INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for April 28, 2025 are based on student-athlete performance from April 21, 2025- April 27, 2025.
Baseball
North Division
Pitcher
Brandon Swope / Tiffin University / So. / Pitcher / Perrysburg, Ohio
Swope picked up his first win of the season on the mound, leading the Dragons to a series-opening victory over Hillsdale. Swope tossed six scoreless innings, striking out a career-high seven batters while allowing just two hits and four total base runners.
Player
Sam Witt/ Ashland University/ Jr. / First Base / Martin,Ohio
Ashland’s Witt had a big week at the plate, going 7-for-16 (.438) with three home runs, seven RBIs, and three runs scored. Witt homered in three straight games as the Eagles went 3-2 overall.
South Division
Pitcher
Michael Niro/ Walsh University / So. / Pitcher / Parma, Ohio
Niro turned in a dominant performance against Kentucky Wesleyan, tossing eight shutout innings while scattering three hits and striking out two. Nitro also pitched five strong innings midweek against Malone, giving up just one earned run.
Player
Cam Hollobaugh/ Walsh University / Sr./ Outfield / Warren, Ohio
Walsh’s offense was elite this past week as Hollobaugh went 11-for-17 with five RBIs, four doubles, a triple, two home runs, and a stolen base during the series win. He also chipped in with a double, a homer, two RBIs, and a stolen base in a midweek sweep of Malone.
Softball
Pitcher
Joni Russell / Hillsdale College/ Sr. /Pitcher/ Cable, Ohio
Russell was nearly untouchable for another week, going 3-0 with three complete-game shutouts. She struck out 28 and allowed just seven hits in 21 innings, finishing G-MAC play with a perfect 13-0 record and setting a school record with 10 shutouts this season.
Player
Jessica Miller/ Tiffin University/ Fr. /Infield / Perrysburg,Ohio
Tiffin’s Miller had a huge week, batting .435 with five doubles, two home runs, and 10 RBIs as the Dragons went 5-1 and clinched the G-MAC regular season title. Their 39 wins tie the school’s Division II single-season record.
Men’s Outdoor Field
Garrett Baker/ Ashland University/ Jr. / Shelby, Ohio
Baker captured the pole vault title at the 15th Ashland Alumni Open, clearing 5.31 meters (17-feet-5) to hit an NCAA provisional mark. Baker now ranks third in Division II in the event.
Men’s Outdoor Track
Micah Gremling / Walsh University / Sr. / Findlay, Ohio
Walsh’s Gremling set a school record and posted an NCAA provisional mark by winning the 100 meters in 10.10 seconds at the Walsh Tune-Up. His time currently ranks second-fastest in Division II this season.
Women’s Outdoor Field
Molly Winner/ Ashland University/ So. / Yorkshire, Ohio
Winner won the elite shot put category at the Ashland Alumni Open with a throw of 15.08 meters (49-feet-5¾), moving to ninth nationally in Division II. She also placed second in the hammer throw with a mark of 58.94 meters (193-feet-4).
Women’s Outdoor Track
Kylie Ray/ University of Findlay / Sr. / Pinckney, Mich.
Ray turned in a historic performance at the Hillsdale Tune-Up, winning the 400 meters in 53.26 seconds to set a school record and post an NCAA provisional mark. Ray also helped her team win the 4x100-meter relay in 44.43 seconds, the second-fastest time in Division II this season.