Athletes of the Week for May 30, 2017
Women’s Tennis
Bridget Harding — Emory University — Northport, NY (Northport)
Emory University junior Bridget Harding helped the Eagles reach the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship final match for the fifth consecutive season and advanced to the semifinal round in both singles and doubles in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She posted at least one singles or doubles win in each of the Eagles’ matches played to decision, including a sweep of victories in doubles with partner Katarina Su and in singles as Emory handed top-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges its only loss of the season in the NCAA semifinals.
Rebecca Ho — Washington University — Santa Clarita, CA (Golden Valley)
Washington University senior Rebecca Ho closed out her record-breaking career with a runner-up finish in singles at the 2017 NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She won four consecutive matches in straight sets to advance to the title match, where she fell in three sets to the three-time NCAA champion. Ho finished the season with a 57-15 record, including a 33-4 mark in singles, and graduates as the program’s all-time wins leader with 191.
Men’s Tennis
Jonathan Jemison — Emory University — Marietta, GA (Lassiter)
Sophomore Jonathan Jemison finished a combined 5-1 in singles and doubles to help lead Emory University to the team title at the NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Championship. Jemison and partner David Omsky came away with the Eagles’ lone doubles point against 10th-ranked Williams College. His 6-2, 6-0 victory at second singles evened the match in the Eagles’ 5-3 win. Jemison clinched the 5-2 semifinal win over defending NCAA champion Bowdoin College with a three-set victory. In the championship match against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, Jemison’s straight-set win in singles gave the Eagles a 4-2 lead. He also earned a three-set win over a seeded opponent from Skidmore College in the singles championship.
Women’s Outdoor Track and Field
Rebecca Ridderhoff — Washington University — Woodridge, IL (Downers Grove North)
Washington University senior Rebecca Ridderhoff captured the individual national title in the 400-meter hurdles and helped lead the Bears to the team title at the NCAA Division III Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship. She won the 400 hurdles in 59.43 seconds and also garnered All-America honors by placing sixth in the 100-meter hurdles (14.28 seconds). Ridderhoff ran the lead off leg on the Bears’ fourth-place 1,600-meter relay.
Heidi Nassos — Washington University — Wheaton, IL (Wheaton Warrenville South)
Washington University sophomore Heidi Nassos placed 11th in the pole vault at the NCAA Division III Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship. She cleared a personal-best height of 3.80 meters. The Bears earned the national title with 56 points.
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field
Deko Ricketts — Washington University — Kansas City, MO (Barstow School)
Senior Deko Ricketts of Washington University captured the title in the 800-meter run at the NCAA Division III Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship. He won the event with a time of 1:51.30 to help lead the Bears to a ninth-place finish.
Everett Kleven — Washington University — Mill Creek, WA (Henry M. Jackson)
Washington University senior Everett Kleven earned All-America honors in the pole vault at the NCAA Division III Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship. He placed fourth in the event, clearing a height of 5.15 meters. The Bears finished ninth as a team.
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.