INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for January 27th, 2025 are based on student-athlete performance from January 21st, 2025- January 26th, 2025.
Men’s Basketball
Fatih Huyuk / Kentucky Wesleyan College/ Jr. / Forward / Antakya, Turkey
Fatih Huyuk came out swinging this past week in the Panthers' two wins. He averaged 17 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting an incredible 14-of-14 from the field. Against the Timberwolves, he had his best game putting up 18 points on 8-of-8 shooting from the field. He also hauled in four rebounds and three assists in the 85-80 win. Just two days later against Malone, he helped take down the Pioneers with 16 points, three rebounds, and three assists while going 6-of-6 from the field in the 74-72 win.
Women’s Basketball
Hayley Smith/ Ashland University / Sr. / Forward / Canton, Ohio
The Eagles have now won 12 games straight, and Hayley Smith has been leading the charge for AU. She helped lead the team past Hillsdale and Lake Erie, averaging 11.5 points, 15.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Against the Chargers, she set a new career high in rebounds with 19 in just 26 minutes on the court.
Men’s Indoor Field
Garrett Baker/ Ashland University / Jr. / Shelby, Ohio
At the Ashland University Invitational, Garrett Baker won the pole vault event with a mark of 5.40 meters/17-feet-8 1/2, which is a new Niss Athletic Center and meet record. Due to his recent performances, he ranks No. 1 in NCAA Division II in men's pole vault.
Men’s Indoor Track
Joshua Page/ Tiffin University / Sr. /Columbus, Ohio
Page had quite an impressive week as he competed in back-to-back days in two entirely different meets. To start his week, he travelled to Grand Valley State, winning the 400-meter dash with a time of 46.24 seconds. That mark broke a school record, GVSU facility record and it is also the top mark in history at the D-II level. The following day, he competed in his home Tiffin meet where he won the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.71 seconds.
Women’s Indoor Field
Sarah Masuoka/ Ashland University / Sr. / Fairlawn, Ohio
At the AU Invitational, another Eagle made their mark. Masuoka won the women's pole vault with a mark of 3.95 meters/12-feet-11 1/2. This is also a provisional mark for her, ranking her No. 11 in D-II in the women's pole vault.
Women’s Indoor Track
Kylie Ray/ University of Findlay / Gr. / Pinckney, Mich.
Ray was unstoppable at the Hillsdale wide track classic. She won the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.92 which is not only an NCAA Provo mark, but is also the sixth-best time in D-II this season. She also won as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team and finished as a runner-up in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.79, another NCAA Provo mark.
Men’s Swimming & Diving
Tillman Hawk/ Malone University / Fr. / Zanesville, Ohio
The Pioneers saw Hawk win the 1,000-yard Freestyle with an impressive time of 11:24.12 and the 500-yard Freestyle with a mark of 5:31.87 against Fairmont State and West Virginia Tech.
Women’s Swimming & Diving
Megan Clifford/ Hillsdale College / Sr. / Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Clifford helped lead Hillsdale in a tri-meet against Davenport and Aquinas. She won multiple events to help the Chargers split the meet, including the 200-yard Butterfly with a time of 2:03.92 and the 200-yard Freestyle at 1:55.85. She also swam a leg on the runner-up 400-yard Freestyle relay that finished with a time of 3:40.48.