Athletes of the Week for February 19, 2018
Women’s Basketball
Natalie Orr — Washington University — Carmel, IN (Heritage Christian)
Washington University senior guard averaged 20.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game as the Bears recorded home wins over Case Western Reserve University and Carnegie Mellon University. She registered a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in a 99-61 Bears’ win over the Spartans, and followed that with a career-high 23 points in an 86-66 victory over the Tartans. Orr shot 51.7 percent from the field (15-for-29) and 53.3 percent from three-point range (8-for-15).
Men’s Basketball
Jacob Wittig — University of Rochester — Manlius, NY (Fayetteville-Manlius)
University of Rochester junior guard shot 76.2 percent from the floor (16-for-21) and helped lead the Yellowjackets to a pair of UAA wins in averaging 22.0 points and 5.0 assists per game. He scored 18 points, hitting seven of nine field goals, in an 81-58 win over Brandeis University on Friday before netting a career-high 26 points (9-of-12 from the field) in a 92-72 Rochester victory over NYU.
Women’s Fencing
Jacqueline Tubbs — NYU — Elk Grove Village, IL (Elk Grove)
Junior Jacqueline Tubbs finished 7-1 in the sabre as NYU won two of three dual matches at Columbia University on Wednesday. The Violets earned wins over Vassar College and Sacred Heart College, while falling to the host Lions.
Men’s Fencing
Grant Williams — NYU — Atlanta, GA (The Galloway School)
Junior Grant Williams finished 7-0 in the sabre as 10th-ranked NYU swept its final three dual matches of the season at Columbia University on Wednesday. He won all three of his bouts in the Violets’ victory over the fourth-ranked hosts.
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Cindy Cheng — Emory University — Orlando, FL (Dr. Phillips)
Senior Cindy Cheng of Emory University earned UAA Swimmer of the Year honors for the third time as the host Eagles won their 26th Association title at the 2018 UAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships in Atlanta. She won three events, setting UAA records in the 500-yard freestyle (4:47.94), 100-yard backstroke (54.16 seconds), and the 200-yard backstroke (1:57.87). Cheng swam on four victorious relays, including the record-setting 400-yard freestyle relay (3:21.53).
Carmen White — NYU — Lake Bluff, IL (Lake Forest)
Sophomore Carmen White of NYU was named UAA Women’s Diver of the Year after sweeping the diving events at the 2018 UAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Emory University. She posted a score of 485.3 on the one-meter board and a UAA record-setting 511.05 points in the three-meter event.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Thomas Gordon — Emory University — Raleigh, NC (Enloe)
Junior Thomas Gordon of Emory University was named UAA Swimmer of the Year as the Eagles won their 20th consecutive Association title at the 2018 UAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships in Atlanta. He earned individual wins in the 200-yard freestyle (1:39.34), 500-yard freestyle (4:28.65), and the 1,650-yard freestyle (15:34.65). Gordon also swam on the Eagles’ record-setting 800-yard freestyle relay (6:40.56).
Connor Brisson — NYU — Greenwich, CT (Greenwich)
Senior Connor Brisson of NYU earned UAA Men’s Diver of the Year honors for the second consecutive year after sweeping the diving events with UAA record-breaking scores at the 2018 UAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Emory University. He captured the one-meter board with a score of 640.30 and the three-meter dive with a mark of 663.10.
Women’s Indoor Track and Field
Sarah Cook — Carnegie Mellon University — Pittsburgh, PA (Hampton)
Senior Sarah Cook of Carnegie Mellon University posted the 10th fastest time in NCAA Division III this season in the 800-meter run at the Ohio State University Tune-Up on Friday. She placed fifth against competitors in all NCAA divisions in a time of 2:16.27, which converted to a time of 2:14.72.
Heidi Nassos — Washington University — Wheaton, IL Wheaton Warrenville South)
Junior Heidi Nassos won the pole vault at the Illinois College Hilltop Invitational, nearly matching her best indoor mark. She recorded a winning height of 3.79 meters, which falls just below her seventh-ranked NCAA Division III height this season.
Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Irie Gourde — Brandeis University — Portland, OR (York Academy, Toronto)
Brandeis University graduate student Irie Gourde earned All-New England honors in the 400-meter dash. He placed second in the event in 49.13 seconds at the New England Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships held at Middlebury College. The performance marked the fourth time this season he has finished the event in under 50 seconds.
Nathan Downey — University of Chicago — Orinda, CA (Miramonte)
University of Chicago senior Nathan Downey broke the program record in the indoor pole vault at the Maroons’ Margaret Bradley Invitational. He cleared a height of 5.01 meters, which bested the previous mark of national champion Michael Bennett (4.95 meters) and ranks fifth in NCAA Division III this season.
Baseball
Richard Brereton — Emory University — Darien, CT (Darien)
Emory University sophomore Richard Brereton batted .636 (7-for-11) with a double, triple, home run, and seven runs batted in as the Eagles won two of three games. He hit a first-inning grand slam, finishing with three hits and three runs scored, in a 13-1 Emory win over Oglethorpe University on Tuesday. Brereton also fanned six batters in five innings on the mound in the Eagles’ 7-5 victory over North Carolina Wesleyan University.
John Howard — Washington University — St. Louis, MO (Clayton)
Washington University junior John Howard threw six innings of one-run baseball with five strikeouts in the Bears’ loss to 22nd-ranked University of Texas-Dallas. He allowed six hits and one walk and left the game with the Bears holding a 3-1 lead.
Softball
Keri Lehtonen — Brandeis University — Oneco, CT (Plainfield)
Junior Keri Lehtonen batted .688 (11-for-16) with two doubles, two triples, four runs scored, and 11 runs batted in as Brandeis University opened its season 3-1. She began the year with four hits and six RBI in the Judges’ 11-5 victory over Frostburg State University. Lehtonen finished 4-for-4 with four RBI as Brandeis topped Shenandoah University 12-7.
Jacqueline Spizizen — Emory University — West Bloomfield, MI (Country Day)
First-year pitcher Jacqueline Spizizen did not allow a run over 19 innings of work, striking out 18 batters, and earning all three Emory University wins. She tossed back-to-back complete-game shutouts against 19th-ranked Berry College on Sunday, including a three-hitter with six strikeouts in a 2-0 victory in the opening game of the doubleheader. Earlier in the week, Spizizen tossed four innings of scoreless relief, fanning seven, in a 1-0 Eagles’ win over Averett University.
Women’s Tennis
Claire Handa — University of Chicago — Rockville Centre, NY (Friends Academy)
University of Chicago first-year player Claire Handa recorded a 4-0 combined record in singles and doubles as the Maroons defeated 23rd-ranked DePauw University, 6-3, and shut out Coe College. She dropped just three games in earning the victory at No. 2 singles against DePauw and five games in winning at first singles against Coe. Handa teamed with Marjorie Antohi to win two matches at No. 1 doubles by a combined 16-3 score.
Men’s Tennis
Jonathan Jemison — Emory University — Marietta, GA (Lassiter)
Junior Jonathan Jemison finished 2-0 in both singles and doubles as Emory University earned a 5-3 win over NCAA Division II opponent Bluefield State College and shut out Xavier University of Louisiana. He teamed with freshman Hayden Cassone for an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles and then earned a 7-6, 6-4 win at first singles against Bluefield. Jemison posted a 6-3, 7-6 win at first singles against Xavier after he and Cassone rolled to an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles.
Luke Tsai — University of Chicago — Mason, OH (Mason)
Senior Luke Tsai of University of Chicago extended his singles winning streak to 13 matches as he helped the Maroons to 9-0 victories over DePauw University and 39th-ranked Coe College. He dropped just one game in a win at No. 1 singles over DePauw and then earned his biggest win of the season, 6-3, 6-4, over the 20th-ranked player in NCAA Division III from Coe.
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.