Sunshine State Conference

Sunshine State Conference Weekly Awards: January 29 - February 4

02.05.24

Weekly Honors in basketball, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and tennis

SSC Athletes of the Week | January 29 - February 4, 2024

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of January 29 - February 4, 2024. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.

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Men's Basketball Player of the Week

MJ Iraldi - Nova Southeastern
Junior - Guard - West Deptford, New Jersey

Iraldi collects Player of the Week by scoring nearly a point a minute during NSU’s pair of road conference wins. The West Deptford, New Jersey product was efficient in a 109-93 victory at Lynn, scoring a game-high 30 points in 27 minutes with an 87% field goal percentage. In the win, he added nine rebounds, three steals, and an assist to his stat sheet. Iraldi saw the court for 17 minutes in NSU’s 117-70 win at Eckerd. He scored 11 points, dished a game-high five assists, registered two steals, and pulled down a rebound in the contest. The junior totaled 41 points last week by shooting 77% from the field (17-22), 80% from behind the arc (4-5), and 75% from the free-throw line (3-4). Iraldi averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.5 blocks while playing 22.0 minutes per game.

Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Cantia Rahming - Saint Leo
Senior - Forward - Tampa, Florida

Rahming earns a second Defensive Player of the Week award in 2023-24 for his performance in Saint Leo's 1-1 week. The senior from Tampa registered eight defensive rebounds and a steal in an 89-82 win against Tampa, breaking a four-game Lions’ losing streak. Rahming followed with a block, a steal, and 16 defensive rebounds in an 82-73 overtime loss at Barry. With his offensive production, Rahming completed back-to-back double-doubles with 16 points and 10 rebounds against Tampa and 20 points and 19 rebounds against Barry.
 

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Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Lauryn Vieira - Eckerd
Senior - Guard - Haute-Savoie, France

Vieira earns Player of the Week by averaging nearly a triple-double in Eckerd’s 1-1 week. The guard from Haute-Savoie, France, opened the week flirting with a triple-double in the Tritions’ 81-66 road win against Florida Southern. She scored 22 points, pulled in 10 rebounds, and tallied nine assists in the win. Vieira followed 32 points, the third highest points total in the SSC this season, in a double-overtime loss to the league’s top team, Nova Southeastern. She also had nine rebounds, seven assists, and five steals in the matchup. Vieira totaled 54 points by shooting 40% from the field (17-42), 25% from 3PT (2-8), and 82% from the line (18-22). She averaged 27.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 3.5 steals while playing all 90 minutes for the Tritons. The weekly award is the 10th of her career. She has won the second most SSC weekly awards in Eckerd history and is now tied for fourth place among SSC women's basketball athletes.

Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Mariyah Fletcher - Palm Beach Atlantic
Senior - Forward - McDonough, Georgia

Fletcher is tabbed Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in 2023-24 for her role in PBA’s two conference wins. The forward from McDonough, Georgia, tallied a steal, a block, and seven defensive rebounds as the Sailfish held Barry below their season scoring average in a 91-63 win. Fletcher totaled two steals, a block, and eight defensive rebounds in PBA’s 75-72 win at Rollins. With her offensive production, Fletcher completed back-to-back double-doubles with 21 points and 10 rebounds against Barry and 15 points and 12 rebounds against Rollins. This week's accolade is the fourth of her career.
 

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Baseball Player of the Week

Stephen Klein - Tampa
Senior - First Base - Metairie, Louisiana

Klein’s performance in Tampa’s 3-0 week at the 2024 Houston Winter Invitational in Minute Maid Park earns him Player of the Week honors. The senior first baseman recorded a .625/.813/.750 slash line, reaching base with five hits in eight at-bats, six walks, and two HBP from the #3 spot in Tampa’s lineup. Klein accounted for 14 Spartan runs, driving in five and scoring nine times, in wins over Arkansas Tech (17-5), No. 7 Millersville (13-1), and No. 5 Central Missouri (16-4). Klein’s top game of the week came in against Arkansas Tech, where he went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, three walks, four runs scored, and two runs batted in. Defensively, the Metairie, Louisiana native had 23 putouts in 23 chances and turned a double play.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Luke Lashutka - Saint Leo
Senior - Fairview Park, Ohio

Lashutka earns Pitcher of the Week honors following his first appearance in 2024. The Fairview Park, Ohio native started Saint Leo’s second ballgame of the season, earning the win in a 3-1 victory against Auburn-Montgomery. The senior righty tossed 7.0 innings, allowing four hits, no walks, and no runs. Lashutka rang up eight batters, including four looking, as he held opposing hitters to a .167 average.
 

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Softball Player of the Week

Madyson Coe - Saint Leo
Senior - Catcher - Bethlehem, Georgia

Coe is honored as Player of the Week for her 2024 Gulf Shores Invitational performance. The Bethlehem, Georgia, native went 6-for-11 at the plate across four games, with four extra-base hits, four runs batted in, two runs scored, two walks, and a sacrifice fly. In Saint Leo’s games against nationally recognized West Alabama and Auburn-Montgomery, she recorded three hits in five at-bats, scored twice, and hit a home run. Defensively, the catcher tallied 23 putouts and three assists in 31 chances and caught a runner stealing. Coe finished the week with a .545 batting average, a .571 on-base percentage, a 1.182 slugging percentage, and 13 total bases.

Softball Pitcher of the Week

Mariah Galhouse - Tampa
Senior - Spring Hill, Florida

Galhouse is awarded Pitcher of the Week by helping Tampa to a pair of opening weekend wins. The Spring Hill, Florida native earned the start in the season opener, tossing a seven-inning complete game in a 4-3 win against Montevallo. Galhouse allowed three hits, no earned runs, and no walks while striking out eight. The senior then appeared in relief against No. 12 Alabama-Huntsville during a scoreless ball game. Galhouse entered in the sixth, threw 1.2 innings, allowed no hits or walks, and struck out a pair of batters. Tampa scored the game’s lone run in the bottom of the seventh, giving Galhouse her second win in two appearances. This week's accolade is the fourth of her career.
 

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Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Matt Flammenspeck - Florida Southern
Junior - Attack - Calgary, Alberta

Flammenspeck receives Offensive Player of the Week honors after guiding Florida Southern to an upset win at No. 3 Wingate (8-7). The Calgary, Alberta native led the Moccasins with three points from two goals and an assist. The junior scored the game-tying goal with just under four minutes to play, completing an FSC comeback that started with a five-goal deficit in the first quarter. Flammenspeck scored his goals on six total shots and three on goal. He also picked up two groundballs in the victory. This week's accolade is the second of his career.

Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Michael Simone - Florida Southern
Senior - Goalkeeper - Smithtown, New York

Simone is tabbed Defensive Player of the Week with a 15-save performance at No. 3 Wingate to start the season. The senior from Smithtown, New York, totaled his 15 saves and allowed seven goals in 60 minutes as the Moccasins came from five goals down to win 8-7 in Wingate, North Carolina. He tallied a .682 save percentage while facing 22 shots on goal and 34 total shots. With Simone's play, FSC held Wingate to just a pair of goals in the second half.

Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week

Jacob Czyz - Florida Southern
Sophomore - FOS - Baldwinsville, New York

Czyz is named Specialist of the Week for his performance in the X in a road upset of No. 3 Wingate (8-7). The sophomore from Baldwinsville, New York, won a game-high 12 of 18 face-offs in the win for a .667 win percentage. Czyz also scored the Mocassins’ first goal of the game and picked up five ground balls. This week's accolade is the third of his career.
 

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Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Kenley Zeruto - Embry-Riddle
Junior - Attack - Huntingtown, Maryland

Zeruto receives Offensive Player of the Week laurels after guiding Embry-Riddle to a season-opening road win over Montevallo (20-4). The Huntingtown, Maryland native paced the Eagles with seven points off three goals and four assists. The junior picked up a ground ball and caused two turnovers in the win. Zeruto scored her three goals on five total shots and four on goal.

Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Sallie Squire - Embry-Riddle
Junior - Midfielder - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Squire is named Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts in ERAU’s season-opening road win over Montevallo (20-4). The Portsmouth, New Hampshire junior led all players with four groundballs, four draw controls, and two caused turnovers. Squire also found the back of the net twice following three shots, all of which were on goal. This week's accolade is the fifth of her career.
 

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Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Martin Soukal - Saint Leo
Grad Student - Brno, Czech Republic

Soukal takes Athlete of the Week honors following his role in Saint Leo’s wins at the PTR Collegiate Cup. In a 4-0 win against Francis Marion, the Czech and teammate Luis Iriarte took the win at the #1 doubles (6-3) to begin the match. At #1 singles, Soukal came from behind to defeat his opponent 3-6, 6-0, 6-0. Soukal and Iriarte then led Saint Leo to a doubles point following a win (6-2) at #1 doubles against Tusculum. Soukal went on to win 6-2, 7-5 at #1 singles to help secure the 4-0 Lions victory. This week's accolade is the third of his career.

Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Kamilya Shailina - Saint Leo
Junior - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Shailina garners Athlete of the Week following her play in Saint Leo’s wins at the PTR Collegiate Cup. In a 4-0 win against Francis Marion, the Kazakhstani and teammate Claudia Borbon Roca won at the #3 doubles (6-2). At #3 singles, Shailina helped close out the match with a 6-3, 6-1 victory. Shailina and partner Madelyn Martin led Saint Leo to a doubles point following a win (6-2) at #3 doubles against No. 16 Georgia College. Shailina came from behind 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 to grab the #3 singles win to help secure the 4-0 Lions victory. This week's accolade is the third of her career.
 

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