INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for November 11th, 2023 are based on student-athlete performance from October 30th, 2023- November 5th, 2023.
 
Football
Defense: Mbaimba Tunkara / Northwood University/ R-Jr. / Linebacker / Parma Heights, Ohio
Tunkara had a huge defensive performance for the Timberwolves in a 24-20 win over Thomas More. He finished with nine tackles, including one tackle for loss and four solo tackles. Tunkara also tabbed an interception late in the fourth quarter to seal Northwood’s victory.
 
Offense: Dezmin Lyburtus / Ashland University / Sr. / Wide Receiver  / Bellefontaine, Ohio
Dezmin Lyburtus led the Eagles to their sixth consecutive win in a 37-35 victory over Findlay. Lyburtus recorded 11 receptions for a total of 220 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a kickoff return of 33 yards. In the Great Midwest, Lyburtus leads the league with 61 receptions for 729 yards and nine touchdowns on the year.
 
Special Teams: Elgin Phillips / Thomas More University/ R-Fr. / Kicker / North Branch, Mich.
Elgin Philips of Thomas More had eight punts for a total of 332 yards. Phillips averaged 41.5 yards per punt including a game-long 49 yard punt and three within the 20 yard line.
 
Men’s Soccer
Defense: Kai Yamazaki / Tiffin University / Sr. / Midfield / Matsumoto, Japan
Yamazaki led a defensive effort that held Findlay to a total of seven shots on goal in the G-MAC quarterfinals. Tiffin is currently first in the conference in goals-allowed at just one a game.  

Offense: Balthasar Zimmerman / Thomas More University/ Fr. / Midfield / Munich, Germany
Balthasar Zimmerman tallied one goal and one assist in the Saints’ win over Ohio Dominican. In a quarterfinal win over Kentucky Wesleyan, Zimmerman had two goals and two assists to finish the week with nine points.

Defense: Alyssa Stark / University of Findlay/ Sr. / Defense / Sylvania, Ohio
Alyssa Stark led a Findlay team that went 2-0 on the week with wins over Tiffin and Trevecca Nazarene. Stark led a defensive effort that allowed opponents to just two shots on the week, zero goals, and only one shot on goal.

Offense: Maya Ryder / Cedarville University/ Sr. / Forward/ Xenia, Ohio
Maya Ryder of Cedarville University tabbed one goal and one assist as the Yellow Jackets advanced to the semifinal round of the Great Midwest Championship. Ryder has four goals and a team-high five assists on the year.
 
Men’s Swimming & Diving
Alex Tovtyn / Malone University/ Fr. / Goffstown, N.H.
Malone’s Alex Tovtyn placed third in two individual events over the weekend. He clocked a time of 23.29 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle and 2:12.40 in the 200-yard individual medley. Tovtyn also helped the Pioneers relay to a runner-up finish in the 200 free relay with a team time of 1:32.09.
 
Women’s Swimming & Diving
Megan Clifford / Hillsdale College / Jr. / Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Megan Clifford won four events through two meets as Hillsdale earned two team victories over the weekend. Clifford  won the 500 freestyle (5:17.45), 200 freestyle (1:57.62), 50 freestyle (24.70), and 100 butterfly (57.12).

Volleyball North Division
Defense: Ali Wiese / Hillsdale College/ Jr. / Libero / Mattawan, Mich.
Wiese totaled 21 digs and four aces as the Chargers handed Walsh their first conference loss of the season. Wiese leads the league in digs per set at 4.91 and has over 2,000 career digs.
 
Offense: Maizie Brown / Hillsdale College/ Jr. / Middle Hitter / Portage, Mich.
Hillsdale’s Maizie Brown registered 18 kills, three aces, and seven total blocks as the Chargers went 2-0 on the week. Brown posted a hitting percentage of .587 with just one attack error.
 
Volleyball South Division
Defense: Alivia Rew / Tiffin University / Sr. / Middle Hitter / Oregon, Ohio
Alivia Rew had a dominant defensive performance for the Dragons, leading the team with 18 blocks. Rew averaged 1.50 blocks per set while totaling 19 kills.She accounted for 33 points through three matches, averaging 2.75 points per set.
 
Offense: Kenedi Goon / Tiffin University / Jr. / Outside Hitter / Ashland, Ohio
Tiffin’s Kenedi Goon led the Dragons to a 3-0 week with wins over Ohio Dominican, Lake Erie, and Ursuline. She totaled 36 kills with 3.00 kills per set while hitting .337. Goon also added 16 blocks for 1.33 per set.
 
Wrestling
Nate Barrett / Ashland University / So. / 174 lbs. / Mansfield, Ohio
Nate Barrett earned the first Wrestler of the Week honors of the 2023-24 season. He led the Eagles to a second place team finish in their season opener at Glenville State. Barrett went 5-0 to win the 174 lbs. weight class. His 5-0 run included a pin, a technical fall, and a major