SSC Athletes of the Week | December 15 - 21, 2025
Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their regular season performances during the week of December 15 - 21, 2025. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.
Men's Basketball Player of the Week
Ryan Blount, Tampa
Sophomore - Forward - Oviedo, Florida - 2nd SSC Weekly Award
Blount averaged 25.7 points and 7.3 rebounds as the Spartans went 3-0 to wrap up 2025. The forward from Oviedo, Florida, started the week with a 27-point / 11-rebound double-double in a 79-78 win at Lynn. The sophomore followed with 20 points, seven rebounds, and three steals in a 79-73 opening win at the Tampa Holiday Classic. Blount closed out the event with a game-high 30 points in the Spartans’ 92-77 win over St. Thomas Aquinas. He totaled 77 points last week by shooting 56% from the field (27-48), 82% from the line (10-12), and 52% from three (13-25). Along with his 25.7 points and 7.3 rebounds, he averaged 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals while playing 33.3 minutes per game. The weekly award is his second this season.
Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
John Roland, Lynn
Sophomore - Forward - Coral Springs, Florida
Roland was Lynn’s top defender across a three-game slate last week. The sophomore from Coral Springs, Florida, totaled a game-high four blocks, along with two steals and six defensive rebounds in a narrow loss to Tampa. Over two games at the Florida Tech Holiday Classic, Roland totaled 10 defensive rebounds, two steals, and a block. Offensively, Roland had 39 points, 17 offensive rebounds, and four assists last week.
Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Sydney Gomes, Florida Southern
Senior - Guard - Ponte Vedra, Florida - 4th SSC Weekly Award
Gomes averaged 22.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game as Florida Southern went 2-0 at its annual Christmas Classic. The guard from Ponte Vedra, Florida, began the event with game-highs in points (23), rebounds (10), steals (5), and blocks (2) in 33 minutes during a 70-49 win over Southern Wesleyan. The senior followed with 21 points in 21 minutes as FSC won 106-56 against Erskine. She also recorded six rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block in the victory. Gomes totaled 44 points last week by shooting 56% from the field (18-32), 100% from the line (4-4), and 29% from three (4-14). During her standout week, Gomes reached both 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds. The weekly award is the fourth of her career.
Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Breeje Schuler, Palm Beach Atlantic
Senior - Guard - Te Aroha, New Zealand
Schuler led Palm Beach Atlantic defensively during a 2-0 record at the Lynn Holiday Classic. The New Zealander began the classic with game-highs in defensive rebounds (10), blocks (4), and steals (4) during PBA’s 66-43 win over Ave Maria. Schuler followed with a game-high three blocks, along with four defensive rebounds and two steals in a 58-50 win over Bowie State. Offensively, Schuller tallied 25 points, dished out eight assists, and pulled in two offensive rebounds.
Men's Swimmer of the Week
Maurice Grabowski, Lynn
Senior - Neu-Ulm, Germany
Grabowski delivered a historic performance for Lynn at the Shark Invite, hosted by Nova Southeastern, earning the Men’s High Point award with 73 points while leading the Fighting Knights to a second-place team finish. The junior shattered the NCAA Division II record in the 100 individual medley (48.15), won the 100 butterfly in a Lynn school-record 46.12 (NCAA D2 A cut), added podium finishes in the 50 freestyle (second, 19.65, NCAA D2 B cut) and 100 freestyle (third, 44.67, NCAA D2 B cut), and contributed to three medal-winning relays, including a victory in the 400 freestyle relay.
Women's Swimmer of the Week
Kristina Orban, Nova Southeastern
Sophomore - Malmo, Sweden - 6th SSC Weekly Award
Orban turned in a dominant performance at the Shark Invite, leading Nova Southeastern to a first-place team finish while sweeping four individual events. She captured victories in the 50 freestyle (22.77, NCAA D2 B cut), 200 freestyle (1:49.43, NCAA D2 B cut), 100 individual medley (56.64), and 100 freestyle (49.19, NCAA D2 A cut). Orban’s consistency across the meet earned her the Michael D. Fish High Point Award, as she amassed 80 total points in a post-meet ceremony, capping an outstanding showing for the Sharks. The weekly award is her fourth this season and sixth overall.
Week-by-Week Winners
2025-26 SSC Men's Basketball Award Winners (Player; Defensive)
Nov. 3: Elijah Walsh (FSC); Amare Miller (FSC)
Nov. 17: Ross Reeves (NSU); Marko Sarenac (Barry)
Nov. 24: Jaxon Nap (NSU); Ross Reeves (NSU)
Dec. 1: Ryan Blount (Tampa); Ross Reeves (NSU)
Dec. 8: Ross Reeves (NSU); Xavier Ford-Belton (Florida Tech)
Dec. 15: Preston Le Gassick (PBA); Christian Kirkland (PBA)
Dec. 22: Ryan Blount (Tampa); John Roland (Lynn)
2025-26 SSC Women's Basketball Award Winners (Player; Defensive)
Nov. 10: Ryan Franklin (Tampa); Alanis Diaz (Tampa)
Nov. 17: Sydney Gomes (FSC); Emma Egan (Eckerd)
Nov. 24: Eliana Sheplee (ERAU); Mary Lengemann (ERAU)
Dec. 1: Tai Roberts (Florida Tech); Markayla Holland (NSU)
Dec. 8: Bridie McCann (NSU); Sydney Gomes (FSC)
Dec. 15: Laurie Satchell (ERAU); Eliana Sheplee (ERAU)
Dec. 22: Sydney Gomes (FSC); Breeje Schuler (PBA)
2025-26 SSC Swimming Award Winners (Men's; Women's)
Oct. 6: Efe Ongoren (Florida Tech); Abby Briggs (Florida Tech)
Oct. 13: Daniel Meszaros (FSC); Burlingtyn Bokos (Tampa)
Oct. 20: Alfredo Dominguez (Tampa); Kristina Orban (NSU)
Oct. 27: Simeon Prosinski (FSC); Alexandra Alkas Alias (FSC)
Nov. 3: Jacob Hamlin (Tampa); Kristina Orban (NSU)
Nov. 10: Vitaly Kostin (Lynn); Mariele De Santis (Lynn)
Nov. 17: Sebastian Greisen (Barry); Sofia Ristancev (Barry)
Nov. 24: Jacob Hamlin (Tampa); Kristina Orban (NSU)
Dec. 15: Efe Guler (Lynn); Rania Khallouqi (FSC)
Dec. 22: Maurice Grabowski (Lynn); Kristina Orban (NSU)
2025-26 SSC Golf Award Winners (Men's; Women's)
Sept. 15: none; Maria Mora (Tampa)
Sept. 22: Reggie Fear (Eckerd); Emilia Koskinen (Lynn)
Sept. 29: Mohit Balaji (Tampa); Leonie Sinnhuber (Barry)
Oct. 6: Ivan Ponsdomenech (NSU); Tereza Zavrelova (Barry)
Oct. 13: Simon Roessler (Lynn); Clare Gimpel (FSC)
Oct. 20: Clarence Champman (Rollins); McKenzee Sullivan (Saint Leo)
Oct. 27: Jack VanderSchuur (FSC); Tereza Zavrelova (Barry)
Nov. 3: Eduardo Matarazzo (Barry); Lindsay Lee (Rollins)
Week-by-Week Winners: Inactive Sports
2025 SSC Volleyball Award Winners (Offensive; Defensive; Setter)
Sept. 8: Connor Rahn (Tampa); Nako Sasaki (FSC); Ula Gorjup (Lynn)
Sept. 15: Veronika Eremeeva (Barry); Ester Pushkarova (Barry); Grace Reynolds (PBA)
Sept. 22: Valeriya Kozlova (Barry); Olivia Aniol (NSU); Ula Gorjup (Lynn)
Sept. 29: Veronika Eremeeva (Barry); Nako Sasaki (FSC); Ashlyn Koerner (ERAU)
Oct. 6: Cordelia Kearns (Florida Tech); Ana Rivera (Tampa); Ula Gorjup (Lynn)
Oct. 13: Valeriya Kozlova (Barry); Ivana Zujovic (Barry); Grace Reynolds (PBA)
Oct. 20: Connor Rahn (Tampa); Olivia Aniol (NSU); Grace Reynolds (PBA)
Oct. 27: Cordelia Kearns (Florida Tech); Jenna Davis (Tampa); Ashlyn Koerner (ERAU)
Nov. 3: Valeriya Kozlova (Barry); Robinson Repass (Rollins); Gabi Jedrzejczak (Eckerd)
Nov. 10: Valeriya Kozlova (Barry); Ana Rivera (Tampa); Grace Reynolds (PBA)
Nov. 17: Tess Schrenger (Tampa); Connor Rahn (Tampa); Hope Passerello (Lynn)
Nov. 24: Valeriya Kozlova (Barry); Kailey Hrbek (ERAU); Gabi Jedrzejczak (Eckerd)
2025 SSC Men's Soccer Award Winners (Offensive; Defensive)
Sept. 8: Viggo Svedin (Tampa); Nikolas Ricardo (NSU)
Sept. 15: Rodrigo Lopes (Tampa); Lasse Dettmer (FSC)
Sept. 22: Tin Vastic (PBA); Luca Clavero (Lynn)
Sept. 29: Domiik N'gatie (Lynn); Elias Ronning Orn (Florida Tech)
Oct. 6: Tin Vastic (PBA); Flavio Giannini (PBA)
Oct. 13: Juan Hermoso (PBA); Luan Barroso Rennstich (Lynn)
Oct. 20: Tim Arnhold (Rollins); Elias Ronning Orn (Florida Tech)
Oct. 27: Santiago Hoyos Lopez (NSU); Flavio Giannini (PBA)
Nov. 3: Robinson Muenst (Lynn); James Knudson (Saint Leo)
Nov. 10: James Averies (Barry); Elias Ronning Orn (Florida Tech)
2025 SSC Women's Soccer Award Winners (Offensive; Defensive)
Sept. 8: Alexa Bereczki (NSU); Thea Nyberg (ERAU)
Sept. 15: Oliwia Loeman (NSU); Carly Brodsky (FSC)
Sept. 22: Lauryn Wood (Florida Tech); Emma Brunelli (Lynn)
Sept. 29: Lauryn Mateo (ERAU); Marlen Hernandez (Barry)
Oct. 6: Genesis Hernandez (NSU); Marlen Hernandez (Barry)
Oct. 13: Izzie Bromage (Florida Tech); Stella Roane (ERAU)
Oct. 20: Jasmine Gallo (Eckerd); Carly Brodsky (FSC)
Oct. 27: Sofia Suarez (NSU); Madi Winn (Eckerd)
Nov. 3: Freija Aflenzer (Eckerd); Madi Winn (Eckerd)
Nov. 10: Izzie Bromage (Florida Tech); Madi Winn (Eckerd)
2025 SSC Cross Country Award Winners (Men's; Women's)
Sept. 8: Taye Newman (ERAU); Jillian Thorning (NSU)
Sept. 15: Zach Kehler (Tampa); Jillian Throning (NSU)
Sept. 29: Colten Lee (PBA); Beth Sykes (PBA)
Oct. 6: Simon DeVoss, (FSC); Leena Saidi (NSU)
Oct. 13: Christian Giller (FSC); Dominyka Petraskaite (PBA)
Oct. 20: Andrew Nyland (FSC); Kara Simard (FSC)