Luther's Westholder and Coe's Lueken Named A-R-C Athletes of the Week

Performers of the Week Announced in Nine Sports

9/26/2022 1:11:14 PM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Luther College men’s tennis player Luke Westholder (Edina, Minn./Edina) and Coe College volleyball player Grace Lueken (Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert Catholic) have been named American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, September 25, 2022. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in men’s and women’s cross country, football, women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, and volleyball.
Female Athlete of the Week Volleyball – Offensive Player of the Week17856
Grace Lueken, Coe College
Jr., MH, Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert Catholic
  • Lueken helping the Kohawks to a 4-0 record on the week, including a 3-1 win over No. 14-ranked Gustavus Adolphus.
  • Coe also defeated Loras (3-0), UW-Stout (3-2), and Concordia College Minnesota (3-0).
  • The junior middle hitter totaled 47 kills with a hitting percentage of .449 over the four contests.
  • Lueken average 3.13 kills per set and recorded double-digit kills in all but one match for the Kohawks.
  • In addition, the junior added four aces throughout the week, bringing her season total to 18.
  • Coe improved to 13-3 overall and 2-0 in league play.
  • Lueken is a two-time Honorable Mention performer.
  • The Dubuque native is collecting her first-career volleyball Offensive Player of the Week and Female Athlete of the Week honors.
Male Athlete of the Week – Men’s Tennis – Player of the Week17858
Luke Westholder, Luther College
So., Edina, Minn./Edina
  • Westholder takes home Men’s Tennis Player of the Week honors after winning the 2022 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Men’s Tennis Individual A-Flight Singles.
  • The sophomore went a perfect 4-0 in this year’s A-flight.
  • The Edina, Minnesota native defeated teammate Max Loen (6-1, 6-2) to clinch the gold medal.
  • Westholder is a 2022 All-Conference performer in singles and doubles.
  • He is picking up his first-career Player of the Week accolade.
Men’s Cross Country – Runner of the Week17847
Noah Jorgenson, Central College
Jr., Sidney, Iowa/Sidney
  • Jorgenson finished 12th of 400 runners at the Roy Griak Invitational held in Minnesota.
  • The junior finished the 8k in 25:54.1, 52.7 seconds behind the first place finisher.
  • Central collected 188 team points to finish sixth of 29 teams.
  • The Sidney native is collecting his first ever men’s cross country Runner of the Week honor.
Women’s Cross Country – Runner of the Week17848
Caroline McMartin, Central College
Jr., Pella, Iowa/Pella
  • McMartin finished 19th out of 382 runners at the Roy Griak Invitational held in Minnesota.
  • The junior finished the 6k in 23:17.7.
  • The Central Dutch collected 295 team points to finish 10th of 30 teams.
  • McMartin is a two-time All-Conference performer.
  • The Pella native is collecting her third-career Runner of the Week award (9/27/21, 9/12/22, 9/26/22).
Football – Offensive Player of the Week17862
Eman Alaniz, Buena Vista University
So., RB, Parker, Ariz./Parker
  • Alaniz helped lead Buena Vista to a 52-49 win over Luther College.
  • The Parker, Arizona native turned in a career-high 173 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
  • The sophomore’s touchdowns came from runs of 20 and 72 yards.
  • The 72-yard touchdown run happened with 1:55 left in the third to give the Beavers their first lead (32-28) for the first time since the score was 6-0.
  • Alaniz averaged 13.3 yards per carry in the Beavers victory.
  • The Beavers improved to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
  • The sophomore running back is picking up his first-career Offensive Player of the Week accolade.
Football – Defensive Player of the Week17850
Parker Rochford, Wartburg College
So., DB, Edgewood, Iowa/Edgewood-Colesburg
  • Rochford led the No. 21-ranked Knights in tackles in their 25-0 victory over the University of Dubuque.
  • The sophomore defensive back totaled seven tackles, five of which were solo.
  • In addition, Rochford tied the school record with three interceptions.
  • Rochford added two pass breakups in the shutout victory.
  • Wartburg’s victory on Saturday marked the third-straight shutout and first time since 1942.
  • The Knights improved to 4-0 on the season and 2-0 in A-R-C action.
  • This is the first Defensive Player of the Week honor for the Edgewood native.
Football – Special Teams Player of the Week17851
Scott Talmadge, Loras College
So., K/P, Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial
  • Talmadge helped the Duhawks to a 49-31 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan.
  • The sophomore was a perfect 7-7 on PATs, which ranks him fourth in Loras’ single-game records.
  • Talmadge tallied 457 kickoff yards on eight kickoffs, averaging 57.1 per kick with three fair catches.
  • The Loras Duhawks improved to 2-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
  • The Ankeny native is garnering his second Special Teams Player of the Week honor in his career (10/4/21, 9/26/22).
Women’s Golf – Golfer of the Week17721
Delaney Underwood, Central College
Sr., Mitchellville, Iowa/Colfax-Mingo
  • Underwood led the Dutch to a first-place finish at the Nebraska Wesleyan Fall Invitational.
  • The senior shot rounds of 78-75-153 to finish in third place out of 54 golfers in the field.
  • The Dutch shot rounds of 321-309-630 to win their first team title of the fall.
  • Underwood is a two-time All-Conference performer.
  • This marks the Mitchellville native’s second Golfer of the Week accolade of her career (9/6/22, 9/26/22).
Men’s Soccer – Offensive Player of the Week17852
Mateaus Lewis, Simpson College
Jr., MF/F, Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Prairie
  • Lewis scored three goals and delivered two assists for eight points in Simpson’s 3-0 week.
  • The Storm picked up wins over Illinois College (3-0), Saint Mary’s (1-0) and Coe (5-1).
  • In the victory over Illinois College, Lewis netted a goal and two assists.
  • The junior midfielder tallied his first career multi-goal game in the victory over Coe.
  • Both goals in the win over the Kohawks came within seven minutes of each other with the first being the game-winner.
  • The Simpson Storm improved to 7-2 overall and started league play 1-0.
  • The Cedar Rapids native is garnering his first ever Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Men’s Soccer – Defensive Player of the Week17853
Ricardo Ibarra, Simpson College
Sr., D, Marshalltown, Iowa/Marshalltown
  • Playing over 250 minutes on the backline for the Storm, Ibarra helped lead Simpson to a 3-0 week.
  • The Storm picked up wins over Illinois College (3-0), Saint Mary’s (1-0) and Coe (5-1).
  • Ibarra anchored the Storm defense to two shutouts on the week.
  • Only one goal was given up in the victory over the Kohawks.
  • The Simpson Storm improved to 7-2 overall and started league play 1-0.
  • Ibarra is a 2020 (Spring 2021) Honorable Mention performer.
  • This marks the Marshalltown native’s second career Defensive Player of the Week nod (3/29/21, 9/26/22).
Women’s Soccer – Offensive Player of the Week17854
Ryleigh O’Brien, Loras College
Sr., F, Hampton, Ill./United Township
  • O’Brien scored four goals and delivered three assists for 11 points in Loras’ 2-0 week.
  • The (RV)/No. 15-ranked Duhawks picked up wins over Lawrence (4-0) and Nebraska Wesleyan (6-0).
  • In the victory over Lawrence, O’Brien netted two goals and tallied one assist.
  • With two goals and two assists in the conference victory over the Prairie Wolves, the senior forward’s six points tied her career high.
  • The Loras Duhawks improved to 6-0-2 overall and started league play 1-0.
  • The Hampton, Illinois native is picking up her third-career Offensive Player of the Week honor (11/8/21, 9/6/22, 9/26/22).
Women’s Soccer – Defensive Player of the Week17855
Avery Matthews, Wartburg College
Fr., D, Pleasant, Iowa/Ankeny
  • Matthews helped the No. 6-ranked Wartburg Knights to two shutout victories over Augsburg (1-0) and Buena Vista University (8-0).
  • The freshman defender logged 148 minutes between the two contests.
  • In the conference victory over the Beavers, the Knights allowed no shots, no shots on goal, or corner kicks.
  • Wartburg only allowed six shots on goal against Augsburg.
  • The Pleasant, Iowa native is collecting her first-career Defensive Player of the Week accolade.
Women’s Tennis – Player of the Week17859
Brooke Sailer, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Sr., Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln East
  • Sailer led the Prairie Wolves to a 9-0 win over Buena Vista University on Sunday, September 25.
  • At the No. 1 singles slot, Sailer defeated Alexis McGinnis 6-1, 6-0.
  • Partnering with Addi Duranski at No. 1 doubles, the duo defeated McGinnis and Madison McGaffin 8-0.
  • The Prairie Wolves improved to 3-1 overall and 3-1 in league play.
  • Sailer is a three-time All-Conference performer in singles and 2019 All-Conference performer in doubles.
  • The Lincoln native is garnering her first-career women’s tennis Player of the Week honor.
Volleyball – Defensive Player of the Week17857
Allison Feigenbaum, Wartburg College
So., MB, Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar
  • Feigenbaum helped lead the Knights to a 4-0 week, including a 3-0 sweep over No. 14-ranked Gustavus Adolphus.
  • The Knights defeated University of Dubuque (3-2), UW-Stout (3-1), and Concordia College Minnesota (3-0).
  • The sophomore middle blocker for the Knights tallied 24 total blocks over the four contests.
  • Of the 24 blocks, Feigenbaum had 15 solo blocks.
  • In addition to her defensive performance, Feigenbaum recorded 39 kills with a hitting percentage of .391.
  • Wartburg improved to 9-6 overall and 2-0 in league play.
  • The Marion native is taking home the volleyball Defensive Player of the Week honor for the first time in her career.
 
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