INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for March 18th, 2024 are based on student-athlete performance from March 11th, 2024- March 17th, 2024.
 
Baseball
Pitcher
Francisco Olivarez / Tiffin University / Sr. / Pitcher / Ashtabula, Ohio
Tiffin’s Francisco Olivarez came up big for the Dragons in two wins over Gannon and conference opponent Thomas More. He earned both wins while sporting a 0.00 ERA and allowing just on hits in six innings of play. The senior right-handed pitcher also struck out seven batters for the week.
 
Player
Brodey Acres / Walsh University / So. / Third Base / Sylvania, Ohio
Brodey Acres led the Cavaliers to a 4-1 week, going 9-20 (.450) from the plate. Acres’ nine hits included two doubles and a grand slam for nine RBIs.
 
Men’s Golf 
Johan Widal / Tiffin University / So. / Halmstad, Sweden
Johan Widal had a historic weekend in Tiffin’s first event of the spring season. Widal broke the program’s 18 and 36-hole program records after shooting eight under par in round one and nine under par to close out the SVSU Spring Invite. Widal finished second overall with a score of of 135.
 
Women’s Golf 
Lisa Marie Schumacher / Tiffin University / Jr. / Leipzig, Germany
Tiffin swept the golf awards this week as Lisa Marie Schumacher earned the women’s athlete of the week honors. Schumacher finished second at the SVSU Spring Invite, firing rounds of 74 and 76.
 
Men’s Lacrosse
Defensive:
Joseph Rush / Walsh University / Jr. / Midfield / North Huntington, PA
Joseph Rush helped the led the Cavs to a 2-0 start in conference play. In a win over Tiffin, Rush won 26 of 30 faceoffs and picked a program-best 19 ground balls. Against Wheeling, he was 12-19 in faceoffs while adding 11 ground balls.
 
Offensive:
Colby Bowman / Walsh University / Sr. / Attack / Nanaimo, B.C.
Colby Bowman was an offensive force for the Cavaliers in wins over Tiffin and Wheeling. Bowman scored four goals and dished out three assists against Tiffin. He then went on to add another three goals against Wheeling.

Defensive:
Mallory Miller / Walsh University / Jr. / Midfield / Noblesville, Ind.
For the second consecutive week, Mallory Miller has earned defensive player of the week honors. For the week, she scored three goals while picking up nine ground balls and causing nine turnovers. Miller also tabbed 12 draw controls for the Cavaliers.
 
Offensive:
Ashley Fisher / Ashland University / So. /Midfield / Sunbury, Ohio
The Eagles went 2-0 on the week with wins over Quincy and Lewis. Against Quincy, Fisher tabbed four goals while adding two assists for a team-high six points. She then went on to add five goals and two assists for seven points against Lewis.
 
Softball
Pitcher:
Casey Bertke / Cedarville University / Sr. / Pitcher / Cardington, Ohio
Cadey Bertke helped the Yellow Jackets secure four wins over the week. She pitched 17 innings, striking out 13 batters and giving up only one run. Bertke finished the week with an ERA of 0.41 and earn two more wins in the circle. The senior also sported a batting average of .467 while going 7-15 from the plate.
 
Player:
Kendall Andrews / Trevecca Nazarene University / Sr. / Catcher / Murfreesboro, Tenn. 
Kendall Andrews hit .571 on the week and recorded a slugging percentage of 1.143. For the week, she was 8-14 including three doubles, one triple, and one home run for four RBIs. The Trojans went 3-1 on the road to start conference play.
 
Men’s Tennis
Tyler Conrad / Hillsdale College / Sr. / Midland, Mich.
Hillsdal’es Tyler Conrad went 5-0 in three matches to lead the chargers to a 2-1 record over their spring break trip. Conrad earned singles wins over opponents from West Virginia State Quincy, and Division I opponent St. Louis. He also tabbed wins at No. 2 singles.
 
Women’s Tennis
Maeva Maxch / Tiffin University / Gr. / Herblay, France
Maeva Maxch had a big three-set victory over Ferris State. She beat her opponent by scores of 6-4,6-1, and 6-4. She then went on to earn wins in doubles 6-3.
 
STUNT
Mikaya McCoy / Trevecca Nazarene University / Sr. / Hazel Gren, Ala.
Mikayla McCoy helped the Trojans to a 2-2 week with wins over conference opponents Ashland and Tiffin. For the week, McCoy averaged 12.25 points per game and posted an average power rating of 36.75.