Sunshine State Conference

Sunshine State Conference Weekly Awards: February 26 - March 3

03.04.24

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

SSC Athletes of the Week | February 26 - March 3, 2024

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of February 26 - March 3, 2024. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.

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Men's Basketball Player of the Week

Malcolm Whitlow - Embry-Riddle
Senior - Guard - Lincoln, Nebraska

Whitlow collects Player of the Week accolades by leading Embry-Riddle to a pair of wins in the final two games of the regular season. The Lincoln, Nebraska guard opened the week with game highs in points (30) and steals (3) as the Eagles bested Barry, 91-82, at home. The senior followed with 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals in a 94-85 victory at Lynn. Whitlow totaled 47 points last week by shooting 46% from the field (18-39), 35% from 3PT (6-17), and 83% from the free-throw line (5-6). He averaged 23.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals while playing 34.0 minutes per game. With the play of Whitlow, the Eagles secured the #3 seed in the SSC postseason tournament.

Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Elias Martin - Florida Tech
Senior - Forward - Green Cove Springs, Florida

Martin is awarded Defensive Player of the Week for the third time in 2023-24 for his performance in the final two games of the regular season. The senior from Green Cove Springs, Florida, tallied a career-high six blocks and a defensive rebound in a 65-63 loss against Eckerd. Martin followed with four blocks, two defensive rebounds, and a steal during a 100-79 victory over Tampa. Offensively, the forward scored 13 points, pulled in three offensive rebounds, and had three assists across the two games. This week's accolade is the fourth of his career.
 

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Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Mya Giusto - Tampa
Senior - Guard - Naples, Florida

Giusto captures Player of the Week for the fourth time in 2023-24 by leading Tampa to wins against No. 11 Nova Southeastern and Florida Tech. The Naples, Florida native led the Spartans to a 76-74 overtime upset of NSU following a game-high 20 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Giusto then scored a team-high 21 points in a 71-61 victory at Florida Tech. She totaled 41 points by shooting 47% from the field (15-32) and 85% from the line (11-13). She averaged 20.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while playing 79 minutes for the Spartans. With Giusto's efforts, Tampa earned the #2 seed in the SSC postseason tournament.

Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Nicole Scales - Nova Southeastern
Grad Student - Guard - Park Ridge, Illinois

Scales earns Defensive Player of the Week honors for her efforts against No. 16 Tampa and Saint Leo. The graduate student from Park Ridge, Illinois, registered four steals, a block, and two defensive rebounds as the Sharks fell, 76-74, at Tampa in overtime. Scales then led NSU to a 91-52 win over Saint Leo following three steals and three defensive rebounds. Offensively, she tallied 19 points and seven assists for the Sharks last week. With the play of Scales, NSU captured the 2023-24 SSC regular-season title outright and will be the #1 seed in the postseason tournament.
 

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Baseball Player of the Week

Santiago Garavito - Tampa
Junior - Catcher - Plantation, Florida

Garavito is named Player of the Week after his production at the plate in Tampa's 4-0 week, including a series sweep of Palm Beach Atlantic. The junior went 7-for-13 at the plate last week with seven runs batted in, five runs scored, three home runs, two walks, and no strikeouts. The Orlando product's top game of the week came in a single game against Albany State, where he went 2-for-2 with two home runs, four RBI, and two runs scored. Garavito totaled a .538 batting average, .600 on-base percentage, and a 1.231 slugging percentage. He had 15 bases while recording multiple hits and an RBI in three of four contests. Defensively, the catcher had nine putouts in nine chances.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Luke Lashutka - Saint Leo
Senior - Fairview Park, Ohio

Lashutka earns his third Pitcher of the Week accolade in 2024, second consecutive, with a nine-inning complete game win against Barry (4-1). The Fairview Park, Ohio native accumulated his fifth win this season following six hits, a walk, and a run allowed (earned). The senior righty struck out five as he held opposing hitters to a .188 average on 108 total pitches. Lashutka's performance stands as the only nine-inning complete game in the SSC this season.
 

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Softball Player of the Week

Evoni Rodriguez - Palm Beach Atlantic
Junior - Third Base - Orlando, Florida

Rodriguez earns Player of the Week after leading Palm Beach Atlantic to a series victory over No. 3 Tampa. Following a 2-0 Friday night loss to the Spartans, the Orlando product helped the Sailfish take both games of Saturday's doubleheader, 3-1 and 2-1. Rodriguez started the scoring in game one with an RBI triple, which she also came around to score on due to a fielding error. The junior then produced two hits in game two of the doubleheader, including a walk-off RBI single. Defensively, the infielder had two putouts and 10 assists in 12 chances. She finished the week 3-for-10 at the plate and accounted for three of PBA's five runs scored in the series.

Softball Pitcher of the Week

Cambria Arturo - Palm Beach Atlantic
Senior - Middleburg, Florida

Arturo is awarded Pitcher of the Week thanks to her efforts in the circle during Palm Beach Atlantic's series win against No. 3 Tampa. The Middleburg, Florida native first appeared for the Sailfish in relief during game two. She entered at the beginning of the fifth inning and retired the final nine Spartans to secure the PBA win and earn a save. Directly after game two, Arturo made the game three start in which she allowed five hits, one run (earned), and two walks in 4.1 innings of work. The senior laid the groundwork in game three to ensure a Sailfish victory and series win.
 

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Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

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

Palmer repeats as Offensive Player of the Week with a Saint Leo program record of 12 points in Lions' 22-12 win over Montevallo. The Canadian led the game with eight goals (including the game-winner) and four assists. He also picked up a groundball and caused a turnover in the victory. Palmer's 12 points are tied for second-most all-time by an SSC men's lacrosse athlete in a single game.

Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Tristan Lenard - Lynn
Sophomore - Goalkeeper - Haymarket, Virginia

Lenard collects Defensive Player of the Week following his performance on the road in a neutral site victory against Quincy (16-5). The Haymarket, Virginia native tallied 16 saves and allowed five goals for a .762 save percentage. Lenard earned the win while facing 30 total shots during his 53 minutes in goal.

Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week

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

Flores repeats as Specialist of the Week for his efforts at the X in a win over Montevallo (21-12). The senior from Apopka, Florida, won 18-of-24 face-offs for a .750 winning percentage. Flores also picked a game-high 12 groundballs for the Lions in the win. This week's accolade is the eighth of his career.
 

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Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Kristyn Johnson - Lynn
Junior - Attack - Rochester, New York

Johnson collects Offensive Player of the Week following conference records for goals and points in a single game. During Lynn's 27-17 win at Virginia-Wise, Johnson poured in a league-record 10 goals. She also tallied three assists in the victory, giving her 12 points, which ties her for first in the conference record book. Additionally, the junior provided her team with two draw controls, a groundball, and a caused turnover in the win. Previously, Johnson led Lynn to a 19-14 win at Lee. The attack scored twice and had two assists in the contest. For the week, the Rochester, New York product registered 17 points, 12 goals, and five assists, with a .800 shot on goal percentage (16-for-20). This week's accolade is the second of her career.

Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Rebecca Clark - Lynn
Sophomore - Midfield - Abington, Pennsylvania

Clark repeats as Defensive Player of the Week for her role in a pair of Lynn road wins. In a win victory at Lee (19-14), the sophomore tallied nine draw controls, four groundballs, and two caused turnovers. She also scored three goals and tallied an assist against Lee. The Abington, Pennsylvania midfielder followed with 10 draw controls, a caused turnover, five goals, and an assist against Virginia-Wise (27-17). For the week, Clark averaged 9.5 draw controls, 2.0 groundballs, 1.5 caused turnovers, 4.0 goals, and 1.0 assists per game.
 

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Men's Golfer of the Week

Donte Groppuso - Florida Southern
Junior - Kingston, New York

Groppuso claims Golfer of the Week following a seventh-place finish at the 2024 Battle In The Dessert at Rams Hill Golf Club in Borrego Springs, California. The Kingston, New York junior carded a 2-under 214 over his three rounds, besting 83 golfers. Soriano opened the three-day 54-hole event with a two-under 70 before following up with another 70 to tie for first place. Groppuso finished the event with a two-over 74 to hang onto a top-10 finish and lead FSC to a fourth team victory in 2023-24.

Women's Golfer of the Week

Camila Madariaga - Lynn
Senior - Puebla, Mexico

Madariaga collects Golfer of the Week following a second-place finish at the Lynn Invite at Boca Woods Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida. The senior from Puebla, Mexico, carded an even-par 216 to beat 61 golfers in the field, including 34 SSC athletes. Madariaga started hot with a first-round 66, then cooled following a round-two 79. She charged seven spots up the leaderboard with a final round 71 to finish alone in second place. With Madariaga's play, Lynn finished fifth of 11 teams.
 

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Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week

George Russell - Florida Southern
Sophomore - Lymington, England

Russell grabs Athlete of the Week accolades by leading Florida Southern to a 3-1 record. Against No. 15 Washburn, Russell won in two sets over No. 10 singles player Sebastian Pjontek and defeated No. 45 Jonathan Berling of Southern New Hampshire in three sets, all at the #1 court. His two singles flights against Davenport and Michigan Tech went unfinished as the Mocs played to clinch in shortened matches. The sophomore added a doubles court win against Michigan Tech with a 6-4 win along with Ryan Rajakar against the Huskies at #2 court.

Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Salma Djoubri - Lynn
Sophomore - Caudebec Les Elbeuf, France

Djoubri garners Athlete of the Week as Lynn posted wins against Michigan Tech (4-1), Rollins (6-1), and No. 2 Saint Leo (6-1). The Caudebec Les Elbeuf, France native, was 3-0 at #1 singles. She posted a 6-0, 6-2 win against Michigan Tech and a 6-3, 6-0 win at Rollins before winning by retirement against Saint Leo. Djoubri also went 3-0 at #1 doubles. Along with Greta Schieroni, she won 6-1 against Michigan Tech. Djoubri and Dolores Molina took down Rollins 6-1 and Saint Leo 6-4.
 

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Women's Rowing Boat of the Week

Embry-Riddle Varsity 4

Embry-Riddle's Varsity 4 boat of Shelby Ernst, Kristen Vigna, Soleil Edwards, Alexandra Weilert, and Laurel Grein (coxswain) wins Boat of the Week. The Eagles posted a convincing win against Rollins in Lake Maitland last week. The V4 posted a 2000-meter time of 7:59.7, defeating Rollins' A boat by 18 seconds (8:17.7).
 

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