Central's Akeo, Luther's Holtz Named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week

Performers of the Week Announced in Seven Sports

12/9/2019 2:58:19 PM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference announced that Luther College women’s basketball player Sarah Holtz (Austin, Minn./Pacelli Catholic) and Central College wrestler Shandon Akeo (Honolulu, Hawii/Kapolei) have been named American Rivers Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, December 8, 2019. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, and wrestling.
 
Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Basketball – Player of the Week14055
Sarah Holtz, Luther College
Sr., G, Austin, Minn./Pacelli Catholic
  • Holtz guided the Norse to their first two wins of the last week averaging 20.5 ppg, 8 rpg, and 3 apg.
  • The senior had 14 points in the 80-77 upset win over No. 18 Loras, handing the Duhawks their first loss of the season. 
  • The Austin, Minn. native added nine rebounds, three steals, and three assists against Loras.
  • Holtz dropped 27 points in the 78-54 win on the road at Coe Saturday afternoon, while shooting 60% from the field.
  • The guard found her way to seven rounds, grabbed one steal, and dealt three assists in the win over Coe.
  • This is the first career Player of the Week for Holtz.
 
Male Athlete of the Week - Wrestling – Wrestler of the Week14047
Shandon Akeo, Central College
Jr., 133 lbs., Honolulu, Hawaii/Kapolei
  • Akeo was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) Invitational after going 4-0 and winning the 133-pound title.
  • In the first round, Akeo won with a technical fall 22-7 over Concordia (Wis.)’s Gabe Rodriguez.
  • Defeated Wheaton’s Stephen Stapleton with a fall at 4:48 in the second round.
  • In the semifinals, Akeo picked up a12-6 decision over Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Thomas Severson.
  • In the championship, the junior defeated Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s AJ Schoenfuss with a 14-5 major decision.
  • He recorded an 18-2 technical fall (4:09) in a dual over Augustana on Thursday in Indianola, Iowa.
  • This makes Akeo’s first career Wrestler of the Week honor.

Men’s Basketball – Player of the Week13966
Adam Flinn, Central College
Jr., G, Lafayette, Mo./Wildwood
  • Flinn led the Dutch in both their wins last week, a 92-79 win over Wartburg and a 90-89 victory over Bethany Lutheran.
  • Between both games, the junior shot 57% from the floor and 44% from behind the 3-point line.
  • The Lafayette, Mo. native scored 29 points in the win over Wartburg, securing the Dutch’s first A-R-C win of the season.
  • In a non-conference meeting with Bethany Lutheran Saturday night, he dropped 28 points on the Vikings, nailing the go ahead 3-pointer with 23 seconds left to get the victory.
  • He also shared the ball, dishing out five assists in each win, and picking up 11 total rebounds.
  • Flinn is making back-to-back week’s as Player of the Week and for the second time in his career (12/9/19, 12/2/19)
 
Men’s Indoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week14050
Ryan Rogers, Loras College
Jr., Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert
  • The returning All-American, Rogers set the pace for the Duhawks in the heptathlon at the Frigid Bee Invitational on Friday, hosted by St. Ambrose University.
  • The junior set a lifetime best in the 60-meter dash (7.19 seconds), shot put (36 feet, 5.50 inches), and pole vault (14’10.75”).
  • He jumped an indoor personal best in the high jump, clearing at 6 feet and 4.25 inches.
  • Rogers surpassed the previous Loras College record (5,049) with a score of 5,068 points and owns the nation’s leading mark in the heptathlon.
  • Rogers’ is earning his first career Track Performer of the Week nod.
 
Men’s Indoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week14051
Mike Jasa, Loras College
So., Fairfax, Iowa/Prairie
  • Jasa helped the Duahwks to a second-place finish in the opening meet of the season, at the Battle of the Bluff, hosted by the University of Dubuque.
  • The second-year Duhawk won the 800-meter race with a personal-best time of 1:52.34, which was the leading NCAA Division III mark, and just shy of breaking the Loras program record (1:52.30).
  • The Fairfax, Iowa native also participated in the 4x400-meter relay that won the event (3:21.68) and was the second-fastest time in Division III.
  • He enters this season as a two-time All-American from the 2019 NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor championships.
  • This is Jasa’s first career Track Performer of the Week honor.
 
Women’s Indoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week14052
Caroline Ferguson, University of Dubuque
Jr., Rapids City, Ill./Riverdale
  • Competed at the University of Dubuque’s own Battle of the Bluff over the weekend, helping guide the team to 62 points and the team win.
  • In a field of 14, Ferguson won the shot put with a throw of 13.88 meters.
  • Her throw currently leads NCAA Division III.
  • With a mark of 15.73 meters in the weight throw, the Rapids City, Ill. native placed second out of15 competitors.
  • The mark ranks inside the Top 10 in NCAA Division III.
  • This is the junior’s first career Performer of the Week nod.
 
Women’s Indoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week14053
Alison Beeman, University of Dubuque
Sr., Lakemoor, Ill./Wauconda
  • Competed at Dubuque’s own Battle of the Bluff, as Dubuque won the meet with 62 points.
  • Beeman won the 200-meter race with a time of 25.17 seconds, in an event of 12 participants.
  • The Lakemoor, Ill. native made her first career appearance in the high jump, taking first out of six competitors, with a cleared height of 1.57 meters.
  • Placed second out of 19 competitors in the 55-meter dash (7.35 seconds).
  • She was apart of the 4x400-meter relay that finished second.
  • This is the senior’s second career Indoor Performer of the Week accolade (12/9/19, 1/28/19).
 
Men’s Swimming & Diving – Performer of the Week12807
Danny Turner, Simpson College
Fr., Panora, Iowa/Loveland
  • Turner competed at the Pioneer Classic with the team finishing with 61 points on the day.
  • In a field of 47 swimmers, the freshman won the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 59.43.
  • The 100-yard breaststroke time broke the Simpson school record by a full second.
  • He would finish second out of 36 swimmers in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:11.87).
  • The Panora, Iowa native would finish up the day in the 100-yard individual medley as the team finished with a time of 55.95, finishing seventh of 66 swimmers.
  • The freshman is recording his second career Performer of the Week honor (12/9/19, 11/18/19).
 
Women’s Swimming & Diving – Performer of the Week14054
Sarah Pendergast, Simpson College
Jr., Newton, Iowa/Newton
  • Competed at the Pioneer Classic for the Storm, as the team finished with 241 points and 7th out of 12 teams.
  • Pendergast finished fifth in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 56.80.
  • She would finish eighth in the 800-yard freestyle (8:48.19).
  • Round out the day with a tenth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (2:04.36).
  • This marks Pendergast’s first career Performer of the Week award.
 
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