INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the Week for October 19th, 2026 are based on student-athlete performance from October 12th, 2026- October 18th, 2026.
Football
Defense: Luke Penola / Hillsdale College / Jr. / Linebacker / Zionsville, IN
Luke Penola had a career-high 17 tackles in Hillsdale's close 22-19 loss to Findlay. Penola also added 1.5 TFLs and a sack to his monster performance.
Offense: DJ Harvey / Ashland University / So. / Wide Receiver / Chantilly, VA
Harvey caught nine passes for 202 yards and a touchdown, including an 87-yard tip-drill bomb for a touchdown. This performance in both receptions and receiving yards is a collegiate career high for Harvey. This is Harvey's first collegiate 100-yard receiving game and 200-yard receiving game.
Special Teams: Dominick Bennett / University of Findlay / Sr. / Running Back / Bradenton, FL.
Oilers went on the road and defeated Hillsdale 22-19, a team that was receiving votes in the national poll. Bennett rushed 16 times for 96 yards but, more impressively, had 3 kick returns for 143 yards, including a 98-yard return for a touchdown. The first kick return for a TD for UF since 2017 and the longest kick return for a TD since 2014.
Men’s Golf
Mark Pillar / Ashland University / Jr. / Independence, OH
On Tuesday, the Eagles' score of 286 gave them a 282-296-286—864 final showing. AU tied for fourth with Tiffin at 283-297-284—864. The Eagles' pacesetter for the tournament was junior Mark Pillar, who tied for seventh individually after carding 69-73-71—213. His tournament ended with an eagle and 12 birdies.
Women’s Tennis
Maria Depablos / University of Findlay / Fr. / San Cristóbal, Venezuela
Entering the ITA Regional Tournament as the 14th, Depablos rattled off five consecutive wins to reach the championship match. She had massive upsets over GVSU’s 13 seed Mischa Briggs in the Round of 16 and Tiffin’s 5th seed Jemimah Choi in the semifinals. Depablos extended her standout performance into Flight A doubles, where she and partner Roksana Kokocha reached the quarterfinals after a commanding 8-0 shutout of the third-seeded Davenport pair.
Men’s Tennis
Ross Trias / Walsh University / So. / Barcelona, Spain
Sophomore Ross Trias advanced to the semifinals of the Men’s ITA Regionals, where he was seeded 5th for the Cavaliers. He upset GVSU’s 4th seed in the quarterfinal match, where he became the first player in Walsh’s history to advance that for in the ITA Championships since they entered the NCAA. Trias is also the only player in the G-MAC to advance to the
semifinals of any A draw singles.
Men’s Soccer
Offensive:Tom Middleham / University of Findlay / Grad Sr. / Forward / Ashton, England
Oilers went 2-0 with wins against Ashland and KWC. Middleham had two goals and an assist to finish with 5 points on the week. He scored his first goal of the week in the 59th minute against the Eagles and his second goal of the week in the 3rd minute on a PK against the Panthers.
Defensive:Nick Cherry / Tiffin University / So. / Goalkeeper / Pittsburgh, PA
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Nick Cherry led the Dragons to a 1-0-1 week. Cherry saved five of six shots, including a diving save across his body in the 89th minute of a 0-0 game against Thomas More.
Women’s Soccer
Offensive:Madelyn Boyd / Northwood University / Fr. / Forward / Oxford, Mich.
Boyd recorded a hat trick and an assist for seven points in Northwood’s 6-3 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan. The freshman scored on all three of her shots, completing the hat trick in the 50’. Boyd’s hat trick was the Timberwolves’ first since Julianna Paoletti in 2021 and the program’s first by a freshman since Ashton Brooks in 2017.
Defensive:Sam McPhee / Tiffin University / Sr. / Goalkeeper / Oswego, Ill.
Senior goalkeeper Sam McPhee tallied five saves against Thomas More in the Dragons game on Saturday that ended at 0-0. McPhee became just the third goalie this season to hold the Saints’ high-powered offense scoreless.
Men’s Swimming/Diving
Juan Blandon / University of Findlay / So. / Cali, Colombia
Juan Blandon put together a four-win performance to anchor the Oilers' victory over Davenport. On the individual side, Blandon captured gold in the 200 Fly with a time of 1:52.94 and claimed victory in the 100 Free at 45.78—finishing just 0.55 seconds shy of an NCAA B Standard. He doubled down on his individual success by swimming key legs on both winning relay teams, leading the 400 Medley Relay (3:25.76) and 400 Free Relay (3:08.51) to top finishes.
Women’s Swimming/Diving
Michelle Jativa / University of Findlay / So. / Denver, CO.
Sophomore distance swimmer Michelle Jativa delivered a dominant sweep in the distance freestyle events to help propel the Oilers to team victories over both Hillsdale and Davenport. Jativa opened her day by winning the 1000 Free with a time of 10:43.89 and followed up with a gold-medal performance in the 500 Free, clocking in at 5:12.83. Her distance sweep secured critical team points and set the standard for Findlay's individual performances.
Volleyball
North Division
Lauren Foerster / University of Findlay / 5th Year / Right-Side Hitter / Salem, Wisc.
The Oilers went 2-1 at the Midwest Region Crossover this weekend, highlighted by a win over #22 Indianapolis. Foerster had 35 kills, a hitting percentage of .478, eight blocks and eight digs throughout the Crossover.
South Division
Sidney Shephard / Cedarville University / So. / Setter / Whitehall, Mich.
Sophomore Sidney Shephard averaged 11 assists per set to lead Cedarville to a 2-1 record in the Midwest Region Crossover with two matches against ranked teams. She added 19 digs, eight blocks, and eight kills in four-set victories over No. 16 Grand Valley State and Maryville, and a four-set loss to No. 1 Ferris State.
East Division
Jaymes Gilbert / Malone University / Sr. / Middle Hitter / Wooster, Ohio
Jaymes Gilbert had a hitting percentage of .415 at the Midwest Region Crossover with 14 kills against Lake Superior State. She also led the Pioneers in blocks with 15 throughout the week.