Posted: Sep 09, 2019
MIAA Athletes of the Week - September 9, 2019
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced the 14 student-athletes selected as its Athletes of the Week, for the week of competition ending on September 8, 2019.
The MIAA Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by coaches following one week of competition, and selected by 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
Senior
Springfield, Ill.
Tyler Johnson led Calvin to a first-place team finish at the Knight Invite Sept. 7. Johnson finished third overall, with a time of 25:11 on the 8K course, and was the top NCAA Division III finisher. Johnson aided nationally-ranked Calvin take four of the top nine spots and posting 43 points against a field of 35 teams.
MIAA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Evie Bultemeyer, Trine
Junior
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Evie Bultemeyer was the individual champion at the Knight Invite Sept. 7, crossing the 6K course in 21:29 for a personal best for the distance and was 11 seconds faster than the second-place finisher. Bultemeyer's time also sets a new Trine record for the 6K distance.
MIAA Football Defense Athlete of the Week
Jake Sypniewski, Kalamazoo
Senior, DB
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Jake Sypniewski became the first NCAA Division III player to gather three interceptions in one game this season after nabbing three picks at Oberlin Sept. 7; Sypniewski's final interception came in the Oberlin end zone with 26 seconds remaining in regulation. Along with three interceptions, Sypniewski added one pass broken up and five tackles in Kalamazoo's 3-0 road win.
Greg Kearns, Kalamazoo
MIAA Football Offense Athlete of the Week
None nominated
MIAA Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Greg Kearns, Kalamazoo
Senior, K
Howell, Mich.
Greg Kearns converted on a 23-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter to give Kalamazoo the only points needed in a 3-0 road shutout against Oberlin Sept. 7. Kearns, who added a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, also came up with a solo tackle on the first kickoff of the game.
MIAA Men's Golf Athlete of the Week
Parker Pickell, Kalamazoo
Sophomore
Bloomfield, Mich.
Parker Pickell was the medalist at the Battle at the Brook in Sandusky, Ohio, Sept. 7-8 at Plum Brook Country Club thanks to a five-under 66 during Sunday's second round. Pickell finished with a one-stroke win after shooting three-over 74 on day one to finish two-under overall. Pickell's 66 was a career-best effort and ranks second-lowest in Kalamazoo history.
MIAA Women's Golf Athlete of the Week
Hunter Kehoe, Saint Mary's
Junior
Traverse City, Mich.
Hunter Kehoe was the medalist at the Olivet Kyle Campbell Invitational Sept. 6-7 after shooting 74-77=151 to finish first out of 75 golfers by three strokes. Kehoe, who led the field in par-five scoring with an even score, tallied a tournament-best 27 pars over 36 holes to lead Saint Mary's to the team title.
MIAA Men's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Spencer Brown, Adrian
Senior, GK
Monroe, Mich.
Spencer Brown played 180 minutes of shutout soccer between the posts for Adrian, making five saves in the Bulldogs' 1-0 road win over Wilmington Sept. 6. Brown then tallied two saves in Adrian's 3-0 shutout win at Wabash Sept. 7 to remain unbeaten (3-0-0) on the season.
MIAA Men's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Hunter Olson, Calvin
Senior, MF
Canton, Mich.
Hunter Olson was involved in three of Calvin's six goals as the Knights won the Ohio Northern Invitational Sept. 6-7. Olson assisted on Calvin's game-winning goal against 2018 NCAA Tournament team Transylvania Sept. 6 and then had a two-goal effort against previously unbeaten Ohio Northern Sept. 7. Calvin went on to defeat Transylvania 3-1 on Friday and Ohio Northern 3-0 on Saturday.
MIAA Women's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Sophia Fleming, Saint Mary's
Freshman, D
La Mesa, Calif.
Sophia Fleming helped Saint Mary's go 1-1-0 last week, including an 8-0 win over Indiana-South Bend Sept. 7. In that game, Fleming was a key player in notching the shutout while scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal in the fifth minute. Fleming was also a top defender for the Belles in Saint Mary's 2-1 loss to Anderson Sept. 4.
MIAA Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Lexi Russell, Alma
Sophomore, M
Williamston, Mich.
Lexi Russell tallied two goals against 2018 NCAA Tournament participant Mount St. Joseph Sept. 8 in Alma's overtime setback at home, 3-2. Trailing 2-0, the Scots got goals from Russell in the 79th and 84th minutes to force overtime. Earlier in the week, Russell had a team-high six shots in Alma's 2-0 shutout victory over Heidelberg Sept. 6.
MIAA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Jacob Weiss, Trine
Senior, No. 2 singles/No. 2 doubles
Richmond, Ind.
Jacob Weiss went 4-0 this past week winning all contests and helping the team begin the season 2-0. Against Manchester Sept. 4, Weiss paired with Aaron Streit at No. 2 Doubles and won 8-1 before a 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles. Weiss followed with a 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles and a 6-1, 7-5 victory at No. 2 singles against Bethel Sept. 5.
MIAA Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Ashley Spirrison, Trine
Sophomore, No. 1 singles/No. 1 doubles
Fishers, Ind.
Ashley Spirrison went 4-0 in two team matches last week, winning at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles. Against Bethel Sept. 5, Spirrison was a 6-1 winer in singles and then tallied a 6-2, 6-0 doubles win. Later in the week against IU-Kokomo, Spirrison won 6-0 at singles and then 6-1, 6-1 in doubles (both matches featured NAIA scoring rules).
Ana Grunewald, Hope
MIAA Volleyball Athlete of the Week
Ana Grunewald, Hope
Sophomore, OH
East Grand Rapids, Mich.
Ana Grunewald had an all-around effort for Hope during a 2-1 weekend at the MIAA-NCAC Crossover Challenge Sept. 6-7 in Lansing, Mich. Grunewald had a double-double of 12 kills and 11 digs in a five-set setback to RV DePauw Sept. 6. On Saturday, Grunewald started the day with five service aces to go with eight digs and eight kills in a 3-0 win over No. 8 Wittenberg. Against Kenyon later in the day, Grunewald tallied eight kills, four digs, three blocks, and a service ace in a 3-0 victory for Hope.
Taylor Ferguson, Kalamazoo
MIAA Volleyball Specialist Athlete of the Week
Taylor Ferguson, Kalamazoo
Junior, DS/L
Hickory Corners, Mich.
Taylor Ferguson helped Kalamazoo to a 3-1 week, which included the program's sixth consecutive win to start the season and giving Kalamazoo their best start to a season since 1995. Ferguson averaged 4.07 digs per set, including 24 digs in Kalamazoo's five-set match with Wooster Sept. 7. Ferguson also tallied 13 service aces in four matches, with five in a 3-0 win over Allegheny Sept. 6.
