BRIGHTON, Mich. -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has announced its Athletes of the Week for the period covering November 2 - November 8. 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 Basketball Athlete of the Week - Nathan Richardson, The University of Olivet
Senior guard Nathan Richardson helped lead the Comets to a 2–0 start with a pair of high-scoring performances. Richardson opened the season with 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 5-of-8 from three-point range, in an 85–70 win over Franklin. He followed with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals in an 87–75 victory over Anderson. Richardson finished the week averaging 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 5.0 steals per game while shooting 54.2 percent from the field. He currently leads the MIAA with a 10.0 assist-to-turnover ratio, totaling 10 assists against just one turnover.
MIAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week - Leah Richards, Hope College
Junior forward Leah Richards helped lead the Flying Dutch to the Tip-Off Tournament championship with victories over Wisconsin-Platteville and No. 20 Illinois Wesleyan. Richards totaled 33 points and 19 rebounds across the two games, averaging 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest. She shot 12-of-21 (.571) from the field, a perfect 2-of-2 from three-point range, and 7-of-8 (.875) from the free-throw line. Richards recorded 15 points and eight rebounds in the 72–65 win over Wisconsin-Platteville before posting 18 points and 11 rebounds in the 73–65 victory over Illinois Wesleyan.
MIAA Football Offensive Athlete of the Week - Thomas Vaccaro, Calvin University
Junior quarterback Thomas Vaccaro delivered another standout performance in Calvin’s 38–24 victory over Hope. Vaccaro completed 21-of-29 pass attempts for 357 yards and three touchdowns while adding 56 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. He finished the game with 413 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns in the victory. Vaccaro currently leads the MIAA with 2,899 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns, 322.1 passing yards per game, and a 201.2 passing efficiency rating while completing 72.7 percent of his passes. He also leads the conference with 3,324 yards of total offense and 369.3 total yards per game.
MIAA Football Defensive Athlete of the Week - Carson Schnurstein, Calvin University
Junior linebacker Carson Schnurstein turned in a career performance in Calvin’s 38–24 victory over Hope. Schnurstein finished with a game-high 16 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, while also adding a quarterback hurry. His impact across the field helped lead the Knights’ defense in the rivalry win.
MIAA Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week - Will Soulliere, Alma College
Junior kicker Will Soulliere was perfect in the kicking game during Alma’s 48–14 victory over Kalamazoo. Soulliere converted all six of his extra-point attempts and connected on both of his field-goal tries from 37 and 42 yards. He also handled nine kickoffs for 523 yards, averaging 58.1 yards per kickoff, with three touchbacks.
MIAA Men's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week - Jackson Mindling, Hope College
Junior forward Jackson Mindling played a key role in Hope’s run to the MIAA Tournament championship. Mindling scored twice in the Flying Dutch’s 3–3 semifinal draw against Albion, playing 103 minutes before Hope advanced on penalty kicks. He then logged 86 minutes in a 1–0 victory over Calvin in the championship match. Mindling is also tied for the MIAA lead with five game-winning goals this season.
MIAA Men's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week - Cooper Hutt, Hope College
Senior goalkeeper Cooper Hutt played every minute of Hope’s run to the MIAA Tournament championship. Hutt helped the Flying Dutch advance past Albion in the semifinals following a penalty-kick shootout before recording a shutout in the 1–0 championship victory over Calvin. He made two saves in the title match, helping Hope secure the MIAA Tournament championship.
MIAA Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week - Alexis Suptela, Hope College
Junior forward Alexis Suptela played a key role in leading the Flying Dutch to the MIAA Tournament championship. Suptela logged 75 minutes in Hope’s 1-0 semifinal overtime victory against Kalamazoo before scoring the game-winning goal in the fifth minute, in a 2–0 win over Calvin in the championship match. She played 85 minutes in the final, helping Hope capture its first MIAA Tournament title since 2021.
MIAA Women's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week - Clara Feenstra, Hope College
Senior goalkeeper Clara Feenstra was outstanding throughout Hope’s run to the MIAA Tournament championship, recording back-to-back shutouts while playing every minute in goal. Feenstra made two saves in the Flying Dutch’s 1–0 overtime semifinal victory over Kalamazoo before turning away six shots in a 2–0 win over Calvin in the championship match. Her two clean sheets helped Hope capture its first MIAA Tournament title since 2021.
MIAA Men's Swimming Athlete of the Week - Carter Nelson, Calvin University
Freshman Carter Nelson turned in a standout performance with a pair of event victories and several of the top times in the conference and NCAA Division III. Nelson won the 500 freestyle in 4:33.7, the fastest time in the MIAA and seventh-fastest in Division III. He also competed in the 1650 freestyle for the first time in his career, winning in 15:53.3, which leads the MIAA and ranks third nationally. Nelson added a runner-up finish in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:41.5 and also helped Calvin win both the 400 and 800 freestyle relays.
MIAA Men's Diving Athlete of the Week - Brodie Brown, Calvin University
Freshman Brodie Brown swept both diving events over the weekend while posting NCAA Regional qualifying scores on each board. Brown won the 1-meter event with a score of 452 points before capturing the 3-meter event with 437 points.
MIAA Women's Swimming Athlete of the Week - Layla Umstead, Hope College
Freshman Layla Umstead turned in a standout weekend at the D3 Shootout hosted by the University of Chicago, a meet featuring 10 teams from across the country, including four of the nation’s top 11 women’s programs. Umstead highlighted the weekend by winning the 500 freestyle in 4:58.29, the fastest time in NCAA Division III this season by .77 seconds. Her mark also came in under last season’s NCAA Championships invite time and met the NCAA B Cut standard. Umstead also competed in the 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 medley relay, 800 freestyle relay, and 200 freestyle relay across the two-day meet.
MIAA Women's Diving Athlete of the Week - Grace Dawson, Hope College
Sophomore Grace Dawson turned in a strong weekend at the D3 Shootout hosted by the University of Chicago. Dawson placed fourth on the 1-meter board with a score of 424.05, finishing less than half a point out of third place, before adding a fifth-place finish on the 3-meter board. Her 1-meter performance met the NCAA Diving Regional qualifying standard, giving her qualifying marks on both boards this season. Dawson has now achieved NCAA Diving Regional scoring standards twice on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards.
MIAA Volleyball Player of the Week - Kamryn Burbridge, Hope College
Senior middle hitter Kamryn Burbridge turned in an efficient week for the Flying Dutch, helping Hope to victories over Albion and Alma. Burbridge totaled 25 kills on 47 attempts while hitting .447 across seven sets, averaging 3.57 kills and 4.00 points per set. She recorded 12 kills while hitting .423 in a 3–0 win over Albion before adding 13 kills at a .476 clip in a 3–1 victory at Alma. Burbridge also contributed six total blocks for the week, averaging 0.86 blocks per set. She currently leads the MIAA with a .381 hitting percentage.
MIAA Volleyball Specialist of the Week - Abby Reese, Saint Mary's College
Senior setter Abby Reese stepped into a larger role and helped lead the Belles to two important victories on the week. Reese totaled 74 assists across eight sets, averaging 9.25 assists per set, while also contributing 20 digs, five total blocks, three service aces, and seven kills. She recorded a season-high 40 assists and 13 digs for a double-double in a five-set win at Adrian before adding 34 assists in a 3–0 victory over Trine. Against Trine, Reese also recorded four kills on five attempts while hitting .600. Her play helped Saint Mary’s secure fourth place in the conference standings.
MIAA Wrestling Athlete of the Week - Shane Edwards, The University of Olivet
Senior Shane Edwards captured the 285-pound title at the Trine Invitational, finishing the day with a perfect 4–0 record. Edwards earned three decision victories and one technical fall on his way to the championship. In the final, he defeated Indiana Tech’s Johnny Cruz, the preseason No. 1-ranked wrestler in the region and a multiple-time NAIA national qualifier.