North Coast Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week | Nov. 12, 2024
Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week – Yuuki Okubo, Oberlin
Oberlin senior Yuuki Okubo (Los Angeles, CA/Crossroads) guided the Yeomen to two wins and the championship crown at the Air National Guard Tip-Off Classic over the weekend. The senior opened the season with his fourth career double-double as he posted 14 points, dished out 13 assists, tallied six steals, and recorded one block in a 78-69 win over Lawrence (WI). In the 64-63 championship victory over Washington & Jefferson, Okubo netted a career-high 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting, to go along with six assists and a pair of steals. On the week, he shot .650 percent (13-for-22) from the floor, which included a 4-of-5 showing from beyond the arc, and averaged 18 points, 9.5 assists, and four steals. Okubo now owns a career mark of 386 assists, which is just four shy of Oberlin’s all-time record.
Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week – Macy Miller, Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Wesleyan sophomore Macy Miller (Marysville, OH/Milford Center Fairbanks) was named the Yonnie Kauffman Blue Jay Tournament Most Valuable Player after she guided the Battling Bishops to a 2-0 week with wins over Widener (66-35) and Elizabethtown (72-58). In the win over the Pride, the sophomore recorded 11 of her 17 points and a pair of assists during the first quarter as Ohio Wesleyan outscored Widener 20-3. Miller garnered her first double-double of the year after pairing 12 rebounds with her 17 points in the victory. During the tournament championship game with the Bishops and Blue Jays tied at 28 at the half, the Marysville, Ohio native sank three consecutive lay-ins to close out a 14-4 run to give OWU a 42-32 lead midway through the third quarter. Miller led the all scorers with 22 points and added eight rebounds, two assists, and four steals in the 72-58 win. On the week, the sophomore averaged 19.5 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, two assists, and 1.5 blocks per game.
Football Offensive Athlete of the Week – Tyler Bell, Kenyon
Kenyon sophomore Tyler Bell (North Dinwiddie, VA/Dinwiddie) provided over half of the Owl’s points in their 13-12 win over Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday. The sophomore put Kenyon on the board in the third quarter with a 38-yard field goal that cut the Bishops’ lead in half. After the Owls scored a touchdown with just 6:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, Bell nailed the extra point to extend Kenyon’s first lead of the game (10-6). Then after an OWU touchdown and a 12-10 lead for the Bishops, Bell completed a 45-yard field goal attempt, giving Kenyon the 13-12 victory. With the win, the team clinched their first .500 season record since 2012 and it marked the first time Kenyon has beaten Ohio Wesleyan since 2009.
Football Defensive Athlete of the Week – Jerry McBee, Wabash
Wabash junior Jerry McBee (Freedom, IN/Owen Valley) produced two sacks on the final drive of the Little Giants’ 31-28 victory over Wittenberg on Saturday. McBee also blocked a punt on the Tigers’ opening drive of the third quarter that led to a Wabash touchdown that gave the Little Giants a 17-13 lead. The junior finished the game with six-tackles and 2.5 sacks for 12 yards. With the win, Wabash remains undefeated in conference play with the Monon Bell Classic remaining and the league title on the line.
Men's Swim & Dive Athlete of the Week – Nick Hensel, Denison
Denison first-year Nick Hensel (Houston, TX/St. Johns) recorded four wins in the No. 8-nationally ranked Big Red’s victory over the No. 4-nationally ranked Kenyon Owls (203-97) on Saturday. The rookie picked up two individual wins in the 50- and 100-freestyles after finishing in 20.90 and 45.69 seconds, respectively. Hensel, along with sophomore Jack Hill (Leighton Buzzard, UK/Cedars Upper) and seniors Patrick Daly (New Albany, OH/New Albany) and Christian Narcelles (Nashville, TN/Ravenwood), finished first in the 200 medley relay after posting a time of 1:32.13. The Houston, Texas native teamed up with Hill and sophomores Benjamin Coverdale (Galena, OH/Berlin) and Cameron Noble (Blythewood, SC/Cardinal Newman School) to record his final win over the meet in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:22.88.
Women's Swim & Dive Athlete of the Week – Winnie Wood, Oberlin
Oberlin junior Winnie Wood (Brooklyn, NY/Bard High School Early College Queens) helped the Yeowomen to a double-dual victory over Mount Union (173-114) and Wooster (149-148) on Saturday. In the wins, the junior turned in a pair of individual victories, for the first time in her career, in the one-meter (158.55) and three-meter (150.82) diving events. The win over the Fighting Scots was Oberlin’s first in program history.
Women's Volleyball Athlete of the Week – Alana Bartulovic, Wittenberg
Wittenberg junior Alana Bartulovic (Cleveland, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) helped guide the Tigers to a 2-1 week with 3-2 wins over Ohio Northern and Heidelberg and a tough 3-1 loss to Otterbein. Against the Polar Bears, the junior led Wittenberg with 18 kills to go along with three digs and two solo blocks. Bartulovic recorded a team-high 23 kills, to go along with eight digs and one block in the five-set thriller against the Student Princes. The Cleveland, Ohio native added another team-leading 11 kills versus the Cardinals. On the week, Bartulovic totaled 52 kills, 14 digs, and four blocks.
NCAC Milestones & Records (Nov. 4-10)
Denison, Football – Senior Trey Fabrocini (Lancaster, OH/Fisher Catholic) rushed for 112 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown in Denison’s shutout win over Oberlin on Saturday. The senior now owns a career mark of 4,320 yards, surpassing Chris Spriggs as Denison’s all-time leading rusher. Spriggs previous record of 4,248 yards has stood since 1986.
Denison, Women’s Basketball – Senior Abigail Westmeyer (Toledo, OH/Ottawa Hills) matched her career high with 22 points in Denison’s season-opening win on Friday over Muskingum (88-49).
DePauw, Football – In a 58-7 win over Hiram on Saturday, Junior Robby Ballentine (Crown Point, IN/Andrean) recorded two touchdowns to improve his season touchdown reception mark to 17, breaking the DePauw single-season record and tying the NCAC mark … Senior Nathan McCahill (Indianapolis, IN/Cathedral) broke the NCAC single-season touchdown pass record after he threw his 39th touchdown reception against Kenyon on Nov. 2, 2024.
Hiram, Men’s Basketball – Senior Ivan Yang (Hong Kong, China/IMG Academy) recorded a career-high 21 points and 21 rebounds in Hiram’s season opener against Pitt-Bradford on Saturday.
Hiram, Women’s Basketball – Senior Brooke Hickman (Mentor, OH/Mentor) recorded her 24th career double-double in the Terriers 58-44 win over Adrian on Saturday. The senior posted 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead all players in both categories.
Kenyon, Football – Senior Andy Canonico (Kailua, HI/Punahou School) tallied seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 1.5 sacks in Kenyon’s 13-12 victory over Ohio Wesleyan. Canonico now ranks second all-time in program history in career tackles for loss with 45.
Oberlin, Men’s Swim & Dive – Seniors Myles Felt (Wilton Manors, FL/Fort Lauderdale), Isaac Viviano (Plainwell, MI/Plainwell), and Erik Fendorf (Stanford, CA/Henry M. Gunn), along with first-year Zach Black (Arlington, VA/Yorktown) set a new program and pool record in the 200 medley relay at the Yeomen’s double-dual with Wooster and Mount Union on senior day. The relay unit placed first in the event with a time of 1:54.25, which was two-seconds faster than the runner-up.
Oberlin, Women’s Basketball – Senior Camille Zinaich (Boonsboro, MD/Saint Maria Goretti) went 12-for-12 at the charity stripe in the Yeowomen’s season-opening 63-60 win over Adrian on Friday.
Wittenberg, Men’s Basketball – With a 73-65 win over Alma, Head Coach Darren Hertz recorded his first victory as a collegiate head coach after more than 25 years as an assistant.
Wooster, Women’s Basketball – Sophomore Ace Sturdivant (Clearwater, FL/Clearwater) scored a career-high 29 points on 8-of-15 shooting to lead Wooster to a 79-70 win over Thiel on Saturday. Sturdivant was named to the Nan Nichols Classic All-Tournament team after averaging 24.5 points, seven rebounds, and six assists over two games. With the win, first-year Head Coach Olivia Besancon earned her first collegiate victory at the helm.