Athletes of the Week for November 13, 2017
Women’s Cross Country
Gabrielle Stravach — Emory University — Westfield, NJ (Westfield)
Emory University senior Gabrielle Stravach earned the individual title at the NCAA Division III South/Southeast Region Championships in Newport News, Virginia. She topped the 240-runner field with a school-record six-kilometer time of 20:59.7 and helped the Eagles to a runner-up team finish and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country Championship.
Khia Kurtenbach — University of Chicago — Germantown, WI (Germantown)
University of Chicago senior Khia Kurtenbach successfully defended her individual title at the NCAA Division III Midwest Region Cross Country Championships in Rock Island, Illinois on Saturday. She crossed the six-kilometer finish line in 20:41.3 to top the 263-runner field. The Maroons, who placed fifth in the 37-team meet, earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country Championship.
Men’s Cross Country
David O’Gara — Washington University — Glenview, IL (Glenbrook South)
Washington University senior David O’Gara placed fifth in the 254-runner field at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Cross Country Championships in Rock Island, Illinois on Saturday. His career-best time of 23:46.9 over the eight-kilometer course led the Bears to a third-place finish in the 36-team field. Washington University earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country Championship.
Football – Offense
Justin Phan — Case Western Reserve University — Atlanta, GA (Greater Atlanta Christian)
Junior wide receiver Justin Phan scored two touchdowns and made a number of key plays down the stretch as Case Western Reserve University secured an undefeated regular season and UAA title with a thrilling 41-34 overtime victory at Carnegie Mellon University. He caught six passes for 101 yards, including a three-yard scoring reception and 13-yard catch on 4th-and-12 in overtime. Phan caught a 36-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter and scooped up a blocked punt with just 20 seconds remaining in regulation and ran it in for the go-ahead touchdown.
Football – Defense
Andrew Banathy — Case Western Reserve University — Tinley Park, IL (Providence Catholic)
Senior linebacker Andrew Banathy recorded a career-high 12 tackles with eight solo hits as 14th-ranked Case Western Reserve University defeated host Carnegie Mellon University 41-34 in overtime, to complete an undefeated regular season and earn the UAA title. He registered 2.5 tackles for loss and recorded his first interception of the season to set up the Spartans’ go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter.
Football – Special Teams
Zach Lyon — Case Western Reserve University — Pittsburgh, PA (North Allegheny)
Case Western Reserve University senior linebacker Zach Lyon made a key play on special teams to help the 14th-ranked Spartans to a 41-34 overtime win over Carnegie Mellon University in Saturday’s Academic Bowl to clinch the UAA title. With the Spartans trailing by four points with 28 seconds remaining on the clock and the ball on the Tartans’ 43-yard line, he blocked a punt, deflecting it back to the three-yard line, where Justin Phan scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown.
Women’s Soccer – Offense
Haili Adams — Carnegie Mellon University — Kirkland, WA (Juanita)
Senior forward Haili Adams scored both goals for Carnegie Mellon in a pair of 1-0 victories in the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship. She scored in the 25th minute in a win over Farmingdale State College in the opening round. In Sunday’s regional final against Arcadia University, Adams scored with 3:29 remaining in the first overtime to push the Tartans to their fourth sectional semifinal appearance in six years.
Women’s Soccer – Defense
Hannah Menard — Washington University — Winter Park, FL (Lake Highland Prep)
Washington University sophomore back Hannah Menard and the Bears’ defense recorded a pair of shutouts to advance to the sectional round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship for the third consecutive season. Menard anchored the back line that allowed three shots in two games combined, just two on goal, in a 5-0 win over Dominican University and 1-0 victory over Wittenberg University.
Men’s Soccer – Offense
Mike Lynch — Brandeis University — Weymouth, MA (Weymouth)
Brandeis University senior forward Mike Lynch scored both game-winning goals as the Judges posted two wins in the opening weekend of the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship to advance to the sectional round for the sixth consecutive year. He netted the first goal in the 15th minute in a 3-0 win over Western Connecticut State University and tallied in the 67th minute of the Judges’ 1-0 victory over Rutgers University-Newark. Lynch has scored five of his 11 career goals in NCAA play.
Men’s Soccer – Defense
Ben Woodhouse — Brandeis University — Suffield, CT (Suffield)
Senior goalkeeper Ben Woodhouse, seeing his first game action in nearly a month, posted two shutouts to lead Brandeis University into the sectional round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship for the sixth consecutive year. He made two stops in a 3-0 win over Western Connecticut State University and made six saves in a 1-0 second round victory over Rutgers University-Newark. Woodhouse stopped a penalty kick in the 54th minute and made a spectacular leaping stop in the 69th minute against the Scarlet Raiders.
Volleyball
Sara Carr — Emory University — Birmingham, AL (Mountain Brook)
Sophomore Sara Carr was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Division III Volleyball Atlanta Regional, where she helped lead Emory University to the regional title. She averaged a team-high 3.33 kills per set with a .316 hitting percentage. Carr, who also added 3.33 digs per set, hit .435 (11-1-23) as the Eagles swept Berry College in the regional final to advance to the national quarterfinals.
Elyse Thompson — Emory University — Tallahassee, FL (Leon)
Sophomore Elyse Thompson was named to the NCAA Division III Volleyball Atlanta Regional All-Tournament Team after helping lead Emory University to the regional title. She averaged 4.89 digs per set and played a key role in holding three opponents to a .092 hitting percentage. Thompson finished the weekend by recording 17 digs in a three-set sweep of Berry College in the regional final.
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Kim Hochstedler — Carnegie Mellon University — Mishawaka, IN (Penn)
Senior Kim Hochstedler recorded season-best times in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events as Carnegie Mellon University topped Grove City College and Washington & Lee University. She won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:06.39, which ranks eighth in NCAA Division III this season and placed second in the 200 event in 2:21.93, the fifth-best time in NCAA Division III this year.
Lillie Widmayer — Carnegie Mellon University — Old Bridge, NJ (West Windsor Plainsboro)
First-year diver Lillie Widmayer won the three-meter event and placed third on the one-meter board as Carnegie Mellon University defeated Grove City College. She posted season-best marks in both events with scores of 224.03 (three meter) and 195.45 (one meter).
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Max Gonzalez — Carnegie Mellon University — Allison Park, PA (North Allegheny)
Freshman Max Gonzalez won three individual events to lead Carnegie Mellon University to victories over Grove City College and Washington & Lee University. He captured the 200-yard freestyle (1:43.28), 100-yard butterfly (52.40 seconds), and 200-yard individual medley (1:56.54). Gonzalez also swam on the Tartans’ winning 200-yard medley relay (1:33.85).
Gabe Bamforth — Carnegie Mellon University — Cambridge, MA (Cambridge Rindge & Latin School)
Junior Gabe Bamforth won both diving events in a Carnegie Mellon University win over Grove City College. He recorded a season-best score of 297.58 on the one-meter board and 295.58 points in the three-meter event.
Wrestling
Jack La Corte — NYU — Monmouth Beach, NJ (Christian Brothers Academy)
NYU sophomore Jack La Corte improved his season record to 8-0 with three bonus point victories without allowing a point at the NY vs. PA duals on Saturday. He won his first bout of the day with an 8-0 major decision, following that up with a first period pin (2:25), and a technical fall victory (15-0). NYU outscored King’s College, host Wilkes University, and Pennsylvania College of Technology by a combined score of 129-18.
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.