FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has announced its Athletes of the Week for the period covering October 6-12. Each week throughout the academic year, the conference recognizes standout performances from student-athletes across its member institutions.
The MIAA Athlete of the Week honors are selected from nominations submitted by head coaches at each school. These awards spotlight the top individual efforts in competition and showcase the high level of play within the conference.
Selections are released every Monday at 4:00 p.m., with the exception of weeks impacted by federal holidays.
MIAA Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week - Chad Perrine, Hope College
Senior Chad Perrine led the Flying Dutchmen to a fifth-place team finish at the Muskegon Community College Jayhawk Invite on Saturday. Perrine recorded a season-best time of 26:12.47 in the 8K race, placing 25th overall. It marked the first time Perrine has paced Hope as the team's top finisher.
MIAA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week - Miranda Sawvel, Hope College
Freshman Miranda Sawvel led the Flying Dutch to a runner-up finish at the 16-team Muskegon Community College Jayhawk Invite on Saturday. Sawvel clocked a personal-best 5K time of 18:37.51, finishing 11th overall. Her performance marked the first time she has been Hope's top finisher.
MIAA Men's Golf Athlete of the Week - Garrett James, Trine University
Senior Garrett James captured the individual title at the 2025 Flyers Fall Intercollegiate, leading the Thunder to a second-place team finish in the Division II tournament. James carded rounds of 75-73-73 at the prestigious Cog Hill Golf and Country Club - Dubsdread course and secured the victory in a two-hole playoff.
MIAA Women's Golf Athlete of the Week - Anna Schaibly, Albion College
Freshman Anna Schaibly was the only MIAA women's golfer during the week to record both a first-place finish and a top-five finish across two jamborees. In Jamboree No. 3 at Gull Lake Country Club, Schaibly tied-for-fourth with a 78. She followed that with a first-place finish at Jamboree No. 4, firing a a 72. Her round broke the MIAA record for the lowest score at Pine River Country Club (previously 73 in 2022) and also set the Albion program record for an individual 18-hole tournament round. Schaibly became the first Albion women’s golfer to earn medalist honors at an MIAA Jamboree since 2006.
MIAA Men's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week - Robin Ruigendijk, Albion College
Freshman midfielder Robin Ruigendijk had an oustanding week for the Albion men's soccer team, which went 2-0 in conference play. In a 4-0 shutout at Trine, Ruigendijk scored the game-winning goal, added a second goal, and contributed an assist for five-point performance. In the Brits' 2-1 victory over Alma, he assisted on the opening goal. Overall, Ruigendijk leads the MIAA with six assists and ranks third in points (18).
MIAA Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week - Lina Rea, Hope College
Senior forward Lina Rea delivered an exceptional offensive performance over the week, scoring three of Hope's six goals in two dominant wins. Rea opened the scoring early in the 3-0 victory over Albion, setting the tone for a strong team performance. She continued her impact in the 3-0 win at Trine, collecting two more goals against a very strong opponent and serving as the primary attacking threat. Overall, Rea is third in the conference with seven goals and 16 points.
MIAA Men's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week - Dominic Kretschmer, Adrian College
Freshman center back Dominic Kretschmer played a pivotal role in the Bulldogs' 3-2 edge over Olivet and 2-2 draw at Kalamazoo. Logging 90 minutes in both matches, Kretschmer scored the game-winning goal against the Comets and netted the equalizer versus the Hornets.
MIAA Women's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week - Clara Feenstra, Hope College
Junior goalkeeper Clara Feentra anchored Hope's defense in back-to-back shutouts versus Albion and at Trine over the week. She recorded 10 saves across two matches, including a crucial stop on a dangerous Albion breakaway to preserve the clean sheet. Feenstra’s composure, shot-stopping, and leadership from the back were key in securing two solid defensive performances for the Flying Dutch. In league play alone, Feenstra leads the MIAA with a .900 save percentage and two shutouts.
MIAA Men's Swimming Athlete of the Week - Blake Hetherington, Hope College
Sophomore Blake Hetherington was a member of Hope's 400 free relay on Saturday that posted the top time in the country so far this season. Hetherington split 45.89 in the event, helping the Flying Dutchmen to a third-place finish with a time of 3:03.11. Hope was competing in the Grand Valley State Invite, a meet that featured two of the top five men's teams from last year's Division II national championships. Hetherington also contributed to Hope's second-place team finish by chipping in individually in the 50 free (21.34) and the 100 free with a personal-best time of 46.53. He also split 20.76 while anchoring the 200 medley relay and swam a 1:46.06 in the 200 free.
MIAA Women's Swimming Athlete of the Week - Emme D'Errico, Hope College
Sophomore Emme D'Errico posted two times that currently rank top ten in the country in Division III over the weekend and was one of two individual winners for Hope at the Grand Valley Invitational. The meet was one that featured two top-20 women's teams from last year's NCAA Division II Championships. D'Errico won the 200 fly with a time of 2:07.05, helping Hope to a second-place team finish. Her time currently ranks fifth in Division III. Earlier in the meet D'Errico swam to a third-place finish in the 500 free in a time of 5:10.53 which currently ranks sixth nationally. D'Errico's other performances included the 200 free (1:56.74), butterfly relay splits of 25.76 and 56.86, and a 53.96 split in the 400 free relay.
MIAA Men's Diving Athlete of the Week - Finn Sanders, Hope College
Freshman Finn Sanders opened competition at the Grand Valley State Invite on Friday with a 224.10 score on the low board. He followed on Saturday with a 239.30 in the three-meter dive. Sanders also surpassed 400 points in the 11-dive format for the first time in his career, narrowly missing the NCAA regional qualfying mark.
MIAA Women's Diving Athlete of the Week - Wen Wadsworth-Curcuru, Albion College
In Albion's season opener against Kalamazoo, junior Wen Wadsworth-Curcuru claimed first place on the one-meter board with a score of 246.40 -- the highest mark in the MIAA over the weekend. Wadsworth-Curcuru also earned a runner-up finish on the three-meter board with a 231.95, finishing just nine points shy of first place.
MIAA Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week - Emma Kealy, Saint Mary's College
Senior Emma Kealy went 4-0 to lead the Belles to a pair of wins over Indiana East and Anderson. Kealy and partner Shannon Dudy earned a 6-1 at the top doubles flight, and Kealy added a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles in Saint Mary's 7-0 sweep of Indiana East. Against Anderson, the duo claimed another win (6-2) at No. 1 doubles. Kealy again prevailed 6-0, 6-2 at No. 1 singles to pace the Belles to a second-straight 7-0 victory.
MIAA Volleyball Player of the Week - Kayda Herrick, Albion College
Sophomore outside hitter Kayda Herrick assisted Albion to a 3-2 edge over Olivet, a 3-0 victory at No. 15-Otterbein, and a 3-0 shutout at Baldwin Wallace. Herrick had a double-double against the Comets with 19 kills and 17 digs. Over three matches, she totaled 43 kills (3.91 k/s), four service aces, 33 digs (3.00 d/s), and 49 points (4.45 p/s). Overall, Herrick leads the conference with 46 service aces and is currently in the MIAA's top three with 3.19 kills per set and 3.97 points per set.
MIAA Volleyball Specialist of the Week - Kate Oates, Hope College
Junior defensive specialist Kate Oates helped the Flying Dutch to a 3-1 record over the week. Across the four matches, Oates totaled 71 digs (5.07 d/s), 11 assists, six points, and five service aces. Oates currently leads the league with a total of 348 digs this season.