INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for November  17th, 2025 are based on student-athlete performance from November 10th, 2025- November 16th, 2025.
 
Men’s Basketball
Alex Kendall / University of Findlay/ So. / Forward / Marietta, Ohio
The No.23-ranked Findlay Oilers started their season with a 2-0 victory against Truman State and Quincy.  Oilers Alex Kendall scored 16.5 a game including 23 in the season opener. He averaged 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 blocks while also shooting 14-19 (.737) from the field.
 
Women’s Basketball
Annalise Pietrzyk / Hillsdale College/ Jr./ Guard / Lockport, Ill.
Hillsdale Chargers’ Annalise Pietrzyk led the team in scoring in victories over Illinois-Springfield and Purdue Northwest.  She shot 69.2% from three-point range with nine makes, 19 points, six rebounds and six assists with four made three-pointers against Illinois-Springfield. Against Purdue Northwest, she found 17 points and five assists with five three-pointers made.  She averaged 18 points, 5.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 made three-pointers a game through the first week of the season.
 
Football
Defense: Jacob Tueimeh / Tiffin University/ Jr. / Defensive Back / Cincinnati, Ohio
Tiffin Dragons Jacob Tueimeh set a Dragons Division II school record with 19 tackles in a last-second 23-21 victory over the No.8-ranked Findlay Oilers.
 
Offense: Shea Ruddy / Hillsdale College/ Jr. / Wide Receiver / Temperance, Mich.
Hillsdale Chargers’ Shea Ruddy led the Chargers with seven catches for 154-yards and two touchdowns as the Chargers beat the Ohio Dominican Panthers 31-14 to finish 6-5 on the year.  He took a screen pass 80-yards for a touchdown and also had a four-yard touchdown catch.  This victory led to the Chargers to become the first Panthers opponent this season to crack 300 passing yards (329) against the second-best pass defense in the conference entering Saturday’s game. Hillsdale ranks fourth in the conference in receiving yards (598) and receiving touchdowns (six).
 
Special Teams: Jakob DeShields / Kentucky Wesleyan College/ R-Jr. / Punter / Cordova, TN
Kentucky Wesleyan’s Jakob Deshields launched a 78-yard punt, making it the longest in program history against the Thomas More Saints.  Deshields totaled six punts for 269 yards and a 44.83 average. He forced three fair catches and had three punts inside the 20.
 
Men’s Swimming & Diving
Camilo Marrugo / University of Findlay/ Gr. / Soledad, CA.
As the Findlay Oilers defeated Lewis, Oilers Camilo Marrugo won the 100 fly with an A cut (45.70).  He also won the 100 free (43.85 | B Cut) and anchored the 200 free relay winning team (1:21.41).
 
Women’s Swimming & Diving
Troie Grubbs / University of Findlay/ Sr. / Ashland, Ohio
The Findlay Oilers beat both the Hillsdale Chargers and Lewis in a tri-meet.  Oilers Troie Grubbs won the 50 freestyle (23.66) and the 100 free (52.81); additionally, she also was on the winning 400 medley relay team (3:49.88) and the 200 free relay (1:36.01).
 
 
Volleyball
North Division
Olivia Karhoff / Tiffin University/ Gr./ Outside Hitter / Columbus, Ohio
Tiffin Dragons Olivia Karhoff had an impressive weekend to close out the regular season as the Dragons won two five setters against the Hillsdale Chargers and the Northwood Timberwolves after being swept by both earlier in the season.  Karhoff tallied 44 kills total including a career-high 29 against the Timberwolves.  She also found 12 assists, five service aces and was a force defensively with 35 digs and two solo blocks.
 
South Division
Janae Heegaard / Cedarville University / Sr. / Middle Hitter / Sycamore, Ill.
Cedarville Yellow Jackets' Janae Heegard averaged 4.0 kills on a .657 attack percentage and 2.17 blocks to lead the Yellow Jackets to two victories and the conference South Division title.
 
East Division
Jaymes Gilbert / Malone University / Jr. / Middle Back /Wooster, Ohio
Malone Pioneers Jaymes Gilbert led the team with 12 kills and a .478 hitting percentage against the Cedarville Yellow Jackets and was one off her career-high 16 digs against the Ohio Dominican Panthers.
 
 
Wrestling
Nate Knowlton / University of Findlay/ Jr. / Mokena, Ill.
Findlay Oilers Nate Knowlton went 5-0 in the 133 pound bracket in the Findlay Open.  He won the title and won his first two matches by a tech fall and ended up in the championship against the Lake Erie storm Anthony Sagaris, No.7-ranked in the country at 133, and he won 10-4.