INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for December 15th, 2025 are based on student-athlete performance from December 8th, 2025- December 14th, 2025.
 
Men’s Basketball
Armandas Plintauskas / Kentucky Wesleyan College/ Sr. / Guard / Kedainiai, Lithuania
Kentucky Wesleyan’s Armandas Plintauskas led the Panthers to a 2-0 week with victories over Ashland and Tiffin. The senior guard averaged 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds on 53% shooting from the field.
 
Women’s Basketball
Kiley Dyrlund/ Walsh University/ Sr./ Forward / Canton, Oho
Kiley Dyrlund and the Cavaliers are off to one the program’s best starts in the NCAA era. Walsh improved to 4-0 in the conference with wins over Findlay and Ursuline. Dyrlund averaged a double-double across the two wins with 22.0 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. The senior forward shot an impressive 88% from the field, connecting on 21 of 24 attempts. She currently leads the league with a 61.5 FG% this season.
 
Wrestling
Nolan Gessler / Tiffin University / So. / Sidney, Ohio
Nolan Gessler had an impressive weekend for the Dragons, winning the 165-pound title at the Midwest Classic. He went 3-0 on day one, with wins by pin (1:15), fall (4:13), and a 4-0 decision. Gessler went on to earn an additional three wins on day two over opponents from Gannon, Parkside, and Lander. Gessler’s final win of the day was over Lander’s two-time national champion to take home the gold.