Loras' Liegel, NWU's Navratil Named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week

Performers of the Week Announced in Five Sports

11/25/2019 3:34:53 PM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference announced that Nebraska Wesleyan women’s basketball player Caitlin Navratil (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge) and Loras College wrestler Shane Liegel (Spring Green, Wis./River Valley) have been named American Rivers Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, November 24, 2019. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and wrestling.
 
Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Basketball – Player of the Week12797
Caitlin Navratil, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Sr., G, Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge
  • Navratil recorded Nebraska Wesleyan women’s basketball program’s first triple-double in the 83-81 win over Westminster (Mo.).
  • The senior scored 26 points along with 13 rebounds and 10 assists in the win.
  • She became the program’s career all-time leading scorer (1,505 points) in the 90-64 win over Johnson & Wales (Colo.), scoring 20 points in the game.
  • Averaged 24.3 points in the three games this last week with 6.3 assist per game, helping the Prairie Wolves go 2-1 with wins over Westminster (Mo.) and Johnson & Wales (Colo.).
  • Navratil has earned back-to-back Female Athlete of the Week awards and making it three women’s basketball player of the week for her career (11/25/19, 11/18/19, 11/26/18).
 
Male Athlete of the Week – Wrestling – Wrestler of the Week12913
Shane Liegel, Loras College
Fr., 184 lbs., Spring Green, Wis./River Valley
  • Liegel tallied five wins at the Concordia University (Wis.) Invite and named Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet – being the first Duhawk to win that award.
  • The freshman defeated No. 6-ranked Isaac Odell (Wheaton College) in the semifinal 5-2.
  • He would knock off No. 7-ranked Cody Baldridge (North Central College) in the championship match 3-1 (sudden victory).
  • The Spring Green, Wis. native won his other three bouts by fall.
  • The Duhawks are the No. 2-ranked team in the nation.
  • This is the freshman’s first career Wrestler of the Week accolade.
 
Men’s Basketball – Player of the Week12912
Conor Riordan, Simpson College
Sr., G, Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny
  • Riordan was the hero in the highest-scoring Division III men’s basketball game against Greenville, the Storm winning 161-160 in overtime.
  • He hit the game tying 3-pointer to send the game to OT and nailed two free throws to clinch the game.
  • The senior matched his career high point total (39) in the Greenville game and set a new assists career high (8).
  • On the week, Riordan averaged 22.3 ppg as Simpson went 2-1, beating Cornell and Greenville.
  • This is the senior’s first career Player of the Week honor.
 
Men’s Swimming & Diving – Performer of the Week12914
Jackson Gergen, Luther College
So., Hastings, Minn./Hastings
  • Helped guide Luther to a second-place finish at the Grace Goblirsch Invitational, hosted by Gustavus Adolphus College.
  • The Norse finished with 487 team points.
  • Gergen won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:01.45.
  • He would also win the 200-breaststrokes with a time of 2:16.81
  • The sophomore swam the fourth leg of the 200-freestyle relay that placed third (1:31.04).
  • The Hastings, Minn. native also swam the first leg of the 400-freestyle that finished third (3:23.21).
  • This is Gergen’s first career Performer of the Week honor.
 
Women’s Swimming & Diving – Performer of the Week11316
Nina Schiro, Loras College
Fr., New Glarus, Wis./New Glarus
  • Guided the Duhawks to a win over Simpson (113-64) last Friday.
  • She swam a season-best time of 59.23 in the 100-yard freestyle, winning the event.
  • The freshman also would win the 200-freestyle with a time of 2:00.04.
  • In the meet with Grinnell on Saturday, Schiro won the 200-yard freestyle (2:07.54).
  • The New Glarus, Wis. Native would also swim the final leg of the 200-yard freestyle relay and won it with a time of 1:44.76.
  • She held second place finishes in the 1,000-yard freestyle (12:24.05 – Simpson) and 500-yard freestyle (5:52.20 – Grinnell).
  • This is Schiro’s second Performer of the Week honor in her freshman campaign (11/25/19, 10/21/19).
 
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