Athletes of the Week for November 25, 2019
Women’s Cross Country
Paige Lawler — Washington University — Lexington, MA (Lexington)
Senior Paige Lawler of Washington University earned All-America honors at the 2019 NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country Championship on Saturday. She placed seventh in a six-kilometer time of 21:26.1 to lead the Bears to a runner-up team finish.
Men’s Cross Country
Ryan Cutter — University of Chicago — El Sobrante, CA (Hercules)
Junior Ryan Cutter of University of Chicago earned All-America honors at the 2019 NCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country Championship on Saturday. He finished ninth with an eight-kilometer time of 24:38.8.
Football – Offense
Colt Morgan — Case Western Reserve University — Wooster, OH (Wooster)
Case Western Reserve University junior wide receiver Colt Morgan caught 14 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans’ 24-21 loss at Union College in the NCAA Division III Football Championship first round. He finished the season with 89 receptions and a program-record 1,186 receiving yards.
Football – Defense
Skyler Wadas — Case Western Reserve University — Clovis, NM (Clovis)
Case Western Reserve University junior linebacker Skyler Wadas made eight tackles and recorded his first career interception in the Spartans’ 24-21 loss at Union College in the NCAA Division III Football Championship first round.
Women’s Soccer – Offense
Tara Durstewitz — Carnegie Mellon University — Old Bridge, NJ (Old Bridge)
Senior midfielder Tara Durstewitz helped lead Carnegie Mellon University to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship. She scored one goal and assisted on another score in the Tartans’ 3-0 win over 17th-ranked Ohio Northern University in the sectional semifinal on Friday. In Saturday’s scoreless draw with 19th-ranked University of St. Thomas in the sectional final, she connected on her penalty kick to even the score at three as the Tartans advanced, 5-4.
Women’s Soccer – Defense
Rachel Legg — Carnegie Mellon University — Kansas City, MO (Pembroke)
First-year center back Rachel Legg led the Carnegie Mellon University defense that posted back-to-back shutouts to advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship. She netted the first goal in a 3-0 sectional semifinal win over 17th-ranked Ohio Northern University and aided the Tartans in limiting the Polar Bears to one shot on goal.
Volleyball
Tara Martin — Emory University — Jacksonville Beach, FL (Episcopal School of Jacksonville)
Emory University sophomore outside hitter Tara Martin was named to the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship All-Tournament Team as the Eagles advanced to the national final. She averaged 3.38 kills per set with a .333 hitting percentage in three matches. Martin hit .452 with 16 kills and added three blocks in the Eagles’ thrilling five-set win over Carthage College in the national semifinals.
Elyse Thompson — Emory University — Tallahassee, FL (Leon)
Emory University senior libero Elyse Thompson closed out her career averaging 3.23 digs and adding 10 assists and three service aces as the Eagles posted a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship. She recorded 18 digs and handled all 27 of her serve reception attempts perfectly in the Eagles’ five-set win over Clarkson University in the quarterfinals, and followed that with 15 defensive saves and nine assists in a 3-2 victory over Carthage College in the semifinals.
Women’s Basketball
Camila Casanueva — Brandeis University — Santa Barbara, CA (Dos Pueblos)
Brandeis University junior guard Camila Casanueva netted a career-high 32 points, hitting six of eight 3-pointers, in the Judges’ 81-77 loss to second-ranked Tufts University on Saturday. In Tuesday’s 83-63 victory over Roger Williams University, Casanueva notched 13 points and a career-high nine assists. For the two games, she shot 46.9 percent from the field, 53.8 percent from three-point range, while averaging 22.5 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Men’s Basketball
Ryan Algier — University of Rochester — Fairport, NY (Fairport)
University of Rochester junior forward Ryan Algier was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Mark’s Pizzeria Crosstown Shootout as the Yellowjackets finished 2-0. He scored 21 points, adding nine rebounds and three blocks, in a 78-75 victory over 25th-ranked St. John Fisher College on Thursday. Algier poured in 33 points, hitting 13 of 17 field goals, with career-highs of 13 rebounds and five assists in the Yellowjackets’ 77-56 win over Nazareth College. In the two games, he averaged 27 points and 11 rebounds, while shooting 72.4 percent from the floor (21 of 29).
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Bonnie Wang — Carnegie Mellon University — Vancouver, BC (Collingwood School)
First-year swimmer Bonnie Wang of Carnegie Mellon University took first place and provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships in two events at the West Virginia University Invitational. Her time of 56.44 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke ranks fourth in NCAA Division III this season and her time of 2:03.00 in the 200-yard backstroke ranks seventh nationally.
Gillian Gagnard — University of Chicago — La Grange, IL (St. Ignatius)
Junior Gillian Gagnard of University of Chicago provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships in two events at the Maroons’ Phoenix Fall Classic. Her winning times of 56.49 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke and 2:02.16 in the 200-yard backstroke rank fifth and sixth, respectively, in NCAA Division III this season.
Elizabeth Cron — University of Chicago — Cincinnati, OH (Oak Hills)
Sophomore Elizabeth Cron of University of Chicago met the NCAA Division III regional qualifying mark in both diving events at the Maroons’ Phoenix Fall Classic. She captured the three-meter dive with a score of 489.35 points and placed second on the one-meter board with 482.95 points.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
John McNab — Carnegie Mellon University — Westport, CT (Staples)
Freshman John McNab of Carnegie Mellon University provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division III Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships in three events at the West Virginia University Invitational. His 1,650-yard freestyle time of 1:38.93 ranks second in NCAA Division III this season. McNab’s time of 4:31.96 in the 500-yard freestyle ranks third nationally, while his mark of 4:00.06 in the 400-yard individual medley ranks sixth in Division III.
Arthur Kiselnikov — University of Chicago — Parkdale, Victoria, Australia (Caulfield)
Freshman Arthur Kiselnikov provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division III Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships in three events at the Maroons’ Phoenix Fall Classic. His time of 44.75 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle ranks third in NCAA Division III this season. Kiselnikov’s time of 48.96 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly ranks sixth nationally, while his 50-yard freestyle time of 20.61 seconds ranks seventh in Division III.
Judson Kyle — Carnegie Mellon University — Austin, TX (St. Stephen’s Episcopal School)
Sophomore Judson Kyle of Carnegie Mellon University easily eclipsed the NCAA Division III regional qualifying mark in both events at the Tartans’ home diving invitational. He placed second on the three-meter board with a total of 546.30 points and finished fourth in the one-meter event with 510.65 points.
Wrestling
Isaac Collier — Case Western Reserve University — Northfield, OH (St. Edward)
Case Western Reserve University senior Isaac Collier placed second in the 165-pound weight class at the Baldwin Wallace University Invitational on Saturday. He earned a pin in 2:50 in his first match before edging his Ashland University opponent, 6-5 in the semifinals. Collier dropped the final against his Washington & Jefferson College foe who is ranked ninth in NCAA Division III this season.
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.