INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for October 28th, 2024 are based on student-athlete performance from October 21st, 2024- October 27th, 2024.

Men’s Bowling
C.J. Herbers / Thomas More University / So. / Cincinnati, Ohio
Herbers placed 18th, 56^th and 117^th in the first three tournaments of the season and finishing in the top three for the Saints each tournament. The sophomore has knocked down a total of 2,695 pins over 14 games for an average of 192.5 per game.
 
Women’s Bowling
Alexis Phillips / Ursuline College / Jr. / Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Alexis had a single game high of 241 and a 189.2 average on the weekend, placing her in the top five bowlers and on the All-Tournament team at the Grapevine Classic. This month, she bowled a total of 1623 for an average of 180.33.
 
Football
Defense: Romaro Warren Jr. / University of Findlay / Jr. / Linebacker / Lawrence, Indiana
This past weekend, the Oilers took down the Thomas More Saints, 34-17. Leading the charge for Findlay on the defensive end was Romaro Warren Jr., who recorded eight tackles, 4.5 for a loss and two sacks. His mark of 4.5 tackles for a loss is tied for the 6th most in a single game in the country this year. For the Oilers, it is the most tackles for a loss in a game since 2016.
 
Offense: Ronald Blackman / Tiffin University/ Jr. / Running Back / Gahanna, Ohio
The ground game was on fire for Tiffin this past weekend and Blackman was the main reason. He rushed for 19 carries and 214 yards for an average of 11.3 yards per rush. He found the endzone twice on runs from 66 and 34 yards out. In total, the Dragons finished with 274 yards in the 63-10 win over the Storm.
 
Special Teams: Ethan Halbrook / Tiffin University / So. / Kick Return / Avon, Ohio
Holbrook helped the Dragons in their 63-point performance against Lake Erie by returning a punt for a touchdown. He also accounted for 131 all-purpose yards, with 105 of them coming from punt returns.

Men’s Golf
Carter Mishler / Ashland University / Jr. / Berlin, Ohio
Junior Carter Mishler turned in another strong finish in his second consecutive tournament, tying for fourth place at 69-74-69—212, and with an eagle and 10 birdies. Mishler was also the runner-up last week at the Doc Spragg Invitational.

Women’s Golf
Mary Kelly Mulcahy / University of Findlay / Sr. / Lima, Ohio
The No. 3 Oilers won the Intercollegiate at Nemacolin against #17 GVSU, #20 North Georgia, and #25 UIndy with a team score of 872, 24 shots better than GVSU which finished second. Mulcahy blew away the field, winning the event by five shots with rounds of 65, 72, 71 (208 | -8)…Her 54-hole score is tied for second all-time at UF only behind her own score from earlier this season. This is the 12th win of M. Mulcahy's career.

Men’s Soccer
Defensive:
Tanner Brentlinger / Tiffin University / So. / Defense / Middletown, Delaware
Brentlinger led the Dragons' defense to a 2-0 week, making impressive stops during each game. In their 3-1 win against Malone, just 2 shots were allowed on goal, and in their 3-2 win against Ashland, 5 shots were allowed. 

Offensive:
Caleb Gibbons / Tiffin University / Grad / Midfield / Maumee, Ohio
Gibbons had major contributions to the Tiffins 2-0 week, scoring one goal and providing four assists. Three of his assists contributed to each goal in their 3-1 victory against Malone, with his goal and final assist being to the game-winner in a 3-2 win over Ashland.

Women’s Soccer
Defensive:
Reagan Brengman / Northwood University / Jr. / Defense / Harrison Township, Michigan
Brengman led the Timberwolves' backline to two shutout victories last week, beating Lake Erie 1-0 and Malone 1-0. Brengman and Northwood's defense allowed just two shot attempts versus Malone, neither of which were on goal.

Offensive:
McKinley Mendenhall / Ashland University / Sr. / Forward / Ashland, Ohio
Mendenhall and the No. 3 Eagles won their two games this week, one against KWC (8-0) at home and the other at Lake Erie (2-0). Mendenhall scored the game-winning goal against Lake Erie, and her assist in the KWC game puts her at 34 assists, which is 3rd all-time in program history.

Men’s Swimming & Diving
Matteo Filippi / University of Findlay / Jr. / Bologna, Italy
Although the #11 Oilers fell to the #2 University of Indianapolis, Matteo Filippi took home plenty of strong finishes. He won the 1000 freestyle with a time of 9:25.53 and the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:31.20.
 
Women’s Swimming & Diving
Emily Mears-Bentley / University of Findlay / Jr. / Leicester, England
Just like the men, the Findlay women may have fallen to the University of Indianapolis but it was not without some standout performances. Mears-Bentley won three events: the 200 medley relay, the 200 freestyle relay and the 100 butterfly. She also finished second in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:00.76.
 
Volleyball
North Division
Lauren Passaglia / Hillsdale College / Sr. / Setter / Cary, Illinois
With a hitting percentage of .320, Passaglia led the Chargers with 12 kills in a 3-1 road win over the Northwood Timberwolves. En route to being alone atop the G-MAC North Division, she contributed 31 assists and chipped in 11 digs for her second career triple-double. Her recent efforts have led to her sitting eighth in the conference in hitting percentage and sixth in assists.
 
South Division
Ebony Gomez / Thomas More University / Jr. / OH/RS / Merida, Venezuela
The Saints went undefeated this past weekend with wins over Central State and Kentucky Wesleyan. She totalled 13 kills and eight total blocks.
 
East Division
GraceAnn Hartman / Ashland University / Sr. / RS / Indianapolis, Indiana
The Eagles went 3-0 on the week against tough opponents, and leading them offensively was the veteran presence of Hartman. On the week she recorded a .327 hitting percentage, 45 kills, one assist, three service aces, 12 digs and eight total blocks. Against conference foes, Malone and Walsh, she performed a .500 and .414 hitting percentage respectively.