Sunshine State Conference

SSC Weekly Awards Presented by Pollo Campero: January 27 - February 2

02.03.25

Weekly Honors in Basketball, Swimming, Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse, Tennis, Beach Volleyball

SSC Athletes of the Week | January 27 - February 2, 2025

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of January 27 - February 2, 2025. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.

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Men's Basketball Player of the Week

MJ Iraldi, Nova Southeastern
Senior - Guard - West Deptford, New Jersey - 3rd SSC Weekly Award

Iraldi led Nova Southeastern offensively last week in wins over Lynn and Barry. The West Deptford, New Jersey native began the week with a game-high 29 points in NSU's 104-88 win against Lynn. He completed the double-double with 11 rebounds and gave the Sharks six assists in his 31 minutes on the court. Iraldi followed with a game-high 23 points in just 18 minutes at Barry. He also provided NSU with six rebounds, two steals, and an assist in the 103-63 victory. Iraldi totaled 49 points last week by shooting 65% from the field (20-31), 38% from behind the arc (5-13), and 88% from the free-throw line (7-8). The senior averaged 26.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 steals while playing 24.5 minutes per game. The weekly award is the third of his career.

Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Xavier Ford-Belton, Florida Tech
Junior - Guard - West Columbia, South Carolina

Ford-Belton's defensive efforts last week helped net Florida Tech its first SSC win of the season. The junior tallied seven defensive rebounds, a steal, and a block in a 77-62 loss to Embry-Riddle. He followed with 10 defensive rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in Florida Tech's 71-69 road win at Eckerd. Offensively, Ford-Belton scored 12 points, pulled down seven offensive rebounds, and tallied four assists.
 

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Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Anabel Ellison, Palm Beach Atlantic
Senior - Guard - Clearwater, Florida - 3rd SSC Weekly Award

Ellison collects her third SSC Weekly award this season by leading Palm Beach Atlantic to wins over Barry and Rollins. The Clearwater, Florida native had game-highs in points (21) and steals (5) as PBA defeated Barry 67-58 on the road.  Ellison followed with a 19 point / nine rebound / seven steal / five assist stat line in a 60-53 win against Rollins. The senior totaled 40 points by shooting 31% from the field (9-29), 27% from behind the arc (4-15), and 82% from the free-throw line (18-22). Ellison averaged 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 steals, and 3.5 assists while playing 34.0 minutes per game. 

Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Jumoke Adaramoye, Saint Leo
Graduate Student - Forward - Ekiti State, Nigeria - 4th SSC Weekly Award

Adaramoye picks up a third defensive weekly award for her performance during Saint Leo's 1-1 week. The Nigerian began with eight defensive rebounds and two steals in a 65-50 loss to Eckerd. She followed with five defensive rebounds, three steals, and two blocks in a 70-57 loss to No. 16 Embry-Riddle. Offensively, the graduate student had 12 points and three assists on the week. The weekly award is the fourth of her career.
 

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Baseball Player of the Week

Justin Wachs, Nova Southeastern
Senior - Outfield - Pembroke Pines, Florida

Wachs began the 2025 season 7-for-14 with four extra-base hits, 12 RBI, and six runs scored as Nova Southeastern went 3-1, including a win over No. 3 Catawba. The Pembroke Pines, Florida native drove in four runs with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate, including a home run, in NSU's 7-6 win over Catawba. In two victories against Delta State, the senior drove in eight runs while going 5-for-6 at the dish. He recorded a double, triple, and home run in the double header against DSU. Wachs finished the week with a .500 batting average, a .611 on-base percentage, and a 1.143 slugging percentage. He totaled 16 bases in 18 plate appearances while recording two walks, two HBP, and a steal. Defensively, the outfielder had seven putouts and an assist in eight chances.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Mason Blocker, Barry
Freshman - Davie, Florida

Blocker shutdown No. 3 Catawba for seven innings in a 5-4 Barry victory. The Davie, Florida hurler allowed five hits, no runs, and no walks in the Buccaneers victory. The freshman struck out four batters and held opposing hitters to a .192 average. Blocker tossed 86 pitches en route to a win in his first collegiate start. 
 

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Softball Player of the Week

Haleigh Thomas, Saint Leo
Junior - Utility/Pitcher - Lithia, Florida - 2nd SSC Weekly Award

Thomas posted a 7-for-9 performance at the plate and struck out 23 hitters with a 1.00 ERA as Saint Leo went 3-1 at the Gulf Shores Invitational. In the batter's box, the junior tallied four runs batted in, three runs scored, three extra-base hits, four walks, two HBP, and a walk. In Saint Leo's wins over No. 4 Lenoir-Rhyne and No. 9 Rogers State, the Lithia, Florida native went 3-for-5 with a run, RBI, and walk. Thomas finished the week with a .778 batting average, a .833 on-base percentage, and a 1.111 slugging percentage. She tossed a complete game in a 2-1 loss to West Florida, followed by a complete game shutout of Lenior-Rhyne. Thomas allowed 10 hits, two earned runs, an extra-base hit, and no walks across her 14 innings pitched. Defensively, the utility had seven putouts and three assists in 10 chances. The weekly award is the second of her career.

Softball Pitcher of the Week

Cassidy Duskin, Nova Southeastern
Senior - Ardmore, Alabama

Duskin defeated No. 9 Rogers State and tossed a perfect game against West Alabama as Nova Southeastern went 3-2 at the Gulf Shores Invitational. The Ardmore, Alabama, product first saw action with a start against RSU, where she tossed a complete game 5-1 win for the Sharks. Duskin allowed one run by scattering eight hits, a walk, and a HBP. The senior was back in the circle against UWA, throwing seven innings and earning NSU's first perfect game since 2018. Duskin struck out four batters and held opponents to a .160 batting average last week.
 

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Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Davis Lindsey, Tampa
Graduate Student - Attack - Huntersville, North Carolina

Lindsey was the top offensive player for Tampa in a 15-6 non-conference road win over Florida Tech. The Huntersville, North Carolina native tallied a game-high six points with three goals and three assists. Lindsey scored his three goals with five shots, all of which landed on goal.

Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Connor Theriault, Tampa
Graduate Student - Goalkeeper - Mount Hermon, Massachusetts

Theriault's performance in net helped Tampa beat Florida Tech 15-6 in a non-conference road game. The Mount Hermon, Massachusetts, native tallied nine saves and allowed six goals for a .600 save percentage. Theriault earned the win while facing 26 total shots, causing a turnover, and picking up a ground ball during his 60 minutes in goal.

Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week

Jacob Czyz - Florida Southern
Junior - FOS - Baldwinsville, New York - 5th SSC Weekly Award

Czyz prevailed at retaining possession for Florida Southern during a loss to No. 4 Limestone (14-8). The junior from Baldwinsville, New York, won a game-high 15 of 24 face-offs in the win for a .625 win percentage. Czyz also scored a goal for the Moccasins and picked up a game-high seven ground balls. This week's accolade is the fifth of his career.
 

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Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Callison Foreman, Embry-Riddle
Senior - Attack - Vancouver, British Columbia

Foreman led Embry-Riddle's offensive onslaught in an 18-4 win at Alabama-Huntsville. The Vancouver, British Columbia scored a game-high five goals on six shots. Foreman added an assist, a ground ball, and a caused turnover to her stat sheet in the Eagles' victory.

Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Ella-Rae Cox, Embry-Riddle
Sophomore - Goalkeeper - Huntingtown, Maryland

Cox contributed heavily to Embry-Riddle's defensive efforts during an 18-4 season-opening win at Alabama-Huntsville. The Huntingtown, Maryland product tallied eight saves and allowed four goals for a .667 save percentage. Cox earned the win while facing 17 total shots and picking up a ground ball during her 60 minutes in goal.
 

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Men's Swimmer of the Week

Vitaly Kostin, Lynn
Junior - Novosibirsk, Russia - 2nd SSC Weekly Award

Kostin captured two individual golds and one relay win during Lynn's 152-110 dual meet victory over Florida Tech. The Russian won the 200 Free with an NCAA D2 "B Standard" mark of 1:39.29. Kostin went on to win the 500 Free in 4:37.72. Additionally, the junior helped the 200 Medley Relay squad to a win with a time of 1:30.29. The weekly award is his second this season.

Women's Swimmer of the Week

Sam Hunter, Florida Southern
Sophomore - Goshen, Indiana

Hunter delivered Florida Southern two individual and two relay wins in a dual meet victory over Rollins. The sophomore from Goshen, Indiana, opened the meet with a win in the final leg of the 400 medley relay in 3:52.58. She then won the 50 free with an NCAA Division II B cut time of 23.56, followed by another B cut win in the 100 free with a time of 51.01. Hunter ended the meet with a win in the 200 free relay in 1:36.20.
 

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Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Wilson Igbinovia, Embry-Riddle
Junior - Lagos, Nigeria

Igbinovia was instrumental in Embry-Riddle's 7-0 sweep of St. Thomas. The Nigerian began the week with partner Mason Cisco earning a 6-2 win at #3 doubles. Igbinovia then dispatched STU's #1 player 6-0, 6-0 in singles play.

Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Carla Cabero del Hierro, Embry-Riddle
Senior - Valladolid, Spain

Cabero del Hierro led Embry-Riddle to a 6-1 win against NAIA No. 14 Saint Leo last week. The Spaniard began the week with partner Laura Cuesta Bret earning a 6-0 win at #1 doubles. Cabero del Hierro went on to defeat STU's #3 player 6-2, 6-1 in singles play.
 

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Beach Volleyball Pair of the Week

Hailey Carefoot, Florida Southern
Sophomore - St. Petersburg, Florida

Reagan Carlton, Florida Southern
Graduate Student - Stuart, Florida

Florida Southern's #2 flight of Carefoot and Carlton earns the SSC's inaugural Pair of the Week honor. In a 4-1 win over Warner, Carefoot and Carlton delivered a dominant 21-10, 21-8 performance. The Florida natives then delivered a 21-13, 21-8 performance in the Moccasins' 5-0 sweep of Polk State.
 

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