INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for March 24, 2025 are based on student-athlete performance from March 17, 2025- March 23rd, 2025.
Baseball
North Division
Pitcher
Hunter Allen/ Ashland University / Sr. / Pitcher / Woodville, Ohio
The Eagles went 4-1 at home last week. In Game 2 of the Thomas More series, Allen threw a complete-game, three-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts. His strikeout total was the most for an Ashland pitcher in a game since March 6, 2020. Allen leads the team in earned run average with 1.64 and is tied for the lead in wins with three.
Player
Garrett Esposito/ Lake Erie College / Jr. / Outfield / Beech Grove, Ind.
Esposito was nearly unstoppable during Lake Erie’s 3-1 series win over Walsh. He went 9-for-16 at the plate, hitting three home runs and totaling nine RBIs while scoring four runs.
South Division
Pitcher
Isaac Rose/ Kentucky Wesleyan College / Sr. / Pitcher / Bremen, Ky.
The Panthers got a dominant performance on March 22 against Tiffin from Rose. He pitched six shutout innings and allowed just four hits. From his stellar play, he also set a career-high 11 strikeouts in the 6-0 victory.
Player
Jase Mizell/ Kentucky Wesleyan College / Jr./ Outfield / Metropolis, Ill.
Mizell helped lead the Panthers this past week while recording nine hits, seven runs, two doubles, one home run, and two RBIs. His standout game came in the first of the series, where he logged three hits, a double, a home run, two RBIs, and five runs scored in an 18-8 win.
Men’s Golf
Jaxson Rinkes/ Malone University / So. / Carrolton, Ohio
Rinkes claimed individual medalist honors at the Mount Union Spring Invitational with a two-round score of 145 (72-73). He led his team to a second-place finish ov
Women’s Golf
Mary Kelly Mulcahy/ University of Findlay / Sr. / Lima, Ohio
The Oilers got a second-place finish from Mulcahy at the Findlay Spring Invitational. She shot 212 (-4) with rounds of 70, 71, and 71. Due to her efforts, No. 4 Findlay finished seven strokes behind No. 1 Anderson University (S.C.).
Men’s Lacrosse
Defensive
Ethan Price/ Walsh University / Jr. / Midfield / Spring, Texas
Price played a key role in Walsh’s 15-4 win over Lake Erie, recording six ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Offensive
Wade Brunelle / Seton Hill University / Jr. / Midfield / Jordan, N.Y.
The Griffins have once again found their way into the Athlete of the Week honors. Brunelle led them to two wins, scoring eight goals and adding nine assists on the week. In the team’s victory over No. 4 Pace, he posted three goals and six assists.
Women’s Lacrosse
Defensive
Annie Duncan/ Ashland University / Jr. / Goalkeeper / New Albany, Ohio
The Eagles were able to go 3-0 this past week off great performances from Duncan. She played 90 minutes across all three games, allowing just nine goals while making 12 saves.
Offensive
Rachel Black/ Walsh University / Sr. / Attack / Watertown, N.Y.
Walsh went 2-1 week, including a 2-0 start in conference play with wins over Northwood and Findlay. Black led the way with incredible point totals, posting six against Missouri Western State, and seven against Northwood and Findlay. In total, she found 15 goals and five assists through three games.
Softball
Pitcher
Ella Esterby/ Tiffin University/ So. /Pitcher/ Gahanna, Ohio
Esterby went 2-0 with a save in three appearances, posting a 0.47 ERA during Tiffin’s undefeated week. She recorded a complete-game shutout and struck out 17 batters over 15 innings.
Player
Anna Jones/ University of Findlay/ Jr. /Center Field/ Rockford, Minn.
Jones helped Findlay to a 4-2 week, including a doubleheader sweep of Ohio Dominican—the first since 2015. She went 7-for-16 at the plate, hitting two doubles and a grand slam against ODU. She recorded eight RBIs and scored four runs.
STUNT
Alyssa McLaughlin/ Ashland University/ Sr. / Flyer / Kenton, Ohio
The Eagles dominated to finish off their regular season league play, taking down Malone and Walsh, 23-2 and 24-1 respectively. McLaughlin led the charge in both, scoring 45 points against the Pioneers and 57 against the Cavaliers.
Men’s Tennis
Luigi Bove/ University of Findlay / Sr. / San Cristobal, Tachira, Venezuela
Findlay was able to secure a 5-1 victory over Walsh, with Bove taking home wins in No. 1 doubles (6-4) and a three-set win at No. 1 singles (6-4, 3-6, 7-6).
Women’s Tennis
Ane Dannhauser/ Hillsdale College/ So. / Johannesburg, South Africa
The Chargers swept the Panthers and Saints, going 4-0 this past week. She dominated in three of four matches without dropping a game, including two 6-0 wins at No. 1 doubles with partner Briana Rees. She also won at No. 1 singles, 6-0, 6-0, against Kentucky Wesleyan, and 6-3, 6-4, against Thomas More.