INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for March 16th, 2026 are based on student-athlete performance from March 9th, 2026- March 15th, 2026.
 
Baseball
North Division
Pitcher:
Dominic Poltrone / Lake Erie College/ Sr. / Pitcher / Avon Lake, Ohio
Dominic Poltrone led the Storm to a 2-2 split with Ohio Dominican. Poltrone threw a seven-inning complete, allowing just two hits, one run, and striking out eight batters en route to an 8-1 win. 
 
Player:
Rocco Tenuta / University of Findlay/ Jr. / Third Base / Barlett, Ill.
Rocco Tenuta batted .579 (11 of 19) for the weekend with three doubles, three home runs, and nine total RBI’s. Tenuta had the go-ahead three-run home run in Hillsdale's 7-4 win in the first game on Saturday, and a grand slam in a 20-10 win in the second game on Saturday. He also had a perfect fielding percentage at his position in all four contests.
 
South Division
Pitcher:
Ryan Chambers / Walsh University / Sr. / Pitcher / Stoutsville, Ohio
Ryan Chambers led Walsh in their 3-1 game 2 win over Tiffin. Chambers pitched 5.1 innings, striking out 6, walking 3, and allowed no earned runs. He scattered 3 hits. 
 
Player:
Liam Hutson / Kentucky Wesleyan College / So. / Outfield / Louisville, Ky.
Liam Hutson went 7-15 with three home runs, four runs scored, and five RBIs in the Panthers' series split versus Northwood. Hutson additionally tallied multiple diving plays in center field and hasn't committed an error since the opening weekend. He currently leads the conference in home runs (8) and total bases (53). 
 
Men’s Golf
Luke Metzger / University of Findlay/ Sr. / Mason, Ohio
Findlay Oiler Luke Metzger led the Oilers as he earned medalist status in the SVSU Men’s Invitational.  He won by two shots and was the only player to finish the 54-hole tournament under par posting rounds of 70, 69 and 75 to win.
 
Women’s Golf
Ashleigh Duflo / University of Findlay/ Jr. / Ada, Mich.
Findlay Oiler Ashleigh Duflo finished fifth in her respective tournament with scores of 72, 71, 73 to shoot even par on the week.  She’s ranked fourth in Division II finishing only behind top ranked players.
 
Men’s Lacrosse
Defensive:
Austin England / Walsh University/ Jr. /Goalkeeper/ North Canton, Ohio
Austin England had 7 saves on 7 goals allowed vs. PPU. He also had 14 saves and 3 goals allowed vs. Tiffin with an 82% save rate.
 
Offensive:
Jayden Ashley / Davenport University/ Sr. / Attack/ Lawrenceville, N.Y.
Jayden Ashley Led the Panthers to a dominating 24-4 win over Malone on the road on Saturday. Ashley had a career day, finishing with 10 goals, which marked a career-high and the third most in a single game in school history. He also picked up three ground balls and had one caused turnover.
 
Women’s Lacrosse
Defensive:
Sydney Atkinson / Malone University/ So. /Goalkeeper/ Chardon, Ohio
Malone Pioneer Sydney Atkinson was in goal for all 180-minutes of a 3-0 week totaling 24 saves on 63 shots (.511 save percentage) and allowed just seven goals per game.
 
Offensive:
Ashtyn Praeter / Malone University/ Fr. / Midfielder/ Bellbrook, Ohio
Malone Pioneer Ashytn Praeter scored a team -high 13 goals with two assists to tie for the team lead with 15 points in a 3-0 week and had games of four goals, three goals and seven goals.
 
Softball
Pitcher:
Kamden Binney / Northwood University/ Jr. / Pitcher / Fort Wayne, Ind.
Northwood Timberwolves Kamden Binney made four appearances with three starts in the circle for Northwood, posting a 2-2 record over 22.1 innings.  She also found a six-inning shutout against California (Pa.) while allowing nine earned runs and striking out seven during the week.
 
Player:
Annika Bredel / University of Findlay / Sr. / Infield / Wellington, Ohio
Findlay Oiler Annika Bredel hit 10-20 (.500) with ten runs scored, one  double, four home runs, six RBI and did not strike out. 
 
STUNT
Makenna Jurkowski / Malone University/ So. / North Canton, Ohio
Malone Pioneer Makenna Jurkowski scored in all four events for the Pioneers on the week, leading the Pioneers to their first victory over Tiffin in program history.
 
 
Men’s Tennis
Soh Kuyama / University of Findlay/ Gr. / Findlay, Ohio
Soh Kuyama went 4-0 winning both matches at 2nd doubles and 2nd singles. Kuyama won all 6 sets in which he played. The Oilers went 2-0 this week beating Maryville 4-3 and then beating Davenport 5-2.
 
 
Women’s Tennis
Valentina Salek / University of Findlay/ Jr. / San Juan de Los Morros, Guárico, Venezuela
Valentina Salek and the No.4 Oilers dominated No.30 Davenport 6-1 on Sunday. Valentina and Ivanova Lucero (ranked 40th in D2) won at 1st doubles then Valentina went on to win at 2nd singles 6-4, 6-3