INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for October 27th, 2025 are based on student-athlete performance from October 20th, 2025- October 26th, 2025.
Men’s Bowling
Jake Fitzgerald / Thomas More University/ So. / Southern Nazarene
Thomas More Saint Jake Fitzgerald led the saints in two of their three tournaments in the Midwest Collegiate Classic, Western Shootout and the OBC Event one. He also found a fifth place finish in the OBC one.
Women’s Bowling
Baylee Spickard / Thomas More University/ So. / Lexington, Ky.
Thomas More Saint Baylee Spickard led the saints in two top 30 finishes in the Western Shootout and OCB one.
Football
Defense: Ronald Blackman / Tiffin University/ Sr. / Running Back / Gahanna, Ohio
Tiffin Dragons Ronald Blackman averaged 13.8 yards per carry, racking up 138-yards on ten carries in the Dragons 24-12 victory over the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers. He found one touchdown run of 60-yards which opened scoring in the second half and broke open in a close game; additionally, he added 17 receiving yards for 155 all purpose yards.
Offense: Sam Weihrauch / University of Findlay/ Sr. / Linebacker Receiver / Findlay, Ohio
The Findlay Oilers defeated the Northwood Timberwolves 31-16, holding the conference's second-best offense down by allowing 30-yards rushing and a third straight week of 30 or less rush yards. Oilers Sam Weihrauch made eight tackles including 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble, and one recovery against a team that had just one turnover all year coming into this matchup.
Special Teams: Manaki Watanabe / Ashland University/ Rs-Fr. / Kicker / Novi, Mich.
Ashland Eagles Manaki Watanabe aided in the No.17 Eagles beating the Walsh Cavaliers in a home matchup. He made a school record 59-yard field goal at the end of the first and was was three-for-three on field goals and two-for-two on extra points. He was also named week ten NCAA Division II Fred Mitchell Award Kicker of the Week and is the NCAA Division II top field-goal kicker in 2025 with having the second-most total field goals in the division.
Men’s Soccer
Offensive:
Ryan Dickinson / University of Findlay/ Sr. / Midfield/ Doncaster, England
The Findlay Oilers went 2-0 in the week with victories over the Ashland Eagles and Lake Erie Storm. Oilers Ryan Dickinson had an assist in the win versus the Eagles and scored two goals in a win against the Storm. He finished the week with five points scored.
Defensive:
Griffin Cook / Tiffin University/ Gr. / Defender/ Whitehouse, Ohio
Tiffin’s Griffin Cook led their defensive effort in a 2-0 week as the Dragons moved into first place with one game remaining. The defense posted two more shutouts and allowed a total of one shot on goal for the week, shutting out the Ohio Dominican Panthers and allowing just one on the road against the Thomas More Saints. It raises the Dragons shutout total to 11, making them just two behind the team record of 13 set in their 1986 season.
Women’s Soccer
Offensive:
Alli Graves / Cedarville University/ Fr. / Midfield/ Xenia, Ohio
Cedarville Yellow Jacket scored the second goal in a 5-0 win against the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers. She later put the Yellow Jackets on the board first in what resulted in a 1-1 draw against the No. 13 Ashland Eagles, the second 1-1 deadlock versus the Eagles this season.
Defensive:
Cat Graves/ University of Findlay/ Sr. / Goalkeeper / Lexington, Ky.
Findlay Oiler Cat Graves played all 90-minutes versus the Ashland Eagles. The teams tied 0-0 thanks to Graves helping shutout the Eagles. She made six saves in the shutout.
Volleyball
North Division
Lauren Foerster / University of Findlay/ Sr./ Outside Hitter / Salem, Wisc.
The Findlay Oilers went 2-0 win over the Malone Pioneers and at the previously unbeaten conference Walsh Cavaliers. The Oilers swept both teams 3-0, Oilers Lauren Foerster finished with 21 kills (3.5/s) and hit .295; additionally, she added ten digs and four blocks to lead the Oilers with 23-points scored.
South Division
Cassi Shields / Cedarville University / Sr. / Outside Hitter / Westminster, MD
The Cedarville Yellow Jackets Cassi Shields totaled 22 kills with a .405 attack percentage, 15 digs, and seven blocks to lead the Yellow Jackets to road sweeps against the Thomas More Saints and Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers. She added five service aces against the Panthers and contributed 30.5 points combined for the two matches.
East Division
Sabrina Da Silva / Walsh University / Jr. / Libero /Sao Paulo, Brazil
Walsh Cavaliers Sabrina Da Silva contributed to the Cavaliers 2-1 week with the following outstanding numbers: 79 digs (7.9/set): 38 versus California. Pa Vulcans, 19 versus the Findlay Oilers and 22 versus the Tiffin Dragons; additionally, she also had 4 assists, and was 37/40 on passing (93%).
Wrestling
Billy Smith / University of Findlay/ Sr. / Sandusky, Ohio
Thomas More Saint Jake Fitzgerald led the saints in two of their three tournaments in the Midwest Collegiate Classic, Western Shootout and the OBC Event one. He also found a fifth place finish in the OBC one.