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SUN Players of the Week - April 14, 2025

TAMPA, Fla. – The Sun Conference announces the Player of the Week honorees for the week of April 14, 2025. 

The baseball and softball weekly honors are presented by WinWon, the Official Sports Technology Platform of The Sun. To learn more about WinWon, please click here. 

All awards are based on performances from April 7 - April 13.
 

Baseball Players of the Week - Presented by WinWon

13261Player of the Week
Jesus Gonzalez, Ave Maria | Jr. - Outfielder - Carolina, Puerto Rico

Jesus Gonzalez had a great weekend against Southeastern, making an impact in all three wins of the series. In the first game, Gonzalez hit a leadoff homerun on the third pitch he saw. In the second game, he made a game-saving throw from right field, one-hopping the ball to home plate to tag out a runner and keep Ave Maria up 1-0. Finally, in the third game, Gonzalez put together a five-RBI game, four of them coming in one inning with a homerun and a double in the sixth, as the Gyrenes became the first team to run-rule the Fire since 2019.



13262Pitcher of the Week
Hunter Cashero, Ave Maria | Sr. - Pitcher - Shawnee, Kan.

Hunter Cashero was excellent on the mound this weekend, pitching his second complete game shutout of the season as Ave Maria beat Southeastern 1-0. He only allowed five hits and one walk in his seven innings to post a WHIP below one. Cashero also struck out six batters on the mound. The win also completed Ave Maria first doubleheader sweep of the conference season after splitting their first 10 twin bills in league play.


 

Softball Players of the Week - Presented by WinWon

13258Player of the Week
Leah Gonzalez, Southeastern | Sr. - Infielder - St. Cloud, Fla.

Gonzalez might have had only three hits, but they were far and away the biggest hits of the week for the Fire. Driving in the game winning run in game one, breaking open game two with a three run bomb, and driving in the game winning run in game three. Finishing the week with a .750 slugging percentage and a perfect 19-19 on putouts.




13263Pitcher of the Week
Taylor Thomas, Webber International | Jr. - Pitcher - McDonough, Ga.

Thomas was nails in the circle for the Warriors again this weekend. She started Games 1 and 3 picking up two complete game victories and helping propel the Warriors to their first SUN Conference Tournament appearance under Head Coach Todd Buckingham.



 

Women's Lacrosse Players of the Week

13084Defensive Player of the Week
Milena Isturiz, Keiser | Sr. - Midfielder - Pembroke Pines, Fla.

The heart of the Seahawks belongs to Milena Isturiz who continues to provide help all over the field. On Thursday, she grabbed eight groundballs which is tied for the second most in program history. On Saturday, she secured her 100th caused turnover in the win over St. Thomas. Isturiz continues to lead the top team in the NAIA in points, goals, groundballs, caused turnovers, and draw controls. With the wins, Keiser finished the regular season undefeated and claimed the Sun Conference Regular Season Title.


13051Offensive Player of the Week
Ellen Benintendi, SCAD Savannah | Fr. - Midfielder - Cincinnati, Ohio

Benintendi continues to be a dominating force for the Bees, totaling four goals and three assists, to go along with nine draw controls, as SCAD went 1-0 on the week to finish second in the Sun Conference standings. The freshman currently leads the team in goals (55), draw controls (106), and ground balls (37). At the moment Benintendi leads the conference in goals and is seventh in the NAIA.


 

Tennis Players of the Week

13106Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Shaheed Alam, Keiser | Jr. - Singapore

Keiser closed out their Sun Conference slate with two more wins thanks in part to Shaheed Alam. With the wins, the Seahawks secured a share of the Sun Conference Regular Season Title and will be the top seed in the Sun Conference Tournament.




13062Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Violet Apisah, Keiser | Sr. - Sydney, Australia

Violet Apisah had another dominant week on the courts for the Seahawks. This week she helped Keiser to two more wins and their ninth consecutive Sun Conference Regular Season Title.




 

Golfers of the Week

13264Men's Golfer of the Week
Adam Buchanan, Keiser | Fr. - Ballyclare, Northern Ireland

Adam Buchanan guided Keiser to a second-place finish and the team's seventh top-5 finish of the season at the Roadrunner Classic last week. Buchanan shot a 1-over, 217, for his third top-5 finish of the season. He notched a 3-under on Par 5s and recorded 31 par putts. He also tallied 11 birdies. On the year, Buchanan has registered an adjusted scoring average of 70.7 and is ranked No. 12 in the nation (clippd).



13265Women's Golfer of the Week
Carolin Alblas, Keiser | Sr. - Neuss, Germany

Carolin Alblas earned the second individual title of the season and her career, shooting a career-low 208 (71-67-70). With an 8-under, Alblas recorded the second-lowest, 54-hole score in Keiser history. She led the Seahawks to their fifth tournament title with a 5-under, 859, at the Music City Classic in Old Hickory, Tennessee, last week. On the year, Alblas has recorded an adjusted scoring average of 72.0 and is ranked No. 4 in the nation (clippd).


 

Flag Football Players of the Week

13266Defensive Player of the Week
Kiana Acol, Thomas | Sr. - Utility - Crestview, Fla.

In a week where the Night Hawk defense had 16 interceptions (2nd in the nation in total interceptions with 43), Acol finished with two of her own, with her taking one back for a touch down and another involved her taking it most of the way before tossing it back to her teammate for another pick-six. Acol also received a pitch herself on a punt return where she took it back for a touchdown as well. She also scored an offensive touchdown.



13205Offensive Player of the Week
Keelin Coleman, Thomas | Fr. - Quarterback - Daytona Beach, Fla.

Coleman was extremely efficient this week for the Night Hawks. Against Daytona State, she completed 9 of her 10 passes for 173 yards and five touchdowns, finishing the game with a efficiency rating of 400.3. Over the week she went 13-16 for 196 yards and 7 touchdowns.



 

Track & Field Athletes of the Week

13267Men's Track Athlete of the Week
Aiden Andrews, SCAD Savannah | Fr.

Andrews won his first event of the year at the Georgia Showdown, winning the 800M with a time of 1:58.78.






13260Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Claudio Pugnetti, Keiser | Fr. - Udine, Italy

Placed first in the men's javelin throw, netting a new school record and NAIA A-standard status in the process.






13268Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Maggie Froning, SCAD Savannah | Sr. - Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Froning broke the school record in the 800M with her first-place time of 2:14.36. The Senior also finished second in the 1500M with a time of 4:41.83.





13259Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Andreana Graham, Florida Memorial | Sr. - Clearwater, Fla.

The dual-sport athlete earned a first place finish in the women's long jump at the Keiser Twilight Meet, posting a mark of 5.50 meters.




 

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