INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for October  21st, 2025 are based on student-athlete performance from October 13^th, 2025- October 20th, 2025.
 
Football
Defense: Ethan Evers / Tiffin University/ RS-So. / Linebacker / Nappanee, Ind.
Ethan Evers led a defensive effort that held Thomas More to 254 yards of total offense in their fifth win of the season. Evers had a huge 33-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 45-10 win. He added three tackles as well as a tackle for loss.
 
Offense: Ethan Hamby / Northwood University/ RS-So. / Quarterback / Macomb, Mich.
Northwood’s Ethan Hamby earned Offensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. Hamby led the Timberwolves to their third straight win, registering 287 yard and accounting for four touchdowns in a road win over Hillsdale. He connected on 17 of 31 passes with three touchdowns and went on to add a 32 yard rushing touchdown. The redshirt sophomore has 14 touchdowns and zero interceptions this season.
 
Special Teams: Manaki Watanabe / Ashland University/ RS Fr. / Kicker / Novi, Mich.
Manaki Watanabe nearly broke the Ashland program record with a 50-yard field goal in the opening drive of the 31-14 win at Ohio Dominican. Watanabe went 4-for-4 on extra points while three of his six kickoffs went for touchback.
 
Men’s Golf
Aiden Hibbard / Cedarville University/ So. / Elkhart, Ind.
Aiden Hibbard tied for first place at Findlay’s Doc Spragg Invitational. Hibbard fired rounds of 70-72-70 to finish with a final score of 212 (-4). His score of 212 is the second best 54-hole score in Cedarville program history.
 
Men’s Soccer
Offensive:
Nick Phyllis / Thomas More University/ Jr. / Forward/ Thunder Bay, Canada
Thomas More’s Nick Phyllis led the Saints to a win over Walsh and a draw against Findlay. He recorded two goals and an assist in the Saints’ 1-0-1 week.
 
Defensive:
Kristopher McDonald / Tiffin University/ Sr. / Defender/ Spanish Town, St. Catherine, Jamaica
Kristopher McDonald led a defensive effort that resulted in two scoreless ties for the Dragons, including one against No. 8 Cedarville. McDonald and the Dragon defense  allowed just four shots on goal for the week.
 
Women’s Soccer
Offensive:
Emily Pate / Ashland University/ Sr. / Midfield/ West Chester, Ohio
No. 16 Ashland went 1-0-1 on the week as Emily Pate accounted for two goals. Pate and the Eagles improved to 9-2-2 on the season.
 
Defensive:
Aubree Lee/ Tiffin University/ So. / Goalkeeper / Lowell, Mich.
Tiffin’s Aubree Lee had a huge week for the Dragons as they went 2-0, including an upset over No. 23 Cedarville. Lee was a perfect 14-14 in save opportunities, with four against Ohio Dominican and 10 against Cedarville. The win over the Yellow Jackets is the first time Tiffin has defeated a nationally-ranked opponent since 2006 while also snapping a 10-game losing streak against Cedarville.
 
Volleyball
North Division
Lauren Foerster / University of Findlay/ Sr./ Outside Hitter / Salem, Wisc.
Lauren Foerster led the Oilers to a 2-1 record at the Midwest Region Crossover event. She tallied 47 kills with a .487 hitting percentage. Findlay defeated UIndy and Northern Michigan over the weekend.
 
South Division
Grace Zinchuk / Ohio Dominican University / Sr. / Middle Back / Schaumburg, Ill.
Grace Zinchuk and the Panthers had a perfect 3-0 weekend at the crossover. She hit .474, including 38 kills and 14 blocks.
 
East Division
Kameron Stover / Walsh University / Fr. / Right Side /Centerburg, Ohio
Kameron Stover was a dominant force for the Cavaliers. She registered 50 kills at 4.5 per set, while hitting .248. Stover added four aces and 35 digs for 5.1 points per set, including three double-doubles.