FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has announced its Athletes of the Week for the period covering October 27 - November 2. 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 - Logan Begeman, Hope College
Sophomore Logan Begeman claimed Most Valuable Runner honors after winning the 2025 MIAA Men's Cross Country Championship. Begeman concluded the 8K in a personal-best time of 25:04.5. He led the Flying Dutchmen to their first league title since 1986 with a team score of 22 points -- 44 points ahead of the runner-up.
MIAA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week - Sidney Swick, Trine University
Senior Sidney Swick was named the Most Valuable Runner after claiming first place at the MIAA Women's Cross Country Championship. Swick finished the 6K in 21:07.9, leading Trine to its first conference title in program history.
MIAA Football Offensive Athlete of the Week - Eddie Williams, Alma College
Senior running back Eddie Williams powered Alma to a 42-28 victory at Trine, rushing for 173 yards on 28 carries and scoring four touchdowns. He also contributed four receptions for 48 yards through the air. In MIAA play, Williams leads the conference in nearly every major offensive category, including rushing yards per game (137), rushing touchdowns (10), rushing attempts (98), total rushing yards (685), points (78; 15.6 per game), and all-purpose yards (836; 167.2 per game).
MIAA Football Defensive Athlete of the Week - Ethan Burrows, Adrian College
Junior defensive back Ethan Burrows assisted the Bulldogs to a 34-7 win at Kalamazoo. He recorded six tackles, a pass breakup, two interceptions and a blocked field goal. Burrows currently leads the league with eight passes defended (three breakups and five interceptions) and ranks second with 1.00 interceptions per contest.
MIAA Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week - Drake Irwin, Calvin University
Sophomore punter Drake Irwin had a standout performance in the Knights' 50-20 win over Olivet. Irwin punted four times for a total of 169 yards, averaging more than 42 yards per kick. His longest punt traveled 56 yards, and he pinned two inside the 20-yard line -- making a major impact on field position. In conference play, Irwin leads the MIAA with a long of 59 yards, five punts over 50 yards, and four touchbacks.
MIAA Men's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week - Jackson Mindling, Hope College
Sophomore forward Jackson Mindling recorded a hat trick in Hope's 3-1 victory over Trine in the conference-deciding match, leading the Flying Dutchmen to their first outright MIAA title since 2006. In conference play, Mindling finished as the league leader in shots (36) and shots on goal (17). He also ranked among the top three in the conference with five goals, including two game-winners goals, and 11 total points.
MIAA Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week - Julia Benham, Trine University
Sophomore midfielder Julia Benham contributed her first goal of the regular-season in Trine's 8-0 shutout against Olivet. In the first round of the MIAA Women's Soccer Tournament against Adrian, Benham delivered a standout performance -- scoring the game-tying goal to make it 1-1, then converting the decisive penalty kick to clinch the victory for the Thunder.
MIAA Women's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week - Lindsay Hart, Calvin University
Junior Lindsay Hart anchored a Calvin defense that shutout Adrian, 5-0, in the final regular-season contest. In playing 68 minutes, Hart also recorded a shot on goal. She has been a key member of the Knights' program that only allowed four goals over eight contests.
MIAA Men's Swimming Athlete of the Week - Ryan Halberg, Calvin University
Junior Ryan Halberg had his best meet of the year at the Calvin Quad Meet with Albion, Carthage, and Ohio Northern. Halberg captured three event titles, with all of his individual swims ranking at the top of the MIAA and among the top five nationally. He won the 500 free in 4:38.4 -- the fastest time in the conference and second best in the NCAA. Halberg also claimed a victory in the 400 IM with a time of 4:09.9, the top mark in the league, and among the nation's top five. Rounding out his individual events, he took the 1650 free in 16:24.3, the best in the MIAA and fifth-fast in Division III. Halberg also led off the winning 800 free relay, clocking a 1:42 split.
MIAA Women's Swimming Athlete of the Week - Elise Bajwa, Calvin University
Junior Elise Bajwa competed at the Calvin Quad over the weekend, which featured Albion, Carthage, and Ohio Northern. Bajwa continues to excel in the breaststroke, posting an NCAA "B" cut and the second-fastest time in the nation to win the 100 breast in 1:04.0. She also placed second in the 200 breast with a time of 2:24.0 in a very close finish -- good for the second-best mark in the MIAA and 11th nationally. In addition, she finished third in the 50 free with a time of 24.2 in another tight race. Bajwa rounded out her strong performance as a member of the winning 200 free relay, 200 medley relay, and 400 medley relay teams.
MIAA Women's Diving Athlete of the Week - Wen Wadsworth-Curcuru, Albion College
Junior Wen Wadsworth-Curcuru swept both diving events at the Calvin Quad over the weekend against the Knights, Carthage, and Ohio Northern. She posted a score of 490.35 on the three-meter board and 489.80 in the one-meter dive, earning regional-qualifying cuts in both events. Wadsworth-Curcuru also broke Albion's 16-year-old school records on both boards with these 11-dive performances.
MIAA Volleyball Player of the Week - Sarah Bradley, Calvin University
Freshman outside hitter Sarah Bradley recorded a double-double in a key match at Albion. In Calvin's 3-1 victory, Bradley totaled 15 kills (3.75 k/s), 11 digs (2.75 d/s), three service aces, and 18.5 points (4.63p/s). She is currently ranked in the MIAA's top ten with 67 kills, 11 aces, and 85.5 points during conference play.
MIAA Volleyball Specialist of the Week - Tryna Vander Zwaag, Calvin University
Junior libero Tryna Vander Zwaag helped lead the Knights to a 3-1 victory at Albion last Friday. Vander Zwaag totaled 28 digs, averaging seven per set -- double her average. She also posted a 3.4 passing average on serve receive and added five assists. Vander Zwaag currently ranks fourth in the MIAA with 5.10 digs per set (107 total) in conference play.
MIAA Wrestling Athlete of the Week - Aiden Smith, Adrian College
Senior Aiden Smith dominated the 157-pound bracket at the Adrian Invite, going 4-0 to claim first place and earn 26.0 team points. Smith opened the tournament with back-to-back pins, defeating Ohio Wesleyan's Glenn Simley in 2:20 and Henry Ford's Elan Bekker in 1:49. He then cruised through the semifinals with an 18-3 technical fall over Davenport's Brody Orcutt before securing the title with another technical fall (18-1, 4:55) against Baldwin Wallace's Caleb Hoffman.