INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for September 21st, 2026 are based on student-athlete performance from September 14th, 2026- September 20th, 2026.

 

Men’s Cross Country
Braeden Geist / Ashland University / Graduate Student / New London, Ohio
Ashland University’s men’s and women’s cross country teams competed at the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Classic at Cedarville on Friday night, where both teams finished third. Braeden Geist finished with the best time in the men’s 8K division, crossing the finish line in 25:09.1– the second-best time for all men’s runners on Friday night.

 

Women’s Cross Country
Lauren Sattler / University of Findlay / Jr. / Defiance, Ohio
Findlay won the 6K Rumble in the Fort this weekend in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Sattler won the 6K race with a time of 21:48, her second consecutive win to start the season. 

 

Football
Defense: Jack Talkington / Ashland University / Jr. / Linebacker / Magnolia, Ohio
The Eagles won at home vs. Ohio Dominican, 24-3. Talkington started the game with a 17-yard interception return to give Ashland their first touchdown of the game. He ended with nine total tackles, two TFLs, 1½ sacks, and the pick-six. Talkington led the defense, which kept the Panthers to 3 points, -20 rushing yards, and 135 total yards of offense.

Offense: Chase Harrison / University of Findlay / Sr. / Quarterback / Centerville, Ohio
The Oilers beat KWC 64-0, the largest margin of victory by UF in the NCAA era of the program. Harrison was 15 of 24 for 275 yards and 5 touchdowns. Harrison’s 5-touchdown game included two touchdowns to Cameron Wright and a 35-yard touchdown to Khilee White.

Special Teams: Tyler Marrogy / Northwood University / So. / Defensive Line / West Bloomfield, Mich.
Tyler Marrogy blocked a Hillsdale field goal in the final moments of Northwood's 10-7 win in the second annual Riepma Cup. Marrogy got a piece of the Chargers' 43-yard attempt with 17 seconds remaining, preserving Northwood's victory. The Timberwolves are now 3-0 on the season for the second consecutive season.

Men’s Golf
Aiden Hibbard / Cedarville University / Jr. / Elkhart, Ind.
Hibbard took medalist honors by four strokes at the Ferris State Bulldog Fall Invitational by carding 70-68-72-210 (-3) on the 6,971-yard, par 71 Katke Golf Course. His 210 total broke the 54-hole school record for fewest strokes, and his three-under total ranks second in program history in relation to par.
Men’s Soccer
Offensive:
Tom Woodward / Ashland University / So. / Forward / Manchester, England
Woodward played a part in every single goal scored during Ashland's 4-0 win against Walsh. He scored 3 goals, which earned him his first career hat trick. Woodward added an assist to Danail Mihaylov on a 68th-minute goal.

Defensive
Joey Jones / Thomas More University / So. / Goalkeeper / Dover, Ohio
Jones recorded two clean sheets this week to clinch two Saints victories. The sophomore made 5 saves in Thomas More's 2-0 win over Kentucky Wesleyan on Thursday, then made 2 saves to allow the Saints to capture a 1-0 victory on Saturday against Cedarville.

Women’s Soccer
Offensive:
Callie Cacchione / Tiffin University / Jr. / Forward / Erie, Pen.
Callie Cacchione scored three goals last week in games against Ursuline and Walsh. She scored the game-winning goal against the Arrows, and scored twice in a 3:17 span against the Cavaliers to erase a 3-1 deficit and tie up the game in the 89th minute. 

Defensive:
Kacy Rosenthal / Cedarville University / Sr. / Midfielder / San Diego, Cal.
Kacy Rosenthal guided Cedarville’s defense to two more shutouts while setting the school record with six consecutive clean sheets. The Yellow Jackets came away with 1-0 wins against Thomas More and Malone. Rosenthal assisted in the game-winning goal against the Saints. 

Volleyball
North Division
Hannah Miller / University of Findlay / Sr. / Outside Hitter / Tiffin, Ohio
The Oilers went 2-1 this week with wins at Ursuline and Lake Erie before dropping their match against Clarion on Sunday. Miller led the team with 49 kills, to go along with a team-high 37 digs. She currently ranks second in the nation in kills/set at 4.89.

South Division
Annie Fincham / Ohio Dominican University / Fr. / Outside Hitter / Springfield, Ohio
Annie Fincham hit .319 with 33 kills, three service aces and 13 digs in a 3-0 week for the Panthers. She achieved double-digit kills in every match against West Liberty, Thomas More, and Kentucky Wesleyan.

East Division
Jenna Shedden / Ashland University / So. / Outside Hitter / Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Ashland went 3-1 on the week, all 3 wins being against conference competitors. Shedden finished the week with 56 kills, 44 digs, and 10 total blocks, while having double-doubles (kills/digs) in both matches on Saturday vs. Hillsdale and No. RV Gannon.