North Coast Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week | Jan. 14, 2025
 
Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week – Reph Stevenson, DePauw
DePauw sophomore forward Reph Stevenson (Fishers, IN/Hamilton Southeastern) led the Tigers to a 2-0 week with wins over Wittenberg (57-49) and Oberlin (76-73) to improve to 4-2 in NCAC play. The forward recorded a double-double in the win at Wittenberg on Wednesday, scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds while shooting 8-of-12 (66.7 percent) from the field. He followed that performance with 21 points, including 14 in the second half, in the victory over Oberlin on Saturday, where he helped spark a critical 16-2 run with seven of those points, finishing 7-of-10 (70.0 percent) from the field. On the week, Stevenson averaged 19.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, shooting 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) overall.
 
Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week – Kasey Schipfer, Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Wesleyan senior guard Kasey Schipfer (Mechanicsburg, OH/Mechanicsburg) turned in a career performance to lead the Battling Bishops to a 77-59 victory over Wittenberg in a battle of NCAC unbeatens on Saturday. Schipfer scored a career-high 34 points, tying for ninth on Ohio Wesleyan's single-game scoring list, while also grabbing seven rebounds, recording three assists, and tallying four steals. In the first half, Schipfer helped spark the Battling Bishops, scoring 21 points, including eight during a crucial 15-0 run that broke a 6-6 tie to put the Bishops ahead for good. Schipfer converted 14-of-20 field goals (70.0 percent) and finished 5-for-6 from the free-throw line (83.3 percent).
 
Men’s Swim & Dive Athlete of the Week – James Shorney, DePauw
DePauw senior James Shorney (River Forest, IL/Oak Park & River Forest) helped guide the Tigers to a 191-93 win over the Bethel Pilots on Saturday. The senior claimed three titles during the dual, spearheading the effort with a first-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle and a time of 46.18. Shorney also anchored the 200-yard free relay to a first-place finish with a time of 1:26.67 and was on the winning 200-yard medley relay that finished with a time of 1:36.56.
 
Women’s Swim & Dive Athlete of the Week – Jennah Fadely, Kenyon
Kenyon senior Jennah Fadely (Siler City, NC/Jordan Matthews) delivered a standout performance against NCAA Division I’s Navy and Princeton in a challenging double-dual meet. Fadely’s most remarkable feat came in the 100-yard breaststroke, where she not only won the event but set a new NCAA Division III record with a time of 59.62, breaking the previous mark of 59.77 set by Denison’s KT Kustritz in 2018. She also broke her own Kenyon program record of 59.80 from a season ago. The senior added another individual victory in the 200-yard breast, finishing in a season-best and NCAA 'B' cut time of 2:11.53. Fadely contributed to two second-place relay finishes, helping the Owls post a 1:33.10 in the 200-yard free relay and a season-best 1:41.09 in the 200-yard medley relay.
 
Men’s Indoor Sprints/Hurdles Athlete of the Week – Carter Leininger, Wabash
Wabash first-year Carter Leininger (Brownsburg, IN/Brownsburg) placed third in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.05 seconds at the Mount St. Joseph Invitational on Saturday. The rookie improved on his preliminary time of 7.08 seconds in the finals, finishing in 7.05 seconds and marking the fastest time in the NCAC so far this season. Additionally, Leininger ran the leadoff leg for the Little Giants' victorious 4x200-meter relay team, which recorded a winning time of 1:34.80.
 
Men’s Indoor Distance/Mid-Distance Athlete of the Week – Brayden Curnutt, Wabash
Wabash senior Brayden Curnutt (Kokomo, IN/Western) delivered an impressive performance at the Mount St. Joseph University Invitational on Saturday, winning the 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:30.98. His victory came by a margin of 40 seconds over the 12 other competitors in the event. Curnutt's time currently ranks as the ninth-fastest in Division III this season, just 14 seconds off the top mark.
 
Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week – Quinn Sholar, Wabash
Wabash junior Quinn Sholar (Indianapolis, IN/Warren Central) earned second-place finishes in both the shot put and weight throw at the Mount St. Joseph University Invitational on Saturday, competing against 16 throwers in the shot put and 18 in the weight throw. Sholar posted his best shot put mark of 15.26 meters on his first attempt. With that mark, the junior now ranks 20th in NCAA Division III and first in NCAC standings this season. Sholar’s toss of 17.17 meters on his fifth throw in the weight, moves the Indianapolis, Indiana native to No. 16 nationally and second in league standings.
 
NCAC Milestones & Records (Jan. 6-12)
 
Denison, Men’s Basketball – Senior forward Ricky Radtke (Willoughby, OH/University School) surpassed 1,000 career points after posting 10 points in the Big Red’s 64-58 victory over Wabash on Wednesday.
 
DePauw, Women’s Swim & Dive – Junior Caroline Stowe (Matthews, NC/Butler) set a new pool record in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.14, earning first place as DePauw defeated Bethel (IN) 180-82.
 
Hiram, Women’s Basketball – Senior center Brooke Hickman (Mentor, OH/Mentor) tallied a game-high 25 points in Hiram’s 82-51 win over Kenyon on Saturday. This marks the senior’s fifth career game with at least 25 points … Hiram's 31-point win over Kenyon is the Terriers' biggest margin of victory over the Owls in program history, which spans 54 games dating back to 1981.