INDIANAPOLIS--The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for February  20, 2023 are based on student-athlete performance from February 13, 2023-February 19, 2023.
 
Baseball
North Division
Pitcher
Derek Clark / Northwood University / Jr. / Pitcher / Petersburg, Mich.
Clark opened Northwood’s 2023 season, pitching eight innings in a 7-2 win over Hawaii Pacific. He allowed five hits and struck out four batters, while walking zero. In his career, the Petersburg, Mich, native improved to 14-5.
 
Player
Jacob Rybicki / Northwood University / Sr. / Outfielder / Clinton Township, Mich.
Northwood swept the North Division Baseball Athletes of the Week as Jacob Rybicki earned Player of the Week honors. Rybicki batted .500, including two home runs, six RBIs, and two stolen bases to help the Timberwolves start the season with a 3-0 record. He finished the week with a .563 on-base percentage and a 1.00 slugging percentage. The senior outfielder had one of the best individual games in program history in an 11-3 win over Hawaii Pacific. Rybicki was 5-6 from the plate, including two home runs, five RBIs, and four runs-scored.
 
South Division
Pitcher
Anthony Kyle / University of Findlay / Sr. / Pitcher / Perrysburg, Ohio.
Findlay’s Anthony Kyle has been named the South Division Pitcher of the Week. Kyle is 1-0 on the year as he led the Oilers to a 7-1 victory over Seton Hill, who is receiving votes in the national poll. He pitched six innings and allowed only two hits and one run, while throwing nine strikeouts.
 
Player
Ben Bach / Tiffin University /Jr. / Infielder / Waconia, Minn.
Ben Bach is the South Division Baseball Player of the week after he helped the Dragons go 2-1 over the weekend, which included a split with No.10 West Chester. Bach went 8-for-13 at the plate for a hitting percentage of .615. He scored five runs and recorded 12 RBIs, including four home runs.
 
Men’s Basketball
Brandon Haraway / Ashland University / Sr. / Guard / Norwalk, Ohio
For the second time this season, Brandon Haraway has earned Great Midwest Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week honors. Haraway averaged 30.5 points, while registering a FG% of 59.5. He also grabbed 2.5 rebounds per game and dished out 5.0 assists in conference victories over Cedarville and No. 13 Hillsdale. 
 
Women’s Basketball
Hallie Heidemann / Ashland University / Gr. / Guard / Cincinnati, Ohio
Ashland’s Hallie Heidemann has been named the Great Midwest Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week after stellar performances against Hillsdale and Cedarville. In the two victories, Heidemann averaged 16.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 block, and 1.5 steals. Against Cedarville, the graduate student shot a perfect six-for-six from three-point range. On the week, she shot a 60% from the field. She ranks first in the conference and third in the country in three-point percentage at .500.
 
Men’s Indoor Field
Gabe Miller / Walsh University / Sr. / Throws / Alexandria, Ohio
Gabe Miller has earned Athlete of the Week honors for the second consecutive week this season. Miller placed second in the weight throw at Akron’s Al Campbell Invite with a mark of 20.94m. His mark set a new personal record as well as a Walsh program record. The Alexandria, Ohio native currently ranks second in the nation in the weight throw to date.  
 
Men’s Indoor Track
Micah Gremling / Walsh University / So. / Sprint / Findlay, Ohio
Micah placed second overall in the 60m dash at the University of Akron- Al Campbell Invite. He shattered the Walsh program record with a time of 6.71. Gremling’s time moved him up to No. 9 in the national standings.
 
Women’s Indoor Field
Trista Fintel / University of Findlay / So. / Throws / Deshler, Ohio.
Trista Fintel earned a first-place finish in both the weight throw and the shot put at Findlay’s Flag City Open. In the weight throw, Fintel threw for a mark of 18.40m, an NCAA Provisional. She threw for 15.72m in the shot put, which ranks third in the nation at the D2 level.
 
Women’s Indoor Track
Kya Epps / Walsh University/ Fr. / Sprints /Akron, Ohio              
Kya Epps took home first-place in both the 60m dash as well as the 200m at the University of Akron- Al Campbell Invite over the weekend. She registered a 60m time of 7.54 and a 200m time of 24.43. Her 200m time marks a personal-best and ranks No. 15 in Division II.
 
Men’s Lacrosse
Defensive
Phillip Bell / Malone University / Jr. / Goalkeeper / Powder Springs, Ga.
Junior Phillip Bell tabbed 24 saves on 60 total shots in a loss to Quincy. On the season, he has a save percentage of .585.
 
Offensive
Mike Andersson / Wheeling University / Jr. / Attack / Whitby, Ontario
Attacker Mike Anderson led the Cardinal offense against nationally-ranked Rockhurst. He scored three goals on eight shots and accounted for half of Wheeling’s points in the first half. On the season, Andersson has 10 goals through three games.
 
Women’s Lacrosse
Defensive
Shannon Smith / Lake Erie College / So. / Midfield. / Wantagh, NY.
Smith helped the Storm secure their first win to open the 2023 season. She recorded three goals on five shots. She led a Lake Erie defense that only allowed seven goals, in a 15-7 win over future Great Midwest member Thomas More. Smith caused a game-high four turnovers and picked up four ground balls in the win.
 
Offensive
Cassady Becker / Ashland University / Sr. / Attack / Sunbury, Ohio
Ashland’s Cassady Becker helped the Eagles secure a road win over West Virginia Wesleyan. Becker scored four goals on five shots and caused two turnovers as Ashland went on to beat the Bobcats 21-6.
 
Softball Pitcher
Hailey Leister / Northwood University / Sr / Pitcher / St Louis, Mich.
The first Softball Pitcher of the Week of the 2023 season goes to Northwood’s Hailey Leister. She pitched two complete games for the Timberwolves, for a combined 19.2 innings , including 22 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.14. Leister pitched her sixth-career complete game and third-career shutout versus Maryville to help the Timberwolves improve to 4-1 overall.
 
Softball Player
Haley Frank / Northwood University / Sr. / Shortstop. / Monroe, Mich.
The first Softball Player of the Week of the 2023 season is awarded to Haley Frank from Northwood University. The Timberwolves’ leadoff hitter scored seven runs at the Music City Invitational as she batted .467 through five games. Frank also posted an on-base percentage of .556 and a slugging percentage of .867. In Northwood’s win over Ferris State, Frank went 2-3, including a home run, a triple, and three RBIs.
 
STUNT
Alyssa McLaughlin / Ashland University / So. / Flyer / Kenton, Ohio
Ashland’s Alyssa McLaughlin has been named the STUNT athlete of the week for back-to-back weeks. The sophomore flyer totaled 83 points in two matches, as the Eagles defeated Hiram and Tiffin over the weekend. Against Hiram, she earned 38 points, while registering 45 points vs. Tiffin.
 
Men’s Tennis
Ruben Fonga / Tiffin University / Gr. / Nantes, France
Fonga went 4-0 on the week at the No. 1 singles position. He posted singles wins of 6-1,6-4, and 6-1 over Ferris State and Lawrence Tech. The graduate student also had double wins of 6-4 & 6-2.
 
Women’s Tennis
Canela Luna / Hillsdale College / Sr. / Rocklin, CA
For the second consecutive week, Hillsdale’s Canela Luna has been named the Great Midwest Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week. Luna completed her second-straight undefeated weekend, sweeping both matches at the No. 3 doubles position. In doubles matches, Luna and partner Megan Hackman registered a 6-2 win against Purdue Northwest and a 6-4 win over Michigan Tech. At No. 3 singles, Luna beat Purdue Northwest opponent 6-1 & 6-1, as well as her opponent from Michigan Tech by scores of 7-5 & 6-0.