BRIGHTON, Mich. -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has announced its Athletes of the Week for the period covering September 7-13. 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 - Elias Kretchmar, Hope College
Junior Elias Kretchmar led the Flying Dutch to the top NCAA Division III team finish at the Michigan State Spartan Invitational. Kretchmar was the top MIAA finisher in the 8K race, crossing the line in 25:27. He also finished as the second NCAA Division III runner in a field that featured many of the top programs in the Great Lakes region.
MIAA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week - Olivia Ippel, Hope College
Senior Olivia Ippel led the Flying Dutch to the top NCAA Division III team finish at the Michigan State Spartan Invitational. Ippel posted a personal-best time of 22:16 in the 6K race, finishing as the top NCAA Division III runner in the field.
MIAA Football Offensive Athlete of the Week - Hunter Hogan, Calvin University
Junior running back/wide receiver Hunter Hogan had a huge day for the Knights in their 49–7 victory over St. Norbert. In the first half alone, Hogan totaled four catches for 102 yards, four carries for 79 yards (19.8 yards per carry), and four touchdowns. Hogan also became the first player in Calvin football history to record both 1,000 career rushing yards and 1,000 career receiving yards. He currently leads the conference with 19.9 rushing yards per contest, a 69-yard long rush, six total touchdowns, 36 points, and 18 points per game.
MIAA Football Defensive Athlete of the Week - Caden Kolanowski, Calvin University
Junior defensive back Caden Kolanowski had a big day in the secondary for Calvin in its 49–7 victory over St. Norbert. Kolanowski recorded two interceptions and totaled 57 return yards on the picks while adding an unassisted tackle. His 57 interception return yards currently lead the conference.
MIAA Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week - Xzavier Rodriguez, Adrian College
Sophomore wide receiver/return specialist Xzavier Rodriguez helped lead the Bulldogs to a 48–7 victory at Thiel on Saturday. Rodriguez totaled 127 all-purpose return yards, including a 57-yard kickoff return.
MIAA Men's Golf Athlete of the Week - Jack Vogel, Adrian College
Sophomore Jack Vogel shot rounds of 73 and 70 for a two-day total of 142 (one under par) at Adrian’s home tournament over the weekend, finishing second overall. Vogel also helped lead the Bulldogs to a first-place team finish at the Irish Hills Invitational.
MIAA Women's Golf Athlete of the Week - Rachel Fay, Adrian College
Sophomore Rachel Fay shot rounds of 81 and 74 for a two-day total of 155 to earn medalist honors at Adrian’s home tournament over the weekend. Fay’s performance also helped lead the Bulldogs to a first-place team finish at the Irish Hills Invitational.
MIAA Men's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week - Cullen MacKay, Alma College
Freshman midfielder Cullen MacKay helped guide the Scots to a 2-1 record on the week, totaling three goals and two assists across three matches. Cullen scored twice, including the game-winning goal, in Alma’s 5–0 victory over Great Lakes Christian. He then recorded an assist against Wabash before contributing a goal and an assist in the Scots’ 3–2 win over Monmouth (Ill.). Cullen finished the week with eight points on three goals and two assists, while placing four of his seven shots on goal. MacKay is currently tied-for-first in the MIAA with 3 assists.
MIAA Men's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week - Eli Sizemore, Adrian College
Junior goalkeeper Eli Sizemore helped lead the Bulldogs to a pair of victories on the week, allowing just one goal across 180 minutes in net. Sizemore made 10 saves in Adrian’s 4–1 win over Lawrence Tech before recording a four-save shutout in a 3–0 victory over Manchester. He finished the week with 14 saves, a .933 save percentage, and a 0.50 goals-against average. Sizemore currently leads the MIAA with 33 saves, a .846 save percentage, and an average of 8.25 saves per game.
MIAA Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week - Halle Barnard, Hope College
Senior forward Halle Barnard helped lead the Flying Dutch to a pair of victories on the week, totaling two goals and one assist. Barnard scored twice, including the game-winning goal, in Hope’s 4–1 victory over Illinois Tech, a team that finished last season ranked in the top 25. She added an assist in the Flying Dutch’s 3–0 win over Carthage. Barnard finished the week with five points on two goals and one assist, while placing three of her six shots on goal.
MIAA Women's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week - Mya Pofahl, Alma College
Senior goalkeeper Mya Pofahl helped lead the Scots to a 2-0-1 record on the week, allowing just one goal across 262 minutes in net. Pofahl recorded four saves in a 1–0 shutout victory over Indiana-South Bend before making a game-high six saves to preserve a scoreless draw against Wooster. She added two saves in Alma’s 3–1 win over Ripon. Pofahl finished the week with 12 saves, a .923 save percentage, a 0.34 goals-against average, and two shutouts. Pofahl currently leads the MIAA with 21 saves, a .955 save percentage, and a 0.21 goals-against average, having allowed just one goal this season.
MIAA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week - Rodrigo Alipio, Calvin University
Senior Rodrigo Alipio won the A singles bracket at the Hope Invitational this weekend. Alipio opened the tournament with an 8–4 victory over Jaume Galindo of Spring Arbor before defeating Aiden Yeager of Ohio Northern, 8–3, in the semifinals. In the championship match, Alipio capped his impressive run with a 6–4, 6–1 victory over Spring Arbor’s Aziz Madatov, who holds an 11.18 UTR, to claim the A singles title.
MIAA Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week - Anna Kolb, Hope College
Freshman Anna Kolb made an impressive collegiate debut at the Hope College Tennis Invitational, advancing to the C-draw singles final. Kolb opened with an 8–6 victory over Ohio Northern’s Audrey Hartsel before earning an 8–5 semifinal win over Division I Western Michigan’s Xintong Jiang. In doubles, Kolb and partner Kaitlyn Stievater won the B-draw back draw, defeating two Ohio Northern teams en route to the title.
MIAA Volleyball Player of the Week - Carly Frank, Albion College
Senior opposite hitter Carly Frank reached the 1,000-kill milestone this week while leading the Britons to a 4–0 week, including a 3–0 record at the Hope Tournament and a 3–0 victory over Wittenberg, which received votes in the latest national poll. Frank made a significant impact offensively and from the service line, totaling 42 kills (3.23 per set), 10 aces, and a .303 hitting percentage.
MIAA Volleyball Specialist of the Week - Molly Edmunds, Albion College
Junior setter Molly Edmunds led the Britons to a 4–0 week, including a 3–0 record at the Hope Tournament and a 3–0 victory over Wittenberg, which received votes in the latest national poll. Edmunds is Albion’s primary setter in its two-setter system and recorded two double-doubles while contributing across multiple statistical categories. She helped the Britons hit .226 as a team over the four matches, totaling 82 assists, 10 kills, a .250 hitting percentage, 38 digs, four aces, four blocks, and 17 points.