CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The 2023 All-American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Football Team as voted by the league’s head coaches:
| 2023 All-American Rivers Conference Football Team |
Offensive MVP - Hunter Clasen, 5th Year, RB, Wartburg College |
Defensive MVP - Owen Grover, 5th Year, LB, Wartburg College |
Coach of the Year - Chris Winter, Wartburg College |
| First-Team Defense |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown/High School |
| Alex Aitchison # % |
Coe College |
Sr. |
DL |
Cascade, Iowa/Cascade |
| Ben Rashid |
University of Dubuque |
5th Yr. |
DL |
Lodi, Wis./Lodi |
| Jordan Downing # & |
Wartburg College |
5th Yr. |
DL |
Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock |
| Riley Konrardy # |
Wartburg College |
5th Yr. |
DL |
LaMotte, Iowa/Bellevue |
| Brody Klein # -h2 |
Central College |
Sr. |
LB |
Rainier, Wash./Rainier |
| Jay Oostendorp # -h2 |
Coe College |
Sr. |
LB |
Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy |
| CJ Hangartner |
Simpson College |
So. |
LB |
Tucson, Ariz./Cienega |
| Owen Grover @ # & |
Wartburg College |
5th Yr. |
LB |
Dyersville, Iowa/Beckman Catholic |
| Nate Link # |
Wartburg College |
Sr. |
LB |
Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott |
| Jack Shaw # |
Coe College |
5th Yr. |
DB |
Atkins, Iowa/Benton Community |
| Dalton Wood -h1 |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
DB |
Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond-Burton |
| Parker Rochford # |
Wartburg College |
Jr. |
DB |
Edgewood, Iowa/Edgewood-Colesburg |
| First-Team Offense |
School |
Year |
Pos. |
Hometown/High School |
| K.C. Moore |
University of Dubuque |
Sr. |
QB |
Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley |
| Eman Alaniz |
Buena Vista University |
Jr. |
RB |
Parker, Ariz./Parker |
| Hunter Clasen ! # % -h3 |
Wartburg College |
5th Yr. |
RB |
Springbrook, Iowa/Bellevue |
| Dominic Shepardson # & |
Coe College |
5th Yr. |
WR |
Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista |
| Da'Mani Brown |
Loras College |
Jr. |
WR |
Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers |
| Reed Worth $ |
Simpson College |
Sr. |
WR |
Monroe, Iowa/PCM |
| Jamari Jenkins -h1 |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
TE |
Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township |
| Kade Tippet |
Central College |
Jr. |
OL |
Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott |
| Noah Theriault # |
Coe College |
Jr. |
OL |
Cedar Park, Texas/Vista Ridge |
| Jack Connors # |
University of Dubuque |
Sr. |
OL |
Carpentersville, Ill./Barrington |
| Tucker Kinney # |
Wartburg College |
Sr. |
OL |
DeWitt, Iowa/Central DeWitt |
| Alex Lahmon $ |
Wartburg College |
5th Yr. |
OL |
Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar |
| First-Team Specialist |
School |
Year |
Pos. |
Hometown/High School |
| Conner Halla |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
P |
Plainfield, Ill./Joilet West |
| Logan Sunvold # % |
Central College |
Sr. |
PK |
Monroe, Iowa/Southeast Polk |
| Hunter Wilkinson |
Central College |
Sr. |
RS |
Jensen Beach, Fla./Jensen Beach |
| Second-Team Defense |
School |
Year |
Pos. |
Hometown/High School |
| Hunter Olson |
Central College |
5th Yr. |
DL |
Peoria, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain |
| Stone Cummins |
Coe College |
Jr. |
DL |
Clinton, Tenn./Anderson County |
| Levi Wolter |
Luther College |
5th Yr. |
DL |
Elysian, Minn./Waterville-Elysian-Morristown |
| Justin Grieff |
Wartburg College |
Sr. |
DL |
Pontiac, Ill./Pontiac Township |
| Preston Rochford |
Wartburg College |
5th Yr. |
LB |
Edgewood, Iowa/Edgewood-Colesburg |
| Reid Pakkebier |
Central College |
Jr. |
LB |
Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy |
| Ben Adelsberger |
Coe College |
Sr. |
LB |
Lake St. Louis, Mo./Liberty |
| Ben Ridenour $ |
Coe College |
5th Yr. |
LB |
Manchester, Iowa/West Delaware |
| Garrett Hertzfeldt # |
University of Dubuque |
Sr. |
LB |
Prairie Du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie |
| Camerson Bannister $ & |
Central College |
5th Yr. |
DB |
State Center, Iowa/West Marshall |
| Ladainian Linnear $ |
Coe College |
Jr. |
DB |
Chicago, Ill./George Westinghouse |
| Drew Wyffels -h1 |
Wartburg College |
Sr. |
DB |
Mabel, Minn./Mabel Canton |
| Second-Team Offense |
School |
Year |
Pos. |
Hometown/High School |
| Nile McLaughlin # |
Wartburg College |
5th Yr. |
QB |
Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott |
| Ray Seidel # |
Coe College |
Sr. |
RB |
Cedar Falls, Iowa/Columbus |
| Ryan Neu $ |
Central College |
Sr. |
WR |
West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley |
| Zamari Bruce |
Coe College |
So. |
WR |
Spring, Texas/Frassati Catholic |
| Za'Cameron Brice |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
WR |
Arlington, Texas/Lamar |
| Cole Siems |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
Jr. |
WR |
DeWitt, Neb./Tri-County |
| Thomas Butters # |
Wartburg College |
5th Yr. |
TE |
Kalona, Iowa/Mid-Prairie |
| Tristan Hunt |
Central College |
Sr. |
OL |
Britt, Iowa/West Hancock |
| Luke Schumacher -h1 |
Coe College |
So. |
OL |
Waukee, Iowa/Northwest |
| Wes Spitzmiller $ |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
OL |
St. Charles, Mo./Pattonville |
| Tad Naiberk -h1 |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
5th Yr. |
OL |
David City, Neb./Aquinas Catholic |
| Ethan Stockwell -h1 |
Wartburg College |
Sr. |
OL |
Cumming, Iowa/Norwalk Community |
| Second-Team Specialist |
School |
Year |
Pos. |
Hometown/High School |
| Austin Burns # |
Central College |
Sr. |
P |
Williamsburg, Iowa/Williamsburg |
| Cael O'Neill $ |
Wartburg College |
Sr. |
PK |
Solon, Iowa/Solon |
| Jeron Senters |
Coe College |
Fr. |
RS |
Marion, Iowa/Kennedy |
| Honorable Mention |
School |
Year |
Pos. |
Hometown/High School |
| Dylan Berens |
Buena Vista University |
Sr. |
DL |
Dunlap, Iowa/Boyer Valley |
| Ben Crock |
Buena Vista University |
Fr. |
PK |
Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon |
| James Facio |
Buena Vista University |
Sr. |
OL |
El Paso, Texas/El Paso |
| Tate Hagen -h1 |
Central College |
Sr. |
DL |
Britt, Iowa/West Hancock |
| Hunter Hoffman |
Central College |
So. |
QB |
Pecatonica, Ill./Pecatonica |
| Grant Nelson |
Central College |
Jr. |
TE |
Pella, Iowa/Pella |
| Maximus Reitano |
Central College |
So. |
OL |
Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes |
| Luke Bradley |
Coe College |
So. |
P |
Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy |
| Julian Garcia Ayala |
Coe College |
So. |
PK |
Galena, Ill./Galena |
| Carter Maske -h1 |
Coe College |
Sr. |
QB |
Waterloo, Iowa/West |
| Elijah Dertz -h1 |
Loras College |
Sr. |
DL |
Lanark, Ill./Eastland-Pearl City |
| Evan England # |
Loras College |
Jr. |
QB |
Wheaton, Ill./Lena-Winslow |
| Justin Hayes |
Loras College |
So. |
OL |
Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk |
| Hareson Willis |
Loras College |
5th Yr. |
WR |
Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township |
| Brayden Daly |
Luther College |
So. |
LB |
Gilbert, Ariz./Mesquite |
| Sean Medcalfe |
Luther College |
Fr. |
PK |
Augusta, Ga./Westside |
| Max Brinker |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
Sr. |
LB |
Elkhorn, Neb./Omaha Skutt |
| Wyatt Schaben -h1 -h2 |
Simpson College |
Sr. |
DL |
Harlan, Iowa/Harlan |
| Will Conlan |
Wartburg College |
Sr. |
OL |
Peosta, Iowa/Western Dubuque |
| Jaxson Hoppes |
Wartburg College |
So. |
P |
Waterloo, Iowa/West |
| Dylan Steen |
Wartburg College |
5th Yr. |
DB |
Webster City, Iowa/Webster City |
| Previous Honors |
| ! - 2022 Offensive MVP |
| @ - 2022 Defensive MVP |
| # - 2022 First-Team All-Conference |
| $ - 2022 Second-Team All-Conference |
| -h1 - 2022 Honorable Mention |
| % - 2021 First-Team All-Conference |
| & - 2021 Second-Team All-Conference |
| -h2 - 2021 Honorable Mention |
| -h3 - 2019 Honorable Mention |
The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced today its major football awards and the 54-member All-American Rivers Conference team for the 2023 season. Wartburg College fifth year running back Hunter Clasen (5th Yr., Springbrook, Iowa/Bellevue) was chosen as the conference’s Offensive Most Valuable Player, while teammate Owen Grover (5th Yr., Dyersville, Iowa/Beckman Catholic) was voted Defensive Most Valuable Player. Wartburg head coach Chris Winter and his staff earned the Coach of the Year honor.
Clasen, Grover, and Winter are all repeating as major award winners for the second consecutive season.
As Offensive MVP, Clasen also earns a spot on the 12-member first team offensive squad, his third first team honor. The Springbrook, Iowa native is the third Wartburg Knight to earn Offensive MVP honors, joining
Matt Sacia (2017, 2018) and
Logan Schrader (2014, 2015). Clasen joins Sacia and Schrader as the third Knight to earn Offensive MVP honors twice in his career. Prior to the MVP award being split to recognize an offensive and defensive standout in 2010, Wartburg had seven players earn the award:
Matt Wheeler (1999),
Vince Penningroth (1995),
Gary Walljasper (1984),
Scott Fritz (1983),
Mike Ward (1982),
Connie Hellerich (1969), and
Murray McMurray (1968).
In eight conference games, Clasen ran for a team best of 842 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 105.3 yards per game led the league and his average of 6.1 yards per carry was sixth best in the conference. The fifth year running back for the Knights had just 17 negative yards recorded during league play. Additionally, Clasen recorded 114 yards on 14 receptions for an average of 8.1 yards per catch.
Grover is earning his second-career first team nod in addition to his Defensive MVP award after earning a spot on the second team for his performance during the 2021 season. The fifth year linebacker is the second Wartburg Knight to earn Defensive MVP honors, joining
Spencer Capitani in 2014. Grover is the first in the program’s history to earn this honor twice. Grover recorded 67 total tackles, including 30 solo. The Dyersville native had 3.0 tackles for loss for a total of eight yards and recorded 2.5 sacks. The fifth year linebacker tallied one interception.
In his third year at the helm of the Wartburg football program, head coach Winter, and assistants
Matt Wheeler, Matt Tschetter, Anthony Vela, Luke Summers, Ethan Lape, Quinton Murphy, Jeff Beck, Paul Mugan, Steve Kingery, Jason Splitt, and
Mike Holderness guided the Knights to a perfect 10-0 overall record and 8-0 in A-R-C play for the program’s 19th conference title. The 2023 season marks the second time Winter has received conference Coach of the Year honors. Winter joins
Rick Willis (1999, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017),
Bob Nielson (1993),
Don Canfield (1982, 1983), and
Lee Bonhus (1968) as conference Coach of the Year honorees in Wartburg history. Along with their league title, Wartburg earned their 14th trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Knights marched all the way to the national semifinals a season ago and begin their postseason journey on Saturday, November 18 at noon when they host Illinois College.
Seven of the nine schools saw student-athletes garner first-team offensive accolades.
Tucker Kinney (Sr., DeWitt, Iowa/Central DeWitt) and
Alex Lahmon (5th Yr., Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar) are joining Clasen as first-team selections for Wartburg College. Kinney and Lahmon played on the offensive line and together guided a line that ranked second in the conference in total yards (3,599) with 2,044 passing and 1,555 rushing. Both Kinney and Lahmon appeared in all eight conference games for the Knights. Kinney is earning his second consecutive first-time offensive honor while Lahmon is earning his first after garnering second-team offensive accolades a season ago.
Finishing in second in conference standings, the Coe College Kohawks saw two first-team offensive selections. Wide receiver
Dominic Shepardson (5th Yr., Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista) had a fantastic fifth year campaign, leading the team in receiving yards (626). Shepardson averaged 78.3 yards per game throughout eight conference games this season. In 52 receptions, he recorded four touchdowns. Each reception he averaged 12.0 per carry. Lineman,
Noah Theriault (Jr., Cedar Park, Texas/Vista Ridge), led an offensive line that allowed the Kohawks to record 3,587 total yards (2,114 passing and 1,473 rushing), which ranked third best in the league. Shepardson is now a three-time All-Conference honoree after picking up first-team honors a season ago and second-team accolades during the 2021 campaign. Theriault is earning All-Conference for the second time in his career.
The University of Dubuque notched three first-team offensive All-Conference selections.
K.C. Moore (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley) put some impressive numbers up in eight conference games to lead the Spartans to a 5-3 league record and a fourth place finish. He finished second in the league in efficiency (154.1). Moore had 207 completions for 2,409 yards and 25 touchdowns. The Las Vegas, Nevada native averaged 301.1 passing yards per game. Additionally, he recorded 30 rushing attempts where he picked up 160 yards. This is Moore’s first All-Conference honor.
Jamari Jenkins (Jr., Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) and
Jack Connors (Sr., Carpentersville, Ill./Barrington) are also picking up first-team offensive honors. Jenkins played tight end for the Spartans, recording 37 receptions for a total of 387 yards. The Evanston, Illinois native had five receiving touchdowns for Dubuque this year. Connors was a force for the Spartans offensive line that allowed for the Spartans to record 3,562 total yards of offense (2,425 passing and 1,137 rushing). The Dubuque offense recorded 34 touchdowns in conference action this season. Connors is earning his second consecutive first-team offensive nod. Jenkins is earning first-team offensive honors for the first time in his career after being named honorable mention in 2022.
Central offensive lineman,
Kade Tippet (Jr., Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott) was the lone first-team offensive selection for the Dutch. The junior was a key member of an O-line unit that protected a quarterback who threw for 2,557 yards and opened up holes for a running game that totaled 1,096 yards, to lead the league in total offense. Tippet is earning All-Conference honors for the first time in his career.
The Buena Vista Beavers running back,
Eman Alaniz (Jr., Parker, Ariz./Parker) picked up first-team offensive honors for the first-time after a successful junior campaign. Alaniz recorded 104 attempts through eight conference games for a total of 326 yards gained, an average of 40.8 per game. He tallied four touchdowns. Alaniz was involved with kickoffs, too, where he had 24 returns for 436 yards for an average of 18.2 per return.
Loras College junior,
Da’Mani Brown (Jr., Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers) had 69 receptions for 897 yards to rank second in the league for total receiving yards. Brown averaged 112.1 yards per game on 8.6 receptions. He racked up 17 touchdown receptions to lead the league. This is Brown’s first All-Conference accolade.
Rounding out first-team offensive honors is
Reed Worth (Sr., Monroe, Iowa/PCM) for the Storm. Worth is picking up first-team honors for the first time after earning second-team offensive honors a year ago. The senior was the name to know for the Simpson offense where on 61 receptions, he gained 909 yards, for an average of 14.9 per carry, and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 113.6 reception yards over eight conference games. Additionally, Worth rushed for 17 yards on three attempts. He recorded seven tackles for loss and three assists for a total of 63 yards and 8.5 yards per tackle.
Wartburg College had five defensive players pick up first-team All-Conference honors in
Jordan Downing (5th Yr., Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock),
Nate Link (Sr., Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott),
Parker Rochford (Jr., Edgewood, Iowa/Edgewood-Colesburg), and
Riley Konrardy (5th Yr., LaMotte, Iowa/Bellevue) joined Grover. Downing led a defensive line that only allowed 52 conference points all season. Having the eye to find the holes to the quarterback, Downing recorded six solo and three assisted sacks for 62 yards to rank second in the league. He recorded 25 tackles on the season and one interception. Downing is earning his second consecutive first-team defensive honor after earning second-team during the 2021 campaign. Linebacker, Nate Link (Sr., Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott) is picking up back-to-back first-team defensive honors this season. The senior linebacker recorded 35 total tackles and eight sacks for loss, for a total of 30 yards. He had two quarterback hurries and picked off one pass through eight conference games. Leading the Knights secondary was Parker Rochford (Jr., Edgewood, Iowa/Edgewood-Colesburg). The junior defensive back tallied 29 total tackles with 19 being solo stops. He finished the season with three pass breakups and two interceptions, that he was able to run back for a total of 86 yards. Konrardy is picking up his second All-Conference honor after recording 23 total tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and 13 sacks for loss.
Picking up first-team defensive All-Conference honors for the Coe College Kohawks is
Alex Aitchison (Sr., Cascade, Iowa/Cascade),
Jay Oostendorp (Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy), and
Jack Shaw (5th Yr., Atkins, Iowa/Benton Community). Aitchison was a force and a name to know defensively as he recorded 26 tackles with 11 of them being for loss of 44 yards and three sacks. Additionally, Aitchison recorded three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. The senior is earning first-team All-Conference honors for the third straight year. Oostendorp recorded 26 tackles with nine being for loss for a total of 45 yards. Additionally, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa native recorded three sacks and one pass breakup. The senior linebacker is earning first-team All-Conference honors for the second consecutive season after being named honorable mention for the 2021 season. Picking up first-team All-Conference nods for the second time is fifth year defensive back, Shaw. The Atins native recorded 36 tackles including one for a loss of two yards. Shaw recorded seven pass breakups and five interceptions in eight conference contests.
Dubuque’s
Ben Rashid (5th Yr., Lodi, Wis./Lodi) and
Dalton Wood (Jr., Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond-Burton) are appearing on first-team defensive All-Conference this year. Rashid led the defensive front for the Spartans this season recording 31 tackles including 11.5 for a loss of 89 total yards. Additionally, he recorded 9.5 sacks for 84 yards. He had six quarterback hurries and one block. Wood, playing defensive back, tallied 39 tackles. He picked off one pass, recorded one pass breakup, and forced one fumble. Rashid is picking up his first All-Conference while Wood is earning first-team honors for the first time in his career after earning second-team defensive honors last season.
Picking up first-team defensive All-Conference honors for the Central Dutch is senior linebacker
Brody Klein (Sr., Rainer, Wash./Rainier). The Dutch senior tallied 39 tackles including six for a loss in just six conference games. Klein had three pass breakups, one interception, which he returned 82 yards, and one sack. He is earning All-Conference honors for the second time after being an honorable mention performer in 2021.
Simpson’s
CJ Hangartner (So., Tucson, Ariz./Cienega) is picking up All-Conference accolades for the first time in his career appearing on first-team defense this season. Hangartner totaled 45 tackles, with 31 of those coming in a solo effort. He found the hole to the quarterback seven times to record sacks for a loss of 44 yards. He had four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles on the season.
The Central Dutch place kicker and return specialist picked up first-team specialist honors.
Logan Sunvold (Sr., Monroe, Iowa/Southeast Polk) is earning a first-team honor for the third consecutive season as a placekicker while
Hunter Wilkinson (Sr., Jensen Beach, Fla./Jensen Beach) found his way to the first-team as a return specialist for his first All-Conference honor. Sunvold made five of his nine field goal attempts with his longest being 38 yards. The senior converted on 43 of his 44 extra points. Additionally, the Monroe native recorded 17 touchbacks on kickoff this season. Wilkinson was voted first-team by the league’s head coach as a return specialist. Playing in all eight conference games, Wilkinson averaged 24.6 yards per kick return and a long of 41 yards. He led the league for his return average.
Dubuque’s
Conner Halla (Jr., Plainfield, Ill./Joilet West) was recognized at first-team as a punter, recording 1,049 yards on 26 punts, which is the highest average per punt in the league with 40.3 yards. The junior had four punts over 50-yards and nailed one punt inside the 20. His longest punt of 67 yards was third in the league. This is Halla’s first All-Conference honor.
