CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Loras College women’s track & field athlete
Kassie Parker (Guttenberg, Iowa/Clayton-Ridge) and Wartburg College men’s track & field athlete
Christopher Collet (Verona, Ill./Seneca) have been named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, January 23, 2022. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, and wrestling.
Female Athlete of the Week - Women’s Indoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week
Kassie Parker, Loras College
Sr., Guttenberg, Iowa/Clayton-Ridge
- The Duhawks won the UW-Whitewater Karl Schleder Invite on Saturday, Jan. 22 with 259 points, 160 points ahead of the second-place team (UW-Whitewater).
- Parker took first in the women’s mile after a dominating 4:50.29 performance.
- Her efforts placed her in the top position in Division III.
- She also broke her previous school record by eight seconds.
- Parker’s performance this weekend holds the No. 12 time on the Division III All-Time list.
- The Guttenberg, Iowa native is picking up her third-career Women’s Indoor Track performer of the Week honor (1/24/22, 2/22/21, 3/2/20).
Male Athlete of the Week – Men’s Indoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week
Christopher Collet, Wartburg College
Jr., Verona, Ill./Seneca
- Collet ran at the Larry Wieczorek Invite in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 21.
- The junior finished third of eight competitors in the mile run.
- He ran a 4:06.73 (4:09.89) in the event which took the school record for the Knights.
- His effort also took the American Rivers Conference record.
- Collet ranks second in Division III for the men’s mile.
- This marks Collet’s second career Men’s Indoor Track Performer of the Week honor (1/24/22, 3/8/21).
Men’s Basketball – Player of the Week
Josh Rogers, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Jr., F, Arvada, Colo./Arvada West
- The Prairie Wolves went 1-1 on the week with a loss to Coe (67-53) and overtime win over Luther (73-71).
- In his first game back from an injury, Rogers came off the bench to score 25 points and grab seven rebounds against the Norse.
- The junior forward had 15 points in the second half and overtime periods of the Prairie Wolves comeback win against Luther.
- Rogers shot 50% from the field and 70% from the free-throw line.
- The Prairie Wolves improved to 9-7 overall and 3-4 in A-R-C play.
- The Arvada, Colorado native is collecting his first-career Men’s Basketball Player of the Week accolade.
Women’s Basketball – Player of the Week
Tabria Thomas, University of Dubuque
Jr., F, Elizabeth, Ill./River Ridge
- Thomas helped lead the Spartans to a 2-0 week in conference play with 20+ point wins over Luther (68-48) and Central (95-58).
- She recorded two rebounds, three assists, and three steals while scoring 24 points in the victory over the Norse.
- Thomas set a season high of nine field goals made in the win over Luther.
- She added 18 points, six steals, and five assists in the Spartan victory over the Dutch.
- On the week, Thomas shot 67% from the floor and 89% from the free-throw line.
- The Spartans improved to 11-7 overall and 5-4 in A-R-C play.
- Thomas is a 2020-21 All-Conference performer.
- The Elizabeth, Illinois native is picking up her first-career Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honor.
Women’s Indoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week
Caroline Ferguson, University of Dubuque
Sr., Rapids City, Ill./Riverdale
- A partial team from University of Dubuque competed at the Cornell College Hilltop Invitational.
- Ferguson finished first in two events out of 24 and 25 competitors respectively.
- She threw 17.03 meters in the weight throw, winning the event by just under a foot.
- The senior threw 13.61 meters in the shot put this weekend and out threw her competitors by almost two feet.
- Her efforts this weekend in the shot put placed her first in the A-R-C and fourth in Division III.
- Ferguson sits second in the league and has found herself ranked fifth in the nation after her performance in the weight throw.
- The Rapids City, Ill. native is collecting her second-career Women’s Indoor Field Performer of the Week honor (1/24/22, 12/9/19).
Men’s Indoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week
Holden Murphy, Loras College
So., Benton, Wis./Benton-Scales Mound
- The Duhawks finished second out of eight teams at the UW-Whitewater Karl Schleder Invite on Saturday, Jan. 22.
- Murphy tossed a lifetime-best of 16.12 meters which ranks eight all-time in program history.
- His performance places him third in the league this season.
- The sophomore finished fourth place in the shot put, throwing 13.78 meters.
- The Benton, Wis. native is garnering his first career Men’s Indoor Field Performer of the Week honor.
Wrestling – Wrestler of the Week
Zeke Smith, Loras College
Sr., 157lbs., Prairie du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie
- Smith, ranked No. 7/8, won both matches that he competed in against Luther and No. 3 Coe at the A-R-C Duals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Saturday, January 22.
- His first win of the day came against Luther’s Braeden Hendel (11-1 MD), helping the Duhawks to a 43-4 win.
- Smith’s day came to an end on a high note when he pinned Coe’s Brady Henderson, who was ranked No. 2/3 (4:45).
- The senior improves to 10-2 on the season, and the No. 2 Duhawks stay perfect in conference duals (4-0).
- Smith is a 2021 All-Conference honoree.
- The Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin native is garnering his first-career Wrestler of the Week honor.