Athlete of the Week - April 7, 2025

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) announced the Athlete of the Week awards for the week of March 31 - April 6.

The MIAA Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by head coaches and released each Monday at 4:00 p.m. (unless a federal holiday).
MIAA Baseball Pitcher of the Week - Cole Giesige, Albion College
Junior Cole Giesige pitched a no hitter against Trine for a 10-0 victory on Friday. In eight innings pitched, Giesige totaled eight strikeouts while only allowing one walk. Giesige currently leads the MIAA with an earned-run average of 1.74, four wins, two shutouts, only six earned runs, and a batting-average against of .121.

MIAA Baseball Position Player of the Week - Giuseppe Sapienza, Alma College
Freshman infielder Giuseppe Sapienza led the Scots to a 3-1 record over the week. Sapienza hit .333 and finished with an on-base percentage of .611. In 15 at bats, he totaled four runs, five hits, three doubles, and three walks. Sapienza's week was highlighted by his game-winning three-run home run against Hope. He is currently in the league's top five with nine doubles, 52 total bases, and a slugging percentage of .675.

MIAA Men's Golf Athlete of the Week - Carter Schnipke, Trine University
Junior Carter Schnipke led the Thunder in one of the biggest fields in Division III golf over the weekend at the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational. Schnipke shot a +1 (73) on the first day and a +4 (75) on day two, for a +5 (148) overall total score. His performance was good enough for a tied-for-28th finish in the 228 player field.

MIAA Men's Lacrosse Offensive Athlete of the Week - Gibson Heethuis, Hope College
Sophomore attacker Gibson Heethuis led the Flying Dutchmen to a 15-8 victory over Albion, followed by a 16-5 win at Calvin. Heethuis was not only outstanding in the ride and on hustle plays, but also in the scoring column. He scored eight goals, had five assists and picked up seven ground balls. Heethuis is currently seventh in the league with 15 assists.

MIAA Women's Lacrosse Offensive Athlete of the Week - Audrey Booher, Calvin University
Junior attacker/midfielder Audrey Booher had an exceptional week in Calvin's 20-13 victory over North Central, followed by a 15-14 edge over host Kalamazoo. Booher scored 11 goals between the two games while being face-guarded by both teams. She is relentless on the attack and finds a way to get open and put the ball in the back of the net. Booher also scooped up three ground balls and caused two turnovers. She is currently second in the conference with 35 goals and 48 points.

MIAA Men's Lacrosse Defensive Athlete of the Week - Luke Wierengo, Hope College
Senior long-stick midfielder Luke Wierengo assisted Hope to a 15-8 win against Albion and a 16-5 victory at Calvin. Wierengo not only marked the top midfielder on each team and held them to zero goals, but he also played off the wings on faceoffs, grabbed four ground balls, and caused seven turnovers. He was outstanding in the Flying Dutchmen's clearing game as well. Wierengo is currently eighth in the conference with 18 caused turnovers.

MIAA Women's Lacrosse Defensive Athlete of the Week - Julia Ames, Albion College
Senior defender Julia Ames helped Albion to a 1-1 week, including a 13-4 win at Saint Mary's. Ames not only clear most of transitions but also continuesto push the fast break down the other side, which led to an assist against the Belles and a free position goal at Trine. Ames held Trine's Brooke Hoag to one point, when she has been averaging 3.5 points per game. She totaled 15 ground balls, three caused turnovers, eight draw controls, one goal, and one assist in the last two contests.

MIAA Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week - Caden Brainard, Hope College
Senior face-off get-off player Caden Brainard played a key role in Hope's 15-8 victory over Albion and 16-5 win at Calvin. Brainard scored six seconds into the contest versus Albion and set the tone for the Flying Dutchmen. He won 29 faceoffs over the week, scooped up 24 ground balls, and allowed Hope to control tempo and possession. Brainard currently leads the MIAA with 78 ground balls.

MIAA Women's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week - Meghan Chang, Calvin University
Senior midfielder Meghan Chang had an outstanding week in the Knights' 20-13 win against North Central and 15-14 edge over Kalamazoo. Chang notched 12 points (six goals, eight assists), nine ground balls, five caused turnovers, and 19 draw controls. She currently leads the MIAA with 23 caused turnovers and is in the league's top five with 18 assists and 70 draw controls.

MIAA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week - Adnan Alousi, Kalamazoo College
Junior Adnan Alousi helped the Hornets to a 7-0 sweep against Albion, followed by a 7-0 victory at Alma, after going undefeated last week and only giving up one game in four matches. Alousi partnered with Derek Blackwell at No. 2 doubles for a 6-0 sweep against Britons Alex Beard and Brendan Morrison. He went on to blank Morrison 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. Alousi and Blackwell earned another No. 2 doubles win with a 6-0 victory over Alma's Tatenda Mukudu and August Sack. At No. 1 singles, Alousi won 6-0, 6-1 versus Jake Lasceski.

MIAA Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week - Madison Wei, Hope College
At No. 4 singles, sophomore Madison Wei went 3-0 over the weekend at the Midwest Invitational in Madison, Wisconsin. After a tight first set against Gustavus Adolphus, Wei pulled out a 7-5, 6-2 win. She had another close match against North Central with a first-set tiebreaker and won 7-6(3), 6-2. In the final match of the week, Wei earned a super-tiebreak victory (5-7, 6-1, 13-11) against Wisconsin-Whitewater.

MIAA Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week - Asher Cousino, Adrian College
Senior Asher Cousino helped the Bulldogs to a second-place finish at the Hillsdale Open on Saturday. Cousino notched a victory in the 400m hurdles. His time of 56.20 currently leads the conference.

MIAA Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week - London Eldridge, The University of Olivet
Senior London Eldridge had standout performances at the Wooster Invitational over the weekend. Eldridge was part of the winning 4x100m relay team that broke a school record with a time of 49.88 which ranks them second in the MIAA. She also broke 60 seconds for the first time in the 400m dash, running 59.78, which ranks her No. 2 in the conference. Additionally, Eldridge ran close to a personal best in the 200m dash after clocking in at 27.26.

MIAA Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week - Lindsey Kossick, Calvin University
Senior Lindsey Kossick competed in both the hammer and discus at the GVSU Early Meet over the weekend. Kossick's mark of 44.43m in the hammer leads the MIAA by 1.99m. In the discus, Kossick threw 41.16m which lands her in second place in the league standings behind teammate Karen Bekhet and 4m ahead of the next closest person. She is also ranked 41st in the nation in the discus.

MIAA Softball Pitcher of the Week - Debbie Hill, Trine University
Junior pitcher Debbie Hill had her second perfect game of her career with a 15-0 victory over Kalamazoo. In five innings pitched, Hill totaled four strikeouts without any walks or hits. She also went to the plate four times this week for the Thunder. Hill had two hits, two runs, one double, and two walks, while also getting hit by a pitch. She currently leads the league with 12 home runs, 37 runs batted in, 65 total bases, a slugging percentage of 1.083, and 16 walks.

MIAA Softball Position Player of the Week - Tyra Marcum, Trine University
Sophomore infielder Tyra Marcum assisted the Thunder to an 8-0 victory over Kalamazoo, followed by a 15-0 win against the Hornets. Marcum hit .667 and slugged 1.833. In the two games, she totaled three runs, four hits, and four runs batted in, with two home runs, one double and one walk. Marcum was also perfect in the field with 12 putouts. She is currently top five in the conference with nine home runs, 61 total bases, a slugging percentage of .953, an on-base percentage of .506, 110 putouts, and five double plays.

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