Loras' Liegel and Luther's Kauls Named A-R-C Athletes of the Week

Performers of the Week Announced in Five Sports

11/22/2022 11:32:28 AM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Loras College wrestler Shane Liegel (Spring Green, Wis./River Valley) and Luther College women’s basketball player Lizzie Kauls (North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) have been named American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, November 20, 2022. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and wrestling.
Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Basketball – Player of the Week18289
Lizzie Kauls, Luther College
Sr., F, North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View
  • Kauls led the Norse to a 2-1 week with wins over Wisconsin-Platteville (62-56) and Cornell (44-43).
  • Luther dropped a game to Wisconsin-Stout (57-60) on Friday.
  • The senior forward averaged 14.33 points and 12 rebounds per game this week.
  • Kauls recorded a double-double to start the week with 16 points and 11 rebounds in the victory over UW-Platteville.
  • She added 12 points and nine rebounds in the three-point loss to UW-Stout on Friday.
  • Kauls tallied her second double-double of the week in the 44-43 win over Cornell.
  • The senior forward scored 15 points, including the game-winning layup, and a career-high 16 rebounds.
  • Kauls finished the week with a 56.3% field goal percentage and 80.0% from the charity stripe.
  • The Norse improved to 4-1 overall heading into the first league game this evening.
  • This marks the North Oaks, Minnesota native’s first-career Player of the Week and Female Athlete of the Week honors.
Male Athlete of the Week – Wrestling - Wrestler of the Week18175
Shane Liegel, Loras College
Sr., 184lbs., Spring Green, Wis./River Valley
  • The Duhawks got the week started with a conference dual victory over Buena Vista on Wednesday (42-8).
  • Liegel defeated Jonah Siebert of BVU by fall (1:21) in their first league dual of the year.
  • Liegel finished first in the 184lbs bracket at the Concordia University-Wisconsin Open.
  • The senior posted a 5-0 record on the day, including four pins.
  • The Spring Green native opened the first-round defeating Concordia-Wisconsin’s Alexandros Alexiades by fall (1:48).
  • Liegel moved on to defeat Sammy Saunders of Wabash by fall (1:23) in the second round.
  • In the quarterfinal round, the senior defeated UW-Whitewater’s Evan Danowski by fall (2:14).
  • Liegel advanced to the championship bout after defeating Wyatt Haynes of University of Chicago by fall (1:25).
  • In the finals, Liegel won by sudden victory over the 184 defending NCAA champion, Jaritt Shinhoster of UW-Whitewater.
  • The senior 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 second time the Spring Green native is earning Wrestler of the Week honors in his career (11/25/19, 11/22/21, 12/6/21, 12/20/21, 11/14/22, 11/22/22).
Men’s Basketball – Player of the Week18288
Jack Molstead, Wartburg College
Sr., G, Charles City, Iowa/Charles City
  • Molstead led the Knights to a 2-1 week with the only dropped game to No. 15 UW-La Crosse in the championship game of the Buzz Levick Tournament.
  • Wartburg defeated Grinnell 112-89 and Concordia Wisconsin 77-65 in the opening round of the Buzz Levick Tournament.
  • The senior point guard averaged 19.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.
  • Molstead went 9-16 (56%) behind the arc for the week.
  • Molstead led the Knights in a second half comeback where they fell just short of No. 15 UW-La Crosse (87-76). Molstead recorded 23 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds against the Eagles.
  • The senior shot 47% from the field and 71% at the free throw line.
  • Additionally, Molstead recorded three steals and 14 assists on the weekend.
  • Molstead was named to the Buzz Levick All-Tournament Team.
  • He earned second-team All-Conference honors last year and honorable mention his freshman campaign.
  • The Charles City native is collecting his first-career Player of the Week accolade.
Women’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week18290
Cassie Rounds, Luther College
Fr., Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling Catholic
  • Rounds led the Norse to a second-place finish at the Luther Invitational.
  • The freshman earned seven top-5 finishes as an individual over the weekend
  • Rounds had fifth-place finishes in the 100 free (55.84), 200 medley relay (1:54.95), and 100 fly (1:01.66).
  • The Des Moines native took home fourth-place finishes in 100 IM (1:03.32) and 400 free relay (3:48.06).
  • Rounds garnered two third-place finishes in the 200 free relay (1:42.66) and 50 free (25.43).
  • Season bests were recorded in the 100 fly and 50 free.
  • Rounds is collecting her first-career Performer of the Week accolade.
Men’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week18117
Colin Halverson, Luther College
Fr., Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek
  • Halverson swept the diving events at the Luther Invitational over the weekend.
  • The freshman met the NCAA Regional qualifying score in the 1-meter with a combined 11-dive score of 442.50 in an event he claimed the title in.  
  • Halverson also won the 3-meter with an 11-dive score of 394.15 where he defeated the rest of the field by over 5 points.
  • Each of these scores rank third all-time in program history for 11-dive scores.
  • The Oak Creek, Wisconsin native is garnering his second Performer of the Week honors (11/7/22, 11/22/22).
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