Athletes of the Week for April 16, 2018
Baseball
Richard Brereton — Emory University — Darien, CT (Darien)
Sophomore Richard Brereton batted .524 (11-for-21) to help lead Emory University to a 4-1 record during the week, including a four-game sweep of Brandeis University. He recorded at least two hits in each game with team-highs of seven runs scored, four doubles, and four stolen bases. Brereton, who drove in four runs and slugged at a .714 clip, also started and earned the victory in the series opener against the Judges, allowing two earned runs and striking out six.
Scott Kutschke — Case Western Reserve University — Morton Grove, IL (Notre Dame Prep)
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Scott Kutschke earned a pair of victories while appearing in all three Case Western Reserve University wins over NYU over the weekend. He pitched eight shutout innings in relief, allowing five hits and striking out six. Kutschke tossed two shutout innings in a 7-5 Spartans’ win in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday and then threw the final four innings in a 4-3 win in 10 innings in the nightcap.
James Robertson — Emory University — Studio City, CA (Notre Dame)
Emory University sophomore James Robertson allowed just one run on three hits over a career-long stint of eight innings in a 10-4 Emory University win over Brandeis University in the third game of a four-game series. He walked three batters and struck out a career-high 10 en route to his second win of the season.
Women’s Golf
Navika Kuchakulla — NYU — Orlando, FL (Lake Highland Preparatory School)
First-year golfer Navika Kuchakulla of NYU placed second in a field of 61 competitors at the weather-shortened Vassar College Invitational. She shot a four-over par 76 on Saturday to help lead the Violets take the title at the 11-team tournament.
Men’s Golf
Kennan Hickton — Emory University — Pittsburgh, PA (Sewickley Academy)
Emory University senior Keenan Hickton finished second in a 40-player field to help lead the Eagles to the team title at the Kravetz Invitational in Pittsford, New York. He shot a 36-hole score of 148 (71-77) in cold and windy conditions with his opening round 71 marking the seventh time this season he has shot par or better.
Softball
Jacqueline Finn — NYU — Altoona, PA (Bellwood-Antis)
NYU junior catcher Jacqueline Finn batted .647 (11-for-17) with three home runs over a six-game span, including seven hits in 10 at-bats in a four-game UAA series with Case Western Reserve University. She hit the game-tying home run and homered again to provide the winning margin in the Violets’ 6-4 victory over the Spartans in the series opener. Finn recorded at least one hit in each game, added three walks for a .700 on-base percentage, and registered a 1.294 slugging percentage.
Sidney Brannam — Case Western Reserve University — Austin, TX (St. Dominic Savio Catholic)
Case Western Reserve University first-year pitcher Sidney Brannam posted a 2-0 record, allowing only one run in 13 innings to help lead the Spartans to three wins in a four-game series with NYU. She allowed one run in six innings in a 9-1 CWRU win on Friday and then tossed a complete game shutout with four strikeouts the following day.
Jacqueline Spizizen — Emory University — West Bloomfield, MI (Detroit Country Day)
Emory University first-year pitcher Jacqueline Spizizen posted a 2-0 record, allowing only one run in 11 innings to help the Eagles to three wins in a four-game series with Brandeis University. She walked just one batter and struck out 19 in two starts, including a season-high 14 batters in a five-hit shutout in the opening game of the series.
Women’s Tennis
Estefania Navarro — University of Chicago — Pinecrest, FL (Gulliver Prep)
University of Chicago sophomore Estefania Navarro finished a combined 4-0 in singles and doubles to lead the Maroons to wins over Washington University and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She and Alyssa Rudin earned victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Navarro earned the clinching point in the Maroons’ 5-4 win over the Bears, taking the fourth singles match, 7-5, 4-6, 10-8.
Grace Deering — Washington University — Charlotte, NC (Charlotte Catholic)
Washington University senior Grace Deering won both her matches at No. 1 singles as the Bears split two matches against ranked opponents in Janesville, Wisconsin. She earned a win against fourth-ranked Claire Handa and teamed with Aly Persky for a win at first doubles in the Bears’ 5-4 loss to University of Chicago.
Men’s Tennis
Nicolas Chua — University of Chicago — San Carlos, CA (Bellarmine College Preparatory)
University of Chicago senior Nicolas Chua won all of his singles matches, two at No. 2 singles, and a pair of doubles matches to lead the Maroons to a 2-1 record over the weekend. He earned three-set wins over opponents from eighth-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College and 10th-ranked Washington University, while earning a straight-set win over his University of Wisconsin-Whitewater opponent. Chua and sophomore Erik Kerrigan posted a 2-1 record at first doubles, facing two pairs who qualified for the NCAA doubles championship last year and another ranked 12th this season.
Women’s Outdoor Track and Field
Danielle Kulpins — Case Western Reserve University — Brookfield, WI (Brookfield Central)
Case Western Reserve University senior Danielle Kulpins ran the fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase time in NCAA Division III this season at the All-Ohio Outdoor Championships on Saturday. She earned All-Ohio honors with her first-place finish in a program- and meet-record time of 10:40.17. Kulpins broke her own CWRU record and erased the meet record of 10:40.89 set in 2003.
Heidi Nassos — Washington University — Wheaton, IL (Wheaton Warrenville South)
Washington University junior Heidi Nassos won the pole vault to lead the fourth-ranked Bears to the team title at the Greenville College Select. Her winning mark of 3.80 meters in the pole vault ranks fifth in NCAA Division III this season.
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field
Jack Sebok — Washington University — Plainfield, IL (Plainfield North)
Washington University sophomore Jack Sebok ran to a first-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Greenville College Select to help the Bears take the team title. His time of 9:25.76 ranks 14th in NCAA Division III this season.
Churchill Perry — Brandeis University — Pembroke Pines, FL (Westminster Academy)
Brandeis University sophomore Churchill Perry set a personal best triple jump mark at the Connecticut College Silfen Invitational. His distance of 14.09 meters topped his previous outdoor best from the prior week and ranks 19th in NCAA Division III this season. Perry also ran on the Judges’ 400-meter and 1,600-meter relay squads that each qualified for the ECAC championships.
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.