Posted: Oct 28, 2019
MIAA Athletes of the Week - October 28, 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 27, 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 Football Defense Athlete of the Week
Nick Holt, Hope
Senior, S
Norton Shores, Mich.
Nick Holt registered a team-high seven tackles and added a key interception in Hope's 21-7 MIAA win over previously unbeaten Olivet Oct. 26. In helping hold the Comets to their season low in points and fewest points since the 2017 season, Holt had five tackles in the first half and grabbed an interception during Olivet's final drive to secure the Hope win.
MIAA Football Offense Athlete of the Week
Mason Opple, Hope
Senior, QB
Hudsonville, Mich.
Mason Opple led Hope in both passing and rushing Oct. 26 in guiding the Flying Dutchmen to a 21-7 win at Olivet. Opple rushed for 213 yards, with a long of 50 yards and two touchdown runs of seven and 12 yards; Opple's 12-yarder late in the fourth quarter helped put the game out of reach. Opple also was 7-of-13 passing for 61 yards.
MIAA Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Ryan Hibbets, Trine
Junior, PK
Monticello, Ind.
Ryan Hibbets tied the MIAA record for longest field goal in an MIAA game - a record that was set in 1940 - with a 53-yard field goal in Trine's 58-0 win over Finlandia Oct. 26. Hibbets, who is primarily Trine's kickoff specialist, connected on the record-tying score in the waning seconds of the first half. Hibbets had four first-half kickoffs, including two touchbacks.
MIAA Men's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Mason Smith, Calvin
Sophomore, M
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Mason Smith was a key defender in Calvin's two MIAA shutouts last week, including a 1-0 win at Kalamazoo Oct. 26 to clinch at least a share of the MIAA Championship for the 13th consecutive year. In the game against Kalamazoo, Smith and the Knights allowed just two shots on goal and gave up just two corner kicks. In a 9-0 win over Olivet Oct. 22, Smith helped Calvin allow just four shot attempts and no corner kicks.
MIAA Men's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Garrett Miller, Adrian
Senior, M
Grand Blanc, Mich.
Garrett Miller scored in both of Adrian's MIAA wins last week to secure a spot in the MIAA Men's Soccer Tournament. Miller scored a second-half goal against Trine Oct. 22 after the Thunder pulled within one goal in Adrian's 3-1 victory. Later in the week, Miller added an insurance goal in the 57th minute in Adrian's 2-0 victory at Alma Oct. 26.
MIAA Women's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Angela Davis, Adrian
Junior M
Trenton, Mich.
Angela Davis had an all-around effort in helping Adrian clinch a share of the MIAA Championship and secure the top seed in the MIAA Women's Soccer Tournament with two shutout wins in MIAA action last week. Davis assisted on the game-winner in a 2-0 win over Saint Mary's Oct. 23, while defensively allowing only three shots on goal. Against Trine Oct. 26, Davis scored the game-winning goal while also allowing only one shot attempt by the Thunder.
MIAA Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Lily Stephan, Alma
Freshman, M
Dewitt, Mich.
Lily Stephan assisted on the game-winning goal scored in the 88th minute in Alma's 1-0 win over Kalamazoo Oct. 26 to put the Scots in position to contend for the MIAA title heading into the final game of the MIAA season. Stephan also assisted on Alma's first goal in a 2-1 win over Calvin Oct. 23, with the goal coming in the 10th minute.
MIAA Men's Diving Athlete of the Week
Sam Ankley, Kalamazoo
Freshman
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Sam Ankley paired with Hope's Grant Williams at the MIAA Relays Oct. 25 to win both the 1-meter and 3-meter synchronized diving events. It was Ankley's first collegiate competition.
MIAA Men's Swimming Athlete of the Week
Nate Sutton, Alma
Freshman
Livonia, Mich.
Nate Sutton set the Alma College school record in the 1,000 free in Alma's dual meet with Albion Oct. 26. Sutton touched in 10:01.81 to win the event. Sutton also won the 500 free against Albion with a time of 4:56.33. Sutton also swam in the 200 back relay, the 3x500 free relay, the 400 IM relay, and the 200 free relay at the MIAA Relays Oct. 25.
Devin Carapelluci, Alma
Erin Radermacher, Kalamazoo
MIAA Women's Diving Athlete of the Week
Devin Carapelluci, Alma
Freshman
East Lansing, Mich.
Devin Carapelluci won the 1-meter diving competition in Alma's dual meet with Albion Oct. 26 Carapelluci scored 168.50.
MIAA Women's Swimming Athlete of the Week
Erin Radermacher, Kalamazoo
Senior
Park Ridge, Ill.
Erin Radermacher posted the top 50 free time in the MIAA this season with a 24.24 split in the 200 Medley Relay at the MIAA Relays Oct. 25. Radermacher's time also is in the top 25 in NCAA Division III. Radermacher also swam in the 200 back relay (second-place finish), the mixed medley relay (fastest woman's free split), and had the fastest 150 free split (1:15.4) in the progressive free relay.
MIAA Volleyball Athlete of the Week
McKenna Otto, Hope
Sophomore, MH
Wheaton, Ill.
McKenna Otto had a game-highs of 17 kills and seven blocks and hit .552 in Hope's 3-1 non-conference win over No. 2 Calvin Oct. 25. In a 3-1 week for Hope, Otto hit .386 while averaging 4.53 kills and 1.20 blocks per set. Otto was the match-high in kills for all four outings, including 16 against No. 1 Chicago Oct. 26 and 16 against Saint Mary's Oct. 22 in an MIAA matchup.
Brittney Tarkanyi, Saint Mary's
MIAA Volleyball Specialist Athlete of the Week
Brittney Tarkanyi, Saint Mary's
Junior, L
Lake Orion, Mich.
Brittney Tarkanyi averaged 4.4 digs per set in a challenging week for Saint Mary's, which included matches against four nationally-ranked opponents and a 3-1 win over No. 7 UW-Whitewater Oct. 25. In that match, Tarkanyi had a match-best 25 digs while adding six assists and a service ace as the Belles registered their first win over an NCAA Division III top 10 foe in program history. In Saint Mary's 3-2 win over Roanoke Oct. 26, Tarkanyi had 22 digs with four assists.
