INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for October 21st, 2024 are based on student-athlete performance from October 14th, 2024- October 20th, 2024.
Football
Defense: Jhor’Dan Inniss / Kentucky Wesleyan College/ Sr. / Defensive Back / Naples ,FL
Inniss was outstanding for the Panthers in their first win in G-MAC play. He helped shut down the Northwood defense with four tackles, one for a loss, one forced fumble and recovery, and an interception. His interception came right before halftime to keep the game level. On the game's final play, his fumble recovery sealed the fate in favor of Kentucky Wesleyan.
Offense: Alex Johnson / Tiffin University/ Jr. / Quarterback / Bellevue, WA
The Dragons saw an explosion of offense on Saturday as Johnson had his best game of the season. He tossed for 406 yards and four touchdowns on 36 passing attempts. Of those 36 passes, he completed 27 en route to throwing no interceptions. His efforts helped lead Tiffin to a 38-21 win over the Walsh Cavaliers.
Special Teams: Cameron Shirkey / University of Findlay / Jr. / Kicker / Pleasantville, Ohio
Shirkey helped lead the Oilers in the kicking game on Saturday as Findlay took down Ohio Dominican, 26-10. He accounted for 14 of the 26 points while being a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals and 2-for-2 on PATs.
Men’s Golf
Carter Mishler / Ashland University/ Jr. / Berlin, Ohio
Both Mishler and the Eagles finished in runner-up positions in the Doc Spragg Invitational this Tuesday. Mishler’s performance earned him a spot on the All-Tournament Team and in the AU men’s golf record books, tying the second-best round score since 1996-97, firing rounds of 70-70-66.
Men’s Soccer
Defensive:
Jesse Levine / University of Findlay / Sr. / Defense/ Cincinnati, Ohio
Levine’s consistency in the backline helped the Oilers clinch a 1-0 victory over No. 16 Tiffin. Levine played all 90 minutes and was a critical piece to the shutout against one of the top offenses in the nation.
Offensive:
Pedro Faria / Ashland University/ Sr. / Forward / Sao Paulo, Brazil
Faria contributed two goals and an assist in the Eagle’s convincing 4-0 victory against Ohio Dominican. Faria has tallied 11 goals in his 12 appearances this season.
Women’s Soccer
Defensive:
Brooke Ackley / Cedarville University / Gr./ Goalkeeper/ Worthington, Ohio
In her second shutout against the Cavaliers this season, Ackley totaled four saves in Cedarville’s 3-0 victory against Walsh. She continued this streak in a 1-0 win against Lake Erie, contributing five saves to the defensive effort.
Offensive:
Dani Hicks / Ashland University/ Jr. / Forward/ Lebano, Ohio
Hicks had two goals and one assist in both of the Eagle’s victories this past week. Her game-winning goal against Tiffin came in the 81st minute, contributing to the 3-0 win.
Men’s Swimming & Diving
Randy Keener / University of Findlay/ Jr. / Shinnston, W.V.
Findlay’s Randy Keener led the Oilers to their first win of the year over conference opponent Ashland University. Keener took home the gold in two individual events to help Findlay defeat Ashland 183.5- 103.5. He registered times of 23.64 seconds in the 50 back and 52.99 in the 100 fly. The junior from Shinnston, WV was also a member of the 400 and 200 medley relay teams that took home first place with times of 3:28.50 and 1:26.27.
Women’s Swimming & Diving
Megan Clifford / Hillsdale College/ Sr. / Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Megan Clifford of Hillsdale College has already won six events to start the 2024-25 season. Clifford picked up first place finishes in the 200 fly (2:06.09), 100 freestyle (53.62), 200 freestyle relay (1:40.98), and 200 medley relay (1:52.31). Her 200 fly time of 2:06.09 currently. sits as the ninth best time in Division II this season.
Volleyball
North Division
Lauren Passaglia / Hillsdale College/ Sr./ Setter/ Cary, Ill.
This past weekend, Hillsdale went 2-1 at the Midwest Region Crossover, with Lauren Passaglia leading the helm for the Chargers. She recorded her first triple-double in her best game with a career-high 16 kills, 21 assists and 10 digs against Rockhurst University. Over the course of the weekend, she averaged 2.9 kills per set, 2.5 digs per set and five assists.
South Division
Lauren Denunzi / Ohio Dominican University / So. / Libero / Louisville, KY
With the Panthers, Denunzi totaled 65 digs through 12 sets played at the Midwest Region Crossover. Against Illinois Springfield, she marked an impressive 20 digs with a career-high a day later against Purdue Northwest with 26.
East Division
Arora Levengood / Walsh University / Sr. / Libero /Bolivar, Ohio
Arora recorded 5.8 digs per set to go alongside nine assists and three aces. Her passing rating of 2.2 was just 0.8 off on a 3.0 scale. This past weekend against Levengood, she recorded a match-high 39 digs against Lewis in a five-set loss.