Central's Van Gorp and Coe's Petersen Named A-R-C Athletes of the Week

Performers of the Week Announced in Five Sports

12/5/2022 11:25:31 AM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Central College men’s basketball player Joshua Van Gorp (Pella, Iowa/Pella Christian) and Coe College women’s basketball player Kaalyn Petersen (Davenport, Iowa/Bettendorf) have been named American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, December 4, 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 Week18450
Kaalyn Petersen, Coe College
Jr., F, Davenport, Iowa/Bettendorf
  • Petersen led the Kohawks to a 1-1 week with a double overtime win over Simpson (91-86) and dropped game to Loras (53-58).
  • The junior forward averaged 24.5 points and 15.5 rebounds per game this week.
  • Petersen posted a double-double with 29 points and 22 rebounds in the victory over Simpson.
  • She is just the second person in school history to post a 20-20, joining current head coach Kayla Waskow.
  • She added 20 points and nine rebounds in the five-point loss to Loras on Wednesday.
  • Petersen finished the week with a 57% field goal percentage and 78% from the charity stripe.
  • The Kohawks improved to 5-3 overall and 1-2 in league play.
  • This marks the Davenport native’s first-career Player of the Week and Female Athlete of the Week honors.
Male Athlete of the Week - Men’s Basketball – Player of the Week18449
Joshua Van Gorp, Central College
Jr., C, Pella, Iowa/Pella Christian
  • Van Gorp led the Dutch to a 2-0 week with both wins coming over conference opponents.  
  • Central defeated Nebraska Wesleyan 73-67 on the road and pre-season favorites Dubuque 68-58 at home in P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium.
  • The junior center averaged 23.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.
  • Van Gorp went 22-31 (71%) from the field.
  • Van Gorp led the Dutch to their first win over the Spartans since 2018. He recorded 23 points and 13 rebounds.
  • He recorded 24 points and 6 rebounds in the win over Nebraska Wesleyan. Putting up a whopping 80% from the field (12-15).
  • Additionally, Van Gorp recorded four blocked shots.
  • The Dutch improved their record to 6-3 overall and began conference play perfect (2-0).
  • The Pella native is collecting his first-career Player of the Week accolade
Women’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week18451
Kate Minette, Simpson College
So., Liberty, Mo./Liberty
  • Minette and the Simpson Storm competed at the Grinnell Pioneer Classic this past weekend.
  • The sophomore finished in the top-five in five of the eight events she swam, leading the Storm women to a sixth-place finish.
  • Minette took second place out of 76 swimmers in the 50-yard freestyle, setting a school record with a time of 24.57.
  • The Liberty, Missouri native took home third place in the 100-yard freestyle, breaking the school record she previously set with a time of 54.54.
  • Minette swam the anchor legs in the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays, leading the Storm to fifth place finished in each of those events.
  • She swam a 24.32 in her anchor leg in the 200-yard relay, which is the fastest individual leg of any other swimmer competing.
  • Additionally, Minette clocked a blistering 52.95 in the anchor leg of the 400-yard relay, which was also the fastest individual leg of any swimmer.
  • Minette is collecting her first-career Performer of the Week accolade.
Men’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week17974
Caden Gillmore, Loras College
Fr., Greely, Colo.
  • Gillmore and the Loras Duhawks competed at the Wheaton Invitational over the weekend.
  • The Greely, Colorado native made it to the finals in three events this weekend.
  • The freshman finished 13th in the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 5:00.34.
  • Gillmore placed 14th in the 200-yard butterfly in 2:08.47.
  • The last event he made the finals in was the 100-yard butterfly, where he finished 20th in a time of 55.08.
  • Gillmore’s times in the 500-yard freestyle and 200-yard butterfly were season bests for him.
  • Loras will have the rest of the month off before returning to the pool on January 7th.
  • The Greely, Colorado native is garnering his second Performer of the Week honors (10/17/22, 12/5/22).
Wrestling - Wrestler of the Week18175
Shane Liegel, Loras College
Sr., 184lbs., Spring Green, Wis./River Valley
  • Liegel earned a key victory in No. 20-ranked Loras’ dual match against No. 2-ranked Augsburg University.
  • At the 184-pound match, Liegel defeated Augsburg’s Bentley Schwanebeck-Ostermann by major decision (15-3).
  • Schwanebeck-Ostermann earned All-American honors last year after finishing sixth in the 197-pound bracket at the NCAA Championships.
  • With the victory, Liegel stays unbeaten this season with an 11-0 record.
  • The Duhawks now have a 1-1 record on the season.
  • 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 third time this season and seventh time overall the Spring Green native is picking up Wrestler of the Week honors (11/25/19, 11/22/21, 12/6/21, 12/20/21, 11/14/22, 11/22/22, 12/5/22).
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