the semifinals on Oct. 2. He defeated Quincy in the round of 16 7-5, 6-3 and then battled for a tough three-set win over Ferris State in the quarterfinals 4-6, 6-3, 10-4. Overall for the month, he has a 6-0 singles mark and a 4-0 doubles record.
 
Women’s Tennis
Anaelle Lepinay / Tiffin University/ Jr. / Saint Barthelemy Anjou, France
Annaelle Lepinay won the B draw at the ITA Midwest Regional in Allendale, Michigan. Lepinay buzzed through the competition, going 6-0 and winning each match in straight sets. She beat Southwest Baptist 6-0, 6-2, Findlay 6-2, 6-3, and Purdue Northwest 6-1, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals. In the final three rounds, Lepinay beat Maryville 6-4, 6-3, then beat Grand Valley State 6-3, 6-2 in the semis before taking out Wayne State 6-3, 6-2 in the championship.

Volleyball North Division
Defense: Kenzie Hoelscher / University of Findlay / So. / Middle back / Ft. Loramie, Ohio
Kenzie Hoelscher led the Oilers to an undefeated week to improve to 6-2 in the conference. Hoelscher tabbed an impressive nine blocks at 0.82 per set. The Ft. Loramie native also added 16 kills.
 
Offense: Sydney Hasenfratz / Northwood University/ So. / Outside Hitter / Clarkston, Mich.
Sydney Hasenfratz averaged 4.07 kills while totaling 11 blocks and 11 digs, leading Northwood to a 3-1 week. She had at least 10 kills in all four matches, extending her streak of having at least 10 kills to 17 to start the season. Hasenfratz leads the G-MAC in hitting percentage and kills per set while also ranking seventh in blocks.
 
Volleyball South Division
Defense: Katie Thompson / Ashland University / Sr. / Libero / Independence, Ohio
Ashland’s Katie Thompson earned athlete of the week honors for the second consecutive week. Thompson led the Eagles to a 3-0 week, finishing with 75 digs (6.25 / set). She also added 15 assists and three service aces.
 
Offense: Kenedi Goon / Tiffin University / Jr. / Outside Hitter / Ashland, Ohio
Kenedi Goon tabbed 28 kills across three matches last week. Goon led the team with an average of 2.55 kills per set.