INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for March 4th, 2024 are based on student-athlete performance from February 26th, 2024- March 3rd, 2024.
 
Baseball
Pitcher
Dominic Poltrone / Lake Erie College / So. / Pitcher / Avon Lake, Ohio
Lake Erie’s Dominicn Poltrone led the Storm to a 2-1 victory over the weekend. Poltrone pitched a complete seven-inning game, while allowing just two hits on the day. He gave up one run, while striking out eight batters and walking none.
 
Player
Brennan Hunt / Ohio Dominican University / Sr. / Shortstop / Ashland, Ohio
Brennan Hunt led the Panthers to a 2-1 record on the week. Through three contests, Hunt batted .700 (7-10). His seven hits included one double and one triple for two RBIs. For the week he recorded a slugging percentage of 1.00 and an on-base percentage of .727.
 
Men’s Basketball
Wesley Jordan / Tiffin University / Sr. / Forward / Indianapolis
Wesley Jordan led Tiffin to two victories in their regular season finale. For the week, Wesley posted a stat line of 28.5 points on .645 shooting from the field and .666 from three. Wesley also added 13 rebounds, four assists, and two steals on the week.
 
Women’s Basketball
Sydney Mills / Hillsdale College / Sr. / Forward / DeWitt, Mich.
Sydney Mills nearly averaged a double-double with 18.5 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. In a win over Findlay, Mills became the Hillsdale program leader in rebounds with 1,173 for her career. Mills is second in the league in rebounds with 9.1 per game.
 
Men’s Lacrosse
Defensive:
Brett Olney / Mercyhurst University / Gr. /Goalkeeper/ Rochester, N.Y.
Brett Olney collected 18 saves in a 15-14 win over Frostburg State. He ranks fourth in the conference in saves per game (13.00) and goals against average (10.36).
 
Offensive:
Colin Tardif / Mercyhurst University / So. / Attack/ Auburn, N.Y.
Colin Tardif came up big for the Lakers in a 15-14 win against Frostburg State. Tardif connected on five goals and added two assists for a total of seven points. He currently ranks second in the G-MAC in points at 4.67 per game.
 
Women’s Lacrosse
Defensive:
Olivia Bakowski / University of Findlay / Gr. /Goalkeeper/ Buffalo, N.Y.
Olivia Bakowski led the Oilers to a 2-0 week with wins over Colorado St.-Pueblo and UC Colorado Springs. Bakowski played in all 120 minutes, totaling 18 saves to earn the win in net.
 
Offensive:
Tessa Chuba / University of Findlay/ So. / Attack/ Hartland, Mich.
Tessa Chuba scored 11 goals on 19 shots for the week to help the Oilers go 2-0. She also added six ground balls, 12 draw controls, and caused four turnovers.
 
Softball
Pitcher:
Joni Russell / Hillsdale College University / Jr. / Pitcher / Cable, Ohio
Hillsdale pitcher Joni Russell posted two complete game shutouts with victories over Illinois-Springfield and Quincy. Russell struck out 24 batters in 14.0 innings of play. She also became Hillsdale’s all-time leader in strikeouts with 478. This season, Russell carries a 1.03 ERA and is 3-2.
 
Player:
Annika Bredel / University of Findlay/ So. / Shortstop / Wellington, Ohio
Findlay’s Annika Bredel had a huge week for the Oilers. She was 14-22 from the plate for an average of .636. Bredel’s 14 hits included seven doubles, one triple, and two homeruns for eight RBIs.
 
STUNT
Alyssa McLaughlin / Ashland University / Jr. / Kenton, Ohio
McLaughlin was Ashland’s top-rated player in an undefeated weekend for the Eagles. Against Mercyhurst, she recorded 54 points in the first game and 35 in the second. In a win over Malone, McLaughlin earned another 54 points. For the week, she averaged 47.66 points.