Wartburg's Woody and Simpson's Nash Named A-R-C Athletes of the Week

Performers of the Week Announced in Six Sports

10/24/2022 12:48:24 PM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Wartburg College men’s soccer player Brennon Woody (Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes) and Simpson College women’s soccer player Cassie Nash (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast) have been named American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, October 23, 2022. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in football, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s swim and dive, and volleyball.

Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Soccer – Offensive Player of the Week17757
Cassie Nash, Simpson College
Sr., F, Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast
  • Nash helped the Simpson College Storm to a 2-0 week in league play to finish the regular season with a 6-2 conference record.
  • The Storm defeated Nebraska Wesleyan 7-0 and the University of Dubuque 5-1.
  • The senior forward recorded another 10+ point week after picking up 13 points last week.
  • Nash scored five goals over the two matches, recording a hat trick in the victory of the Dubuque Spartans.
  • Nash now has 19 goals this season, with 14 coming during conference play.
  • The Storm senior is a two-time All-Conference performer.
  • The Lincoln, Nebraska native is garnering her fourth-career Offensive Player of the Week honor (9/27/21, 9/12/22, 10/17/22, 10/24/22).

Male Athlete of the Week – Men’s Soccer – Defensive Player of the Week17726
Brennon Woody, Wartburg College
Sr., GK, Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes
  • Woody led Wartburg’s defense to two conference shutouts this week with a 0-0 draw against Luther and a 1-0 win over Nebraska Wesleyan.
  • The senior goalkeeper recorded seven saves in the draw against Luther, all of which came in the second half.
  • In the final six minutes of the game against the Norse, Woody recorded four of his seven saves.
  • Woody recorded another three saves against the Prairie Wolves while the team was playing a man down for 20+ minutes of the second half.
  • The Knights improved to 7-1-8 overall and 3-0-4 in league play.
  • Woody was a 2020 (Spring 2021) Honorable Mention honoree.
  • The Grimes native is garnering his third-career Defensive Player of the Week award (4/12/21, 9/6/22, 10/24/22).

Football – Offensive Player of the Week18022
Carter Maske, Coe College
Jr., QB, Waterloo, Iowa/West
  • Maske had a career day in Coe’s 27-17 victory over Loras College on Saturday.
  • The junior quarterback led the offense that racked up nearly 400 total yards.
  • Maske was 20-of-31 passing, totaling a career-high 372 yards and three touchdowns.
  • He had touchdown passes of 59, 18, and 37 yards and connected with five different receivers throughout the game.
  • The Kohawks improved to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in A-R-C action.
  • The Waterloo native is garnering his first-career Offensive Player of the Week accolade.

Football – Defensive Player of the Week18031
RJ Rojas, Buena Vista University
Sr., DL, Newell, Iowa/Newell-Fonda
  • Rojas helped lead the Beavers to a 42-25 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan University on Saturday.
  • The senior defensive lineman recorded five total tackles, including a season-high 2.5 tackles for loss.
  • Rojas recorded his first interception of the year with 1:50 left in the game and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.
  • Rojas recorded 1.5 sacks for a total of 14 yards.
  • In addition, Rojas had two pass breakups during the road victory.
  • Buena Vista improved to 3-5 on the season and 2-4 in conference play.
  • This is the Newell native’s first-career Defensive Player of the Week honor.

Football – Special Teams Player of the Week16443
Logan Sunvold, Central College
Jr., K, Monroe, Iowa/Southeast Polk
  • Sunvold was a perfect 7-for-7 on PATs to help lead Central College to a 49-17 win over Simpson College on Saturday.
  • The junior kicker recorded three touchbacks while averaging 59.5 yards per kickoff in the victory.
  • In eight kickoffs, Sunvold recorded 476 yards.
  • The Dutch improved to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in league play.
  • Sunvold is a 2021 First-Team All-Conference Performer.
  • The Monroe native is earning his fourth-career Special Teams Player of the Week honor (9/27/21, 10/25/21, 11/8/21, 10/24/22).

Men’s Soccer – Offensive Player of the Week18021
Ronaldo Ordaz, Simpson College
Jr., F, Marshalltown, Iowa/Marshalltown
  • Ordaz helped lead the Simpson Storm to a 1-0-1 week in conference action.
  • The Storm finished in a 2-2 draw against Nebraska Wesleyan on Wednesday before defeating the University of Dubuque 4-0 on Saturday.
  • The junior forward recorded his first-career hat trick in the victory over the Spartans.
  • Ordaz netted the game winner in just the fourth minute before scoring his last two goals in the final five minutes of the game.
  • The Storm improved to 11-3-3 overall and 4-1-3 in A-R-C play.
  • The Marshalltown native is picking up his first-career Offensive Player of the Week honor.

Women’s Soccer – Defensive Player of the Week18026
Payton McDonnell, Loras College
Sr., MF, Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator
  • McDonnell helped lead the No. 14/17-ranked Loras College Duhawks to 2-0 week in conference play.
  • The Duhawks defeated Coe 7-0 and Buena Vista 6-0, bringing their season shutout total to nine games.
  • The senior midfielder played a pivotal role in the team’s defensive efforts, allowing six shots and only two on goal over the two matches.
  • In addition to her defensive efforts, McDonnell recorded her first multi-goal game over the Beavers, scoring two goals.
  • McDonnell also recorded two assists in the victory over the Kohawks.
  • Loras improved to 13-0-3 overall and remain a perfect 7-0 in league play.
  • McDonnell is a three-time All-Conference performer in addition to being named the 2021 A-R-C Defensive Most Valuable Player.
  • The Arlington Heights, Illinois native is earning her fourth-career Defensive Player of the Week award (10/28/19, 9/20/21, 10/25/21, 10/24/22).

Women’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week18023
Lauren Pio, Coe College
Sr., Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg
  • Pio helped lead the Kohawks to a 124-92 win over Loras in Coe’s first dual meet of the season.
  • The senior took home the title in the 200 IM, recording a time of 2:21.49.
  • Pio also claimed the individual medal in the 100 breaststroke, posting a mark of 1:12.43.
  • To finish the day, Pio capped off her performance with a strong leg in the 200 freestyle relay to win with a time of 1:47.31.
  • The Kohawks will host Grinnell College for a dual on Friday at the Coe Natatorium.
  • The Galesburg, Illinois native is picking up her first-career Performer of the Week accolade.

Men’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week18024
Brock Ohlensehlen, Luther College
Fr., Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf
  • Ohlensehlen helped lead Luther to a 141-88 win over Macalester to open their 2022-23 season.
  • The freshman won both the 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle races.
  • In his collegiate debut, Ohlensehlen won the 1,000-freestyle with a time of 10:52.30.
  • Later in the day, he won the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:15.24.
  • Ohlensehlen scored 18 points for the Norse.
  • The Norse are back in action this weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska where they will take on Nebraska Wesleyan.
  • The Bettendorf, Iowa native is picking up his first-career Performer of the Week honor.

Volleyball – Offensive Player of the Week17891
Madi Parson, Coe College
Sr., Pin., Clinton, Iowa/Camanche
  • Parson helped lead the No. 21-ranked Coe College Kohawks to a 2-1 week, with the lone loss to No. 5-ranked Northwestern (Minn.).
  • The Kohawks lost a five-set thriller to Northwestern (2-3) before picking up a pair of league wins over Nebraska Wesleyan (3-2) and Buena vista (3-2).
  • The senior started the week with a double-double in the loss to Northwestern, posting 11 kills and 22 digs while adding a pair of service aces.
  • Parson recorded 19 kills in the victory over the Prairie Wolves and 20 kills in the win over the Beavers.
  • Parson recorded a total of 50 kills, 52 digs, and five service aces.
  • The Kohawks improved to 20-5 overall and remain a perfect 7-0 in league play with one contest remaining.
  • Parson is a two-time All-Conference performer, in addition to being named Honorable Mention in 2019.
  • The Clinton native is picking up her first-career Offensive Player of the Week honor after being named Defensive Player of the Week earlier this month (10/3/22).

Volleyball – Defensive Player of the Week17786
Ella Koloc, Coe College
Fr., L, Dundee, Iowa/West Delaware
  • Koloc helped the No. 21-ranked Coe College Kohawks to a 2-1 week, with the lone loss to No. 5-ranked Northwestern (Minn.).
  • The Kohawks lost a five-set thriller to Northwestern (2-3) before picking up a pair of league wins over Nebraska Wesleyan (3-2) and Buena Vista (3-2).
  • The freshman libero racked up 72 digs over the three matches, averaging 4.8 per set and posting a .924 reception percentage.
  • Koloc started the week off with 24 digs in the loss to Northwestern before setting a season-high 33 digs in the Friday night victory over the Prairie Wolves.
  • She added 15 digs in the win over Buena Vista on Saturday, helping Coe clinch at least a share of the A-R-C regular season title.
  • In addition to her defensive performance, Koloc recorded four aces.
  • The Kohawks improved to 20-5 overall and remain a perfect 7-0 in league play with one contest remaining.
  • The Dundee native is earning her second-career Defensive Player of the Week honor (9/19/22, 10/24/22).

 
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