INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for September 15th, 2024 are based on student-athlete performance from September 8th, 2025- September 15th, 2025.
 
Men’s Cross Country
Xavier Foehl / Walsh University/ Gr. / Heath, Ohio
 In the Robert Morris Invitational Xavier Foel won the invite with a time of 24:27.3 in the 8k, aiding the Cavalier men in finishing third out of ten teams.
 
Women’s Cross Country
Claire Rethman / Walsh University/ Sr. / Fort Loramie, Ohio
In the Robert Morris Invitational Claire Rethman won the invite with a 6k time of 19:54.0, aiding the Cavalier women in finishing second out of 11 teams.
 
Football
Defense: Cole Simpson / Northwood University/ Sr. / Defensive End / Jackson, Mich.
In a 38-14 road win over Saginaw Valley during the 50th annual Axe Bowl, Northwood University’s Cole Simpson intercepted a pair of passes, while sharing a team-high honor five tackles to go along with a tackle for loss.  His game aided in the Timberwolves holding a 28-0 lead at halftime with a 317-72 edge in total yards at the break; thus, making this 24-point victory the second biggest for the Timberwolves in Axe Bowl history and the largest for them in road games.
 
Offense: Alex Johnson / Tiffin University/ Sr. / Quarterback / Bellevue, Wash.
Despite Tiffin University losing to top-ranked Ferris State, Alex Johnson maintained a great performance recording 24 of 37 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns; additionally, he had touchdown tosses of 2, 29 and 65 yards.
 
Special Teams: Malik Baker / Tiffin University/ Jr. / Defensive Back  / Cleveland, Ohio
In a Tiffin University loss against top-ranked Ferris State, Malik Baker scooped up a blocked field goal and managed to run it back 77-yards for a touchdown that brought the Dragons within once score of the Bulldogs in a narrow 41-34 defeat; additionally, Baker was the second on the team with six tackles and one pass breakup.
 
Men’s Golf
Robert Thompson / Hillsdale College/ Jr. / Charlotte, NC
 Robert Thompson earned medalist status at the Malone-Glenmoor Fall Classic, beating the second-place opponent by four strokes. He fired career-best rounds of 73-67-68 to finish 208 (-8) throught 54 holes. Thompson helped the Chargers capture the team title as well to start the 2025-26 fall season.
 
Women’s Golf
Laura Goetz / Tiffin University/ So. / Kippenheim, Germany
Tiffin’s Laura Goetz was crowned the individual winner at the UIndy Fall Invitational in the Dragons’ season-opening tournament. Goetz registered rounds of 7-68-74 for a career-best 212 (-4). The sophomore then followed up with a 6^th-place individual performance at the ODU Champions Fall Classic to help the Dragons earn a first-place team finish.
 
Men’s Soccer
Offensive:
Carson Oberski / University of Findlay/ Jr. / Forward/ Farmington Hills, Mich.
During the University of Findlay splitting competitions with a win over Lock Haven and a loss to UIndy, Carson Oberski scored two goals on the week, one goal being the winning goal against Lock Haven making the score 1-0.
 
Defensive:
Everage Amari / Cedarville University/ Sr. / Defense/ Odessa, Texas
Cedarville University's Amari Everage found his first career goal over Lee University in a 2-0 win.  He also added an assist in a 1-1 draw over Trevecca Nazarene University.  He’s been a part of a back line that’s only allowed one goal this season in four games.
 
Women’s Soccer
Offensive:
Mari Jackson / Northwood University/ Jr. / Forward / Eastpointe, Mich.
During two victories over Northern Mich. and Michigan Tech, Mari Jackson put up two game-winning goals, totaling six shots including five on goal and two goals.
 
Defensive:
Reagan Brengman / Northwood University/ Sr. / Defense / Harrison Township, Mich.
Northwood University’s Reagan Brengman led the Timberwolves to two road shutouts over Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech.  Her and the backline held opponents to three shots on goal total during their competition week.
 
Men’s Tennis
Ross Trias / Walsh University/ Fr. / Mansfield, Ohio
 Walsh’s Ross Trias started the week with wins at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles vs. West Virginia State to help the Cavaliers post a 6-1 win over the Yellow Jackets. He went on to win the A singles flight at the Hillsdale Summer Invitational, competing against opponents from Hillsdale, Findlay, and Lawrence Tech. He and his partner Joan Dasi then went on to finish third place in doubles by going 2-1 in the event.
 
Women’s Tennis
Ane Dannhauser / Hillsdale College/ Jr. / Johannesburg, South Africa
Hillsdale’s Ane Dannhauser is the first women’s tennis athlete of the week for the 2025-26 academic year. Dannhauser won two of three singles matches in the A bracket of the Hillsdale Summer Invitational. She beat opponents from Lawrence Tech and Ferris State to help her team to a third place team finish. Dannhauser partnered with Brianna Reese to capture two of three doubles matches as well.
 
Volleyball
North Division
Makenna Belcher / University of  Findlay/ Gr./ Outside Hitter/ Marengo, Ohio
In the Hampton Inn and Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic hosted by Davenport University, Makenne Belcher led her team in defeating No. 16-ranked Gannon, Davenport and Central Missouri.  She recorded 55 kills (4.58/s) while hitting .314 as an outside hitter; furthermore, she recorded four blocks that led her team with 4.75 points per set.
 
South Division
Hadley Wolfe / Kentucky Wesleyan College / Jr. / Middle Blocker / Henderson, Ky.
During four matches at the UC/WVSU Crossover, Hadley Wolfe averaged 15 kills, five digs and 4.25 blocks.  She set a career-high with 22 kills adding six blocks against Glenville State, later topping that performance against Point Park with a double-double of 22 kills and ten blocks in their 3-2 win.
 
East Division
Kameron  Stover / Walsh University / Fr. / Right Side /Centerburg, Ohio
Kameron Stover found another dominant performance during her second week of her college career with Walsh.  She recorded two double-doubles and totaled impressive stat lines of 65 kills, .352 on 142 attempts, 31 digs, three blocks, one ace and was 43/46 on serve reception.