SSC Athletes of the Week | December 8 - 14, 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 8 - 14 2025. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.
Men's Basketball Player of the Week
Preston Le Gassick, Palm Beach Atlantic
Senior - Guard - Gold Coast, Australia
Le Gassick scored a game-high 22 points as Palm Beach Atlantic upset No. 1 Nova Southeastern in conference play. The Aussie also provided the Sailfish with three assists, two steals, and two rebounds in the 88-83 victory. Le Gassick totaled his 22 points against NSU by shooting 54% from the field (7-13), 63% from the free-throw line (5-8), and 50% from behind the arc (3-6).
Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Christian Kirkland, Palm Beach Atlantic
Sophomore - Forward - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kirkland led Palm Beach Atlantic defensively during an 88-83 upset of No. 1 Nova Southeastern. The sophomore from Philadelphia totaled a game-high four blocks, along with two steals and five defensive rebounds. With the play of Kirkland, the Sailfish held the Sharks to 15 points below their season scoring average. Offensively, Kirkland had two points, two offensive rebounds, and an assist in the victory.
Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Laurie Satchell, Embry-Riddle
Senior - Forward - Elkridge, Maryland
Satchell recorded a 22-point / 13-rebound double-double in Embry-Riddle’s 96-52 win over Barry. The Elkridge, Maryland, product also provided the Eagles with two steals and two assists in the win. Satchell totaled her 22 points against Barry by shooting 75% from the field (9-12) and 67% from the free-throw line (4-6). The senior led the contest in rebounds during her 23 minutes on the court.
Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Eliana Sheplee, Embry-Riddle
Freshman - Guard - Rice Lake, Wisconsin - 2nd SSC Weekly Award
Sheplee had game-high numbers in defensive rebounds and steals during Embry-Riddle’s 96-52 win over Barry. The Rice Lake, Wisconsin, product tallied 10 defensive boards and three steals during her 24 minutes on the court. Offensively, Sheplee tallied a game-high 25 points, dished four assists, and pulled in one offensive rebound. The weekly award is her second this season.
Men's Swimmer of the Week
Efe Guler, Lynn
Freshman - Antalya, Turkey
Guler was the overall champion at the annual CSCAA Open Water Championships at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida, last week. The Turk bested a field of 89 swimmers across multiple NCAA divisions. Guler finished the 5,000-meter race in 52:54.1, outpacing second place by 1.5 seconds.
Women's Swimmer of the Week
Rania Khallouqi, Florida Southern
Freshman - Worthing, England
Khallouqi made an impact for Florida Southern in a Friday dual meet win over Indian River State, the 47-time NJCAA champion. The freshman from Worthing, England, opened the meet with a runner-up finish in the 200 freestyle (1:56.42) before claiming an individual victory in the 100 free (53.65). Khallouqi capped her performance by leading off the 200 free relay in 24.95.
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)
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)
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)
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)