Sunshine State Conference

Sunshine State Conference Weekly Awards: March 18 - 24

03.25.24

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

SSC Athletes of the Week | March 18 - 24, 2024

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of March 18 - 24, 2024. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.

---

 

Baseball Player of the Week

EJ Cumbo - Tampa
Senior - Outfield - East Meadow, New York

Cumbo is selected as Player of the Week for his efforts in a three-game sweep of Florida Southern. The senior from East Meadow, New York, was 11-for-15 at the plate with three home runs, a double, six runs scored, and 11 runs batted in last week. He tallied at least two hits, a run scored, and an RBI in all three games. He also added a sacrifice, a walk, and two stolen bases. His top game was the series finale, in which he went 3-for-6 with seven RBI, three runs scored, and two home runs. For the week, the outfielder tallied a .533 batting average, a .529 on-base percentage, and a 1.200 slugging percentage. This latest weekly award marks the fourth in his career.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Luke Lashutka - Saint Leo
Senior - Fairview Park, Ohio

Lashutka earns his fourth Pitcher of the Week accolade in 2024 with a win over Embry-Riddle. The Fairview Park, Ohio native accumulated his eighth victory this season following five innings of work in the series openers against the Eagles. Lashutka allowed two hits, no walks, and no runs in the outing. The senior righty struck out nine as he held opposing hitters to a .118 average. Lashutka's performance led Saint Leo to a 10-6 win.
 

---

Softball Player of the Week

Alexis Smith - Nova Southeastern
Senior - Outfield - Tampa, Florida

Smith collects Player of the Week for her efforts in a two-game set at Valdosta State. The Sharks' #3 hitter went 4-for-8 at the plate with two home runs, five runs batted in, and four runs scored. Along with her .500 batting average, she registered a .500 on-base percentage and a 1.250 slugging percentage against VSU. Smith's top performance came in game one, where she went 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored, two home runs, five RBI, and two of her three stolen bases on the week. Defensively, the outfielder registered five putouts in five chances. This latest weekly award marks the sixth in her career.

Softball Pitcher of the Week

Haleigh Thomas - Saint Leo
Sophomore - Lithia, Florida

Thomas wins Pitcher of the Week following three wins, a 0.00 ERA, and 20 innings pitched for Saint Leo. The Lithia, Florida native began the week in the circle against Adelphi, where she tossed a seven-inning one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts and just one walk allowed as NSU won 3-0 at home. Thomas then threw a seven-inning complete game in the series opener against Embry-Riddle, allowing two hits and four walks. She tallied seven punchouts in the 1-0 Lion victory. In the finale against ERAU, Thomas came on in relief and pitched 6.2 innings of three-hit softball as she struck out five while allowing three hits and three walks in the Lions' 7-3 victory.
 

---

Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Charlie Bolesh - Tampa
Grad Student - Midfield - Syracuse, New York

Bolesh is tabbed Offensive Player of the Week after leading Tampa to a 16-11 victory over No. 5 Rollins. The Syracuse, New York native scored three times, twice unassisted, and added an assist for four total points. Bolesh also provided the Spartans with three groundballs in the win. His three goals came from five total shots and four shots on goal. 

Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

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

Simone earns Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in 2024 following his performance in goal in wins against No. 17 Colorado Mesa (13-12) and Palm Beach Atlantic (18-7). The senior from Smithtown, New York, totaled 19 saves and allowed 12 goals in the win over CMU. He then stopped 15 shots while allowing seven goals against PBA. For the week, he registered a .642 save percentage while facing 79 total shots. Additionally, Simone picked up seven ground balls combined in the victories.

Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week

Alex Poma - Tampa
Grad Student - FOS - Marietta, Georgia

Poma earns Specialist of the Week for the third time in 2024 after leading Tampa to a 16-11 victory over No. 5 Rollins. The grad student from Marietta, Georgia, won 19-of-28 face-offs in the win for a .679 winning percentage. Poma also gave the Spartans a game-high 10 groundballs and an goal in the win. This latest weekly award marks the fourth in his career.
 

---

Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Rebecca Clark - Lynn
Sophomore - Midfield - Abington, Pennsylvania

Clark collects Offensive Player of the Week with her performance in Lynn's 15-10 win at No. 8 Flagler. The Abington, Pennsylvania product scored a game-high four goals, including the game-winner, off eight total shots and five shots on goal. Clark also won a game-high seven draw controls and caused a turnover in the Fighting Knights' victory. This latest weekly award marks the third in her career.

Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Lily Thornewill - Rollins
Grad. Student - Defender - Louisville, Kentucky

Thornewill earns Defensive Player of the Week for her performance in Rollins' win against Florida Tech. The graduate student from Louisville, Kentucky, caused six turnovers in the contest, leading all players. She also tallied a team-high five groundballs in the 14-10 Tars victory.
 

---

Women's Golfer of the Week

Daniela Ballesteros - Barry
Senior - Lima, Peru

Ballesteros is awarded Golfer of the Week for the second time in 2023-24 following her win at the Buccaneer Invitational. The Peruvian carded a 4-under score of 209 following rounds of 67-72-70 to tie for first place. Ballesteros went on to claim the title by result of a scorecard playoff, besting a field of 58 golfers. With the play of Ballesteros, Barry won the team competition over an 11-team field that included six Top-40 teams. The three-round event was held at Miami Shores Country Club in Miami Shores, Florida.
 

---

Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Luis Iriarte - Saint Leo
Senior - Valencia, Venezuela

Iriarte is named Athlete of the Week for his role in Saint Leo's wins over Franklin Pierce (5-2) and Wisconsin - Eau Claire (7-0). Against Franklin Pierce, the senior won at #1 singles (6-3, 6-1) and #1 doubles (6-3), along with partner Eduardo Cohen. The Venezuelan followed with a #1 singles win (6-0, 6-1) and #1 doubles win (6-0), along with Nicolas Bacella, against Wisconsin - Eau Claire. This latest weekly award marks the second in his career.

Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Luzia Obermeier - Saint Leo
Junior - Bavaria, Germany

Obermeier repeats as Athlete of the Week by leading Saint Leo to victories over Embry-Riddle (6-1) and Wisconsin - Eau Claire (7-0). Against ERAU, the senior won at #1 singles over No. 36 Itxaso Blanco (6-2, 6-3), but fell at #1 doubles (6-2). The German followed with a #1 singles win (6-1, 6-2) against Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
 

---

Women's Rowing Boat of the Week

Rollins Varsity 8

Rollins' Varsity 8 boat, which includes Maria Littman, Abby Klesa, Kinsley Sparks, Grace Oelrich, Nina Nikolic, Khloe Smith, Maria Gutierrez, Isabella Espino, and Olivia Prelog, takes Boat of the Week honors. The Tars V8 defeated Division I opponents Florida and Georgia at the John Ferriss Lanier Springs in Gainesville, Georgia. Rollins finished the 2000-meter race in 7:10.179, besting second-place Florida by over eight seconds.
 

---

---

---