INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for October 14th, 2024 are based on student-athlete performance from October 7th, 2024- October 13th, 2024.
Football
Defense: Cam Hollobaugh / Walsh University/ R-Jr. / Linebacker / Warren ,Ohio
Walsh has remained in the mix to be one of the top teams in the conference through the opening half of 2024. This past week, they took home a nailbiting 36-35 victory over Hillsdale and Cam Hollobaugh was a key contributor. He recorded 23 total tackles, nine of which were solo and 14 were assisted. He also forced one fumble, which helped lead the Cavaliers to the program’s first-ever win over the Chargers.
Offense: Tony Pannunzio / Ashland University/ Sr. / Wide Receiver / Canfield, Ohio
For the first time in his career, Ashland wide receiver Tony Pannunzio took home the Offensive Player of the Week honors. He helped the Eagles take down the No. 20 nationally ranked Findlay Oilers this past week, 41-21. His play on the field saw nine catches, 204 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns, all of which were single-game career highs. His two scores came from 70 yards and 48 yards out.
Special Teams: Jaffer Murphy / Lake Erie College / Sr. / Kicker / Marion,IA
Yet again, headlines were made by Lake Erie College kicker Jaffer Murphy. Week in and week out he continues to break his own records. Murphy went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts, including a 60-yarder which is a G-MAC record and the 12th longest field goal in NCAA Division II football history.
Men’s Cross Country
Noah Fisher / University of Findlay/ Gr. / Mansfield, Ohio
Fisher was the highest finisher of any G-MAC individuals at the Lewis Crossover with an 8k time of 24:14.70. He led the Oilers to a 10th place finish as a team.
Women’s Cross Country
Corinne Lynch / Cedarville University/ Jr./ Perry, Ohio
Lynch won the Alabama-Huntsville Invitational with a 6K time of 20:39.4. Her first-place finish led Cedarville to a third place finish out of 34 schools.
Men’s Golf
Mitchell Brassard / Tiffin University/ Jr. / Innisfil, Ontario
With one of his best performances this season, Brassard was the individual champion at Tiffin’s Kyle Ryman Memorial. His total score of 209 helped the Dragons clinch a second-place finish overall.
Women’s Golf
Mary Kelly Mulcahy / University of Findlay/ Sr. / Lima, Ohio
Mulcahy set a new school/G-MAC record with a second round score of 64 (-8), a new 36-hole record at UF with a 136 (-8), and tied the school 54-hole record with a 207 (-9). She finished third in the LeAnn Noble Memorial tournament, helping the Oilers clinch second overall.
Men’s Soccer
Defensive:
Mamadou Keita / Tiffin University / Jr. / Defense/ Monrovia, Liberia
Keita led a defensive effort that allowed just 2 shots on goal in Tiffin's 2-0 win at Thomas More. The win marked the fifth consecutive shutout for the Dragons.
Offensive:
Brendan Ash / University of Findlay/ Sr. / Forward / North Huntington, PA
Ash scored two goals in the Oilers 4-0 win against KWC on Saturday, both of which came in the last fifteen minutes of the game. The team finished 2-0 for the week, adding a convincing 4-2 win against Malone on Thursday.
Women’s Soccer
Defensive:
Mackenzie Simon / Ashland University / Fifth Year/ Goalkeeper/ Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Simon made appearances in goal in each of Ashland’s victories this week, allowing zero goals and totaling four saves. These victories helped contribute to her 6-1-0 record in goal this season.
Offensive:
Brooke Honeycutt / Northwood University/ R-Sr. / Forward/ Trenton, Mich.
Honeycutt scored twice this week as the Timberwolves went 1-0-1 with a 4-1 win over Thomas More and a 1-1 draw with Ohio Dominican. These goals helped Honeycutt become the 12th player in program history to record 50 career points.
Volleyball
North Division
Diana Heitkamp / Tiffin University/ Sr./ Libero/ New Breman, Ohio
The Dragons took down the No. 25 nationally ranked Hillsdale Chargers, and Diana Heitkamp stepped up massively on the defensive side. The five-set upset win for Tiffin saw Heitkamp record a career-high 32 digs and six assists. Just a day prior to the win over Hillsdale, she finished with 27 dogs and four assists against the Northwood Timberwolves. Through the weekend, she totaled 59 digs, averaging 29.5 per match.
South Division
Ashley Aselage / Ohio Dominican University / Jr. / Right Side/ Tipp City, Ohio
Aselage and the Panthers went a perfect 3-0 this past week. She tallied 30 kills and a .474 hitting percentage on the week in wins over Central Satate, Thomas More and Kentucky Wesleyan. Her most impressive outing came against the Saints, recording 16 kills and a .600 hitting percentage.
East Division
Kylee Urban / Ashland University / So. / Setter / Olmsted Township, Ohio
Two sweeps headlined this past week for the Eagles, as Kylee Urban led the charge for Ashland. She assisted on 73 passes in wins over Ursuline and Walsh, while also tagging on six kills, six service aces and nine digs. In just three sets against Walsh, she recorded 44 assists which is the fourth-most in a match this season.