Posted: Feb 24, 2020
MIAA Athletes of the Week - February 24, 2020
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced the 13 individual student-athletes and two relay teams selected as its Athletes of the Week, for the week of competition ending on February 23, 2020.
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 Baseball Position Player of the Week
A.J. Mitchell, Trine
Junior, Infield
Emmett, Mich.
A.J. Mitchell led Trine in batting, going 6-for-11 from the plate in the Thunder's first week of play for the 2020 season. Mitchell was a key factor in Trine's 9-3 win at Centre Feb. 22, going 3-for-4 with a double and a run. For the week, Mitchell was also was error-free on 20 fielding opportunities and aided in a double play against Centre Feb. 23.
MIAA Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week
Cole Kleiver, Alma
Sophomore, Guard
Williamston, Mich.
Cole Kleiver averaged 31.0 points per game in two MIAA contests, well above a season average of 18.5 ppg. Kliever started with a 10-of-16 performance from the field on the way to a game-high 33 points in Alma's 98-96 overtime setback to Hope Feb. 19; in that game, Kliever tallied 27 points after halftime to aid Alma in erasing a 24-point deficit. In Alma's 84-80 win over Kalamazoo Feb. 22, Kliever tallied 29 points, bolstered by a 7-of-10 performance from three-point range.
MIAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week
Rain Hinton, Albion
Junior, Guard/Forward
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Rain Hinton fueled Albion to a 71-59 win over Saint Mary's Feb. 19 with a 30-point outing to go with 10 rebounds and three steals; Hinton's double-double was the sixth this season and one point shy of a season-best in scoring. Hinton shot 14-of-23 from the field for 60.9 percent; Hinton also tallied eight offensive rebounds to aid Albion's offense.
MIAA Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Evan Griffin, Calvin
Sophomore, Goalie
Howell, Mich.
Evan Griffin made 12 saves in Calvin's season-opening contest, which was Griffin's second career start. Griffin finished with a .750 save percentage, allowing just four goals over 54:22 in goal in Calvin's 15-6 win over Wabash Feb. 22. Griffin also directed the clear, as the Knights successfully cleared 16 of 18 attempts.
MIAA Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week
Jack Smith, Kalamazoo
Junior, Attack
Howell, Mich.
Jack Smith scored four key fourth-quarter goals in Kalamazoo's 16-14 win at Concordia-Ann Arbor Feb. 23. Smith scored what proved to be the game-tying goal late to ignite the Hornets. For the game, Smith tallied seven points on five goals and two assists while adding two caused turnovers and a ground ball.MIAA Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Destiny Okon, Albion
Sophomore, Midfield
Van Nuys, Calif.
Destiny Okon aided Albion in their 16-14 win over Carroll (Wis.) Feb. 22. Okon caused three turnovers and gathered nine ground balls to give Albion their first win of the 2020 season, fending off a second-half rally by Carroll.
MIAA Women's Lacrosse Offensive Athlete of the Week
Rachel Madar, Kalamazoo
Junior, Midfield
DeWitt, Mich.
Rachel Madar aided Kalamazoo to a 1-1 week, with a six-goal effort in the Hornets' 17-6 win at Indiana Tech Feb. 22. Madar added 11 ground balls in the game and added a caused turnover. In Kalamazoo's contest at Ohio Northern, Madar tallied nine draw controls while adding a goal and an assist.
MIAA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Patrick Smoker, Albion
Sophomore, No. 3 Singles/No. 3 doubles
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Patrick Smoker went 2-0 in Albion's 6-3 win over Indiana-South Bend Feb. 23. Smoker paired with Tselmeg Mendsaikhan for an 8-6 doubles victory at the No. 3 slot as the lone doubles win for Albion on the day. Smoker then went 6-4, 3-6, 12-10 at No. 3 singles as Albion tallied five singles wins.
MIAA Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Marceline Redick, Albion
Senior, No. 2 Singles / No. 1 Doubles
San Marcos, Calif.
Marceline Redick posted a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles for the decisive point to aid Albion in their 5-4 win over Indiana-South Bend Feb. 23.MIAA Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Dazmond Lawrence, Adrian
Junior
Detroit, Mich.
Dazmond Lawrence won the high jump at the Hillsdale Tune-Up Feb. 22, clearing 2.06m to tie for 10th in NCAA Division III this season.
MIAA Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Korey Derr, Hope
Senior
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Korey Derr took first in the 60m dash at the Grand Valley State Tune-Up Feb. 21 in a field of 16 competitors to tie for 48th in NCAA Division III this season and rank second in the MIAA this season by just 0.01 seconds. Derr also finished fifth in the 200m dash (23.09) in a field of 23 runners.
Addy Gerig, Hope
Sadie Heeringa, Calvin
MIAA Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Addy Gerig, Hope
Senior
Holland, Mich.
Addy Gerig competed at the Grand Valley State Tune-Up Feb. 21, competing in three field events. In the triple jump, Gerig won with a distance of 10.35m. In the high jump, Gerig cleared 1.56m to finish third to rank first in the MIAA; in the long jump, Gerig was sixth overall with a mark of 4.58m. Gerig also placed fifth in the 60m hurdles (10.24).
MIAA Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Sadie Heeringa, Calvin
Sophomore
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Sadie Heeringa ran the 1-mile run at the Grand Valley State Tune-Up Feb. 21, winning with a time of 4:58.31 to win by seven seconds. Heeringa ranks second in the MIAA and 14th in NCAA Division III.
