INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for September 8th, 2026 are based on student-athlete performance from August 31st, 2026- September 7th, 2026.

Men’s Cross Country
Xander Heil / Malone University / Sr. / Urichsville, Ohio
Malone placed 3rd out of 7 teams at the Tommy Evans Invitational. Heil placed 4th in the 6K with a time of 18:34.4, earning him the top spot of a NCAA DII athlete at the invitational. 

Women’s Cross Country
Ava Parrett / Ashland University / So. / Lancaster, Ohio
Ava Parrett finished 5th in the women's 5K clocking in at 18:07.9 at the Mike Bauer Cross Country Classic. Parrett was the top placer for AU, and the Eagles scored a total of 92 team points only trailing OSU (24), and Indianapolis (69).

 

Football
Defense: Jon Slaper  / University of Findlay / Jr. / Linebacker / Perry, Ohio
Slaper led Findlay's defense in tackles, helping them defeat #9 UIndy in a top-15 matchup on the road. Slaper made 9 total tackles, including 6 solo tackles and 2 TFLs. Findlay's defense allowed just one touchdown to a top-ten team and held the Greyhounds scoreless in the second half, UF's first shutout in either half of a season-opener in ten years.

Offense: Ben Ngishu / Hillsdale College / So. / Running Back / Crowley, Texas
Ben Ngishu rushed for a career-high 212 yards in Hillsdale's 55-24 win over McKendree. This feat is the most rushing yards by a Hillsdale player since 2019 and almost cracks the top 10 most single-game rushing yards in G-MAC history. Ngishu had two huge touchdown runs of 80 and 78 yards while averaging 11.2 yards per carry.

Special Teams: Shea Ruddy / Hillsdale College / Jr. / Wide Receiver / Temperance, Mich
Ruddy returned his one and only return of the game with 96 yards for a touchdown in Hillsdale's 55-24 win over McKendree. Ruddy also had a huge day on the offensive side, catching five passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns for a total of three touchdowns in the win.

Men’s Soccer
Offensive:
Bailey Winchurch / Tiffin University / Sr. / Defender / Telford, England
Winchurch only logged 29 minutes against No. 6 Saginaw Valley State, but he made a significant impact on the game as he scored the game-tying goal in the 78th minute, which gave the Dragons a huge win against the Cardinals.

Defensive:
Joey Jones / Thomas More University / So. / Goalkeeper / Dover, Ohio.
Jones logged 4 saves with a clean sheet 1-0 win over Parkside. Jones continued his big week with 2 saves, more saves and 0 goals allowed in his 45 minutes of play against Point Park.

Women’s Soccer
Offensive:
Addison Williams / University of Findlay / Fr. / Forward / Waterville, Ohio
Findlay went 2-0 this week, where they shut out Ferris State and SVSU on the road. Williams totaled 3 goals and an assist, scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 win over SVSU. 

Defensive:
Anna Taylor / Cedarville University / Jr. / Goalkeeper / Stanford, Ky.
Taylor made two saves in a 0-0 draw against unbeaten Northern Michigan. She followed with three stops in Cedarville’s 3-0 win over Michigan Tech, totalling three shutouts in four outings this season. 

Volleyball
North Division
Hannah Miller / University of Findlay / Sr. / Outside Hitter/ Defensive Specialist / Tiffin, Ohio
 The Oilers went 1-2 in Texas this weekend, defeating St. Mary’s in 5 sets, before losing in 5 sets to both Texas A&M- Kingsville and Edinboro. Miller surpassed 1000 career digs this weekend, while having 76 kills (5.07/ set), 4 aces, led Findlay with 55 digs, and 4 blocks.

South Division
Logan Rubel / Ohio Dominican University / So. / Outside Hitter / Cottleville, Mo.
Logan Rubel totaled 45 kills (3.09 K/S), five service aces, and 26 digs for ODU in their four sweeps this weekend at the Ohio Dominican Volleyball Classic. The Panthers defeated Wilmington (Del.), Shawnee State, West Virginia Wesleyan, and D’Youville with 3-0 wins. 

East Division
Maggie Rolwing / Walsh University / So. / Middle Blocker / New Albany, Ohio
Rolwing had a huge weekend at Frostburg State, totaling 43 kills on 84 attempts (0.417%), 12 blocks (.9/ set), and 4 digs. These stats were in Walsh’s three games, across 13 sets versus Shippensburg, Frostburg State, and Pitt-Johnstown.