Athletes of the Week for February 20, 2023
Women’s Basketball
Katie Titus — University of Rochester — Penfield, NY (Our Lady of Mercy)
University of Rochester graduate student forward Katie Titus scored her 2,000th career point, while averaging 33.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in a 1-1 weekend for the Yellowjackets. She scored a career-high 39 points with seven rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in an 81-70 win over Brandeis University on Friday. Titus followed that with 28 points and 12 boards, her 12th double-double of the season, in a 72-62 Yellowjackets’ loss to sixth-ranked NYU on Sunday. In two games, she shot 57.8 percent from the field (26-for-45).
Men’s Basketball
Spencer Freedman — NYU — Pacific Palisades, CA (Mater Dei)
NYU graduate student point guard Spencer Freedman recorded game-highs in points as the Violets recorded a weekend road sweep of Emory University and University of Rochester for the first time in program history. He hit six of nine 3-pointers and finished with 25 points and eight assists in an 88-82 win over the Eagles on Friday, and then tallied 21 points in a 66-52 victory over the Yellowjackets on Sunday. In two games, he shot 53.1 percent from the floor (17-for-32) and 57.1 percent from three-point range
(8-of-14).
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Marianne Allard — Emory University — Suwanee, GA (North Gwinnett)
Graduate student Marianne Allard of Emory University lowered her times and provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. Competing at the Eagles’ home invitational, she registered times of 2:04.81 in the 200-yard individual medley, 2:19.18 in the 200-yard breaststroke, and 4:26.70 in the 400-yard IM. All three times rank among the top-24 in Division III this season.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Garrett Clasen — University of Chicago — Aurora, IL (Batavia)
Junior Garrett Clasen of University of Chicago set a pool record in the 100-yard butterfly at the Midwest Invitational. His time of 49.06 was less than one-tenth of a second off the NCAA Division III record in the event and ranks second in DIII. He provisionally qualified for the NCAA championship by winning the 100-yard butterfly in 47.89 seconds and posting a time of 1:50.33 in the 200-yard butterfly.
Women’s Indoor Track and Field
Emily Konkus — Washington University — Sparks, MD (Hereford)
Senior Emily Konkus broke the Washington University record in the 3,000-meter run at the Illinois College Hilltop Classic. Her time of 9:36.06 ranks third in NCAA Division III this season.
Marina Semple — University of Chicago — Abingdon, United Kingdom (St. Helen’s School)
First-year competitor Marina Semple won the long jump at the University of Chicago Margaret Bradley Invitational. Her leap of 5.74 meters ranks third in NCAA Division III this season.
Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Jeff Candell — Washington University — Arlington, MA (Arlington)
Jackson Cox — Washington University — Danville, KY (Boyle Country)
Arthur Santoro — Washington University — Chicago, IL (Jones College Prep)
Will Houser — Washington University — Glenview, IL (Glenbrook South)
The Washington University distance medley relay team of Jeff Candell, Jackson Cox, Arthur Santoro, and Will Houser won the event at the Illinois College Hilltop Classic. Their time of 9:57.67 ranks ninth in NCAA Division III this season.
Simon Dixon — University of Chicago — Magalia, CA (Paradise)
Freshman Simon Dixon of University of Chicago surpassed the 16-meter mark in the shot put for the ninth time this season at the Maroons’ Margaret Bradley Invitational. His winning throw of 16.47 meters would rank sixth in NCAA Division III this season if not for his current ranking of fourth.
Wrestling
Nicky Bell — NYU — Greenwich, CT (Brunswick School)
Freshman Ricky Bell of NYU captured the 184-pound title at the Mideast Futures Tournament at Muhlenberg College on Sunday. He posted three victories, one by fall and two by decision.
Baseball
Shane Pellegrino — Washington University — Sugar land, TX (Strake Jesuit)
Washington University freshman Shane Pellegrino began his collegiate career by hitting .429 (6-for-14) in three Bears’ wins at University of the Ozarks. He scored four runs and drove in four more, earning a pair of hits in all three games and two RBI in each of the first two victories.
Matt Lopes — Washington University — Jupiter, FL (Benjamin School)
Washington University senior Matt Lopes earned the win with five innings of work in the Bears’ 10-1 victory over University of the Ozarks. He yielded one run on three hits and struck out three batters.
Softball
Tyler Miller — Emory University — Oviedo, FL (Hagerty)
Emory University senior Tyler Miller batted .538 (7-for-13) with eight runs batted in as the Eagles split four games to begin the season. She recorded multiple hits in three of the four games and homered twice in a sweep of LaGrange College.
Mackenzie Duford — Emory University — Seminole, FL (Seminole)
Emory University first-year pitcher Mackenzie Duford posted a 1-0 record with a 3.06 earned run average as the Eagles opened the season 2-2. She walked one batter and struck out nine in 16 innings.
Women’s Tennis
Hannah Kassaie — Case Western Reserve University — Cleveland, OH (Mayfield)
Case Western Reserve University sophomore Hannah Kassaie won all six of her matches to lead the Spartans to wins over three ranked opponents. She teamed with Lily McCloskey for three victories at No. 1 doubles, including a thrilling 8-7 (13-11) win over their opponents from Christopher Newport University. Kassaie dropped just nine total games in six sets, winning all three of her first singles matches in two sets.
Men’s Tennis
Charlie James — Emory University — Atlanta, GA (Culford School)
Graduate student Charlie James finished a combined 4-0 in singles and doubles as Emory University posted wins over two ranked opponents. He teamed with Ryan Glanville for a pair of 7-2 wins at No. 2 doubles against Sewanee: The University of the South and Kenyon College. James did not drop more than three games in any set with straight-set victories at No. 4 singles.
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.