Athletes of the Week for May 29, 2018
Softball
Dusstyn Reynolds — Case Western Reserve University — Wooster, OH (Wooster)
Case Western Reserve University first-year catcher Dusstyn Reynolds helped the Spartans earn a win at the NCAA Division III Softball Championship in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She batted .500 (3-for-6) with two walks, two runs scored, a double, and one run batted in. Reynolds doubled and scored in the Spartans’ 2-1 victory over 14th-ranked Rowan University on Friday.
Katie Dzierwa — Case Western Reserve University — Brookfield, IL (Lyons Township)
Case Western Reserve University senior Katie Dzierwa allowed two runs in six innings at the NCAA Division III Softball Championship in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She allowed one run on three hits in 4.1 innings of relief against 16th-ranked Luther College in a game in which the Spartans nearly came back from a 7-2 deficit before falling 7-6.
Women’s Tennis
Bridget Harding — Emory University — Northport, NY (Northport)
Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico — Emory University — Pinecrest, FL (Gulliver Preparatory)
Senior Bridget Harding and first-year player Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico of Emory University advanced to the doubles semifinals at the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championships in Claremont, California. The duo also earned an 8-1 win in the team championship match, a 5-4 Eagles’ loss to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges.
Men’s Tennis
Scott Rubinstein — Emory University — Madison, CT (Daniel Hand)
James Spaulding — Emory University — Winnetka, IL (New Trier)
Senior Scott Rubinstein and junior James Spaulding of Emory University advanced to the doubles final at the NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Championships in Claremont, California. The duo also earned a win in the quarterfinals of the team competition, a 5-0 Emory win over Williams College.
Women’s Outdoor Track and Field
Dani Bland — Emory University — Mountville, PA (Hempfield)
Emory University junior Dani Bland earned All-America honors in four events to help the Eagles to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She ran to a runner-up finish in the 100-meter dash (11.97 seconds) and third-place in the 200-meter dash (24.66). Bland helped the 1,600-meter relay to a national runner-up finish in 3:42.97, the 12th fastest time in Division III history, and to a fourth-place showing in the 400-meter relay (47.04 seconds). Her four All-America awards at a single NCAA championship were the most in program history.
Heidi Nassos — Washington University — Wheaton, IL (Wheaton Warrenville South)
Washington University junior Heidi Nassos earned a pair of All-America honors at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She finished as the national runner-up in the pole vault with a height of 3.80 meters and then placed eighth in the triple jump with multiple jumps of 11.69 meters. Nassos, who outperformed her seed in both events, helped the Bears to a third-place team finish.
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field
Irie Gourde— Brandeis University — Portland, OR (York Academy, Toronto)
Brandeis University graduate student Irie Gourde became the fourth man in program history to earn multiple All-America honors at the same NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He placed third in the 400-meter dash, lowering his own program record in a time of 46.99 seconds. Gourde then became the first Brandeis man to earn to earn All-America accolades in two individual running events, placing fifth in the 200-meter dash (21.54 seconds) after earning the last spot after the preliminaries.
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.