INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for October 6th, 2025 are based on student-athlete performance from September 28th, 2025- October 5th, 2025.
Football
Defense: Isaiah Funches-Foster / Tiffin University/ Jr. / Defensive Back / Lima, Ohio
During the Tiffin Dragons 28-21 win over the Hillsdale Chargers, Isaiah Funches-Foster led the charge with eight tackles along with an interception which he returned 60-yards for a touchdown. Overall, he aided in the Dragon defense, holding the Chargers to convert just four of 13 on third-down conversions.
Offense: Denny Furlong / University of Findlay/ Jr. / Wide Receiver / Evergreen Park, Ill.
During the Findlay Oilers victory over the Walsh Cavaliers, Denny Furlong aided in ensuring the Oilers remained undefeated. Furlong found eight receptions for 156-yards and three touchdowns (23, 29, 51 yards). He’s the first receiver at Findlay to have 150+ receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in a game since 1999. The Oilers cracked the top 20 at No. 19 in the latest AFCA poll.
Special Teams: Shea Ruddy / Hillsdale College/ Jr. / Wide Receiver/ Temperance, Mich.
Despite the Hillsdale Chargers 28-21 loss to the Tiffin Dragons, Shea Ruddy found an 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It was the third of his career and the first of this season. The return touchdown was the longest by a conference player this season to date. He finished with 112 kickoff return yards on two returns and also led the team in receiving yardage with four catches for 49-yards.
Men’s Golf
Robert Thompson / Hillsdale College/ Jr. / Charlotte, N.C.
Hillsdale College’s Robert Thompson earned medalist honors at the Midwest Collegiate with a birdie on the final hole to finish with 6-under 210. This marks his second medalist title in just three events this fall as he continues an impressive stretch of play, sitting 22-under par across nine rounds in the 2025 fall season.
Men’s Soccer
Offensive:
Haakon Torvbraaten / Kentucky Wesleyan College/ Sr. / Midfield/ Asker, Norway
During a G-MAC victory against the Malone Pioneers and a 2-2 draw against the Ohio Dominican Panthers, Kentucky Wesleyans Haakon Torvbraaten found two outstanding performances. Against the Pioneers, Torbraaten assisted on the Panthers first goal before knocking in a penalty kick score of his own. Against Ohio Dominican, he found the back of the net to help Wesleyan Panthers come back from a two-goal deficit.
Defensive:
Nick Cherry / Tiffin University/ Fr. / Goalkeeper/ Pittsburgh, PA
During the Tiffin Dragons shutout victory over the Findlay Oilers, Nick Cherry led a defensive effort that held the Oilers to no shots on goal. Cherry got the win in goal to improve to 5-2-1 with four shutouts this season.
Women’s Soccer
Offensive:
Brynn Mowrer / Malone University/ Sr. / Forward/ Burbank, Ohio
During a shutout victory over the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers, Malone Pioneers Brynn Mowrer scored two goals and recorded an assist. Her performance was the tenth multi-goal game for the program in the NCAA DII era and tied for third-most points in a match in that same time frame. She also added a goal on the team’s only shot against the 15-ranked Ashland Eagles for three goals and seven points on the week.
Defensive:
Cat Graves/ University of Findlay/ Sr. / Goalkeeper / Lexington, Ky.
During the Oilers 2-0 week, the Oilers shut out both Walsh and Tiffin. Cat Graves earned the win against the Cavaliers playing the entire 90-minutes while making six saves.
Volleyball
North Division
Adi Sysum / Hillsdale College/ Sr./ Middle Hitter / Eaton Rapids, Mich.
As the Hillsdale Chargers swept the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers, Adi Sysum averaged three kills per set and 1.3 blocks per set, allowing the Chargers to improve to 3-2 in G-MAC play. She hit .500 across matches against Kentucky Wesleyan and Thomas More, creating an incredibly efficient performance offensively.
South Division
Cassi Shields / Cedarville University / Sr. / Outside Hitter / Westminster, MD.
Cedarville Yellow Jacket's Cassi Shields totaled 16 kills, seven blocks and a career-high 17 digs as the Yellow Jackets knocked off AVCA Division II No. 21 Findlay in five sets to extend the Yellow Jackets winning streak to eight in a row.
East Division
Jaymes Gilbert / Malone University / Jr. / Middle Hitter /Wooster, Ohio
Jaymes Gilbert shined for the Pioneers in a 2-0 week with huge divisional wins over the Ursuline Arrows and Ashland Eagles. She found nine kills and a career-high 17 digs against Ursuline and followed that up with a huge upset win against the Eagles with a double-double of 11 kills and 15 digs. She had just two attack errors for the week and hit a .375, adding a combined seven assists, three block assists and two aces.