Posted: Oct 07, 2019
MIAA Athletes of the Week - October 7, 2019
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced the 13 student-athletes selected as its Athletes of the Week, for the week of competition ending on October 6, 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
Jonathan Ellis, Calvin
Junior
Baltimore, Md.
Jonathan Ellis was the top finisher for Calvin in the Gold Division at the Notre Dame Joe Piane Invitational, finishing 31st in a time of 25:03 against a field of NCAA Division I and Division II competitors. Calvin was the lone Division III team in the race.
MIAA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Evie Bultemeyer, Trine
Junior
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Evie Bultemeyer finished second in the Greater Louisville Classic Pre-National Championship Oct. 5 in a field including nationally-ranked programs. Bultemeyer finished in a time of 21:21 despite the race course being altered during the event.
Jake Babb, Hope
Ryan Stevens, Alma
Tyler Peck, Olivet
MIAA Football Defense Athlete of the Week
Jake Babb, Hope
Senior, DE
Caledonia, Mich.
Jake Babb led Hope with six tackles, including five solo tackles, in leading Hope in a 51-0 win over No. 23 Trine Oct. 5. Babb assisted on a first-quarter sack to set the tone defensively; Hope's defensive effort marked the first shutout of Trine's offense since 2008, a span of 111 games.
MIAA Football Offense Athlete of the Week
Ryan Stevens, Alma
Junior, QB
Lowell, Mich.
Ryan Stevens guided Alma to a fourth-quarter comeback win over Albion Oct. 5, scoring two rushing touchdowns in the stanza to key a 19-0 fourth quarter to guide the Scots to their road win and handing Albion their first loss of the season. Stevens was 14-of-23 for 175 yards passing, including one touchdown pass of 59 yards in the critical fourth quarter. Stevens bookended that with touchdown runs of four and 35 yards, including the game's decisive score with 2:24 remaining. Stevens tallied 108 yards rushing in the win.
MIAA Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Tyler Peck, Olivet
Junior, K
Manistee, Mich.
Tyler Peck converted on six extra-point kicks and registered two touchback kickoffs in the first half of Olivet's 63-6 win over Finlandia Oct. 5.
MIAA Men's Golf Athlete of the Week
Jackson Jones, Kalamazoo
Junior
Bloomfield Village, Mich.
Jackson Jones tied for second overall at the MIAA Jamboree Sept. 20 at Kalamazoo, shooting a one-over 73. Jones then finished fifth at the MIAA Fall Final Oct 4-5 at Forest Akers West to finish the MIAA season with a 73.6 averages, the third lowest in Kalamazoo history and worthy of All-MIAA first team honors.
MIAA Women's Golf Athlete of the Week
Nicole Deweyert, Olivet
Senior
Dorchester, Ontario
Nicole Deweyert was the medalist at the MIAA Jamboree hosted by Trine Oct. 2, carding an MIAA-course record 72. Deweyert then was co-medalist at the MIAA Jamboree at Olivet Oct. 3; Deweyert is now second in the MIAA scoring standings with two fall rounds to play.
MIAA Men's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
None nominated
MIAA Men's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Sam Twigg, Calvin
Sophomore, M
Auckland, New Zealand
Sam Twigg had a part in four of Calvin's six goals in the Knights' 6-1 win over MIAA foe Adrian Oct. 5. Twigg scored the game's first goal, shaking the nets in the 14th minute. Twigg then assisted on three consecutive insurance goals for Calvin in the 30th, 47th, and 53rd minutes.
MIAA Women's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Catie Stamper, Kalamazoo
Sophomore, D
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Catie Stamper helped Kalamazoo post a 2-0 shutout victory over Calvin Oct. 5, playing all 90 minutes as an outside back and aiding the Hornets allow just four Calvin shot attempts. Stamper also scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 14th minute.
MIAA Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Makenzie Rajewski, Alma
Junior, M
Midland, Mich.
Makenzie Rajewski posted the first Alma hat trick in five seasons in the Scots' 3-1 win at Trine Oct. 1. Rajewski's goals in the 11th, 51st, and 59th minutes helped Alma to their first MIAA win since the 2017 season.
Casey Johnson, Kalamazoo
MIAA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Casey Johnson, Kalamazoo
Sophomore
Kohler, Wis.
Casey Johnson advanced to the round of 32 at the ITA Central Regionals Oct. 4-6, falling to eventual regional runner-up Jake Zalenski of Kenyon. Johnson started with straight set wins over Jacob Elbin of Baldwin Wallace and Andrew Siciliano of John Carroll.
MIAA Volleyball Athlete of the Week
Kelsey Smith, Calvin
Sophomore, OH/RS
Vienna, Va.
Kelsey Smith hit .692 (9-0-13) in Calvin's 3-0 win over Kalamazoo Oct. 2; as a team, the Knights hit .373 in the MIAA home win. Smith added two service aces, two blocks, and two digs in the victory over the Hornets.
Courtney Pelletier, Saint Mary's
MIAA Volleyball Specialist Athlete of the Week
Courtney Pelletier, Saint Mary's
Freshman, OH/L
Mishawaka, Ind.
Courtney Pelletier stepped into Saint Mary's libero role for the first time as a collegiate this week, aiding the Belles to two victories. Pelletier was up to the task, averaging 4.78 digs per set with 20 digs in Saint Mary's 3-1 win over Adrian Oct. 2. Against Kalamazoo Oct. 4, Pelletier registered 23 digs to go with six assists and two service aces in the Belles' 3-2 win.
