INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for October 23rd, 2023 are based on student-athlete performance from October 16th, 2023- October 22nd, 2023.
 
Football
Defense: Marshawn Mankins / Tiffin University / Sr. / Linebacker / Columbus, Ohio
Marshawn Mankins of Tiffin University made big plays early on for Tiffin in a 37-12 victory. Mankins’ stat line includes six tackles, a fumble recovery for a touchdown, an interception and a half tackle for loss. His two caused turnovers led to 10 points.  
 
Offense: Tyrese Banks -Dorn/ Tiffin University / Sr. / Running back  / Cincinnati, Ohio
Tiffin’s Tyrese Banks-Dorn ran for 206 yards as the Dragons improved to 8-0 on the year. Banks-Dorn became just the ninth running back in program history to rush for 200 yards in a game. He finished with 206 yards on 18 carries, averaging 11.4 yards per carry and scored one touchdown.
 
Special Teams: Brian Bartholomew / University of Findlay/ Sr. / Kicker / Sugar Grove, Ill.
Brian Bartholomew led the Oilers to a shutout victory over Walsh. He accounted for 11 points and was three-for-three on field goals. He kicked field goals of 22, 43, and 45 yards.
 
Men’s Golf
Colin Schadek / University of Findlay / Fr. / Liberty Township, Ohio
Findlay’s Colin Schadek placed the highest of any G-MAC athlete at the Doc Spragg Invite. He fired rounds of 68,70, and 70 to finish with a score of 208. Schadek earned a second place individual finish as Findlay went on to finish as runner ups in a field of 16 teams.
 
Men’s Soccer
Defense:Ty Bowden / Ashland University / Jr. / Goalkeeper / Pickerington, Ohio
Bowden made seven saves on the week in his second clean sheet of the season in a 0-0 tie at Walsh. Bowden holds a goals-against average of 1.30 with a save percentage of .796.

Offense: Yaw Turkson / Tiffin University/ Fr. / Midfield / London, England
Turkson had a goal and an assist as the Dragons went 2-0 on the week. He scored the game-winning goal in a 2-0 victory at Thomas More. Turkson was then credited with assisting on the lone Tiffin goal in a 1-0 win over Lake Erie.

Women’s Soccer
Defense: Mackenzie Simon / Ashland University / Sr. / Goalkeeper / Olmstead Falls, Ohio
Mackenzie Simon earned another clean sheet in a 2-0 win at Northwood. Simon is currently 13-0-1 on the year with a 0.22 goals against average with a save percentage of .927.
 
Offense: Andela Popovic / Thomas More University/ Fr. / Midfield/ Belgrade, Serbia
Thomas More’s Andela Popovic had two goals on just two shots on goals for the week. She led the Saints to a 2-0 week with wins over Tiffin and Kentucky Wesleyan.
 
Women’s Swimming
Megan Clifford / Hillsdale College / Jr. / Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Megan Clifford of Hillsdale recorded four first-place finishes at the Bethel Quad to help the Chargers earn their first three wins of the season. Clifford won in the 100 fly (58.39), 200 fly (2:06.99), 100 free style (53.74), and swam a leg on the winning 200 freestyle relay.
 
Men’s Swimming
Cole Huebner / Ashland University / So. / Athens, Ohio
Huebner earned a first-place in the men’s 100 freestyle to open up the 2023-24 season. He clocked a winning time of 48.10 seconds.

Volleyball North Division
Defense: Kenzie Hoelscher / University of Findlay/ So. / Middle Back / Ft. Loramie, Ohio
Kenzie Hoelscher of Findlay earned Defensive Player of the Week honors as the Oilers went 2-0 on the week, including a win over Hillsdale. She had a team-high five blocks and tallied 19 kills. For the week, Hoelscher recorded a hitting percentage of .350.
 
Offense: Aaliyah Couch / Walsh University/ Fr. / Setter / Thrall, Texas
Aaliyah Couch tabbed 62 assists on the week as the Cavaliers improved to 11-0 in the conference. Couch averaged 7.75 assists per set while adding three aces and 14 digs.
 
Volleyball South Division
Defense: Avery Brieske / Thomas More University / Fr. / Setter / Oak Creek, WI
Avery Brieske tallied 58  assists on the week as Thomas More went 1-1 in matches against Walsh and Malone.
 
Offense: Emily Acito / Thomas More University / So. / Outside Hitter / Cincinnati, Ohio
Acito recorded 35 kills this week in matches against Walsh and Malone. This season, Acito has 180 kills at 2.61 per set.