Loras' Jasa, Wartburg's Luers Named A-R-C Athletes of the Week

4/19/2021 3:12:00 PM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Loras College track and field athlete Mike Jasa (Fairfax, Iowa/Prairie) and Wartburg College women’s soccer player Kate Luers (Middletown, Iowa/Danville) have been named American Rivers Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, April 18, 2021. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in baseball, men’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field.
 
Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Soccer – Offensive Player of the Week15049
Kate Luers, Wartburg College
Jr., F, Middletown, Iowa/Danville
  • Luers led the Knights to another 2-0 week with wins over Loras (2-1) and Central (1-0).
  • In a pivotal battle of the unbeatens against Loras, Luers found the back of the net for both of Wartburg’s goals as the Knights were victorious to be the only remaining unbeaten A-R-C team.
  • The junior followed up the Loras match picking up the assist on the lone goal of the contest as Wartburg downed Central.
  • The Knights currently sit tied with Loras atop the A-R-C standings with 16 team points.
  • This is the Middletown, Iowa native’s third career Offensive Player of the Week honor (4/19/21, 10/7/19, 9/9/19).
 
Male Athlete of the Week – Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week14807
Mike Jasa, Loras College
Jr., Fairfax, Iowa/Prairie
  • The Duhawks placed second as a team at the Augustana College Meet of Champions on Saturday.
  • Jasa set the 800-meter run school record and established the fastest time in Division III this season, crossing the finish line in 1:50.00.
  • He broke the Loras record that had stood since 1989.
  • The junior also ran on the 4x400-meter relay team which raced to the second-fastest time in the nation (3:13.82).
  • Jasa is collecting his first-career Men’s Outdoor Track Performer of the Week honor.
 
Baseball – Pitcher of the Week15050
William Armstrong, Wartburg College
Fr., RHP, Des Moines, Iowa/Roosevelt
  • Freshman right-handed pitcher Will Armstrong helped guide the Knights to a 4-2 week, including a series victory over Buena Vista over the weekend.
  • Armstrong made three appearances on the week, including two starts, throwing 12.0 innings with no earned runs.
  • He picked up wins during the series finale against Simpson on Monday and Buena Vista on Sunday in which he helped combine for a shutout.
  • Game 1: Wartburg 13, Simpson 1 (F/7) – GS (W, 2-1), 4.0 IP, 3 H, ER, K, .188 BAA, 16-batters faced.
  • Game 2: Wartburg 13, Buena Vista 3 (F/8) – Appearance, 1.0 IP, H, K, 3-batters faced.
  • Game 3: Wartburg 2, Buena Vista 0 – GS (W, 3-1), 7.0 IP, 8 H, K, .308 BAA, 26-batters faced.
  • This is the Des Moines, Iowa native’s first-career Pitcher of the Week accolade.

Baseball – Position Player of the Week14908
Kaleb Knox, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Jr., INF, Moreno Valley, Calif./Valley View
  • Knox helped guide Nebraska Wesleyan to a series split against Luther over the weekend, taking two from the Norse who entered the weekend first in the A-R-C.
  • In game one on Saturday, Knox hit for the cycle in the Prairie Wolf win, collecting five RBIs in the performance.
  • For the series, the junior batted .562 with nine hits, eight RBIs, four runs, three doubles, plus a home run and a triple.
  • Game 1: Nebraska Wesleyan 6, Luther 3 – 1-for-3 (.333), BB
  • Game 2: Luther 8, Nebraska Wesleyan 3 – 2-for-4 (.500), R, 2 H, 2B, 2-putouts
  • Game 3: Nebraska Wesleyan 12, Luther 11 – 4-for-4 (1.000), 3 R, 4 H, 5 RBI, 2B, 3B, HR [hit for cycle], BB, putout.
  • Game 4: Luther 10, Nebraska Wesleyan 4 – 2-for-5 (.400), 2 H, 3 RBI, 2B
  • Knox is collecting his second Position Player of the Week honor (4/19/21, 3/15/21).
 
Men’s Golf – Golfer of the Week14996
Alex Kubik, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Sr., Aurora, Neb./Aurora
  • Kubik was the runner-up at the Take Back the Night Challenge over the weekend shooting a 4-under-par (139).
  • Nebraska Wesleyan finished second as a team, against two national ranked opponents (No. 25 Webster, No. 5 Illinois Wesleyan).
  • The junior shot a 69 on the first day and recorded a 70 on the second day.
  • Kubik is collecting his second Golfer of the Week accolade of the season and the fourth of his NWU career (4/19/21, 4/5/21, 5/6/19, 4/29/19).
 
Men’s Soccer – Defensive Player of the Week14997
Seth Kurzynski, Loras College
Jr., GK, Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake
  • Kurzynski propelled Loras to two victories last week with wins over Wartburg (3-1) and Coe (9-1).
  • In the match against the Knights, the junior recorded a .857 save percentage allowing one goal and tallying six saves in the Duhawk victory.
  • He played 68 minutes of the match against the Kohawks, seeing only one shot in the Duhawks 9-1 victory.
  • Kurzynski is collecting his second Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week accolade of the season and his Loras career (4/19/21, 4/5/21).

Men’s Soccer – Offensive Player of the Week15056
Mathias Ericsson, University of Dubuque
So., F, Stockholm, Sweden/Tibble Gymnasium
  • Ericsson lifted Dubuque to a 2-0 week to move to 5-1-1 on the season, with wins over Luther (3-2) and Buena Vista (8-0).
  • In a 3-2 thrilling overtime victory over the Norse, the sophomore scored one goal and dished out the game winning assist off a corner kick.
  • On Saturday against the Beavers, he would net another goal and another assist in the 8-0 shutout victory.
  • The Spartans currently sit second in the A-R-C with 16 points in conference play.
  • Ericsson is the first Spartan to earn Offensive Player of the Week accolade since Gonzalo Hernandez on September 27, 2015.
  • This is the Sweden native’s first-career Offensive Player of the Week honors in a Spartan uniform.

Women’s Soccer – Defensive Player of the Week15057
Madi Strecker, Simpson College
Sr., D, Denver, Colo./Arapahoe
  • Strecker helped the Simpson defense collect two shutouts during the week with only five shots on-goal.
  • Defeated Coe 3-0 on Tuesday, April 13, and Luther, 2-0 on Saturday, April 17.
  • The Storm held Luther scoreless for the first time all season.
  • Strecker assisted on two goals in the win over Coe via corner kick.
  • The senior defender played all 180 minutes during the two matches for the Storm.
  • Strecker is the first Simpson player to earn Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week since Abby Cozzoni (9/16/2019).

Softball – Pitcher Player of the Week15058
Kailey Meyer, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Jr., P, Omaha, Neb./Omaha Central
  • Kailey Meyer led Nebraska Wesleyan to a series victory over Luther in the circle last week plus a win over Dubuque on Monday, while picking up a save.
  • She had a 1.24 ERA with 16 strikeouts as she only allowed three earned runs in 17.0 innings pitched.
  • Game 1: Nebraska Wesleyan 5, Dubuque 3 – GS (W), GC, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (1 ER), 1.29 ERA, 7 K, .154 BAA.
  • Game 2: Nebraska Wesleyan 8, Luther 2 – 2.0 IP (in relief), H, ER, BB, K, .167 BAA, 26-batters faced.
  • Game 3: Luther 5, Nebraska Wesleyan 3 – 1.0 IP (in relief), 2 K, 3-batters faced.
  • Game 4: Nebraska Wesleyan 8, Luther 2 – GS (W, 8-5), CG, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1.29 ERA, 6 K, .160 BAA, 25-batters faced.
  • Since NWU joined the American Rivers Conference, Meyer is the only Prairie Wolf pitcher to earn Pitcher of the Week accolades.
  • Meyer is collecting her third Pitcher of the Week honor in her NWU career (4/19/21, 3/18/19, 3/11/18).
 
Softball – Position Player of the Week15054
Megan Stuhr, Central College
Fr., 1B, Sigourney, Iowa/Sigourney
  • Stuhr paced the Dutch at the plate this week as the team went 6-2 in eight conference games.
  • On the week, the freshman batted .542 with 13 hits and six RBIs, while adding three runs scored, a home run, and three walks.
  • Game 1: Central 9, Wartburg 6 – 1-for-4 (.250), H, 6-putouts
  • Game 2: Central 6, Coe 5 – 2-for-4 (.500), 2 H, RBI, 7-putouts
  • Game 3: Simpson 14, Central 5 (F/6) – 2-for-2 (1.000), 2 H, R, 2 RBI, HR, BB, 11-putouts.
  • Game 4: Central 8, Simpson 5 – 0-for-2 (.000), R, 2 BB, 6-putouts
  • Game 5: Central 13, Central 5 (F/6) – 2-for-3 (.667), 2 H, R, 3 RBI, 2B, 6-putouts.
  • Game 6: Central 1, Dubuque 0 – 3-for-3 (1.000), 3 H, 4-putouts.
  • Game 7: Central 3, Dubuque 2 – 1-fokr-3 (.333), H, 4-putouts
  • Game 8: Dubuque 13, Central 5 (F/5) – 2-for-3 (.667), 2 H, 2B, 8-putouts.
  • This is the freshman’s first-career Position Player of the Week accolade in a Dutch uniform. 
 
Men’s Tennis – Player of the Week15053
David Boschma, Central College
Sr., Olathe, Kan./Northwest
  • Boschma guided Central to wins over Wartburg (5-4) and Nebraska Wesleyan (8-1), finishing the week 2-0 at No.2 singles and 2-0 at No.2 doubles.
  • No.2 Singles vs. Wartburg: W 6-2, 6-0 vs. Jackson Eells (Wartburg)
  • No.2 Singles vs. Nebraska Wesleyan: W, 6-2, 6-1 vs. Will Olson (Nebraska Wesleyan)
  • No.2 Doubles with partner Trey Melvin - W, 8-2 vs. Hunter Gerhardt/Cade David (Wartburg)
  • No.2 Doubles with partner Trey Melvin - W, 8-2 vs. Will Olson/Vinh Le (Nebraska Wesleyan)
  • This is the first Men’s Tennis Player of the Week honor earned by a Dutch student-athlete since Ethan St. John (4/15/2019).
  • Boschma is garnering his second career Player of the Week accolade (4/19/21, 4/8/19).
 
Women’s Tennis – Player of the Week14599
Anna Wanek, Simpson College
Jr., Urbandale, Iowa/Dowling Catholic
  • Wanek helped Simpson to wins over Central (6-3) and Grand View (5-4).
  • She was 2-0 at No.1 Singles and 2-0 at No.1 Doubles.  
  • No.1 Singles - Anna Wanek (SIM) def. Laurynn Mize (CEN), 6-0, 6-1
  • No.1 Doubles with partner Emily King – defeated Karleigh Schilling/Alyssa Lewton (CEN), 8-4
  • No.1 Singles - Anna Wanek (SIM) def. Kanishka Gowthaman, 6-2, 7-6 (15-13)
  • No.1 Doubles with partner Emily King - Anna Wanek/Emily King (SIM) def. Kanishka Gowthaman/Sofia Ordinteva, 8-5
  • Wanek claimed the A-Singles gold medal at the A-R-C Fall Individual Tournament.
  • The Dowling Catholic prep was named 2020 A-R-C Most Valuable Player.
  • This is the Wanek’s fourth Women’s Tennis Player of the Week honor (4/19/21, 10/19/20, 10/5/20, 9/28/20).
 
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week15055
Lucas Heitz, Central College
So., Adel, Iowa/ADM
  • The Dutch competed at the Jim Dutcher Memorial Classic in Crete, Neb.
  • Heitz finished 4th of 11 decathlon entries and was the top Division III finisher.
  • His total of 5,972 points stands 15th nationally this week.
  • Heitz was the conference champion in the indoor pentathlon back in February.

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week15051
Breya Christopher, Wartburg College
So., Galena, Ill./River Ridge
  • The Knights participated in the Augustana Meet of Champions.
  • For a third-straight outdoor meet, Christopher won the high jump.
  • She tied the fourth-best Wartburg outdoor high jump in program history 5 feet, 6.5 inches.
  • The mark also ties her for fourth nationally in Division III this year.
  • Christopher was the gold medalist at the A-R-C indoor championships (5’ 3-¾").

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week15059
Brianna Renner, Loras College
Jr., West Bend, Wis./West Bend West
  • The No. 2-nationally ranked Duhawks participated in the Augustana Meet of Champions.
  • Renner set a school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 11 minutes, 7.18 seconds.
  • The victory was a convincing one, finishing one minute ahead of the second-place runner.
  • The performance came a week after Renner ran the second-fastest time in school history.
  • As a first-year, Renner was ninth at the 2019 A-R-C outdoor meet (no 2020 meet).
 
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