Horizon League Athletes of the Week

For the week of March 26, 2012

Kyle Henning Valparaiso Golf

Hometown: Brookfield, Wis. Henning finished in a tie-for-18th place out of 87 golfers at the Beu Mussatto Invitational played at the Harry Mussatto Golf Course in Macomb, Ill. He fired an opening round three-over-par 75 and a second round score of 77 before shooting a final round even-par 72 to finish with a three-day score of 224.

Erika Pfaender Valparaiso Golf

Hometown: Pewaukee, Wis. Pfaender won the Women’s Golfer of the Week award after finishing in third place out of 64 competitors at the IPFW Fall Classic played at the Pine Valley C.C. in Fort Wayne, Ind. She shot an opening round 80 and a final round 79 to finish one shot out of the playoff. It was her best finish of the season and she was the top performing Horizon League player in the field.

Jordan Rutkowski Valparaiso Softball

Hometown: Alden, N.Y. Rutkowski helped Valparaiso (20-10, 6-0 Horizon) remain perfect in conference play as the Crusaders swept visiting Green Bay to go 3-1 last week. On the week, Rutkowski went 8-for-14 with six runs scored and nine RBI. Slugging 1.214 over the four games, Rutkowski clubbed a three-run homer earlier in the week in non-league action against Purdue.

Mariya Kovaleva UIC Tennis

Hometown: Almaty, Kazakhstan In her customary No. 1 singles slot, Kovaleva breezed to a straight-set win, dropping just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 victory. In doubles, the three-time Horizon League Player of the Year teamed with Haley Craig to post an 8-1 victory.

Calanetta Burrows Milwaukee Track and Field

Hometown: Menomonee Falls, Wis. For the second week in a row, Burrows has been named the Athlete of the Week for women's track. She competed over the weekend in the 400-meter hurdles, 100-meter hurdles and the 4x400-meter relay. In the 400mH, she took eighth place with a time of 1:01.28, which is a season-best mark and it was just shy of her PR. Burrows ran the fourth-fastest time in school history during the 100mH with a time of 14.42. She also ran the third leg in the 4x400 and the team finished in 3:49.89.

Dara Toman Cleveland State Softball

Hometown: Westerville, Ohio Despite Cleveland State’s struggles, Toman could not be stopped at the plate, going 7-for-15 with five home runs and 11 RBI. With 14 long balls on the year, Toman leads the Horizon League.

Cale Tassi Milwaukee Baseball

Hometown: Presque Isle, Wis. Tassi picked up his second Pitcher of the Week honors this season after pitching eight strong innings last week to help the Panthers even their series against UIC. After dropping the first game of the series, 1-0, to UIC. Tassi took the mound on Saturday afternoon and allowed only one earned run and five hits, while setting a career-high with nine strikeouts to help Milwaukee win 7-1.

Maria Harrison Wright State Track and Field

Hometown: Troy, Ohio Harrison competed in four different events over the weekend, including the shot put, javelin, hammer throw and discus throw. In the shot put, she finished first with a toss of 13.18m. The mark is a new school record for the sophomore. In the javelin, she had a throw of 19.36m and 46.04 in the hammer to take third out of 25 competitors. In the discus, she took home first place again with a toss of 38.46m.

Jenny Esparza Butler Softball

Hometown: Avon, Ind. Returning from a hamstring injury, Esparza rejoined Butler’s rotation for the first time since March 3, starting four games during the week and posted three wins, allowing just one run and striking out 29.

Dexter Schleis Milwaukee Track and Field

Hometown: Germantown, Wis. One week after shattering the school record, the sophomore competed in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing in first place with a time of 52.86. Schleis still ranks in the top-50 in the NCAA with last week's time.

Garrett Vetesnik Milwaukee Track and Field

Hometown: Richland Center, Wis. The pole vaulter finished in second place with a height of 5.00m (16-4.75), just shy of his PR which stands second in school history. The height is currently 52nd in the country.

Paul Swanson Green Bay Tennis

Hometown: Coon Rapids, Minn. In Green Bay’s final two home matches of the spring season, Swanson did not drop a set at No. 1 singles. Against UIC, Swanson collected a 6-1, 6-2 victory on Saturday before a 6-3, 6-2 win over his opponent from Valparaiso on Sunday. In doubles play, Swanson and Michael Tebon fell in a tie-break, 9-8 (8), on Saturday before Swanson partnered with Henning Jess in an 8-3 victory on Sunday.

Corey Davis Wright State Baseball

Hometown: Happy Valley, Ore. Davis helped the Raiders go 4-0 on the road last weekend. At Ohio, Davis was 2-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base in the Raiders’ 7-1 win. In the opening game of the Valpo series, Davis was 3-4 with two doubles and a home run, drove in three runs and scored two himself as WSU outlasted the Crusaders, 7-6, in in 10 innings. In Wright State’s series-clinching win on Saturday, Davis hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to tie the game at one as the Raiders went on to win, 4-2.

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