MIAA Celebrates International Student-Athlete Week November 18-19

11/19/2024 9:00:00 AM

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With almost 300 international student-athletes competing for member institutions, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association proudly celebrates International Student-Athlete Week from November 18-November 22. 

The MIAA is comprised of 14 member institutions in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Arkansas and features talented NCAA Division II student-athletes from across the nation and all over the world. From the league's 58 NCAA Division II national team championships to the hundreds of individual national titles and thousands of Academic All-America honors, international student-athletes continue to aid in the success of the MIAA on and off the field. 

There are currently 298 international student-athletes from 70 different countries enrolled at MIAA institutions and competing on NCAA Division II teams in the 2024-25 academic year. The majority call Kansas their home away from home with 47 international student-athletes competing for Washburn University in Topeka and 45 for Newman University in Wichita.

England is the most represented country among the league’s international student-athletes with 22 athletes from England competing on MIAA teams. Spain is the second highest represented country with 20 student-athletes, followed by Canada (17), Italy (16), Germany (15) and France (15). 

Tennis is the league’s most culturally diverse sport by the numbers with 104 international student-athletes competing on MIAA men’s and women’s tennis teams. Fifty-nine international men and women compete on MIAA cross country/track and field teams and 43 compete on MIAA golf teams. The remaining MIAA international student-athletes compete in men's and women's basketball (28), women’s soccer (23), baseball (19), football (9), volleyball (6) softball (4) and wrestling (2).

The International Student-Athlete Week celebration is a joint initiative between the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education as they celebrate International Education Week (IEW). The initiative is an opportunity to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences.

The Association is proud to provide a competitive platform for all athletes and to celebrate those from various backgrounds and cultures. Throughout the week, the conference office will spotlight international student-athletes who are actively competing on MIAA teams. MIAA fans can follow along as the league celebrates International Student-Athlete Week by following @theMIAA on X and @theMIAAnation on Instagram. 

Below is a breakdown of the 297 international student-athletes competing in each MIAA sponsored sport.
 
MEN'S INTERNATIONAL STUDENT-ATHLETES
 
BASEBALL
(UCO) Diego Dominguez – Ontario, Canada
(UCO) Orlando Gonzalez – Chitre, Panama
(ESU) Tanner Dawe – London, Ontario, Canada
(ESU) Maddux Stivey – Perth, Australia
(ESU) Nick Woodcock – Whitby, Ontario, Canada
(FHSU) Cesar Saavedra – Panama City, Panama
(FHSU) Luis Ayala – Panama City, Panama
(FHSU) Lachlan Hockey – Geelong, Australia
(FHSU) Kenneth Melendez – Luquillo, Puerto Rico
(NU) Scott Allen – Ladner, British Columbia, Canada
(NU) Aleks Koppel – Kiili, Estonia
(NU) Gio De Graauw – Breukeleveen, Netherlands
(NU) Chan Yoon – Seoul, South Korea
(NU) Fran Montanez – Manati, Puerto Rico
(NSU) Tanner Almond – Thornbury, Ontario, Canada
(NW) Fuga Yambe – Shiroishi, Japan
(PSU) Rickey Sanchez – Mexico City, Mexico
(WU) Payton McHarg – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
(WU) Kaden Gray – Wyoming Ontario, Canada
 
FOOTBALL
(FHSU) Ajai Holmes – Pickering, Ontario, Canada
(MSSU) Solomona Fetuao – Pago Pago, American Samoa
(MSSU) Joaquin Tapusoa – Pago Pago, American Samoa
(MSSU) Faga'alu Siaki – Leone, American Samoa
(MSSU) Malo Mata'u – Pago Pago, American Samoa
(MSSU) Stanley Mageo – Tafuna, American Samoa
(MSSU) David Va'a – Aoa, American Samoa
(PSU) Peko Leasiolagi – Pago Pago, American Samoa
(WU) Oscar Adolfsson – Uppsala, Sweden
 
MEN’S BASKETBALL
(UCM) Yafet Haile – Z urich, Switzerland
(ESU) Karyiek Dixon – Enfield, England
(FHSU) Dan Mukuna – Dortmund, Germany
(FHSU) Petar Asceric – Belgrade, Serbia
(MSSU) Prince Agbaeze – Abia State, Nigeria
(MWSU) Kiani Saxon – Auckland, New Zealand
(MWSU) Josh Book – Christchurch, New Zealand
(UNK) Chiaki Momma – Japan
(NU) Aime Rutayisire – Adelaide, Australia
(NU) Sean Yu – Zhuhai, GD, China
(PSU) Johannes Kirsipuu – Sulu, Estonia
(RSU) Kofi Hamilton – Dutch Quarter, St. Martin
(RSU) Sam Davidson – Melbourne, Australia
(RSU) Angus Ole – Sydney, Australia
 
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD
(UCM) Cosmas Kipop – Kipkabus, Kenya
(UCM) Daniel Kiprano – Lessos, Kenya
(UCM) Sean Carolan – Newport, Ireland
(UCM) Ariel Kerr – Morvant, Port of Spain
(UCM) Kye Mason – Sydney, Australia
(UCM) Brian Mitei – Kaptarakwa, Kenya
(ESU) Israel Domeh – Kintampo, Ghana
(ESU) Emmanuel Dukpe – Tamale, Ghana
(FHSU) Jacob Clark – Nottingham, England
(FHSU) Ajai Holmes – Pickering, Ontario, Canada
(FHSU) Maayan Paz – Jerusalem, Israel
(MWSU) Pau Valderrama – Sant Cugat Sesgarrigues, Spain
(UNK) Ingrid Domkpo – Lome, Togo
(UNK) Nick Abdalla – Sudan
(NU) Reagan Longei – Eldoret, Kenya
(NU) Kevin Chemalmal – Kabarak, Kenya
(NW) Barnabe Gabillet – Clamart, France
(NW) Maxime Touron – St. Adams de Pellagal, France
(NW) Joel Dos Santos – Buenos Aires, Argentina
(RSU) Julius Oheim – Halle Saale, Germany
(WU) Alex Adams – Stratford, England
(WU) Joseph Asahi-Wright – Tokyo, Japan
(WU) Leo Cossham – Sheffield, England
(WU) Nathan Gray – Cumbria, England
(WU) Sebastiaan Horselenberg – Zutphen, Netherlands
(WU) Paul Kamp – Mettingen, Germany
(WU) Donald Kibet – Eldoret, Kenya
(WU) Sam Nesbitt – London, England
(WU) Ross O'Brien – Glasgow, Scotland
(WU) Gustavo Cadan – Parana, Brazil
(WU) Alessandro Di Gregorio – Cesate, Italy
(WU) Tauan Lyra – Ararica, Brazil
(WU) Morgan Miller, Jr. – Nassau, Bahamas
(WU) Javier Navarro – Madrid, Spain
(WU) Ransford Nti – Kumasi, Ghana
 
MEN’S GOLF
(UCO) Dylan Henderson – Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
(MSSU) Josh Hamnett- Lancashire, England
(MSSU) Dylan Bagley – Hastings, New Zealand
(MSSU) Jurgen Ballesteros – Dinkelscherben, Germany
(MSSU) Ben Marckmann – Wuppertal, Germany
(MSSU) Alexander Page – Karlstad, Sweden
(NU) Noah Ahrens – Lucan Ontario, Canada
(NU) Tomas Asgeirsson – Hafnarfjorour, Iceland
(NU) Herman Olsen – Bekkestua, Norway
(NU) Charlie Townsend – Byfleet, England
(NSU) Juan Vergel – Santander, Colombia
(PSU) Bradin Stahl – Calgary, Canada
(RSU) Pedro Benjumea – Seville, Spain
(RSU) Callum Brown – Willington, England
(RSU) Elliot-Han Monteremal – Montelimar, France
(RSU) Miguel Mora – Gigon Spain
(RSU) Jack Roche – Sydney, Australia
(WU) Marco Anderson – Pretoria, South Africa
(WU) Zachary Haydamack – Cochrane, Canada
 
MEN’S TENNIS
(UAFS) Edardo Bribiesca – Cuernavaca, Mexico
(UAFS) Killian Darneaux – Damgan, France
(UAFS) Rodrigo Hopp – Brazil
(UAFS) Anis Ramchane – Casa Blanca, Morocco
(UAFS) Juan Rosello – Necochae, Argentina
(ESU) Diego Calvo – Maslianco, Italy
(ESU) Mostafa Elbasnaly – Agouza Giza, Egypt
(ESU) Jan Engel – Bad Ems, Germany
(ESU) Roko Kacer – Split, Croatia
(ESU) Alexis Mattenberger – Trelex, Switzerland
(ESU) Gwendal Mazuay – Geneva, Switzerland
(ESU) Duvan Santiago Torres – Bogota, Colombia
(ESU) Anton Sarunic – Opatija, Croatia
(ESU) Elvin Selimovic – Audenge, France
(ESU) Luke West – Southhampton, England
(UNK) Andy Brisdon – Manchester, U.K.
(UNK) Adrian Constantin – Bucharest, Romania
(UNK) Alex Jaulin – Melbourne, Australia
(UNK) Jip Mens – Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands
(UNK) Aaron Osmond – Cheltenham, U.K.
(UNK) Jakub Strzelecki – Zgierz, Poland
(UNK) Tom van den Dungen – Mierlo, Netherlands
(NU) Enrico Belardo – Campania, Italy
(NU) Andrea Bramati – Milan, Itlay
(NU) Genaro Dagotto – Santa Fe, Argentina
(NU) Naoya Fukumoto – Kakogawa, Japan
(NU) David Javadov – Astana, Kazakhstan
(NU) Francisco Javier Ubeda – Lima, Peru
(NU) Nicolo Lippolis – Liguria, Italy
(NU) Ali Mounir – Cairo, Egypt
(NU) Tikhon Sorokin – A lmaty, Kazakhstan
(NU) Andrea Torrini – Tuscany, Italy
(NW) Rafal Bednarczuk – Lublin, Poland
(NW) Niccolo Chiriatti – Gaggino, Italy
(NW) Thomas Desgris – Annecy, France
(NW) Antonin Leborne – L'hay-lesl-roses, France
(NW) Luc Mascitti – Melbourne, Australia
(NW) Vini Rodrigues – Maua, Brazil
(NW) Dominik Wijntjes – Blockhouse Bay, New Zealand
(WU) Tommy Cecchetti – Milano, Italy
(WU) Matthew Earle – Dublin, Ireland
(WU) Tim Hammes – Krefeld, Germany
(WU) Ivan Ivanov – Kazanluk, Bulgaria
(WU) Yoshinobu Nakatsuji – Osaka, Japan
(WU) Pavlos Parson – Larnaca, Cyprus
(WU) Moritz Pieper – Luedenscheid, Germany
(WU) Marco Romano – Massa, Italy
(WU) Vašek Schneider – Prague, Czech Republic
 
WRESTLING
(FHSU) Marcell Dely – Budapest, Hungary
(FHSU) Philipp Nguyen – Rostock, Germany
WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL STUDENT-ATHLETES

SOFTBALL
(UNK) Madisyn Simms – Maple Ridge, British Columbia
(NU) Hayley Bonython – Adelaide, South Australia
(NU) Travia Smith – Nassau, Bahamas
(NW) Aydenne Brown – Edmonton, Canada
 
VOLLEYBALL
(ESU) Rayishon Jackman – Taipei, Taiwan
(ESU) Zuzanna Buchnajzer – Lodz, Poland
(ESU) Weronika Wrzesinska – Frednowy, Poland
(ESU) Camilla Ossola – Gavirate, Italy
(MSSU) Alana Moesh – Lajeado, Brazil
(NW) Maja Noehrer – Hausmannstatten, Austria
 
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
(MWSU) Matilda Soderlund – Stockholm, Sweden
(MWSU) Laura Toffali – Villasanta, Italy
(MWSU) Jessica Ford – Marlborough, England
(MWSU) Marie Sepp – Tallinn, Estonia
(MWSU) Malgorzata Byczkowska – Gdynia, Poland
(UNK) Alma Rashelbach – Tel Mond, Israel
(UNK) Tara Biocanin – Krusevac, Serbia
(UNK) Timotea Najbrtova – Drahelcice, Czechia
(NU) Monica Redondo – Madrid, Spain
(NU) Valeriya Lioukina – Daugavpils, Latvia
(NSU) Madina Camara – Maputo, Mozambique
(PSU) Alba Lozano Davila – Leganes, Spain
(RSU) Alyza Aikins – Surrey, B.C., Canada
(RSU) Michelle Arens – Ankara, Turkey 
 
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD
(UCM) Therese Reindl – Germany
(UCM) Mellanie Nellmer – Stockholm, Sweden
(UCM) Phebe Thompson – Bahamas
(UCM) Mercy Kemboi – Eldoret, Kenya
(UCM) Abigael Kimurgor  – Eldoret, Kenya
(ESU) Barbara Bentum – Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana
(ESU) Isabella, Davie – Tasmania, Australia
(ESU) Isabel Vikoler – Bressanone, Italy
(MSSU) Joy Udo-Gabriel – Abia, Nigeria
(MWSU) Annika Muller – Roemerberg, Germany
(UNK) Mesuidi Ejerso – Ethiopia
(NW) Lou Maquaire – Paris, France
(NW) Federica Lega – Lecco, Italy
(NW) Melanie Roland – Paris, France
(NW) Luisarys Toledo – Valencia, Venezuela
(WU) Tessa Jeffery – Fonthill, Ontario, Canada
(WU) Kereser Augustin – Castries, St. Lucia
(WU) Paola Castaldi – Legnano, Italy
(WU) Isabel Demarco de Quadros – Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil
(WU) Kennedi Knowles – Nassau, Bahamas
(WU) Naiuri Krein – Estância Velha, Brazil
(WU) Isabella Kupka – Scheidegg, Germany
(WU) Roni Simeon – Nassau, Bahamas
(WU) Ilaria Villa – Dairago, Italy
 
WOMEN’S GOLF
(UCO) Estela Castillo – Palma, Spain
(UCO) Jirasuda Khunarak – Saraburi, Thailand
(MSSU) Katarina Chynoranska – Velké Leváre, Slovakia
(MSSU) Iratxe Fernandez -Cano Aldasoro – Madrid, Spain
(MSSU) Caitlin Metcalfe – Staffordshire, England
(MSSU) Aida Nunez- Gijon – Asturias, Spain
(MWSU) Mariana Casadiego – Huila, Colombia
(MWSU) Saya Schweitzer – Anglet, France
(MWSU) Ines Vandaele – Puilboreau, France
(UNK) Botero Molina – Medellin, Colombia
(UNK) Laserna Merra – Ibague, Colombia
(NU) Daniela Alvarez – Barquisimeto, Venezuela
(NU) Bethany Griffiths – Liverpool, England
(NU) Mikaela Stenborg – Skärhamn, Sweden
(NSU) Ines Diaz – Madrid, Spain
(NSU) Laia Llorens – Barcelona, Spain
(NSU) Jessica Parker – Lancaster, England, U.K.
(NSU) Fernanda Rendon Bermudez – Metepec, Mexico
(NSU) Chloe Williamson – West Midlands, England, U.K.
(RSU) Milena Andres – Villa Allende, Argentina
(RSU) Kristin Gudmundsdottir – Mosfellsbær, Iceland
(RSU) Lydia Sitorus – Bitung, Indonesia
(WU) Angelina Borg-Malec – Courchevel, France
(WU) Susana Granados Carrion – Cordoba, Spain
 
WOMEN’S SOCCER
(ESU) Nagi Kawahata – Saitama, Japan
(ESU) Ruby Ryan – Cheshire, England
(ESU) Asta Kristindottir – Seltjarnarnes, Iceland
(FHSU) Montserrat Diaz – Curridabat, Costa Rica
(MSSU) Nathalia Luiz – Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul
(MWSU) Libby Skinner – Kent, England
(UNK) Ivana Siles – La Paz, Bolivia
(UNK) Anna Thorhallsdottir – Reykjavík, Iceland
(NU) Carla Apodaco – Chihuahua, Mexico
(NU) Elle Johnson – London, England
(NU) Marta Aranda – Barcelona, Spain
(NU) Delphine Sosu – Accra, Ghana
(NU) Natalia Gonzalez – San Luis Potosi, Mexico
(NU) Presley Fachko – Alajuela, Costa Rica
(NSU) Josie Jarvis – Wymondham, England, U.K.
(NW) Lucia Fernandez – Zaragoza, Spain
(RSU) Marlou Frieling – Hannover, Germany
(RSU) Tiffany Brittan – Beeston, England
(RSU) Sofia Wickenden – Bognor Regis, England
(RSU) Keiana Jones – Portishead, England
(RSU) Te Waiarikius Read – Whangarei, New Zealand
(RSU) Elle Beaulieu – Belle River, Ontario, Canada
(WU) Ana Muruzabal – Pamplona, Spain
 
WOMEN’S TENNIS
(UAFS) Antonietta Bocache – Caracas, Venezuela
(UAFS) Arianna De Bernardo – Caracas, Venezuela
(UCO) Ayaka Koga – Chiba, Japan
(UCO) Anika Ouwejan – Wervershoof, Netherlands
(UCO) Hui Soo – Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
(UCO) Karyna Yurchenko – Kiev, Ukraine
(UCO) Nefeli Zafeiri – Attica, Greece
(ESU) Lilie Bizouerne – La Ciotat, France
(ESU) Perla Conde – Paris, France
(ESU) Giovanna Ferreira – Curitiba, Brazil
(ESU) Yuliya Klimova – Almaty, Kazakhstan
(ESU) Anastasia Pesic – Boksburg, South Africa
(ESU) Andrea Santiago – Oaxaca, Mexico
(FHSU) Irina Alfonso – Asuncion, Paraguay
(FHSU) Suzana Faucz – Curitiba, Brazil
(FHSU) Bethan Gill – Port Talbot, Wales
(FHSU) Ines Latorre – Barcelona, Spain
(FHSU) Yone Pereiro – Acapulco, Mexico
(FHSU) Ines Steeman – Belare, Belgium
(FHSU) Shreethika Vangala – Hyderabad, India
(MWSU) Celia Castaño Malnero – Asturias, Spain
(MWSU) Cristina Granero Boj – Malaga, Spain
(MWSU) Johanna Priedite – Tireli, Latvia
(MWSU) Elena Rey Garcia – Canary Islands, Spain
(MWSU) Maeva Roguet – Geneva, Switzerland
(UNK) Fabiana Gamboa – Maracaibo, Venezuela
(UNK) Masha Hatouka – Minsk- Belarus
(UNK) Tanya Midzi – Marondera, Zimbabwe
(UNK) Narindra Ranaivo – Moramanga, Madagascar
(UNK) Julia Wartecka – Trzebiszewo, Poland
(NU) Nicole Bono – Milan, Italy
(NU) Luna Feillon – St. Seurin De Bourgh, France
(NU) Luciana Flores Urey – Cochabamba, Bolivia
(NU) Dana Issabayeva – Almaty, Kazakstan
(NU) Anastassiya Kim – Almaty, Kazakstan
(NU) Linda Nocito – Tuscany, Italy
(NU) Aida Pasonova – Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
(NU) Antonia Ramos – Concepcion,Chile
(NU) Ani Zeikidze – Tbillis, Georgia
(NSU) Lucia Bontempo – Buenos Aires, Argentina
(NSU) Barbora Havlova – Velke Popovice, Czech Republic
(NSU) Tegan Heaton – Swansea, Wales, U.K.
(NSU) Sofia Kotliarova – Kyiv, Ukraine
(NW) Polina Gontaryk – Brovary, Ukraine
(NW) Marielena Muench – Estenfeld, Germany
(NW) Miru Nonaka – Gifu, Japan
(NW) Alva Norberg – Stockholm, Sweden
(NW) Carolina Oliveira – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
(NW) Laura Prieto Sieiro – Pontevedra, Spain
(WU) Leo Floeth – Toenisvorst, Germany
(WU) Daphney Koutsofta – Paralimni, Cyprus
(WU) Isabella Martensson – Malmo, Sweden
(WU) Saajida Razick – Dehiwala, Sri Lanka
(WU) Daniela Tijaro – Bogota, Colombia
(WU) Renske Ubachs – Barendrecht, Netherlands