General | 3/2/2026 12:21:00 PM

2025-26 Gannon University Athlete of the Week Previous Recipients

ERIE, Pa. - Maria Martinez (Barcelona, Spain/Jesuïtes Gràcia Col·legi Kostka) (women's water polo) and Kenny Kiser (Meadville, Pa./Saegertown) (men's wrestling) have been named Gannon Student-Athletes of the Week following standout performances that highlighted regular and postseason success.

Martinez continued her early season dominance during the Curtis Robinette Invitational over the weekend in Erie. The freshman tallied 16 total goals in four games, bringing her total to 30 on the season, which leads the team. Through just ten games, Martinez has been remarkably accurate, compiling a .526 shooting percentage thus far. Gannon swept their Sunday games to improve to 4-6 on the season. 

Despite an injury early in the season, Kenny Kiser (Meadville, Pa./Saegertown) (Meadville, Pa./Saegertown) found late bout magic on Saturday. The Crawford County native would secure a victory in sudden victory in the semifinals before earning a takedown with seconds to go in the final to win the 149 pound crown at the NCAA Super Regional One in East Stroudsburg, PA. He is one of nine Golden Knights that will be advancing to NCAA Championships in Sioux Falls, SD on March 13th and 14th. 

2025-26 Gannon University Athlete of the Week Previous Recipients

Week 1 (9/8/2025) 
Alexis Abbett (Women's Cross Country)
Victor Volant (Men's Water Polo)

Week 2 (9/15/2025)
Abbey Williams (Chicago, Ill./Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts) (Volleyball)
Jack Kenyon (Men's Soccer)

Week 3 (9/22/2025)
Emily Bowers (Women's Cross Country)
Alexandros Kotskar (Men's Water Polo)

Week 4 (9/29/2025) 
Nehir Yazicioglu (Ankara, Turkey) (Volleyball)
Nikiforos Liantziris (Men's Water Polo)
 
Week 5 (10/6/2025) 
Brooklyn Respecki (Women's Soccer)
Damario Moore (Football)
 
Week 6 (10/13/2025) 
Cloe Mateo (Women's Golf)
Ty Hurst (Football)
 
Week 7 (10/20/2025) 
Sydney Wake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) (Volleyball)
Frederik Paulsen (Men's Soccer)
 
Week 8 (10/27/2025) 
Kasey Smith (Meadville, Pa./Villa Maria) (Volleyball)
Sverre Orten (Men's Soccer)
 
Week 9 (11/3/2025) 
Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian) (Volleyball)
Rafa Hyde (Men's Soccer)
 
Week 10 (11/10/2025) 
Mariia Melnyk (Kyiv, Ukraine/Education Center Optima) (Women's Swimming)
Patrick Jackson (Harpers Ferry, WV/Spring Mills High) (Men's Wrestling)
 
Week 11 (11/17/2025) 
Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) (Women's Basketball)
Kasper Alfei Saebo (Men's Soccer)
 
Week 12 (11/24/2025) 
Mariia Melnyk (Kyiv, Ukraine/Education Center Optima) (Women's Swimming)
Bator Mohacsi (Men's Water Polo)
 
Week 13 (12/1/2025) 
Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) (Women's Basketball)
Enzo Rekka (Men's Soccer)
 
Week 14 (12/8/2025) 
Lauren Atwell (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) (Volleyball)
Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) (Men's Basketball)

Week 15 (12/15/2025) 
Jerry Echevarria (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) (Men's Wrestling)
Jaylene Martinez (Whittier, Cal./Whittier) (Women's Wrestling)

Week 16 (1/5/2026)
Mia Slater (Canberra, Australia/Canberra Grammar School) (Women's Basketball)
Lucas Sekasi (Washington, DC/Jackson-Reed) (Men's Basketball)

Week 17 (1/12/2026)
Jordan Popyk (Novi, Mich./Novi) (Women's Basketball)
Dillon Walker (Mason, Ohio/Mason) (Men's Wrestling)

Week 18 (1/19/2026)
Elisa Moliner (Zaragoza, Spain/IES Francisco de Goya) (Women's Swimming)
Kuba Loboda (Lublin, Poland) (Men's Swimming)

Week 19 (1/26/26)
Jake Niffenegger (Mason, Ohio/La Salle) (Mason, Ohio/La Salle) (Men's Wrestling)
Lili Ujfalvi (Kecskemet-heteny, Hungary/Bolyai Janos Secondary School) (Women's Wrestling)

Week 20 (2/2/26)
Claire Eaton (Conneaut, Ohio/Conneaut) (Competitive Cheer & Dance)
Dayne Jackson (Wernersville, Pa./Wernersville) (Competitive Cheer & Dance)

Week 21 (2/9/26)
Carissa Dunham (Women's Basketball)
MacKenzie Morgan (Men's Basketball)

Week 22 (2/16/26)
Isabella Veltre (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central) (Women's Lacrosse)
Grant MacKay (New Castle, Pa./Laurel) (Men's Wrestling)
 
Week 23 (2/23/26)
Bella Phillips (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) (Women's Wrestling)
Victor Desmond (Onalaska, Wisc./Onalaska) (Men's Basketball) 

Week 24 (3/2/26)
Maria Martinez (Barcelona, Spain/Jesuïtes Gràcia Col·legi Kostka) (Women's Water Polo)
Kenny Kiser (Meadville, Pa./Saegertown) (Men's Wrestling)