The Spartan Club, comprised of Case Institute of Technology (CIT), Western Reserve University (WRU) and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) alumni, parents of current students, faculty and staff, and friends of the University, is aimed at helping foster and honor the proud tradition of athletics at the University, while also supporting the current student-athletes. For more information on the Spartan Club, and to help support its purpose by becoming a member, CLICK HERE.
Case Western Reserve University graduate student Anthony Mazzeo, a guard on the men's basketball team, and senior Kayla Characklis, a forward on the women's basketball team, have been named the Spartan Club Athletes of the Week for their performances this past week.
Characklis helped lead the Spartans to a pair of wins at the Puerto Rico Clasicó in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Characklis averaged 16.0 points on 57.1% (12-of-21) shooting overall and made 88.9% (eight-of-nine) attempts from the free throw line while adding 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Despite being limited to just 25 minutes in a 74-73 overtime win against Emmanuel, she finished the game with 13 points on four-of-11 shooting with seven rebounds, two assists, and a career-high four steals. She followed that with a team-leading 19 points in a 73-60 win over Norwich, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter to help the Spartans come from behind for the victory. Characklis shot eight-of-10 overall and made all three of her free throw attempts while collecting eight rebounds, an assist, and a steal. This season, she leads all Spartan players with 14.1 points per game on 60.0% shooting with 6.9 rebounds per contest. CWRU ended its non-conference schedule as the winner of five of its last six games to improve to 7-4 overall.
The team will now turn its attention to the start of University Athletic Association play. The Spartans will open conference competition on Saturday at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
Mazzeo helped lead the eighth-ranked Spartans to four wins in as many games during winter break. Mazzeo averaged a team-high 19.8 points per game over the four contests, shooting 59.6% (28-of-47) overall, 52.0% (13-of-25) from 3-point range, and 71.4% (10-of-14) from the free throw line, while adding 5.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2023 D3hoops.com Classic after averaging 28.0 points per game during the Spartans' two victories at the event, shooting 64.5% (20-of-31) from the floor, including 50.0% (eight-of-16) from beyond the arc, and added an 88.9% (eight-of-nine) mark from the free throw line. He also led the team with 7.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. During Case Western Reserve's 87-74 win over fourth-ranked Oswego State on Thursday, he led all Spartans with 26 points and a career-high seven assists, adding six rebounds. He shot nine-of-18 from the floor during the game, including four-of-11 from 3-point range, and connected on four-of-five free throw attempts. Mazzeo followed that with a season-high 30-point showing during the team's 98-87 win over Clark on Friday. He shot 11-of-13 from the floor, including four-of-five from behind the 3-point line, and led all CWRU players with eight rebounds while matching his career-high with seven assists for the second-straight night. He scored 19 points with six assists against Hiram on December 11 and notched four points with three rebounds and two assists against Earlham on December 17. Mazzeo is averaging a team-best 18.5 points per game this season on 52.5% shooting overall and 41.5% from 3-point range. He has added 3.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game during the campaign. The Spartans ended their non-conference schedule with a perfect 11-0 record.
Case Western Reserve will now turn its attention to the start of UAA play, which is slated to begin this weekend. The Spartans will open league action against Carnegie Mellon University on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Pittsburgh.
The Spartan Club Athletes of the Week are selected by the CWRU Department of Athletics each Monday, based on their performance during the previous week of competition.
2023-24 Spartan Club Athletes of the Week:
Sept. 5: Jacob Salmon (men's soccer) & Alyssa Blessinger (volleyball)
Sept. 11: Matt Vatne (men's soccer) & Jennifer Ngo (volleyball)
Sept. 18: Aidan Nathan (men's cross country) & Ceci Dapino (women's soccer)
Sept. 25: Alex Fromberg (football) & Hannah Kassaie (women's tennis)
Oct. 2: Lauren Iagnemma (women's cross country), Vishwa Aduru & Diego Maza (men's tennis)
Oct. 9: Kaden Tong (football) & Jamie Goldfarb (women's soccer)
Oct. 16: Henry Busch (football) & Rea Marfatia (volleyball)
Oct. 23: Gage Duesler (football) & Gabriella Chambers (women's swimming and diving)
Oct. 30: Emil LaSida (men's swimming and diving) & Mackenzie Mueller (women's soccer)
Nov. 6: Art Martinez (wrestling) & Maggie Storti (women's soccer)
Nov. 13: Lauren Iagnemma (women's cross country) & Jennifer Ngo (volleyball)
Nov. 20: Peter Meng (men's swimming and diving) & Lauren Iagnemma (women's cross country)
Nov. 27: Kayla Characklis (women's basketball)
Dec. 4: Colin Kahl (men's basketball) & Sarah Ozeki (women's track and field)
Dec. 11: Mike Valerino (wrestling) & Kate Montgomery (women's basketball)
Jan. 2: Anthony Mazzeo (men's basketball) & Kayla Characklis (women's basketball)
