INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for March 10, 2025 are based on student-athlete performance from March 3rd, 2025- March 9th, 2025.
Baseball
North Division
Pitcher
Dominic Poltrone/ Lake Erie College / Jr. / Pitcher / Avon Lake, Ohio
Poltrone yet again has found himself being honored for his efforts on the mound. He closed out the Storm’s series win against Wheeling. In the game, he pitched seven innings, allowing just two hits while striking out nine. He now has 27 strikeouts on the year that places him third in the G-MAC.
Player
Jeremiah Cangelosi/ Ashland University / Sr. / Third Base / Pataskala, Ohio
The Eagles went 3-2 on the week in Florida. Cangelosi went 7-for-18 with a batting average of .389, all while scoring three runs, contributing eight RBIs and smacking one home run.
South Division
Pitcher
Trayce Mercer/ Ohio Dominican University / So. / Pitcher / Troy, Ohio
Mercer tossed a complete game against California (Pa.) in game one of the Panthers’ doubleheader in Florida. He went through seven innings with one run allowed on six hits while striking out four.
Player
Jacob Adams/ Ohio Dominican University / 6th Year. / First Base / Troy, Ohio
Adams led the Panthers with a .467 batting average over five games while in Florida with the Panthers. He recorded three doubles, four runs, four RBIs and three walks, while crushing the ball with a .667 slugging percentage. He became just the ninth player in the conference this year to have four hits in a game, coming against Minnesota State Mankato.
Men’s Lacrosse
Defensive
Mark Strunk/ Seton Hill University / Sr. / Midfield / Stroudsburg, PA
The Griffins found two wins this past week, with Strunk leading the charge. He won 28-of-36 faceoffs while adding on 14 ground balls and an assist.
Offensive
Wade Brunelle / Seton Hill University / Jr. / Midfield / Jordan, NY
On the offensive end, the Griffins’ two wins were sparked by an elite offensive production from Brunelle. He scored 10 goals and added on two assists in the wins. Against nationally-ranked UIndy alone, he tossed in seven goals and two assists.
Women’s Lacrosse
Defensive
Gabby Wilson/ Northwood University / Jr. / Midfield / Midland, Mich.
Wilson played a strong game against Coker in a 17-10 win on the road. She finished with four goals, two assists, seven ground balls, 10 draw controls and four forced turnovers. With Northwood being a young program, it is their first win on the road in history.
Offensive
Caylin Kunze/ Tiffin University / Sr. / Midfield / White Bear Lake, Minn.
The Dragons had a successful 2-0 week with wins over Saginaw Valley State and Virginia State. Kunze scored six goals and added two assists against Saginaw Valley State, followed by three goals and one assist against Virginia State. He finished the week totalling nine goals and three assists.
Softball
Pitcher
Brynn Polega/ Northwood University/ Sr. /Pitcher/ Unionville-Sebawing
Polega appeared in four games this past week for the Timberwolves. She went 3-0 with an ERA of 1.03 over 20.1 innings pitched on the mound. She struck out 21 batters, allowing just three earned runs, including pitching a complete game in a win over St. Cloud State.
Player
Delanie Gale/ Northwood University/ Jr. /Third Base/ Union Mills, Ind.
The Timberwolves were led by Gale on the batting end, as she went 8-for-19 from the plate this past week. She knocked two doubles, a triple and a home run over the course of the week. With her hitting, she drove in 11 runs, scoring six herself, while adding on two steals on the base paths.
STUNT
Emily Ball/ Davenport University/ Jr. / Flyer / Clinton Township, Mich.
Ball helped guide the Panthers to a perfect record over the weekend. Davenport took down Ursuline and Tiffin, keeping them undefeated in conference play. Ball herself was credited with 54 points against the Arrows and posting a game-high 78 points against the Dragons.
Men’s Tennis
Jose Portillo/ Tiffin University / Fr. / Oaxaco, Mexico
The Dragons saw a near perfect week for Jose Portillo. He went 2-0 in singles play while picking up a doubles win on Tiffin’s trip to South Carolina. He had a 6-2, 6-4 win over Marian and a 6-2, 6-2 win over Division I St. Francis while also getting a double win against Marian.
Women’s Tennis
Carla Padberg/ Walsh University/ Sr. / Arnsburg, Germany
Padberg went undefeated in singles play against Warner and Eckerd. Her efforts saw a come from behind victory in her singles match at No. 3 singles, 10-8. This win also secured a 4-3 team win against Eckerd, helping lead the Cavaliers to 2-0 on the week.