Athletes of the Week for March 26, 2018
Women’s Fencing
Tiffany Luong — NYU — Newton, MA (Newton North)
NYU first-year fencer Tiffany Luong finished 15th in the foil at the NCAA Fencing Championships at Penn State. She posted a 10-13 record and was the highest non-Division I finisher.
Men’s Fencing
Zohaib Mannan — NYU — Short Hills, NJ (Millburn)
NYU freshman Zohaib Mannan earned All-America honors at the NCAA Fencing Championships at Penn State. He placed 10th in the foil with a 12-10 record.
Grant Williams — NYU — Atlanta, GA (The Galloway School)
NYU junior Grant Williams earned All-America honors at the NCAA Fencing Championships at Penn State. He placed 11th in the sabre with a 13-10 record.
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Fiona Muir — Emory University — Great Falls, VA (Langley)
Junior Fiona Muir won a pair of individual titles and swam on two winning relays as Emory University captured its ninth consecutive title at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. She set the Division III record in the preliminaries of the 50-yard freestyle in 22.48 seconds, while taking the event final (22.72 seconds) and the 100-yard freestyle (49.29 seconds). Muir swam on the Division III record-setting 400- (3:18.46) and 800-yard (7:13.51) freestyle relays, and placed second in the 200-yard freestyle.
Carmen White — NYU — Lake Bluff, IL (Lake Forest)
Sophomore Carmen White of NYU placed 10th in the three-meter dive at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her score of 462.20 secured honorable mention All-America honors.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Oliver Smith — Emory University — Milan, MI (Milan)
Senior Oliver Smith of Emory University was named the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Men’s Swimmer of the Year for his effort in leading the Eagles to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. He won individual titles in the 50- (19.39 seconds) and 100-yard (43.32 seconds) freestyle events after setting Division III records in both events in the preliminaries (19.37 seconds and 42.98 seconds, respectively). Smith swam on all four Emory championship relays and his record in the 100 freestyle made him the first Division III swimmer in history to swim under 43 seconds in the event.
Connor Brisson — NYU — Greenwich, CT (Greenwich)
Senior Connor Brisson finished second to earn All-America accolades in both diving events at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. He recorded a score of 521.20 on the one-meter board and 553.00 in the three-meter event.
Baseball
Tyler Wypiszenski — Case Western Reserve University — Lemont, IL (Neuqua Valley)
Case Western Reserve University junior catcher Tyler Wypiszenski batted .389 (7-for-18) with five extra-base hits and seven runs batted in to lead the 18th-ranked Spartans to a 3-1 record in a weekend series against Ohio Wesleyan University. He added four runs scored, three doubles, and two home runs, while slugging .889. Wypiszenski recorded at least one hit in each game with three multi-hit games, including a two-homer effort in the Spartans’ 11-1 win in the first game on Sunday.
Thomas Gardner — Washington University — Houston, TX (Strake Jesuit College Preparatory)
Washington University sophomore catcher Thomas Gardner batted .455 (5-for-11) with six runs scored and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. He scored six runs and drove in two runs to help lead the Bears to a 2-1 record, including a win over Illinois Wesleyan University, who received votes in the latest D3baseball.com national poll.
Mark Gross — Case Western Reserve University — Butler, PA (Butler Area Senior)
Case Western Reserve University junior hurler Mark Gross tossed eight shutout innings as the 18th-ranked Spartans defeated Ohio Wesleyan University, 8-0, in the opening game of a doubleheader on Saturday. He allowed just three hits and one walk, while striking out four. Gross improved to 3-0 with a 0.56 earned run average this season.
John Howard — Washington University — St. Louis, MO (Clayton)
Washington University junior right-hander John Howard pitched a complete game six-hitter, allowing just one unearned run in the Bears’ 8-1 win over Illinois Wesleyan University. He did not walk a batter and struck out six against the Titans, who entered the game averaging 7.3 runs per game.
Softball
Cassie Baca — Emory University — South Pasadena, CA (South Pasadena)
Emory University junior shortstop Cassie Baca finished 4-for-6 with two runs scored and four runs batted in to lead the Eagles to a sweep of Wesleyan College. She registered a pair of hits in each game as the Eagles posted 12-1 and 2-1 wins. Baca drove in four runs in the opener and then tripled and scored in the nightcap.
Jacqueline Finn — NYU — Altoona, PA (Bellwood-Antis)
NYU junior catcher Jacqueline Finn batted .667 (6-for-9) with seven runs batted in as the Violets won three of four games. She recorded a hit in all three games in which she started with two multi-hit efforts. Finn, who hit a grand slam as NYU completed a sweep of Western Connecticut State University on Saturday, recorded a 1.222 slugging percentage and .700 on-base percentage.
Toko Miller — Emory University — Prescott, AZ (Prescott)
Emory University junior pitcher Toko Miller tossed five innings of scoreless relief to earn the win in a
2-1 Eagles’ victory over Wesleyan College. She earned her third victory of the season, allowing just two hits and striking out three.
Women’s Tennis
Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico — Emory University — Pinecrest, FL (Gulliver Preparatory)
First-year player Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico won all four of her matches in singles and doubles as the Eagles earned two 5-4 wins in California. She teamed with senior Bridget Harding at No. 1 doubles for wins against NCAA Division II Point Loma Nazarene University and third-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Gonzalez-Rico earned a pair of wins at first singles, including taking the final three games to clinch the match against C-M-S with a 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 victory.
Men’s Tennis
Jeremy Yuan — University of Chicago — Johns Creek, GA (Northview)
Freshman Jeremy Yuan finished a combined 4-0 in singles and doubles as University of Chicago won two of three matches against top-15 teams on its spring break trip to California. He won all three matches at No. 3 singles in straight sets and teamed with sophomore Tyler Raclin for a key 8-7 (9-7) win at second doubles in the Maroons’ 5-2 victory over Williams College.
Johnny Wu — Washington University — West Chester, PA (Unionville)
Senior Johnny Wu of Washington University posted a 3-0 record at No. 1 singles as the Bears won two of three matches over the weekend. He earned a 6-4, 7-5 win over the top-ranked and previously undefeated player from seventh-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College on Saturday.
Women’s Outdoor Track and Field
Erica Goldman — Emory University — Lloyd Harbor, NY (St. Anthony’s)
Senior Erica Goldman led Emory University to the team title at its own invitational as part of three top NCAA Division III times this season. She won the 400-meter dash in 56.13 seconds, which ranks second in Division III, and ran on top-10 national relay times in the 400-meter relay (48.38 seconds) and the 1,600-meter relay (4:02.41).
Sophie Grigaux — Washington University — Ladera Ranch, CA (San Juan Hills)
First-year runner Sophie Grigaux led Washington University to the team title at its own mini meet as part of two top NCAA Division III times this season. She won the 800-meter dash in 2:17.22, which ranks eighth this season in Division III, and ran on the nation’s second-fastest 1,600-meter relay this season (3:58.45).
Nimi Gupta — Case Western Reserve University — Worthington, OH (Thomas Worthington)
Senior Nimi Gupta won the hammer throw to lead Case Western Reserve University to the team title at the Amy Adams Memorial Invitational hosted by Muskingum University. Her toss of 46.14 meters ranks her 14th in Division III this season.
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field
Andrew Whitaker — Washington University — West Chester, OH (Lakota West)
Freshman Andrew Whitaker led Washington University to a first-place finish at its own mini meet as part of three top NCAA Division III times this season. He won the 110-meter hurdles in 15.09 seconds, which ranks 13th in Division III this season, and ran on the Bears’ victorious 1,600-meter relay that finished in 3:20.15, the nation’s fourth-fastest time. Whitaker finished third in the 400-meter hurdles in 56.63 seconds, which ranks 23rd in Division III.
Jordan Butler — Case Western Reserve University — Columbus, OH (Grandview Heights)
Freshman Jordan Butler claimed the title in the high jump to help lead the Spartans to first place at the Amy Adams Memorial Invitational hosted by Muskingum University. His mark of 1.93 meters ranks 16th in NCAA Division III this season.
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.