Luther's Rowley and Kretz Take Home A-R-C Swimming & Diving Performers of the Week

11/14/2022 2:19:11 PM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Wartburg College football player Cael O’Neill (Solon, Iowa/Solon) and Luther College women’s basketball player Jordan Rubie (Winona, Minn./Cotter) have been named American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, November 13, 2022. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in men’s and women’s basketball, football, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and wrestling.
Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Basketball – Player of the Week18178
Jordan Rubie, Luther College
Jr., G., Winona, Minn./Cotter
  • Rubie led the Norse to a 2-0 start to the season with wins over Northwestern-St. Paul (73-65) and Carleton (57-55).
  • The junior guard averaged 17 points and seven rebounds per game on the week.
  • Rubie had a 15-point performance to start the week to go along with seven rebounds.
  • She finished the week scoring 19 points in the victory over Carleton, including a three-pointer to put the Norse up for good with under a minute to play.
  • The Norse guard had a field goal percentage of 43%, shooting 54% from behind the arc, and 90% from the free throw line.
  • Rubie was a 2020-21 honorable mention performer.
  • This marks the Winona, Minnesota native’s first-career Player of the Week honor.
Male Athlete of the Week – Football – Special Teams Player of the Week17753
Cael O’Neill, Wartburg College
Jr., K, Solon, Iowa/Solon
  • O’Neill made two field goals and one PAT to help the No. 12/14 Wartburg College Knights claim the program’s 18th A-R-C title.
  • The Knights defeated Coe College 19-14 on Saturday afternoon to finish the regular season undefeated (10-0).
  • O’Neill had a 30-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the first quarter for the first score of the game for either team.
  • His second field goal came with 11:08 left in the fourth quarter from 27 yards out and into the wind.
  • The Knights are entering the NCAA Division III Playoffs with a perfect 10-0 record.
  • This is the Solon native’s fourth-career Special Teams Player of the Week honor, all coming this season (9/12/22, 10/11/22, 10/31/22, 11/14/22). 
Men’s Basketball – Player of the Week18174
Zane Neubaum, Buena Vista University
Jr., G, Rockwell City, Iowa/South Central Calhoun
  • Neubaum helped lead the Buena Vista Beavers to a pair of wins to start the season during the SLIAC/A-R-C Challenge.
  • The Beavers defeated Westminster (Mo.) 80-72 on Saturday and Fontbonne 90-57 on Sunday.
  • The junior guard averaged 27 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
  • He turned in a career-high 37 points during the season-opening victory over Westminster, including the team’s final 15 points of the game.
  • Neubaum was 16-for-20 from the charity stripe in the win over Westminster which also marked a career-high and the most in Division III this season.
  • The junior added 17 points and seven rebounds in the victory over Fontbonne on Sunday.
  • Neubaum shot 54% from the field and 78% at the free throw line.
  • Additionally, Neubaum recorded three blocked shots, three steals, and four assists on the weekend.
  • He is a two-time Second Team All-Conference performer.
  • The Rockwell City native is collecting his third-career Player of the Week accolade (12/13/21, 2/14/22, 11/14/22).
Football – Offensive Player of the Week18180
Nile McLaughlin, Wartburg College
Sr., QB, Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott
  • McLaughlin led the No. 12/14 Wartburg College Knights offense to claim the program’s 18th A-R-C title.
  • The Knights defeated Coe College 19-14 on Saturday afternoon to finish the regular season undefeated (10-0).
  • The senior quarterback recorded 248 yards in the air with two touchdowns.
  • McLaughlin had two huge completions on 3rd and 3 and 4th and 5 on the final drive to run off the final 7:45 minutes of the game to secure the victory.
  • This is the ninth game of the season McLaughlin has thrown for triple digit yards.
  • The Eldridge native is picking up his first-career Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Football – Defensive Player of the Week18179
Owen Grover, Wartburg College
Sr., LB, Dyersville, Iowa/Beckman Catholic
  • Grover helped lead the No. 12/14 Wartburg College Knights claim the program’s 18th A-R-C title.
  • The Knights defeated Coe College 19-14 on Saturday afternoon to finish the regular season undefeated (10-0).
  • The senior linebacker recorded 10 tackles, including five solo stops.
  • Grover forced a fumble that later led to an offensive score for the Knights.
  • The Dyersville native had a quarterback pressure on a 4th down stop in the first quarter of the game to keep the Kohawks off the board.
  • The Knights are entering the NCAA Division III Playoffs with a perfect 10-0 record.
  • Grover is a 2021 Second Team All-Conference linebacker.
  • The senior linebacker is garnering his third-career Defensive Player of the Week honor (9/30/19, 10/11/22, 11/14/22).
Women’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week18176
Ella Rowley, Luther College
So., Rochester, Minn./Mayo
  • Rowley had top two finishes in the diving events in Luther’s dual against UW-La Crosse.
  • Luther dropped the dual 80-152 to the Eagles on Friday.
  • The sophomore won the 3-meter competition with a six-dive score of 234.53.
  • Rowley finished second in the 1-meter competition with a score of 215.50.
  • Both finishes were season bests for Rowley.
  • The Rochester native is collecting her first-career Performer of the Week accolade.
Men’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week18177
Kevin Kretz, Luther College
So., Fairfield, Iowa/Ottumwa
  • Kretz piloted the Norse in their dual against UW-La Crosse on Friday.
  • Luther dropped the dual 101-135 to the Eagles in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
  • The sophomore earned three top-3 finishes, including a win in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:50.99.
  • Kretz finished second in the 100 freestyle with a 49.21 and swam the first leg of the 400 freestyle relay, to lead the Norse to a second place finish.
  • Each of these times, including a 49.06 split in the relay, were season bests for Kretz.
  • The Fairfield native is garnering his first Performer of the Week honors.
Wrestling - Wrestler of the Week18175
Shane Liegel, Loras College
Sr., 184lbs., Spring Green, Wis./River Valley
  • Liegel finished first in the 184lbs. Elite Bracket at the Luther Open on Saturday, hosted by Luther College.
  • The senior posted a 4-0 record on the day.
  • The Spring Green native opened with a bye in the first round before defeating Coe’s Logan Andeway by fall (1:06).
  • Liegel moved on to beat Gavin Christofferson of Minnesota State by tech fall 20-2 to advance to the semifinals.
  • In the semifinal round, Liegel picked up an 8-3 decision over Mickey Griffith of the University of Iowa.
  • In the championship bout, Liegel defeated Luther’s Donovan Corn by a 7-1 decision to claim the title.
  • Liegel is a three-time All-Conference honoree in addition to being named A-R-C Co-Most Valuable Player in the 2020-21 season.
  • This is the fifth time the Spring Green native is earning Wrestling of the Week honors in his career (11/25/19, 11/22/21, 12/6/21, 12/20/21, 11/4/22).
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