INDIANAPOLIS--The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for March 13, 2023 are based on student-athlete performance from March 6, 2023-March 12, 2023.
 
Baseball
North Division
Pitcher
Mitch Maurer / Malone University / Jr. / Pitcher / North Canton, Ohio
Malone’s Mitch Mauerer earned the North Division Pitcher of the Week after an impressive performance on the mound. In eight innings, Mauerer recorded seven strikeouts and an ERA of 1.13. The North Canton native was credited for the team’s win over Concordia, St.Paul.
 
Player
Clayton Criss / Malone University / Gr. / Catcher / Steubenville, Ohio
The Pioneers swept the North Division’s awards this week as catcher Clayton Criss earned Player of the Week honors. Through five games, Criss registered a batting average of .583 and was 7-12 at the plate. Criss’ seven hits included seven RBIs and two doubles, while scoring one run.
 
South Division
Pitcher
Kyler Archual / Tiffin University/ Sr. / Pitcher / Worthington, Ohio
Tiffin’s Kyler Archual posted a 1-0 week for the Dragons, including a 6-0 shutout against Glenville State. Archual pitched 6.1 innings, allowing only two hits and striking out five batters.
 
Player
Griffin Stevens / Tiffin University / Sr. / Second Base / Brecksville, Ohio
Griffin Stevens registered a batting average of .632 over four games for Tiffin. He hit one double, two triples, and a home run for a total of five RBIs. Stevens posted a slugging percentage of 1.053 and an on-base percentage of .632.
 
Men’s Lacrosse
Defensive
Mark Strunk / Seton Hill University / So. / Midfield / Stroudsburg, Pa.
Mark Strunk proved a dominant defensive force for the Griffins in a 22-6 win over North Greenville. He won 16 of 21 faceoffs, while adding one goal and five ground balls. Strunk currently ranks fourth in the conference in ground balls per game at 5.80 and fifth in faceoff percentage at .583.
 
Offensive
Connor Zostant / Seton Hill University / So. / Attack / Vestal, NY.
The Sophomore attackman recorded three of Seton Hill’s 22 goals in their victory over North Greenville. Zostant also added four assists, three groundballs, and one caused turnover.
 
Women’s Lacrosse
Defensive
Rebekah Bargeron / Walsh University / Fr. / Goalkeeper / Mountain Ridge, Ohio
Walsh’s Rebekah Bargeron led the Cavaliers to two victories over the week. Against IUP, the Freshman allowed only two goals in 54:43 minutes of play. She registered a .818 save percentage, including nine saves in the net. In 30 minutes against Davenport, Bargeron allowed just three goals and had five saves for a save percentage of .625%.
 
Offensive
Madelyn Goodrich / Lake Erie College / Fr. / Attack / Evan Mills, NY.
Madelyn Goodrich totaled ten goals in two games for the Storm. The Freshman recorded the game-winning-goal in an overtime win over Felician. Goodrich registered a shot percentage of .588.
 
Softball Pitcher
Grace Hammer / Lake Erie College / Sr. / Pitcher / Green, Ohio
Lake Erie’s Grace Hammer pitched an earned-run average of 0.65 over 32.2 innings for the Storm. Hammer struck out a total of 49 batters (9.8 per game). She pitched three complete games, including double-digits strikeout games.
 
Softball Player
Megan Matheis / Kentucky Wesleyan College / Fr. / Third Base / Jasper, Ind.
Megan Matheis was 17-48 at the plate for the Panthers with a .447 batting average. Matheis averaged a slugging percentage of .737 including two home runs, five doubles, 12 RBIs, and eight runs scored.
 
STUNT
Lily Boldman / Ashland University / Jr. / Tumbler / Huron, Ohio
Ashland’s Lily Boldman helped the Eagles improve to 7-4 on the season. Against Drury, Boldman totaled 39 points in a 19-2 victory. Boldman registered 44 points as Ashland went on to secure a win over Division I opponent Central Michigan.
 
Men’s Tennis
Toshi Watanabe / Cedarville University / Sr. / Edgewood, KY
Toshi Watanabe went 4-0 over the weekend in both #1 Doubles and #1 Singles. He defeated opponents from John Carrol, Covenant, Spring Arbor, and Saint John’s (MN).
 
Women’s Tennis
Sarah Hackman / Hillsdale College / Sr. / Island Lake, Ill.
Hillsdale’s Sarah Hackman won at No. 1 Doubles in a 6-3 victory against Palm Beach Atlantic. Hackman also picked up a win at No.1 Singles in straight sets (6-2, 6-4).