Athletes of the Week for January 29, 2018
Women’s Basketball
Olariche Obi — University of Chicago — Murfreesboro, TN (Central Magnet)
Junior forward Olariche Obi averaged 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.5 steals per game as University of Chicago posted two road wins to take sole possession of first place in the UAA. She netted 22 points and added five rebounds in the Maroons’ 79-61 victory over Emory University on Friday. In Sunday’s matchup between undefeated UAA squads, Obi totaled 22 points, 11 rebounds, and six steals in a 74-59 win at seventh-ranked University of Rochester. For the weekend, she shot 59.4 percent from the field (19-for-32).
Men’s Basketball
David Schmelter— Washington University — St. Louis, MO (St. Louis University High)
Senior center David Schmelter averaged 13.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game as second-ranked Washington University recorded back-to-back road wins over nationally ranked opponents to take sole possession of first place in the UAA. He registered back-to-back double-doubles with 11 points and 15 rebounds in a 77-62 Bears’ win over 25th-ranked University of Rochester on Friday, and followed that with 15 points and 15 boards in an 84-67 victory over Emory University in a matchup of undefeated UAA squads. For the week, Schmelter shot 58.8 percent from the field (10-for-17) and 75.0 percent from the free throw line (6-of-8).
Women’s Fencing
Liz Feller — Brandeis University — Cortlandt Manor, NY (Hendrick Hudson)
Brandeis University senior Liz Feller posted a 13-2 record at the second Northeast Fencing Conference meet of the season at Boston College on Sunday. She finished 8-1 in four matches in the epee and added five wins in the sabre against club teams from University of Florida and Dartmouth College. The Judges earned a share of the combined six-weapon title with Boston College in the NFC with a 19-3 mark.
Men’s Fencing
Eli Litle — Brandeis University — Haifa, Israel (Reali-Beit Biram)
Ian Quin — Brandeis University — Ramsey, NJ (Ramsey)
Senior Eli Litle and sophomore Ian Quin helped the Brandeis University team and foil squad to perfect records in the Northeast Fencing Conference as the Judges secured their second consecutive NFC men’s title. The foil squad recorded a 6-3 win over Brown University and a 5-4 victory over host Boston College to lead the Judges to 15-12 wins over both opponents. Litle and Quin each contributed seven wins as the Judges finished 10-0 in the NFC for the second consecutive year.
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Sydney Catron — NYU — Alexandria, VA (Bishop O’Connell)
NYU first-year swimmer Sydney Catron automatically qualified for the NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships in the 100-yard freestyle in the Violets’ dual meet win over NCAA Division II University of Bridgeport. Her time of 47.21 in the event marked the fastest in Division III this season. Catron also won the 200-yard freestyle (1:55.31) and led off the Violets’ victorious 200-yard medley relay (1:51.00).
Carmen White — NYU — Lake Bluff, IL (Lake Forest)
NYU sophomore Carmen White swept the diving events in the Violets’ dual meet win over NCAA Division II University of Bridgeport. She captured the one-meter dive with a score of 298.57 and the three-meter competition with a mark of 313.06. Both scores met the NCAA Division III Diving Regionals qualifying marks.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Sage Ono — Emory University — Johns Creek, GA (Centennial)
Sophomore Sage Ono provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division III Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships in the 100-yard backstroke as Emory University competed at Georgia Tech. His time of 49.91 seconds met the NCAA “B” standard. Ono added a pair of top-three finishes swimming the first leg on the second-place 200-yard freestyle relay (1:22.56) and the third-place 200-yard medley relay (1:33.18).
Connor Brisson — NYU — Greenwich, CT (Greenwich)
Senior Connor Brisson swept the diving events as NYU defeated NCAA Division II University of Bridgeport in a dual meet on Saturday. He easily eclipsed the NCAA Division III Diving Regionals qualifying marks in both the one-meter (387.53 pts.) and three-meter (328.50 pts.) events.
Women’s Indoor Track and Field
Emily Bryson — Brandeis University — Quincy, MA (North Quincy)
Brandeis University junior Emily Bryson ran the fastest mile time in NCAA Division III this season at the Boston University Terrier Classic. Her time of 4:51.36 lowered her own program record by 0.82 seconds to win her heat and finishing eighth overall behind NCAA Division I and unattached runners.
Heidi Nassos — Washington University — Wheaton, IL (Wheaton Warrenville South)
Washington University junior Heidi Nassos placed first in the pole vault at the Illinois Wesleyan University Titan Open to help the Bears take the team title. She cleared a height of 3.75 meters, which ranks third in NCAA Division III this season.
Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Irie Gourde — Brandeis University — Portland, OR (York Academy, Toronto)
Graduate student Irie Gourde of Brandeis University turned in the fourth-fastest time in NCAA Division III this season at the Boston University Terrier Classic. His mark of 48.49 seconds was tops among Division III competitors. Gourde’s time was the fastest in Division III this season, but three runners are ranked ahead of him with adjusted times for running on flat tracks, as opposed to Boston University’s banked surface.
Dominic Oddo — Case Western Reserve University — Mentor, OH (Mentor)
Sophomore Dominic Oddo of Case Western Reserve University broke the program and meet record in the long jump as the Spartans hosted the 10th Annual Battle for the Obelisk on Saturday. His leap of 7.00 meters topped his own previous mark of 6.97 meters. Oddo also won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.65 seconds.
Wrestling
Sean Lyons — NYU — Sewell, NJ (St. Joseph’s Prep, PA)
Sophomore Sean Lyons of NYU finished 4-0 to capture the 141-pound title at the USC Wildcat Open hosted by Johnson & Wales University. All four of his victories were bonus-point wins, including pins in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Lyons won the championship bout, 8-0, to improve to 10-0 this season.
Steve Bonsall — University of Chicago — Westfield, NJ (Newark Academy)
Sophomore Steve Bonsall of University of Chicago finished in third place at 157 pounds at the Wheaton College Pete Willson Invitational that featured 38 teams, including 10 nationally ranked squads. He posted a 6-1 record and defeated the division’s second seed by technical fall, 16-1, in the third-place match.
Women’s Tennis
Catherine Xu — University of Chicago — Reston, VA (Pendleton School)
First-year player Catherine Xu won a third-set tiebreaker to lead University of Chicago to a 5-4 win over NCAA Division II Lewis University. She earned a 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3) win at No. 3 singles.
Men’s Tennis
Ninan Kumar — University of Chicago — Winter Park, FL (Winter Park)
Sophomore Ninan Kumar earned a pair of wins as University of Chicago opened the 2018 part of its season with a 7-2 victory over NCAA Division II Lewis University. He teamed with senior Nicolas Chua for an 8-4 win at second doubles and then earned a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 5 singles.
Athlete of the Week selections are drawn from nominees submitted by member institution coaches and sports information directors. UAA Athletes of the Week are selected in each sport in which the UAA sponsors competition. They are selected on the basis of their individual performances and contributions to team efforts during the past week in both Association and non-Association competition.