North Coast Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week | Feb. 4, 2025
 
Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week – Marius Mazeika, Kenyon
Kenyon first-year forward Marius Mazeika (Rumsiskes, Lithuania/Woodberry Forest) helped lead the Owls to overtime victories over Ohio Wesleyan (73-70 OT) and Denison (82-77 2OT). Against the Battling Bishops, the first-year played a team-high 42 minutes and recorded a double-double, scoring 13 points and securing 10 rebounds. Three days later, Mazeika logged a game-high 47 minutes and 21 points to go along with seven rebounds and two assists in the double-overtime win over the Big Red, which handed Denison its first NCAC loss of the season. On the week, Mazeika averaged 17.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game.
 
Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week – Lily Huntzinger, DePauw
DePauw junior guard Lily Huntzinger (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville) delivered a career-high 18 points in just 17 minutes off the bench in the Tigers' 72-52 win over Hiram on Saturday. The junior went 7-for-12 from the field, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, and was perfect from the free-throw line (2-for-2). Huntzinger also grabbed six rebounds, recorded two assists, and added two steals without a turnover in the contest.
 
Men's Swim & Dive Athlete of the Week – Mason Gilliam, Wabash
Wabash first-year Mason Gilliam (Plainfield, IN/Avon) set a new school record in the 1,000 freestyle at the Little Giants' dual meet loss to NCAA Division I's IU-Indy. The rookie finished with a time of 9:29.98, breaking the previous record of 9:34.08 set by Chris Dombrowski in 2018. Gilliam's performance earned him a third-place finish in the event.
 
Women's Swim & Dive Athlete of the Week – Edie Patterson, DePauw
DePauw first-year Edie Patterson (Valparaiso, IN/Valparaiso) brought home an individual title in the Tigers' 189-100 loss to WashU on Saturday. The rookie claimed the victory in the 200 freestyle, touching the wall in 1:56.53. Patterson also placed fourth in the 100 butterfly, completing the race in 1:01.48. In addition to her individual success, Patterson was a key contributor in the 200 free relay, in which DePauw finished third (1:43.14).
 
Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week – Cole Shifferly, Wabash
Wabash junior Cole Shifferly (Decatur, IN/Belmont) earned three victories this week to help the Little Giants finish 1-1 in matches against Illinois Wesleyan and Cedarville. The junior opened the day with a straight-set singles win over the Titans, 6-4, 6-0. He then paired up with Augusto Ghidini (Santa Cruz Do Sul, Brazil/Colégio Anglo-Americano) to earn a 6-4 victory in doubles, helping the Little Giants claim a 6-1 team victory. Against the Yellow Jackets, Shifferly rallied back after being a set down to defeat his opponent 5-7, 6-2, 10-6. However, the Shifferly/Ghidini duo fell 4-6 in doubles. Wabash was edged 4-3 by Cedarville, as the match came down to a tiebreaker in the final contest. The Decatur, Indiana native finished the weekend with a 3-1 record, competing in the top singles and doubles flights.

Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week – Eleni Lazaridou, Kenyon
Kenyon junior Eleni Lazaridou (Veroia, Greece/4th Lyceum of Veria) had a strong start to the 2025 season, picking up two wins against nationally ranked opponents. Against No. 6 WashU, Lazaridou teamed with first-year Hana Nouaime (Eagleville, PA/Methacton) to earn a 6-4 win over the No. 1 ranked doubles team in Division III, picking up the Owls' lone victory of the match. The junior then dropped a tough 5-7, 2-6 loss in singles . Against top-ranked UChicago, Lazaridou took on Sylwia Mikos, the 2024 national runner-up, and won in a thrilling three-set match, 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (11-9). Lazaridou and Nouamie teamed up again in doubles action, but fell 3-6 to Mikos and her sister Oliwia Mikos. The Veroia, Greece native finished the weekend with a 2-2 record, competing at the No. 1 singles and doubles flights.
 
Men's Indoor Sprints/Hurdles Athlete of the Week – Colin O'Malley, DePauw
DePauw senior Colin O'Malley (Round Lake, IL/Grayslake Central) broke the school record in the 60-meter dash at the Rose-Hulman Friday Night Spikes #3 meet, finishing in 6.96 seconds. The senior's performance topped the previous record of 6.97, set by teammate Grant Hunt (Princeville, IL/Princeville) on January 17. With that time, O'Malley placed first and now owns the league's best time so far this season.
 
Men's Indoor Distance/Mid-Distance Athlete of the Week – Conor Kolka, Wittenberg
Wittenberg senior Conor Kolka (Dexter, MI/Dexter) finished as the runner-up in the 5000-meter run at the Steemer Showcase on Saturday. The senior crossed the finish line with a time of 14:36.96, breaking his own school record. Kolka's converted time of 14:46.35 currently ranks second in the NCAC and 24th nationally.
 
Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week – Connor Smith, Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Wesleyan sophomore Connor Smith (Marysville, OH/Marysville) placed second in the high jump at the Dr. Taraschke Team Challenge on Saturday, recording a career-best mark of 2.06 meters. With that jump, Smith leads the NCAC and is tied for eighth in NCAA Division III this season.
 
Women's Indoor Sprints/Hurdles Athlete of the Week – Katherine Dortmund, Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Wesleyan first-year Katherine Dortmund (Westerville, Ohio/Columbus St. Francis DeSales) delivered a standout performance at the Dr. Taraschke Team Challenge, winning both the 55-meter dash (7.30) and 200-meter dash (26.51) while securing second in the 55-meter hurdles (8.29). The rookie also led off the runner-up 4x200-meter relay team that finished in 1:45.52, which leads the league standings thus far. Additionally, Dortmund's converted 60-meter time (7.87) ranks second in the NCAC, while she sits tied for third in the conference in the 200-meter dash.
 
Women's Indoor Distance/Mid-Distance Athlete of the Week – Anna Brown, Kenyon
Kenyon junior Anna Brown (South Dartmouth, MA/Concord Academy) earned a victory in the 800-meter run at the Steemer Showcase on Saturday with a season-best time of 2:17.99. With that time, the junior secured first place in a competitive field of 48 runners, and currently holds the fastest time by an NCAC athlete this season.
 
Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week – Sam Volpe, Hiram
Hiram sophomore Sam Volpe (Concord, OH/Riverside) set a new program record in the shot put at the Wuske Invite on Saturday. The sophomore threw a personal best 11.71 meters to surpass her previous indoor program record of 10.92 meters from earlier in the season. With that mark, Volpe currently ranks second in the NCAC.
 
NCAC Milestones & Records (Jan. 7 – Feb. 2)
DePauw, Women's Indoor Track & Field – Junior Tessa Kochert (Glen Ellyn, IL/Glenbard West) tied the school record in the triple jump with a mark of 11.12 meters, winning the event at Rose-Hulman's Friday Night Spikes #3 meet. Her jump matched the 2003 record set by Shaneka Terrell.

Hiram, Women's Indoor Track & Field – Sophomore Trezure Bates (Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo) set a new indoor program record in the 60-meter hurdles prelims at the Wuske Invite on Saturday, clocking in at 9.60 to break the previous time of 9.65 set by her classmate Makyndree Smith (Parrish, FL/Parrish). Bates went on to place fourth in the event finals (9.78).

Oberlin, Men's Indoor Track & Field – Sophomore Piers Shirk (University Place, WA/Curtis Senior) won the 3,000-meter race in his event debut at the Dr. Taraschke Team Challenge, finishing in 8:42.24. With that time, Shirk ranks second in the NCAC this season and fifth all-time in Oberlin program history.

Ohio Wesleyan, Men's Basketball – Senior Henry Hinkle (Powell, OH/Olentangy Liberty) set two career milestones this week. He scored a career-high 19 points at Kenyon, moving him into 10th place on Ohio Wesleyan's all-time scoring list with 1,554 points. The senior also dished out four assists in a win over Oberlin, surpassing 300 career assists and climbing into 10th place on the all-time assists list … Fifth-year post Tony Carter (Cleveland, OH/Parma Heights Holy Name) grabbed eight rebounds in Ohio Wesleyan's 73-70 loss at Kenyon on Wednesday. The eight boards raised his career total to 702, moving him into 10th place on the Ohio Wesleyan career list, passing Bob Croft, who had 700 rebounds from 1990-94.

Wabash, Men's Basketball – Junior Gavin Schippert (Evansville, IN/Reitz) set a career-high with 20 points in Wabash's 84-65 win over DePauw on Wednesday. He also grabbed a team-leading six rebounds and made a career-best six three-pointers, shooting 60 percent from beyond the arc.

Wabash, Men's Indoor Track & Field – Senior Brayden Curnutt (Kokomo, IN/Western) won the mile run at the Indiana Midwest Indoor Track and Field Invitational with a career-best time of 4:17.81. Competing against a field of 30 runners, Curnutt claimed first place, posting the fastest mile time by an NCAC performer this season.

Wittenberg, Women's Basketball – Junior forward Karsen Karlblom (Crystal Lake, IL/Prairie Ridge) posted her first double-double of the season in Wittenberg's win over Wooster on Saturday. She finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, leading the team in both categories.

Wittenberg, Men's Indoor Track & Field – First-year Jack Kittle (Chagrin Falls, OH/Chagrin Falls) set a school record in the 200-meter dash at the Steemer Showcase on Saturday, finishing third with a time of 22.03 seconds.

Wooster, Men's Basketball – Senior Jamir Billings (Lorain, OH/Lorain) reached two significant career milestones this week. During Saturday's game at Wittenberg, he recorded his 300th steal, moving into the top 25 in NCAA Division III history. Earlier in the week, he also moved into the top-25 in program history in scoring with 1183 points during Wooster's win over Hiram.