Posted: Nov 11, 2019
MIAA Athletes of the Week - November 11, 2019
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced the 16 student-athletes selected as its Athletes of the Week, for the week of competition ending on November 10, 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 Basketball Athlete of the Week
Zachary Winston, Albion
Sophomore, Guard
Detroit, Mich.
Zachary Winston scored three points to go with two steals, two assists, and a blocked shot in 15 minutes of Albion's season opener against Mount Union Nov. 8.
In the wake of Zachary’s passing on Saturday, Albion President Mauri Ditzler released the following statement:
Statements from Albion Director of Athletics Matt Arend and Albion men's basketball coach Jody May (video link)
In the wake of Zachary’s passing on Saturday, Albion President Mauri Ditzler released the following statement:
"As a community, our hearts are broken as we share the news of the passing of one of our students, Zachary Winston. Zach was a finance major, a student in the Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management, and member of the Albion College men's basketball team. Beyond that, he was an extremely charismatic young man with an infectious smile. Zach was a recognized leader who was well known across every facet of our campus. He was a fantastic student with a world of potential before him. He was deeply loved and will be deeply missed.
"As a campus, we have provided opportunities for students, faculty and staff to receive counseling and support in the challenging days ahead. We want all students to know they are not alone.
"Our hearts go out to his brothers, Khy, who is a freshman at Albion, and Cassius, who is a senior at Michigan State University, his parents and his extended family. We echo the family's request in asking everyone to respect their privacy at this time."
Statement from Albion president Mauri Ditzler (web page)Statements from Albion Director of Athletics Matt Arend and Albion men's basketball coach Jody May (video link)
MIAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week
Sydney Muller, Hope
Junior, Guard
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Sydney Muller averaged 15.0 points per game on the way to earning Most Valuable Player honors at the Augustana College Tournament Nov. 8-9. Muller posted 17 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in Hope's season-opening win over Luther Nov. 8, 78-48. Muller then tallied 13 points in 17 minutes of play against Benedictine Nov. 9.
MIAA Football Defense Athlete of the Week
Anthony Merriman, Olivet
Sophomore, DB
Ferndale, Mich.
Anthony Merriman pulled in an interception and returned the pass 45 yards for a touchdown in Olivet's 28-13 win over Alma Nov. 9. Merriman registered eight tackles, including three solo tackles, and two broken up passes in the contest. Merriman's interception return put Olivet ahead of Alma early in the third quarter, 21-3.
MIAA Football Offense Athlete of the Week
Zach Smith, Hope
Senior, C
Suttons Bay, Mich.
Zach Smith was part of Hope's offensive line that paved the way for 453 yards rushing in Hope's 49-21 win at Kalamazoo Nov. 9, which secured a share of the MIAA title for the Flying Dutchmen. Smith blocked for three different 100-yard Hope rushers against the Hornets (RB Kenyea Houston, 138; RB Connor Mellon, 110; and QB Mason Opple, 101).
MIAA Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Keysean Amison, Trine
Junior, FS
Sandusky, Ohio
Keysean Amison returned an Adrian kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown to keep Trine within reach in a 34-26 setback at Adrian Nov. 9. Trailing by 15 points, Amison gathered a short kick and found the end zone to close the third-quarter gap, 27-19. Defensively, Amison had a game-high 10 tackles, including nine solos.
MIAA Men's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Chris Morrish, Calvin
Junior, GK
Bradenton, Fla.
Chris Morrish stopped two penalty kicks during Calvin's shootout with Hope Nov. 9 to determine the MIAA Men's Soccer Tournament champions after a 0-0 draw. Morrish anchored the Calvin defense in shutting out Hope; during the second overtime session, Morrish made a key play on a scoring chance that resulted in a high shot attempt.
MIAA Men's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Hunter Olson, Calvin
Senior, M
Canton, Mich.
Hunter Olson scored the decisive penalty kick in Calvin's 4-3 shootout result against Hope Nov. 9 in the MIAA Men's Soccer Tournament championship game. Earlier in the week, Olson scored two goals and assisted on the game-winner in Calvin's 5-1 semifinal win over Albion Nov. 6.
MIAA Women's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Brooke Teska, Adrian
Senior, D
Trenton, Mich.
Brooke Teska aided the Adrian defense in two MIAA Women's Soccer Tournament wins, including Adrian's 4-1 win over Kalamazoo Nov. 9 in the title game. Teska had an assist on Adrian's third goal of the contest as the Bulldogs jumped to a 4-0 halftime lead.
MIAA Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Caroline Fleming, Adrian
Senior, F
Grosse Ile, Mich.
Caroline Fleming was involved in six of Adrian's nine goals during the Bulldogs' 2019 MIAA Women's Soccer Tournament championship run. In the title game against Kalamazoo Nov. 9, Fleming had a goal in the 39th minute after assisting on Adrian's first two goals of the game in the 13th and 19th minutes. Against Albion Nov. 6, Fleming scored Adrian's first goal in the 28th minute and added an assist in the 31st minute; Fleming also assisted on an Adrian goal in the 78th minute.
MIAA Men's Diving Athlete of the Week
Sam Ankley, Kalamazoo
Freshman
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Sam Ankley was a two-time winner in Kalamazoo's meet against IIT Nov. 9. Ankley scored 276.55 on the 3-meter board and tallied 272.80 on the 1-meter board, just missing a regional qualifying mark.
MIAA Men's Swimming Athlete of the Week
Julian Iturbe, Calvin
Junior
Caracas, Venezuela
Julian Iturbe was a three-time individual winner and three-time relay winner at the Calvin Quad Nov. 8-9. Iturbe won the 500 free (4:42.52), the 400 IM (4:12.55) and the 100 free (46.82). Iturbe's lead leg of the 400 free relay was clocked at 46.16, which ranks fifth nationally for that distance; the relay's time of 3:08.02 to win the event is eighth-fastest in NCAA Division III thus far this season. Iturbe also aided in Calvin's 200 free relay and 800 free relay wins.
Hannabeth Magnussen, Calvin
Hannah Chao, Calvin
MIAA Women's Diving Athlete of the Week
Hannabeth Magnussen, Calvin
Junior
Oakdale, Calif.
Hannabeth Magnussen qualified for NCAA regionals with a score of 418.20 on the 1-meter board at the Calvin Quad Meet Nov. 8-9. Magnussen's score won the five-diver event.
MIAA Women's Swimming Athlete of the Week
Hannah Chao, Calvin
Junior
Farmington Hills, Mich.
Hannah Chao was a two-time individual winner and was on four winning relay teams in aiding Calvin to a win at the Calvin Quad Meet Nov. 8-9. Chao won the 100 back in 59.49, which ranks 30th in NCAA. Chao, who also won the 200 back, aided Calvin's 200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, and 800 free relay teams to event wins; Calvin's time of 8:04.51 in the 800 FR ranks seventh nationally.
MIAA Volleyball Athlete of the Week
Heidi Westra, Calvin
Freshman, OH/RS
Clarendon Hills, Ill.
Heidi Westra aided Calvin in winning the 2019 MIAA Volleyball Tournament title with all-around play during the semifinals and final. Westra was second on the team in kills against Albion with 13 while hitting .600 against the Britons; Westra also added six digs and a block. Westra then had eight kills and nine digs in the MIAA title game against nationally-ranked Hope.
Anna Schriemer, Calvin
MIAA Volleyball Specialist Athlete of the Week
Anna Schriemer, Calvin
Sophomore, S
Vicksburg, Mich.
Anna Schriemer helped Calvin win the 2019 MIAA Volleyball Tournament title, averaging 22.0 assists per match. Against Albion Nov. 8, Schriemer had a double-double of 20 assists and 10 digs while adding four service aces. In the MIAA title match against Hope Nov. 9, Schriemer had a match-high 24 assists to go with eight digs.
MIAA Wrestling Athlete of the Week
Austin Fox, Alma
Junior, 197
Fort Worth, Texas
Austin Fox won the 197 weight class at the Ben McMullen Open Nov. 9, hosted by Muskegon Community College. Fox went 3-0, with all three wins resulting in bonus points. Fox won by fall in the championship round in just 44 seconds; Fox also had technical fall wins leading up to the final.
