Great Midwest Recognizes Three Athletes in Weekly Performance Awards

On Monday, April 20, the Ashland University Athletic Department received another wave of Athlete of the Week honors from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

And at this rate, it is beginning to feel normal.

The Eagles were well represented across women's lacrosse, baseball and track and field, marking three straight weeks of student-athletes being lauded with the award. 

On the diamond, Drew Becker pitched a masterclass for the Eagles, tossing a nine-strikeout outing against the Tiffin Dragons across six innings pitched. He gave up a measly five hits and one earned run, helping lead the Eagles to a 6-1 victory. It was the lowest-scoring outing of the two sides' series.

Moving over to the lacrosse field, forward Rachel Crumbacher had two solid games for the Eagles, helping the team cap off an undefeated conference season. She scored six goals, dished off two assists and recorded 14 draw controls in a win over the Findlay Oilers in the regular season finale. Against the Northwood Timberwolves, just a few days prior, she put up three goals, two assists and four draw controls. Due to her leadership both on and off the field, the Eagles enter the G-MAC tournament as the No. 1 seed and will host. 

Out on the track, Jade Avance took home the women's AOTW honors. She ran a 2:07.41 in the 800-meter dash, pushing her up to No. 12 in all of Division II.
 

2025-26 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY GREAT MIDWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

SEPT. 8 – Ravin Morgan (volleyball), Michael Shimek (football), Nate Slater (men's cross country), Tom Woodward (men's soccer). 
SEPT. 15 – none
SEPT. 22 – Dani Hicks (women's soccer), Mark Pillar (men's golf). 
SEPT. 29 – Cameron Blair (football), Damien Johnson Jr. (football).
OCT. 6 – none
OCT. 14 – Jaden Cook (football), Joey Lenczyk (men's swimming and diving), Yasmim Tomita (women's swimming and diving).
OCT. 20 – Emily Pate (women's soccer), Manaki Watanabe (football).
OCT. 27 – Jaya Daniel (women's soccer).
NOV. 3 – Manaki Watanabe (football). 
NOV. 10 – Wyatt Bailey (wrestling), Evan Kemp (men's swimming and diving).
NOV. 17 – none
NOV. 24 – Maceo Williams (men's basketball).
DEC. 1 – Jenna Slates (women's basketball).
DEC. 8 – Cooper Davis (men's basketball), Jon Lutz (men's indoor track), Molly Winner (women's indoor field). 
DEC. 15 – none
DEC. 22 – none
JAN. 5 – none
JAN. 12 – none
JAN. 20 – Jenna Slates (women's basketball).
JAN. 26 – Jade Avance (women's indoor track), Joey Lenczyk (men's swimming and diving).
FEB. 2 - Jade Avance (women's indoor track), Maceo Williams (men's basketball), Molly Winner (women's indoor field).
FEB. 9 – Makiah Francis (STUNT), Maceo Williams (men's basketball).
FEB. 16 – Annie Duncan (women's lacrosse), Brayden Jackson (men's indoor field), Colton Thress (men's indoor track).
FEB. 23 – Makiah Francis (STUNT).
MARCH 2 – none
MARCH 9 – Annie Duncan (women's lacrosse), Makiah Francis (STUNT), Jackson Grine (baseball).
MARCH 16 – none
MARCH 23 - Tori Wanat (women's lacrosse), Drew Becker (baseball), Molly Winner (track and field).
MARCH 30 - none
APRIL 6 - Rachel Crumbacher (women's lacrosse), Molly Winner (track and field).
APRIL 13- Ashley Fisher (women's lacrosse), Annie Duncan (women's lacrosse)
APRIL 20-