Posted: Oct 01, 2018
MIAA Players of the Week - October 1, 2018
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced the student-athletes selected as Athletes of the Week, for the week of competition ending on September 30, 2018.
The MIAA Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by coaches following one week of competition, and selected by a panel of MIAA Sports Information Directors, including the MIAA Director of Media Relations.
This week's winners are listed below with their respective achievements during last week's competition.
MIAA Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Tyler Johnson, Calvin
Junior
Springfield, Ill.
Johnson placed 13th in the Gold Division of the Notre Dame Joe Piane Invitational Sept. 28, leading Calvin to the team title against a field of 10 NCAA Division I opponents. Johnson finished the 5-mile race in 25:08.2, just 30 seconds off the winning time; Calvin finished with a score of 80 points.
MIAA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Katie Diekema, Calvin
Senior
Kenmore, Wash.
Diekema finished eighth in a field of 18 teams, including 17 NCAA Division I programs, to lead Calvin to an 11th-place finish in the Gold Division at the Notre Dame Joe Piane Invitational Sept. 28. Diekema crossed the 5K course in 17:40.3 as the top NCAA Division III runner.
MIAA Football Offensive Player of the Week
Lamar Carswell, Trine
Senior, Running Back
Toledo, Ohio
Carswell fueled No. 15 Trine's MIAA-opening win at Hope Sept. 29, rushing for 200 yards on 36 carries with four touchdowns in the Thunder's 35-25 road victory. Carswell scored on rushes of 11, 41, seven, and 10 yards - with three of his touchdown runs giving Trine the lead. His final touchdown with 2:30 to go in the fourth quarter helped put the game away.
MIAA Football Defensive Player of the Week
Jakob Frederick, Kalamazoo
Senior, Linebacker
Spring Lake, Mich.
Frederick led Kalamazoo with 11 tackles and added a broken up pass in the Hornets' 31-30 win over Adrian Sept. 29 to give the Hornets their fourth consecutive win to start the season. On the final Adrian drive, Frederick had a key tackle to help hold the Bulldogs from scoring.
MIAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Andrew Fabry, Albion
Senior, Kicker
Grosse Pointe, Mich.
Was 3-for-3 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra points in Albion's 37-34 overtime win at Alma Sept. 29, twice converting field goals in overtime. Fabry's first field goal was a 41-yarder to put Albion in the lead in the second quarter, while his extra-point kick with 10 seconds left in regulation tied the game. Fabry then connected on a 28-yarder in the first overtime series and hit a 33-yarder to seal the win for the Britons.
Hunter Kehoe, Saint Mary's
Sophomore
Traverse City, Mich.
Hunter Kehoe was a key factor in two Saint Mary's MIAA Jamborees last week, including the team's record-breaking performance at Jamboree #3 at the Ravines Sept. 25. At that event, Kehoe shot a two-under 70, tying the MIAA individual round record and helping Saint Mary's post a team score of 293, which set an MIAA record for lowest team score all-time in any MIAA 18-hole event. Kehoe then carded a three-over 75 at Milham Park Sept. 29, good for second place overall.
Will Colborn, Albion
Senior, Forward
Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.
Scored the game-winning goal in Albion's 2-1 win over Carthage Sept. 25. Colborn converted in the 84th minute to break a 1-1 tie with the regionally-ranked foe to give the Britons a 5-2-2 record overall.
Samantha LaRocca, Albion
Senior, Midfielder
Clinton Twp., Mich.
In two MIAA wins last week, LaRocca scored three goals to aid Albion in their efforts. Against Saint Mary's Sept. 26, LaRocca scored what proved to be the game-winning goal while adding a second first-half goal in the Britons' 3-1 win. Then, in Albion's 2-0 road win at Trine Sept. 29, scored a key goal in the 62nd minute to help secure the victory.
Morgan Buursma, Hope
Senior, Defender
Grandville, Mich.
Buursma was a key figure in two MIAA shutouts for the Flying Dutch last week. Against Olivet Sept. 29 in a rematch of last year's MIAA Tournament title game, Buursma was part of a defense that allowed just one shot in Hope's 2-0 win. Earlier in the week against Kalamazoo Sept. 26, Buursma added an insurance goal in a 2-0 road victory for the Flying Dutch.
Ian Yi, Kalamazoo
Freshman
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Yi advanced to the round of 16 for both singles and doubles at the ITA Central Regional Sept. 28-30, hosted by Washington-St. Louis. In singles play, Yi won three straight-set matches, including a win over Hope's Mark Vanderstoep before falling to No. 8 seed Ethan Hillis. Yi paired with Tytus Metzler to go to the round of 16 in doubles before falling, 9-8.
MIAA Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Ashley Spirrison, Trine
Freshman
Fishers, Ind.
In Trine's fall season-ending dual with NAIA-affiliate Grace (Ind.), Spirrison battled tough in an 8-5 setback at No. 1 doubles. Then, in No. 1 singles against a former NCAA Division I player, Spirrison dropped a 6-4, 6-1 decision.
Marie Pregenzer, Albion
Senior, Middle Hitter
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Pregenzer aided Albion in notching a 3-0 win at Olivet Sept. 26, leading the Britons with a match-high 13 kills to go with team-highs of two service aces and two blocks. Pregenzer hit .333 and finished with 5.3 points per set; her service ace in the third set helped fuel a late Albion rally to secure the three-set victory.
Liz Susitko, Adrian
Sophomore, Setter
Novi, Mich.
Susitko just missed a triple-double with 26 assists, 16 digs, and nine kills in a three-set win over Saint Mary's Sept. 26 as part of a 2-0 week for Adrian. In a 3-0 win over Defiance Sept. 29, Susitko added 23 assists to go with four digs, three kills and a .600 hitting percentage, and two blocks.