Three ONU athletes were named OAC athletes of the week in their respective sports.

Alex Pizarro - men’s lacrosse

Senior goalkeeper Alex Pizarro (Boonsboro, Md.) has been voted the first Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week for the 2019 season, the conference office announced Monday afternoon.

On Saturday, the ONU netminder recorded 11 total saves on 23 shots faced in the Polar Bears' 12-10 loss to Elmhurst (Ill.) at Dial-Roberson Stadium. The senior would also tally two ground balls and a 47.8% save percentage in the nonconference affair.

The selection marks the fourth time in Pizarro's career and first time this season that he has garnered an OAC Defensive Player of the Week accolade.

Ohio Northern (0-1) will return to action this Saturday, February 23 with an eastward journey to Washington & Jefferson (Pa.). The game is slated for a 1 p.m. start.  

Noah Elliott - men’s tennis

Freshman Noah Elliott (Hilliard/Davidson) has been named the Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Tennis Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon.

On Saturday, Elliott led Ohio Northern to a 6-3, nonconference victory over Wittenberg at the Westwood Tennis & Fitness Center in Lima to open the 2019 spring slate. Elliott defeated the Tigers' Gavin Tay 6-2, 6-4 at No. 3 singles and teamed up with sophomore Hoang Do (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) for an 8-3 triumph at No. 2 doubles.

The Hilliard product improves to 4-3 in singles action and to 3-1 in doubles play during the 2018-19 campaign.

Elliott receives his first career OAC Player of the Week nod with the selection and becomes the first ONU player to garner the award this season.

The Polar Bears (1-1) will return to the court Sunday, February 24 with a dual at No. 34-ranked Oberlin. First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Ryan Bruns - men’s basketball

Senior All-American Ryan Bruns (Chickasaw/Marion Local) has been named the Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the third time in the 2018-19 campaign, the league office announced Monday.

Last week, Bruns led Ohio Northern to a perfect 2-0 record against Heidelberg and Muskingum to close the season. In his final two games at ONU, the Chickasaw native led the team with 24.5 points per game, 11 rebounds per contest, and nine blocked shots. He also produced eight assists and a 56.8% shooting clip.

Against Heidelberg, the senior posted 16 points, eight rebounds, and four blocked shots on Wednesday evening. He followed the performance with a stellar 33-point, 14-rebound outing against Muskingum on Senior Day, his 25th career double-double at Ohio Northern.

Bruns concludes his outstanding collegiate career with 1,686 career points, which ranks fourth all-time in program history. Additionally, he owns the program record with 250 blocked shots, sits third in made field goals (643), is fifth in made free throws (366), and ranks 11th in rebounding (723) at Ohio Northern.

With the announcement, Bruns earns his second consecutive weekly conference accolade and fifth career OAC Player of the Week honor.

The Polar Bears finished the season with a 7-18 overall record and a 3-15 mark in the OAC.