FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has announced its Athletes of the Week for the period covering February 2-8. 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 - Orion Yant, Hope College
Sophomore forward Orion Yant played a key role in Hope’s 75–62 win over Kalamazoo and an 80–48 victory at Alma. He poured in a career-high 24 points against the Hornets on an efficient 11-of-13 (.846) shooting from the field, adding six rebounds, four blocks, and a steal. Yant followed with another strong performance at Alma, scoring 17 points on 6-of-7 (.857) shooting, including 1-of-1 from three-point range, while contributing seven rebounds, a block, and a steal.
MIAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week - Anna Fernandez, Calvin University
Senior guard Anna Fernandez recorded her third- and fourth-consecutive 20-point performances last weekend in road wins at Adrian (73–62) and Kalamazoo (61–44). She shot an efficient 12-of-23 (.522) from the field and was a perfect 15-of-15 at the free-throw line, while also adding nine rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal. Fernandez currently ranks among the league’s top five with 16.1 points per game, 305 total points, 110 field goals, and a .447 field-goal percentage.
MIAA Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week - Dylan Terpstra, Hope College
Junior Dylan Terpstra captured the 200m dash title Friday evening at Trine’s Mrs. G Invitational. His winning time of 21.99 (21.61 converted) set a new personal best and currently ranks first in the MIAA and 15th nationally. Terpstra also posted a lifetime best of 6.92 in the 60m dash and recorded a 49.1 split while running on the winning 4x400 relay.
MIAA Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week - Mia DeJonge, Calvin University
Senior Mia DeJonge delivered a record-breaking performance in the 60m hurdles at Trine’s Mrs. G Invitational. She clocked an 8.94 to tie Calvin’s program record, which was previously set in 2018. DeJonge currently leads the conference and is tied-for-23rd nationally.
MIAA Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week - Alexander Brown, The University of Olivet
Sophomore Alexander Brown turned in a record-breaking performance at the Chippewa Invitational. His pole vault mark of 4.75m set an indoor personal best and broke his own school record of 4.35m from last month. Brown currently leads the MIAA and is tied for 19th nationally.
MIAA Men's Swimming Athlete of the Week - Ryan Halberg, Calvin University
Junior Ryan Halberg recorded season-best performances in Calvin’s dual meet against Hope on Friday night. He won the 200 freestyle in 1:42.5 and finished runner-up in the 200 backstroke with a personal-best time of 1:52.7.
MIAA Women's Swimming Athlete of the Week - Greta Gidley, Hope College
Fifth-year senior Greta Gidley recorded the fastest times in the MIAA this season in two events and added a third victory Friday night against Calvin. She led off the medley relay with the league’s fastest 50 backstroke of the year, clocking 26.27, then captured the 50 freestyle in 23.64. Gidley capped the night by showcasing her versatility with a win in the 200 breaststroke, posting the fastest MIAA time this season at 2:21.68—nearly nine seconds ahead of the runner-up.
MIAA Men's Diving Athlete of the Week - Justin Romero, Hope College
Senior Justin Romero was one of two diving event winners for the Flying Dutchmen on Friday night at Calvin. He captured first place on the one-meter board with a score of 251.17 and also placed third on the high board with a score of 217.42, finishing behind two teammates.
MIAA Women's Diving Athlete of the Week - Grace Dawson, Hope College
Freshman Grace Dawson delivered a dominant performance on the boards Friday night in Hope’s dual meet against Calvin. She captured the one-meter dive with a score of 263.46 and later won the three-meter event by nearly 30 points, posting a score of 283.27.
MIAA Wrestling Athlete of the Week - Mason Knight, The University of Olivet
In the final match of the MIAA dual between the league’s two remaining undefeated teams, junior Mason Knight secured a dramatic double-overtime victory. His win clinched the team victory over Albion and reversed the result from November, when he lost by one point to the same Albion opponent at the Trine Invite. Entering the dual, Knight was ranked second in the region, while his opponent, Bode Brown, was ranked third.
MIAA Women's Lacrosse Offensive Athlete of the Week - Delaney Johnson, Calvin University
Sophomore attacker Delaney Johnson helped lead the Knights to a 2–0 start to the season with a 17–6 win at Wisconsin–Eau Claire and a 19–9 victory over Wisconsin–Stout. Across the two games, Johnson totaled 12 points on seven goals and five assists. She converted 100 percent of her shots on goal in the season opener and followed with an .800 shots on goal percentage in the second game. Johnson also added six ground balls and caused a turnover during the opening weekend.
MIAA Women's Lacrosse Defensive Athlete of the Week - Natalie Scott, Calvin University
Senior defender Natalie Scott helped lead Calvin to a 2–0 start to the season with a 17–6 win at Wisconsin–Eau Claire and a 19–9 victory over Wisconsin–Stout. Over the two games, Scott recorded three ground balls, four caused turnovers, and a draw control. A team captain and defensive anchor, she directs traffic and sets the tone for the Knights on the back end. Calvin’s 91.65-percent clear rate is largely a result of her field vision, situational awareness, and hustle, and under her leadership the defense allowed just 7.5 goals per game.
MIAA Women's Lacrosse Specialist Athlete of the Week - Hannah Rizzo, Calvin University
Junior goalkeeper Hannah Rizzo anchored the Knights in the cage over the weekend, helping Calvin open the season with a 17–6 win at Wisconsin–Eau Claire and a 19–9 victory over Wisconsin–Stout. Rizzo posted a 58.3 percent save rate across the two games, highlighted by a stellar 68.4 percent performance against Wisconsin–Eau Claire that kept Calvin in control for all 60 minutes. She also collected six ground balls and finished the weekend with a 7.5 goals-against average, fueling two commanding double-digit wins.
MIAA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week - Ned Curley, Hope College
Junior Ned Curley played a key role in Hope’s 4–3 victory over Ohio Northern with clutch performances in both singles and doubles. Partnering with freshman Owen Jackson, Curley earned a 6–2 win at No. 3 doubles. He then delivered a decisive result at No. 2 singles, battling to a 6–2, 5–7, 6–2 victory that proved critical in the Flying Dutch’s narrow team win.
MIAA Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week - Amanda Lopykinski, Hope College
Senior Amanda Lopykinski posted a perfect 3–0 record in singles play at the top two positions over the weekend. She earned a 6–4, 6–4 win at No. 1 singles against No. 18 Case Western Reserve and notched a 6–2, 6–3 victory over Ohio Northern. Lopykinski also claimed a hard-fought 6–4, 3–6, 15–13 win at No. 2 singles against No. 12 Carnegie Mellon.