INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for October 6th, 2025 are based on student-athlete performance from September 28th, 2025- October 5th, 2025.
Men’s Cross Country
Ramon Rodriguez / Tiffin University/ Sr. / Madrid, N.C.
At the Lewis Invitational, Tiffin’s Ramon Rodriguez found a win as he crossed the finish line with a time of 23:44.15. This time also marked the second best in Tiffin school history. Rodriguez’s performance aided in the Dragons finishing 12th out of 37 teams.
Women’s Cross Country
Claire Rethman / Walsh University/ Sr. / Fort Loramie, Ohio
Walsh Cavaliers’ Claire Rethman found a second place finish at the Division II Lewis Crossover meet, crossing the finish line with a time of 20:45 in the 6k. The second place finish was only .02 seconds behind the first place finisher who’s ranked number one in the Flo DII polls.
Football
Defense: Malik Baker / Tiffin University/ RS-Jr. / Defensive Back / Cleveland, Ohio
Tiffin Dragons’ Malik Baker led the team to a 54-7 victory over the Walsh Cavaliers. He found nine tackles along with an interception, forced fumble, and three pass breakups. He led a defensive effort that held the Walsh Cavaliers to just 180-yards of total offense.
Offense: Ethan Hamby / Northwood University/ RS-So. / Quarterback / Macomb, Mich.
Northwood’s Ethan Hamby led the team to a 52-7 victory over the Lake Erie Storm. Hamby finished the game with 20-21 passing for 224-yards and five total touchdowns (four passing). His 95.2 completion percentage in the shattered the Timberwolves and G-MAC records. It’s also the highest completion percentage for any quarterback in Division II this season. This 5-1 start on the season is the Timberwolves best since 2006.
Special Teams: Jaden Cook / Ashland University/ Sr. / Punter / Clyde, Ohio
The No.24-ranked Ashland Eagles won their 101st Homecoming game over the Thomas More Saints with a final score of 38-14. Ashland’s Jaden Cook averaged 45.2 yards on six punts with three punts landing inside the 20-yard line. Cook only allowed ten punt returns with a net punting average of 40.2.
Men’s Golf
Winston Brown / Tiffin University/ Jr. / Decatur, Ill.
Tiffin’s Winston Brown claimed the Kyle Ryman Memorial individual title as he won by four strokes, finishing an impressive eight-under par. This victory marked the first individual title of his career. He concluded with a 54-hole total of 208, posting rounds of 71, 68 and 69. The team also won the team title as they rallied from 11 strokes down entering the final 18 holes to win the tournament by two strokes.
Women’s Golf
Ashleigh Duflo / University of Findlay/ Jr. / Ada, Mich.
Findlay Oilers’ Ashleigh Duflo, blew away the field at the annual William Beall Fall Classic. Duflo finished T1 in the tournament with a score of 218 (+2), making a birdie on her final two holes of the tournament to get into a playoff. The playoff, against Ferris Bulldogs Kamryn Shannon, ended on the sixth playoff hole.
Men’s Soccer
Offensive:
Will Fox / Thomas More University/ Sr. / Forward/ Cambridge, England
Thomas More Saints Will Fox aided the Saints in their 2-0 week as they defeated the Ashland Eagles and the Lake Erie Storm. Fox scored two goals against the Eagles and found an assist against the Storm.
Defensive:
Amari Everage / Cedarville University/ Sr. / Defender/ Odessa, Texas
Cedarville Yellow Jackets Amari Everage anchored a backline that limited the Walsh Cavaliers and Ashland Eagles to three total shots on goal in back-to-back shutouts. He assisted on the second goal against the Cavaliers in a 4-0 victory and saved a shot off the line against the Eagles in the first half to preserve a 1-0 lead.
Women’s Soccer
Offensive:
Alexis Harden / Thomas More University/ Fr. / Forward/ Loveland, Ohio
Thomas More Saints’ Alexis Harden aided the Saints in a 2-0 week against the Ohio Dominican Panthers and the Ursuline Arrows. Harden tallied three goals on the week with one against the Panthers and two against the Arrows.
Defensive:
Tea Pence/ Thomas More University/ Sr. / Goalkeeper / Hamilton, Ohio
Tea Pence aided the Saints in a 2-0 week against the Ohio Dominican Panthers and the Ursuline Arrows. In three halves, she recorded six saves.
Men’s Swimming & Diving
Joey Lenczyk/ Ashland University/ Sr. / Huron, Ohio
At the Oberlin Early Invite, Ashland’s Joey Lenczyk found himself victorious in the 1-meter and 3-meter dives. He collected 238.45 points in the 1-meter and went on to add 248.60 points in the 3-meter.
Women’s Swimming & Diving
Yasmim Tomita/ Ashland University/ So. / Sao Paulo, Brazil
Yasmim Tomita took home the gold in both the 100 and 200 yard backstroke with times of 57.69 and 2:06.89, respectively. Tomita also swam legs in the first place 200 medley relay and 800 free relay teams.
Women’s Tennis
Audrey Oullet/ University of Findlay/ Sr. / Lévis, Quebec
Audrey Oullet and the Oilers competed at the ITA Midwest Regionals. She teamed up with Anamarija Kovacevic to win the A Draw in doubles with a perfect 5-0 record. Oullet also went on to win the A Draw Consolation Bracket, winning three consecutive matches.
Volleyball
North Division
Makenna Belcher / University of Findlay/ Gr./ Outside Hitter / Marengo, Ohio
Findlay Oilers Makenna Belcher aided in the 25-ranked Oilers pair of wins over the Hillsdale Chargers and the Northwood Timberwolves. The Oilers swept both matches, with the match against the Chargers being their first swept match in ten years. Belcher led the offense with 30 kills while hitting .324 and finding three blocks.
South Division
Jenna Peters / Ohio Dominican University / Sr. / Outside Hitter / Vermillion, Ohio
Ohio Dominican Panthers’ Jenna Peters aided in wins over the Thomas More Saints and the Cedarville Yellow Jackets to take over first place in the South Division. Peters found 44 kills, three service aces, and 47 digs to bring the Panthers to a 3-0 week. She is currently second in total kills (224) and sixth in kills per set (3.45) among G-MAC players.
East Division
AJ Burick / Walsh University / So. / Setter /Louisville, Ohio
Walsh Cavaliers AJ Burick played a key role in the Cavaliers 2-0 week that swept Malone Pioneers and a reverse sweep of the Ashland Eagles. She found 81 assists (10.1/set), 19 digs (2.4/set), 7 kills on 13 attempts with 0 errors (.538), 2 aces and 1 block. The Cavaliers now have a nine game winning streak.