INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for April 20th, 2026 are based on student-athlete performance from April 20th, 2026- April 27th, 2026.
Baseball
North Division
Pitcher:
Drew Becker / Ashland University/ RS So. / Pitcher / Wooster, Ohio
Drew Becker had a stand out game against Tiffin throwing a 5 hitter, giving up one run, with 9 strikeouts. Ashland swept the series against Tiffin and is 16-8 in conference and 28-13 overall.
Player:
Evan Kavalick / Northwood University/ Fr. / Catcher/ Toledo, Ohio
Evan Kavalick hit .563 in five games last week for Northwood, finishing with two home runs and eight RBIs while starting all five games at catcher. He finished the week with a .650 on-base percentage and a 1.125 slugging percentage. Kavalick had at least one hit in all five games and had an RBI in four of the five contests.
South Division
Pitcher:
Landon Homan / Malone University / Fr. / Pitcher / Mogadore, Ohio
Landon Homan pitched 6.0 shutout innings and recorded a save in the series against Cedarville. Homan allowed just one hit in a 5.0 inning relief appearance and totaled five strikeouts
Player:
Mason Stoldt / Walsh University / Sr. / Center Field / Dover, Ohio
Mason Stoldt had a huge week for the Cavs as they earned another series win over ODU. Mason was 12 for 24 with 18 RBI's. This included 6 home runs. With 15 home runs on the season, he leads the conference in HR's by 4 and RBI's by 5. He is 2nd in on base + slugging %.
Men’s Outdoor Track
Jordan Cortner / Tiffin University / Jr. / Dayton, Ohio
Jordan Cortner won the 400H at the Bryan Clay Invitational. He ran the #1 time in D2 running 50.24. His time also broke the school record set in 2021. He is ranked #15 across all divisions.
Men’s Outdoor Field
Ben Haas/ Hillsdale College / Sr. / Clarkston, Mich.
Ben Haas broke his own school record in the hammer throw with a mark of 69.28 meters to win the GINA Relays in the event. That throw is ranked fifth-farthest hammer throw in G-MAC history and ranked second in NCAA DII currently. Haas also won the shot put with a throw of 17.91 meters, currently ranking 11th in NCAA DII in that event.
Women’s Outdoor Field
Amelia Lutz / Hillsdale College/ So. / Celina, Ohio
Amelia Lutz won two events, set two school records and earned three provisional marks at the 2026 GINA Relays this weekend. Lutz broke the school, G-MAC and 21-year old GINA relays record with a throw of 16.55 meters, currently the top throw in NCAA DII, to win the shot put. She also broke Hillsdale's 12-year old discus record with a throw of 47.24 meters, currently ranking 22nd in NCAA DII, and won the hammer throw with a throw of 55.20 meters to rank 16th in NCAA DII.
Women’s Outdoor Track
Jade Avance / Ashland University / Sr. / Milford, Ohio
Jade Avance ran the 800 in 2:07.41 which puts her 12th in the nation.
Men’s Lacrosse
Defensive:
Dylan Castiglia / Walsh University/ Fr. / Faceoffs/ Grand Island, N.Y.
Dylan Castiglia in Walsh's big win over Wheeling was 20-22 at the dot, 7 GB's, and 0 turnovers.
Offensive:
MacKennan Tognetti / Northwood University/ Jr. /Midfield/ Hartland, Mich.
MacKennan Tognetti delivered an eight-point performance in Northwood’s 28-7 conference win over Davis & Elkins Saturday, leading the team with five goals and three assists.
Women’s Lacrosse
Defensive:
Kenna Wigginton / Tiffin University / So. /Midfield/ East Providence, RI
Tiffin Dragon Kenna Wigginton recorded a total of ten ground balls, six caused turnovers, four draw controls and tallied one assist in the Dragons victory against the Northwood Timberwolves.
Offensive:
Rachel Crumbacher / Ashland University / Sr. / Attack/ Avon, Ohio
Ashland Eagle Rachel Crumbacher found six goals, two assists and 14 draw controls against the Findlay Oilers and three goals, two assists and four draw controls against the Northwood Timberwolves.
Softball
Pitcher:
Ella Esterby / Tiffin University/ Jr. / Pitcher / Gahanna, Ohio
Tiffin Dragon Ella Esterby went 2-0 over three appearances for the week. She found two complete game shutouts. Esterby pitched 15 innings and posted a 1.40 ERA, fanning nine and allowing just three earned runs.
Player:
Meghan Heinsman / University of Findlay/ So. / Catcher / Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Findlay Oiler Meghan Heinsman aided in the Oilers going 3-1 a split versus the Ohio Dominican Panthers and then a doubleheader sweep against the Walsh Cavaliers. Heinsman went 5-9 (.556) with a double, two home runs, nine RBIs, two runs scored and two walks.
Men’s Tennis
Ross Trias / Walsh University/Fr. / Barcelona,Spain
Ross went undefeated at #1 singles to wrap up the conference regular season undefeated in singles play. Against Northwood, Ross won a tough singles match, 7-5 first set in singles before the match was decided. At #1 doubles, him and his partner won 6-4 improving their conference record to 5-2 at #1 doubles. Against Hillsdale, he won 7-6, 6-4 to help the Cavaliers earn the win.
Women’s Tennis
Lina Starke / Walsh University/ So. / Bavaria,Germany
Lina was undefeated in match play at #1 singles and #2 doubles. Against Northwood she split sets before the match was decided and in doubles, she won convincingly, 6-2. vs Hillsdale, she won 7-5, 6-4 in singles and won doubles, 6-2.