North Coast Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week | Oct. 15, 2024
 
Field Hockey Athlete of the Week – Alyssa Markell, Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Wesleyan junior Alyssa Markell (Leesburg, VA/Loudoun County) and the Battling Bishops went 2-0 on the week, with conference wins over Transylvania (2-0) and Oberlin (8-0) to improve to 5-0 in league play. The junior and the OWU defensive unit held their opponents without a shot in 120 minutes of play. Additionally, against the Pioneers, Markell scored the game-winning goal during the 22nd minute of the game off an assist by sophomore Grace Ammon (Southborough, MA/ Algonquin Regional).
 
Football Offensive Athlete of the Week – Tyler Green, Denison
Denison first-year Tyler Green (Concord, NC/Cannon) accounted for four touchdowns in a 48-30 win over Wooster on Saturday. Green passed for three touchdowns and added a 77-yard touchdown run to help Denison win its fourth-straight game. The rookie passed for 236 yards and rushed for 69 yards as the Big Red improved to 4-0 in NCAC play, giving Denison its best start in conference play since 2016.
 
Football Defensive Athlete of the Week – Cameron Snurr, Wittenberg
Wittenberg senior Cameron Snurr’s (Springboro, OH/Springboro) defensive performance helped guide the Tigers to a 17-6 win over Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday. Snurr contributed a total of 14 tackles, including eight solo and six assisted, in the game to lead the Wittenberg defense. In the win, Wittenberg only allowed Ohio Wesleyan to score on a fake punt during the final minutes of the third quarter. Snurr added three tackles for loss, including one sack, and three quarterback hurries.
 
Men's Golf Athlete of the Week – Andrew Wall, DePauw
DePauw first-year Andrew Wall (Zionsville, IN/Zionsville) placed 10th out of 94 golfers competing at the Wabash Fall Invitational, which was played over two days at the Broadmoor Country Club. The rookie finished with a five-over 221 (76-73-72) to help lead the Tigers to a sixth-place finish among 15 teams. Throughout 54 holes, Wall collected 10 birdies and one eagle.
 
Women's Golf Athlete of the Week – Siena Maschke, Denison
Denison first-year Siena Maschke (Cleveland, OH/Laurel School) tied for fifth place out of 63 golfers at the two-day Carnegie Mellon Invitational, which was played at the Nemocolin Woodlands Resort. The rookie finished with a five-over 149 (73-76) to lead the Big Red to place sixth out of 12 teams. Maschke totaled nine birdies over the 36 holes.
 
Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week – Jake Krueger, Denison
Denison senior Jake Krueger (Wilmette, IL/New Trier Township) and the Big Red went 2-0 on the week with conference wins over Oberlin (1-0) and No. 2-ranked Kenyon (2-1) to remain perfect in league play. The senior netted the lone goal in the Big Red’s win over the Yeomen on Wednesday. Against the Owls, Krueger scored an unassisted equalizer during the 56th minute and then went on to assist on the eventual game-winner, scored by Phil Koutsaftis (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck), in the 63rd minute. The win gave Denison its first regular season win at Kenyon since 2011. 
 
Women's Soccer Athlete of the Week – Mara McGlone, Denison
Denison sophomore Mara McGlone (Worthington, OH/Worthington Kilbourne) scored the lone goal in the Big Red’s 1-0 win over Kenyon on Friday. The sophomore helped Denison remain perfect in conference play as she scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 10th minute of play off an assist from junior Avery Butler (Highland Park, IL/Highland Park). The goal marked the second-straight game that McGlone tallied the eventual game-winning score.
 
Men's Swim & Dive Athlete of the Week – Erik Fendorf, Oberlin
Oberlin senior Erik Fendorf (Stanford, CA/Henry M. Gunn) earned multiple top-three finishes at the Yeomen’s home Early Season Invite, which hosted NCAA Division II Ashland and Division III nationally ranked Case Western and John Carroll. The senior bested a field of 24 to win the 100 butterfly in 52.31 and was also part of the victorious 200 medley relay unit (1:34.09). Fendorf went on to add third-place finishes in both the 100 (47.86) and 50 (21.50) freestyles and also swam on the 400 medley relay that was second overall (3:33.05). Additionally, the Stanford, California native was a part of the fourth-place finishing 200 free relay (1:27.09) and the 400 free relay unit that placed fifth (3:15.81).
 
Women's Swim & Dive Athlete of the Week – Amber Croonquist, Denison
Denison senior Amber Croonquist (Champlin, MN/Maranatha Christian) earned four top-10 finishes at the Akron Zips Classic over the weekend, which hosted the Big Red and three NCAA Division I programs including Akron, Youngstown State, and Xavier. The senior placed sixth in the 200-freestyle (1:36.78) and 200-medley (1:45:24) relays, seventh in the 400 medley relay (3:51.16), and ninth in the 100 butterfly (57.05) to round out her top-10 performances. Croonquist also placed 14th in the 50 free (24.26) and 17th in the 100 free (54.14), out of 47 competitors, to earn two top-20 finishes.
 
Women's Volleyball Athlete of the Week – Clare O'Malley, Wittenberg
Wittenberg first-year Clare O'Malley (Avon, OH/St. Joseph's Academy) and the Tigers went 4-0 on the week with wins over Bluffton (3-1), Oberlin (3-0), Mount Union (3-2), and Wilmington (3-0). Through 15 sets, the rookie compiled 39 kills on 87 attempts with just nine errors to hit .345. O’Malley also tallied eight blocks, including two solo efforts, four digs and two assists. The Avon, Ohio native was highlighted by her standout performances against the Yeowomen and the Fightin’ Quakers as O’Malley recorded eight- and nine-kill efforts, respectively, on 14 attempts without an error in each match. The first-year recorded a team high hitting percentage of .571 against Oberlin and .643 versus Wilmington.
 
NCAC Milestones & Records (Oct. 7 – 13)
 
Kenyon, Football – After defeating Hiram 27-7 on Saturday, the Owls, for the first time since 2013, won their third-straight game, won at least four games in a season, and started a season with a 4-2 record through its first six games.
 
Ohio Wesleyan, Men’s Soccer – The Battling Bishops ended No. 2 Kenyon’s unbeaten streak in conference games after defeating the Owls 3-0 on Wednesday. Currently, the Owls hold the NCAC unbeaten streak record with 60 games, which dates to back to the 2016 season.eaten streak record with 60 games, which dates back to the 2016 season.