North Coast Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week | Nov. 26, 2024
 
Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week – Jamir Billings, Wooster
Wooster senior Jamir Billings (Lorain, OH/Lorain) averaged 16.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 4.0 steals to lead the Fighting Scots to two wins at the Al Van Wie/Wooster Rotary Classic. Billings recorded 11 points, six rebounds, six steals, and five assists in Friday's 84-58 victory over La Roche. The tournament MVP then scored a game-high 22 points and went 6-of-9 on three-pointers in Saturday's 79-73 win over No. 19 Mount Union. Billings added eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals in the win over the Purple Raiders. His six steals against the Redhawks marked the seventh time Billings has had at least six in a game and brought his career total to 250. The guard is Division III's active leader in career steals and ranks second among active players in career assists.
 
Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week – Kasey Schipfer, Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Wesleyan fifth-year Kasey Schipfer (Mechanicsburg, OH/Mechanicsburg) led the Battling Bishops to a 2-0 week with wins over Muskingum (91-58) and Heidelberg (87-42). Against the Fighting Muskies, Schipfer scored 10 points in the first quarter as OWU built a 31-12 lead to start the game. The 31 points tied the program record set on March 6, 2021, against Wooster. The fifth-year led the Bishops with 23 points and eight rebounds to go along with two assists and one steal. In the win over The Berg, Schipfer went 7-for-10 from the floor and 3-for-3 from the charity stripe to lead OWU with 17 points. The Mechanicsburg, Ohio native also recorded nine rebounds, two assists, and three steals in the victory. On the week, she averaged 20.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 60 percent from the floor (15-for-25).
 
Men's Swim & Dive Athlete of the Week – Chahine Saïd, Oberlin
Oberlin sophomore Chahine Saïd (Rabat, Morocco/Benmbarek) secured three first-place finishes and broke two program records at the Malone Invitational last week. The sophomore swam the anchor leg of the victorious 800 freestyle relay unit that finished in 6:54.46 to shatter the previous record of 6:58.94. Saïd then went on to win the 200 free with a time of 1:40.49, surpassing a 30-year old program best (1:41.49). In the 500 free, Saïd topped the podium again, finishing in 4:36.50. The Rabat, Morocco native also helped the Yeomen secure second-place finishes in the 200- (1:25.19) and 400- (3:07.25) free relays, both of which now rank among the top three fastest times in school history. He also placed third in the 1650 free with a time of 16:25.65 to rank fifth all-time for Oberlin. 
 
Women's Swim & Dive Athlete of the Week – Jennah Fadely, Kenyon
Kenyon senior Jennah Fadely (Silver City, NC/Jordan Matthews) broke three records, notched four NCAA Division III “B” cuts, and turned in six first-place finishes at the Total Performance Invitational last weekend. In the 200 freestyle relay, the senior was a part of the relay unit that placed first with a time of 1:32.55 to set a new meet record. In the 100 backstroke, Fadely set a pool and meet record after touching the wall first with an “B” cut time of 1:00.18. The Silver City, New Jersey native also turned in first-place “B” cut performances in the 200 individual medley (2:02.36) and 200 medley relay (1:41.23). Her final “B” cut came in the 200 breaststroke, as Fadely finished second with a time of 2:16.14. The senior was also a part of the winning 400 medley (3:43.82) and 800 free (7:32.55) relays. Fadely finished the meet placing third in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:26.19.
 
NCAC Milestones & Records (Nov. 18-24)
 
DePauw, Men’s Swimming & Diving – Senior James Shorney (River Forest, IL/Oak Park & River Forest) finished first in the 100 freestyle with a time of 45.68 at the Gail Pebworth Invitational. With that time, the senior ranks 23rd in Division III so far this season.
 
DePauw, Women’s Swimming & Diving – Sophomore Anya Melson (Wheaton, IL/US Performance Academy) broke the program 100 backstroke record twice, first when she swam the first leg of the 400 medley relay (56.95) and then again in the prelims of the 100 back (56.18). Her time of 56.18 is an NCAA Division III “B” cut and ranks 10th in Divison III so far this season.
 
Hiram, Men’s Basketball – Senior Trent Jakacki (Hiram, OH/Crestwood) chipped in a career-high five steals in Hiram’s 22-point victory over Alma (78-56) on Saturday.
 
Hiram, Men’s Swimming & Diving – Senior Dayne Sauter (Bakersfield, CA/Bakersfield) broke his own 50 backstroke record after swimming the first leg of the Terriers’ 200 medley relay in 24.70 at the Malone Invitational last week.
 
Kenyon, Men’s Basketball – The Owls picked up their first win of the season with a 61-60 victory over Muskingum thanks to a game-winning backet from sophomore Nick Valentino (Little Silver, NJ/Red Bank Regional) with just 18 seconds left on the clock. Through the last four minutes of play, Valentino scored all six of Kenyon’s points to overcome the late deficit.
 
Kenyon, Men’s Swimming & Diving – Junior Djordie Dragojlovic (Belgrade, Serbia/Nada Dimic) turned in seven NCAA Division III “B” cuts at the Total Performance Invitational last weekend. The junior hit the standard in the 200 freestyle relay (1:21.43), 50 free (20.17), 400 medley relay (3:15.95), 200 medley relay (1:28.70), 100 backstroke (47.79), 100 free (43.91), and the 400 free relay (3:00.93).
 
Oberlin, Men’s Basketball – The Yeomen improved to 5-0, the best start in program history, after they picked up a 65-60 win over Albion on Tuesday.
 
Wabash, Men’s Swimming & Diving – First-year Ryan West (Apex, NC/Middle Creek) produced six individual and relay titles to lead the Little Giants to their first team championship at the annual Gail Pebworth Invitational. The rookie broke the Wabash program and meet records with his individual victory in the 200 backstroke, finishing in an NCAA “B” cut time of 1:48.38 to rank 15th among swimmers to this point in the season. He then went on to win the 100 back with a time of 50.80 to break the Wabash freshman record. West also broke the Wabash rookie record in the 400 individual medley twice as he recorded a time of 4:08.00 in prelims and then shattered the record again with a winning time of 4:01.55. His final record game in the 800 freestyle relay as the Little Giants relay unit clocked in a time of 6:50.96 to set a new meet record.