Posted: Sep 23, 2019
MIAA Athletes of the Week - September 23, 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 22, 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
Ryan Vreeke, Calvin
Sophomore
Lakewood, Calif.
Ryan Vreeke finished fourth overall at the Knight-Raider Invitational Sept. 20, crossing the line in 26:31 over the 8K course. Vreeke was the top NCAA Division III finisher in a field of 201 competitors.
MIAA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Aubrey Hemstreet, Alma
Senior
Portage, Mich.
Aubrey Hemstreet placed 12th out of 178 competitors at the Knight-Raider Invitational Sept. 20, finishing the 6K race in 19:47.9. Hemstreet was the first NCAA Division III finisher, trailing only NCAA Division I and NAIA competitors.
MIAA Football Defense Athlete of the Week
Ashton McNeil, Finlandia
Freshmar, LB
Ray City, Ga.
Ashton McNeil made 18 tackles, including 12 solo tackles, in Finlandia's 23-12 setback to Concordia Chicago Sept. 21. Of McNeil's tackles, 5.5 tackles were for loss including two sacks. McNeil, who made three consecutive solo tackles during a third-quarter series to hold Concordia Chicago to a field goal attempt, also forced a fumble in the contest.
Kyle Thomas, Albion
Isaiah Gibson, Albion
MIAA Football Offense Athlete of the Week
Kyle Thomas, Albion
Junior, QB
Wixom, Mich.
Kyle Thomas led the Albion offense in posting a season-high 521 yards thanks to 313 yards through the air on 22-of-34 passing, resulting in five touchdown passes and three rushing touchdowns in the Britons' 56-41 win over Eureka Sept. 21. Thomas' longest touchdown pass was for 43 yards, while Thomas' longest rush was 44 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown. Thomas finished with 144 yards rushing to out-gain Eureka on the ground (144 to 121).
MIAA Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Isaiah Gibson, Albion
Junior, KR/WR
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Isaiah Gibson clipped off 159 yards on three kick returns during Albion's 56-41 win over Eureka Sept. 21; that single-game total ranks seventh-highest in NCAA Division III this season and the most yards in the fewest returns. Gibson's longest return went for 67 yards, and Gibson's average of 53.0 yards per return help Albion rank third in NCAA Division III in yards per kickoff return.
MIAA Men's Golf Athlete of the Week
Nick Knowlton, Trine
Senior
Bridgman, Mich.
Nick Knowlton was the medalist at the second MIAA Jamboree event Sept. 21 at Alma, shooting a two-under 70 to win by two strokes. Knowlton aided Trine to post a three-over 291 team score as the Thunder won by 14 strokes.
MIAA Women's Golf Athlete of the Week
Hunter Kehoe, Saint Mary's
Junior
Traverse City, Mich.
Hunter Kehoe was the medalist at the 96-golfer UW-Whitewater Fall Invite Sept. 20-21. Kehoe carded an even-par 144 (70-74) for a collegiate best for the junior; Kehoe and the Belles finished first out of 18 teams with a 36-hole score of 300-309--609.
MIAA Men's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Luke Kastran, Kalamazoo
Sophomore, GK
Rochester Hills, Mich.
Luke Kastran posted two 1-0 shutout wins last week, including a 1-0 victory against No. 18 North Park Sept. 21. Kastran made six saves in that game, including four in the second half. Earlier in the week, Kastran made four saves in Kalamazoo's 1-0 win over Elmhurst Sept. 18, including a key save in the 86th minute.
MIAA Men's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Dillon Weldy, Calvin
Senior, M
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Dillon Weldy had at least two points in each game of a 3-0-0 week for Calvin. Weldy the game-winning goal along with two assists in Calvin's 7-0 win over 2018 NCAA Tournament participant Greenville Sept. 21. Weldy scored in Calvin's 2-0 road win over 2018 NCAA Tournament participant Carthage Sept. 20. Weldy also had two assists - one on Calvin's game-tying goal in the 85th minute and the other on Calvin's overtime game-winner in the 93rd minute - in the Knights' 3-2 come-from-behind win over Aquinas Sept. 17.
MIAA Women's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Amy Kliewer, Calvin
Junior, GK
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Amy Kliewer anchored Calvin's defense with two shutout victories last week to aid the Knights in their first victories of the season. Kliewer started with a two-save effort in a 2-0 win at Cornerstone Sept. 17; Kliewer then tallied two more saves in Calvin's 2-0 victory against North Central Sept. 21.
MIAA Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Caroline Fleming, Adrian
Senior, F
Grosse Ile, Mich.
Caroline Fleming registered five points in a 1-0-1 week for Adrian. Fleming started the week with a goal and an assist in Adrian's 3-3 draw at No. 24 Otterbein Sept. 19. Fleming's assist came in the 86th minute to pull Adrian within a goal before the Bulldogs scored the game's equalizer in the 90th minute. On Sept. 21, Fleming scored the game-winning goal for the Bulldogs against NAIA UM-Dearborn in Adrian's 2-0 homecoming win.
Amanda Bandrowski, Hope
MIAA Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Amanda Bandrowski, Hope
Senior, No. 1 singles/No. 1 doubles
Traverse City, Mich.
Amanda Bandrowski had a strong showing at the ITA Division III Women's Central Regional Sept. 19-21 at Kalamazoo, going 3-1 in the singles draw to advance to quarterfinal round. In doubles, Bandrowski and teammate Claire Hallock went 3-1 to advance to the semifinals as the event's No. 2 seed before losing to the eventual doubles champions.
MIAA Volleyball Athlete of the Week
McKenna Otto, Hope
Sophomore, MH
Wheaton, Ill.
McKenna Otto ganed All-Tournament Team honors at the Illinois Wesleyan Holiday Inn Classic Sept. 20-21, aiding Hope to a 3-0 record at the event. Otto hit .372, including .583 (16-2-24) in a three-set win over Luther Sept. 21. Otto had 20 kills with four blocks in a four-set victory over Aurora Sept. 21. Otto averaged 4.08 kills per set and averaged 4.8 points per set over the three matches.
Grace VanDorn, Albion
MIAA Volleyball Specialist Athlete of the Week
Grace VanDorn, Albion
Junior, S
North Aurora, Ill.
Grace VanDorn assumed the third spot in Albion program history in career assists after averaging 7.27 assists per set in a 2-1 week for the Britons. VanDorn had double-doubles in all three matches, including a 34-assist, 15-dig performance against Franklin Sept. 21. VanDorn also averaged 4.36 digs per set, with 16 digs in three sets at Defiance Sept. 17.
