INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for September 30th, 2024 are based on student-athlete performance from September 22nd, 2024- September 29th, 2024.
Football
Defense: Collin Strong / Ashland University/ Sr. / Defensive Tackle / North Olmsted,Ohio
Ashland University’s defense remained stout this past weekend, allowing just 12 points to the Tiffin Dragons. Leading the charge on the line was Strong, who stood out defensively and on the special teams side of things. He recorded four tackles, one interception and one blocked field goal. His efforts helped improve the Eagles to 2-0 in G-MAC play.
Offense: Rae’Von Vaden / Thomas More University/ Gr. / Quarterback / Louisville, Kentucky
Vaden was exceptional for Thomas More as they took down the Walsh Cavaliers. He tossed for 271 yards through the air on 19 completions while taking the ball 11 times on the ground for 96 yards. The graduate quarterback also threw three touchdowns in the win.
Special Teams: Shea Ruddy / Hillsdale College / So. / Wide Receiver / Temperance, Mich.
While trying to help the Chargers rally this past weekend, Ruddy gave his all. He returned four kickoffs for 158 total yards, including a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that brought the Chargers within seven points. He currently leads the G-MAC in all-purpose yards with 223.8
yards per game.
Men’s Cross Country
Noah Fisher / University of Findlay / Sr. / Defiance, Ohio
Fisher finished runner-up out of 100 runners at the Lock Haven Invite with an 8k time of 24:18.3. His impressive performance helped lead the Oiler’s to a second place finish out of 26 teams.
Women’s Cross Country
Ines Macadam / Tiffin University / Gr. / Entre Ríos, Argentina
Macadam came in second of 241 runners overall, crossing the line in 21:19.1. The Dragons finished 4th overall out of 29 teams.
Men’s Golf
Matthew McMullen/ Ashland University/ Sr. / Galion, Ohio
Senior Matthew McMullen clinched his first collegiate victory at the University of Indianapolis Invitational. McMullen’s 15-under score shattered AU’s individual low for a men’s player in program history, contributing to the lowest team score compiled by the Eagle’s since 1996-97.
Women’s Golf
LeeAnn Harker / Ashland University/ So. / Centerville, Ohio
Harker’s stretch of three birdies in four holes to start the back nine helped her become the Eagle Invitational’s individual medalist with a score of 75. Ashland finished second as a team in the 14-team field.
Men’s Soccer
Defensive:
Keegan Grant/ University of Findlay / So. / Goalkeeper/ Madrid, Spain
Grant recorded two shutouts across his 168 minutes in goal against Cedarville and Lake Erie. Both victories were 3-0 wins for the Oiler’s, and Grant tallied 12 total saves.
Offensive:
Maciej Gaszyski / University of Findlay / Sr. / Defense/
Rangsdorf, Germany
Gaszyski scored two goals against Lake Erie this week, one being the game winner. His contributions helped lead the Oiler’s to two victories, both of which were 3-0.
Women’s Soccer
Defensive:
Kassidy Elkin / Kentucky Wesleyan College / 5th year. / Goalkeeper/ Newburgh, Ind.
Elkin recorded two consecutive 90-minute shutouts for the Panther’s last week, leading to both games being 3-0 victories. Elkin tallied a season-high nine saves in their first win of the week against Tiffin.
Offensive:
Sydney Noble / University of Findlay / Jr. / Forward/ Hebron, KY
Noble tallied a goal in each game this week, one being the first goal of the game and the other being the game winner. The Oiler’s went 1-1 over the course of the two games.
Men’s Tennis
Soh Kuyama / University of Findlay / Gr. / Findlay, Ohio
Kuyama was able to make it to through the quarterfinal round of the A draw at the ITA Midwest Regional. In Grand Rapids, Mich., he won the first round 6-3, 6-4, before moving into the Round of 16 and winning by a score of 7-5, 6-2. The semifinal round saw a loss of 7-6, 6-4.
Women’s Tennis
Ane Dahauser / Hillsdale College / So. / Johanesburg, South Africa
Defending her home invitational, Dahauser went a perfect 3-0 at No. 1 single at the Hillsdale Fall Invitational. She beat players from Saginaw Valley State, Northwestern Ohio and Lawrence Tech. Her most convincing win came against SVSU’s Lydia Long, winning 6-0, 6-1.
Volleyball
North Division
Kaylee Freund / Tiffin University/ Jr. / Middle Hitter/ New Breman, Ohio
Tiffin’s middle hitter Kaylee Freund dominated in the Dragons’ five-set win over the Findlay Oilers. She found 16 total points that led the team while she also was a brick wall defensively with eight total blocks.
South Division
Emily Acito / Thomas More University / Jr. / Outside Hitter/ Cincinnati, Ohio
Thomas More continues to be atop the South Division standings with a 4-1 conference record, and Acito was at the helm of the attacking unit this past week. She tallied 34 total kills, three blocks and four service aces as the Saints went 2-1.
East Division
Sammie DiBease / Walsh University / Jr. / Outside Hitter / Perry, Ohio
DiBease helped the Cavaliers go undefeated this past week as they took home wins over California Pennsylvania and Malone. She totaled 37 kills, three aces and seven digs. Against Cal PA, she had by far her best game of the season as she recorded 26 kills and a .321 hitting
percentage.