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 junior Emily Plachta, a guard/forward on the women's basketball team, and sophomore Mathew Gummere, a member of the wrestling team, have been named the Spartan Club Athletes of the Week for their performances this past week.
Plachta helped lead the Spartans to a pair of wins in three games in the last two weeks. Plachta paced the Spartans in scoring in each of the three games, averaging 19.3 points per contest while shooting 52.6% (20-of-38) overall, 56.0% (14-of-25) from behind the three-point line, and 57.1% (4-of-7) from the free throw line. She added 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game during the stretch. Plachta dropped 20 points in just 18 minutes during the team's 108-52 win over Pitt.-Greensburg on December 19, making seven-of-10 shots overall, including a career-high five three-pointers on seven attempts, with five rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal. She scored 18 points with a career-high eight rebounds in a 67-53 victory at Transylvania on December 29, making seven-of-14 shots overall and four-of-eight from three-point range. Plachta wrapped up the week with another 20-point effort in an 80-54 setback to Concordia-Moorhead on December 30, making six-of-14 shots overall and matching her career-high again with five three-pointers on 10 attempts, while collecting two rebounds, an assist, and two steals. She was named to the Gratz Park Private Wealth Holiday All-Tournament Team for her efforts against Transylvania and Concordia-Moorhead. Plachta is averaging 11.6 points per game this season on 34.7% shooting overall and 31.7% from long range with 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per contest. Case Western Reserve's record stands at 5-5 for the campaign.
The Spartans will now turn their attention to the start of University Athletic Association play on Saturday, January 11 when the team will host 19th-ranked Carnegie Mellon University inside Horsburgh Gymnasium in Cleveland at 3 p.m.
Gummere picked up two wins in three matches at 184 pounds, including a pin, at the 2025 UAA Challenge Duals hosted by the University of Chicago in Chicago on Saturday. Gummere, ranked seventh in Region V by the NWCA, pinned Randy Manos in 2:34 during a 33-16 loss to Aurora. Earlier in the day, he bested Tate Crowell of Millikin by decision, 4-0. With the match scoreless in the final period, Gummere secured a takedown and maintained the advantageous position to add an additional point of riding time. He improved to 18-9 on the season with seven pins and two technical falls. The Spartans dropped to 0-3 overall in dual matches.
CWRU will continue its dual meet schedule on Saturday when the team returns home to host the 2025 Claude Sharer Duals, welcoming Otterbein, Manchester, and St. John Fisher to the Veale Center with action slated to begin at 11 a.m.
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.
Honorable Mention:
Senior forward Umar Rashid (men's basketball) averaged 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds during a pair of games for the Spartans at the E.M. "Mose" Hole/Wooster Kiwanis Classic in Wooster, Ohio on December 29 and 30. Rashid shot 45.8% overall (11-of-24), 37.5% (3-of-8) from three-point range, and 85.7% (6-of-7) from the free throw line, while adding 3.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game. He notched a double-double during the second game of the tournament in a 102-97 loss to Pitt.-Bradford, finishing the game with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Rashid made eight-of-17 shots overall, including three-of-eight from long range, while adding three assists, a block, and two steals. The previous day, in a 73-59 loss to Babson, he totaled eight points, five rebounds, three assists, and a steal, making three-of-seven shots overall. Through 11 games this season, Rashid is averaging 16.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per contest. The Spartans stand at 4-7 overall during the 2024-25 campaign.
The Spartans will now shift their attention to the start of UAA play, which will begin on Saturday, January 13. CWRU will begin its conference slate against 19th-ranked Carnegie Mellon at Horsburgh Gymnasium with the tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
2024-25 Spartan Club Athletes of the Week:
Sept. 3: Aidan Nathan (men's cross country) & Amanda Ngo (volleyball)
Sept. 9: Bradley Winter (men's soccer) & Sydney Schenk (women's soccer)
Sept. 16: Alex Fromberg (football) & Rea Marfatia (volleyball)
Sept. 23: Ansh Shah (men's tennis) & Ceci Dapino (women's soccer)
Sept. 30: Ethan Dahlem (football) & Amanda Ngo (volleyball)
Oct. 7: Jacob Slater (men's cross country) & Arianna Holbrook (women's cross country)
Oct. 14: Alex Fromberg (football) & Gabriella Chambers (women's swimming and diving)
Oct. 21: Kaden Tong (football) & Rea Marfatia (volleyball)
Oct. 28: Bradley Winter (men's soccer) & Carly Scott (volleyball)
Nov. 4: Lauren Iagnemma (women's cross country) & Donovan Crowley (men's cross country)
Nov. 11: Sam Trunley (men's basketball) & Lily Crouch (volleyball)
Nov. 18: Art Martinez (wrestling) & Lauren Iagnemma (women's cross country)
Nov. 25: John Drumm (men's swimming and diving) & Claire Kozma (women's swimming and diving)
Dec. 9: Art Martinez (wrestling) & Evie Miller (women's basketball)
Jan. 6: Emily Plachta (women's basketball) & Mathew Gummere (wrestling)
