Sunshine State Conference

Sunshine State Conference Weekly Awards: February 19 - 25

02.26.24

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

SSC Athletes of the Week | February 19 - 25, 2024

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of February 19 - 25, 2024. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.

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Men's Basketball Player of the Week

Shane Hunter - Nova Southeastern
Senior - Forward - Parkland, Florida

Hunter is named Player of the Week after piloting Nova Southeastern to a pair of conference wins and the SSC regular-season title. The Parkland, Florida, forward began the week with game highs in points (26), rebounds (14), and blocks (6) as the Sharks bested Barry, 88-80, at home. The senior followed with game-highs in points (19) and blocks (3) while securing eight rebounds in a 93-63 victory over Florida Southern to seal NSU's third consecutive conference championship. Hunter totaled 45 points last week by shooting 60% from the field (21-35) and 100% from the free-throw line (3-3). He averaged 22.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.5 blocks, and 1.0 assists while playing 26.5 minutes per game. This week's accolade is his second of 2023-24.

Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Trey Doomes - Nova Southeastern
Senior - Guard - Atlanta, Georgia

Doomes is awarded Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Nova Southeastern's SSC wins against Barry and Florida Southern. The senior from Atlanta tallied four steals and three defensive rebounds in just 17 minutes as the Sharks defeated Barry, 88-80, in Ft. Lauderdale. Doomes went on to record two blocks, a steal, and three defensive rebounds in 16 minutes as NSU downed FSC, 93-63, at home. Offensively, the guard scored 23 points, pulled in three offensive rebounds, and had two assists across the two games.
 

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Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Kash Ayuso - Palm Beach Atlantic
Senior - Guard - West Palm Beach, Florida

Ayuso repeats as Player of the Week after leading Palm Beach Atlantic to a pair of conference victories. The senior from West Palm Beach, Florida, totaled 13 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals as the Sailfish bested Saint Leo, 59-57, on the road. In a 73-65 win over Embry-Riddle, Ayuso registered a game-high 34 points while pulling in five rebounds, tallying three assists, and grabbing a steal. The guard totaled 47 points last week by shooting 37% from the field (17-46), 40% from behind the arc (4-10), and 82% from the line (10-11). Ayuso averaged 23.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals for PBA while playing 36.5 minutes per game last week. This week's accolade is the third of her career.

Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Jesica Lange - Florida Tech
Junior - Forward - Erding, Germany

Lange earns Defensive Player of the Week accolades for her efforts in Florida Tech's 1-1 week. The junior forward registered three blocks and seven defensive rebounds as the Panthers fell to Florida Southern (65-58) on the road. Lange then led Florida Tech to a win over Saint Leo (67-62) following a career-high five blocks and five defensive rebounds. Offensively, the German tallied 13 points and four assists for the Panthers last week.
 

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Baseball Player of the Week

Mason Wilson - Rollins
Sophomore - Designated Hitter - Orlando, Florida

Wilson is selected Player of the Week following his offensive output across a single game against Flagler and three games versus Embry-Riddle. The sophomore went 9-for-13 at the plate last week with seven runs batted in, four runs scored, three doubles, a home run, two walks, three hit by pitch, and no strikeouts. The Orlando product's top game of the week came in game one against Embry-Riddle, where he went 4-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Wilson tallied a .692 batting average, .737 on-base percentage, and a 1.154 slugging percentage. He totaled 15 bases while recording at least one hit, run scored, and RBI in every game.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Luke Lashutka - Saint Leo
Senior - Fairview Park, Ohio

Lashutka earns his second Pitcher of the Week accolade in 2024 following a solid start at Palm Beach Atlantic. The Fairview Park, Ohio native earned his fourth win this season following eight scoreless innings, leading Saint Leo to a 5-0 victory over the Sailfish. The senior righty scattered six hits and allowed no walks in the outing. Lashutka rang up seven batters, including three looking, as he held opposing hitters to a .207 average on 87 total pitches. In the win, Lashutka extends his scoreless streak to 30 innings.
 

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Softball Player of the Week

Ella Coiner - Eckerd
Sophomore - Third Base - Bradenton, Florida

Coiner collects the Player of the Week nod after her performance in Eckerd's series win over Lynn. The sophomore went 6-for-12 at the plate with two doubles, six runs batted in, six runs scored, and a walk. Coiner also stole four bases in four attempts against the Fighting Knights. The Bradenton, Florida native finished the week with a .500 batting average, a .583 on-base percentage, a .667 slugging percentage, and eight total bases. Coiner had no less than two runs, a hit, and a stolen base in each contest. Coiner drove six runners to the plate in the series finale following two doubles in three at-bats.

Softball Pitcher of the Week

Ashley Worrell - Rollins
Grad Student - Oviedo, Florida

Worrell grabs Pitcher of the Week with two wins and a 0.00 ERA following 14 innings of work in Rollins' series win at Embry-Riddle. The Oviedo, Florida native took the circle in game one, tossing a complete game and leading the Tars to a 2-1 win. She allowed five hits, one run (unearned), and a walk while striking out eight. Worrell then delivered a one-hit, complete game shutout (4-0) of the Eagles in game three. The graduate student struck out seven batters and walked two in the contest. Worrell held opposing hitters to a .125 batting average for the week while recording a 0.643 WHIP. This week's accolade is the sixth of her career.
 

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Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Greg Palmer - Saint Leo
Sophomore - Attack - Holland Landing, Ontario

Palmer is named Offensive Player of the Week with his career day in Saint Leo's 12-7 neutral site win over Lincoln Memorial. The Canadian led the game with eight points following seven goals (including the game-winner) and an assist. Palmer also picked up a pair of groundballs in the victory. He scored his goals on nine total shots and nine shots on goal.

Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Ricky Fedorchak - Florida Tech
Grad Student - Defender - West Friendship, Maryland

Fedorchak receives Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in a neutral site, non-conference game against No. 4 Tampa. The West Friendship, Maryland native caused a game-high five turnovers and picked up a game-high seven groundballs in a 13-8 Panthers loss. In Tampa's four contests this season, no player has more groundballs or caused more turnovers against the Spartans than Fedorchak.

Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week

Michael Flores - Saint Leo
Senior - FOS - Apopka, Florida

Flores gets the Specialist of the Week nod for his role in a neutral site win against Lincoln Memorial (12-7). The senior from Apopka, Florida, won 14-of-20 face-offs for a .700 winning percentage. Flores also picked a game-high six groundballs for the Lions in the win. This week's accolade is the seventh of his career.
 

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Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Caroline Gastonguay - Rollins
Grad Student - Attack - Lewiston, Maine

Gastonguay receives her second Offensive Player of the Week award in 2024 for her efforts in a pair of SSC road wins. The Lewiston, Maine native began the week with seven goals, four assists, two groundballs, a caused turnover, and a draw control during a 22-18 win at Palm Beach Atlantic. Gastonguay's 11 points against PBA place her tied for fourth most in a single game in SSC history. The graduate student's encore performance included five goals, three assists, a groundball, and a draw control in a 17-7 win at No. 20 Lynn. For the week, the grad student had 19 points, 12 goals, and seven assists, with a .867 shot on goal percentage (13-for-15). This week's accolade is the fourth of her career.

Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Rebecca Clark - Lynn
Sophomore - Midfield - Abington, Pennsylvania

Clark earns Defensive Player of the Week for her play in Lynn's first two contests of 2024. In a win against Lincoln Memorial (17-4), the sophomore tallied a game-high three caused turnovers along with two groundballs and four draw controls. Additionally, she had three points following two goals and an assist in the win. The Abington, Pennsylvania midfielder followed with two caused turnovers, two draw controls, and five groundballs in a loss to No. 7 Rollins (17-7). Clark also provided the Fighting Knights with two goals and an assist in the loss.
 

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Men's Golfer of the Week

Adrian Soriano - Saint Leo
Senior - Bonita, California

Soriano earns Golfer of the Week following a second-place finish at the Saint Leo Invitational at Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club in Dade City, Florida. The senior from Bonita, California, carded an 11-under 205 over his three rounds, besting 107 golfers, including 56 SSC athletes. Soriano started with a tournament-low round 63, followed by 69 and 73, leading Saint Leo to the tournament title.

Women's Golfer of the Week

Anna Maria Jimenez Rios - Tampa
Junior - Merida, Mexico

Jimenez Rios garners Golfer of the Week following a victory at the Lady Moc Classic hosted by Florida Southern at Grasslands Golf and Country Club in Lakeland, Florida. The junior from Merida, Mexico, carded a 2-under 214 to beat a field of 98 golfers. Jimenez Rios battled back from an opening-round 74 to shoot a tournament-low round 69, followed by a third-round 71. With Jimenez Rios leading the way, the Spartans finished sixth of 16 teams.
 

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Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Gabriele Felline - Lynn
Junior - Gentilino, Switzerland

Felline takes Athlete of the Week accolades for his efforts in Lynn's 7-0 over Eckerd. The Gentilino, Switzerland native, along with partner Yaron Guberman, took the win at #3 doubles (6-2), helping the Fighting Knights to the first point of the match. At #1 singles, Felline blanked his opponent (6-0, 6-0), leading Lynn to the shutout victory.

Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Alina Michalitsch - Barry
Freshman - Neustadt, Austria

Michalitsch repeats as Athlete of the Week for her role in Barry's ITA Indoor Championship run. With the play of the Austrian, the Buccaneers took down Nebraska - Kearney (5-1), No. 7 West Alabama (4-1), and No. 2 Nova Southeastern (4-2) to lift the trophy for the fourth time in program history. At #1 singles, Michalitsch bested No. 49 Fabiana Gamboa from UNK (6-2, 6-2) and No. 17 Natalie Espinal (7-6[5], 7-5). Additionally, the freshman was up on UWA in #1 Singles (7-5, 3-1) as the match ended.
 

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