Loras' Kells and England Named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week

Performers of the Week Announced in Seven Sports

11/6/2023 1:46:42 PM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Loras College women’s soccer player Kyndal Kells (Red Oak, Iowa/Red Oak) and football player Evan England (Wheaton, Ill./Lena-Winslow) have been named American Rivers Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, November 5, 2023. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in football, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s swimming & diving, volleyball, and wrestling.
Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Soccer – Defensive Player of the Week19691
Kyndal Kells, Loras College
Sr., GK, Red Oak, Iowa/Red Oak
  • What a week for Kells as she led the Duhawks in the goal to another NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Tournament.
  • The senior goalkeeper recorded eight saves on the week, in the semifinals and championship matches in the A-R-C Tournament.
  • Where the Duhawks needed her most was in the championship game versus Simpson where she recorded five saves, including two crucial saves in the penalty shootout in overtime.
  • Her two saves in the penalty shootout secured Loras’ A-R-C title and the automatic bid back to the NCAA Tournament.
  • She only gave up one goal on the week and that was in the championship match.
  • Kells played every minute for the Duhawks this week.
  • The Loras Duhawks improved to 16-1-1 overall and 8-0 in league play. The Duhawks will next be seen in the NCAA Tournament as they are set to host the first and second rounds. Loras will begin their NCAA postseason journey against Lake Forest. 
  • Kells is a 2022 All-Conference performer.
  • The Red Oak, Iowa native is garnering her third Defensive Player of the Week honor in her career (11/6/23, 10/23/23, 10/17/22).
Male Athlete of the Week – Football – Offensive Player of the Week19795
Evan England, Loras College
Jr. QB, Wheaton, Ill./Lena-Winslow
  • England could not have asked for a better day on Saturday with the Duhawks impressive win over the Simpson College Storm, 82-16.
  • The junior quarterback finished the game 19-of-21, passing for 337 yards, while rushing for 140 yards.
  • England recorded six passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns, for a total of eight touchdowns to become the new A-R-C record holder for most touchdowns in a game.
  • This league record had stood since 1998 when Guy Leman, Simpson, recorded seven against Luther in 1998.
  • England’s six touchdown pass performance is now tied second most all-time in the Loras College record book for a single game.
  • Loras improved their record to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the A-R-C as they prepare to hit the road to take on No. 25-ranked Coe College in the regular season finale on Saturday.
  • The Wheaton, Illinois native is earning Offensive Player of the Week for the third time in his career (9/19/22, 10/17/22, 11/6/23).
Football – Defensive Player of the Week19788
Matthew Beisswenger, Buena Vista University
So., DB, Audubon, Iowa/Audubon
  • Beisswenger had a strong showing for the Beavers in their loss to Central College, 56-22, on Saturday.
  • The sophomore recorded two pick-sixes for Buena Vista.
  • His pick-sixes were from 40-yards and 90-yards.
  • He has now recorded three interceptions on the season.
  • Additionally, he averaged 39.0-yards on four punts, including a long of 48-yards.
  • Buena Vista’s record sits at 1-8 overall and 1-6 in the league.
  • The Beavers will host Nebraska Wesleyan in the regular season finale on Saturday.
  • The Audubon, Iowa native is picking up his first Defensive Player of the Week honor.
Football – Special Teams Player of the Week19789
Owen Cook, Coe College
Fr., K, Montezuma, Iowa/Montezuma
  • Cook stepped up due to an injury for the Coe College Kohawks and made a difference in an intense overtime win over Dubuque on Saturday (23-20).
  • The freshman converted a field goal attempt and two extra point attempts.
  • His field goal came at the end of the first half from 20 yards out, giving Coe the 10-7 advantage.
  • The No. 25-ranked Kohawks survived and improved their record to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the league.
  • Coe will host Loras in the regular season finale on Saturday.
  • The Montezuma, Iowa native is earning his first-career Special Teams Player of the Week honor.
Men’s Soccer – Offensive Player of the Week19790
Aidan Mott, Wartburg College
So., MF, Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista
  • Mott led the Knights to their semifinal victory on the offensive side over the University of Dubuque.
  • In the 72nd minute of the contest, Mott found the net for the game-winner, and lone goal of the match.
  • The goal came on an assist from Itsuki Ebisawa to send the Knights to the semifinals.
  • The Knights finished the week with a 1-0 victory over the No. 1-seeded Loras in the championship match to earn Wartburg’s first A-R-C tournament title since 2014.
  • Wartburg and Mott now await their opponent for the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Tournament.
  • The Knights will enter the NCAA Tournament with a 12-1-6 overall record and 5-1-2 league record.
  • The Highlands Ranch, Colorado native is earning his first career Offensive Player of the Week accolade.
Men’s Soccer – Defensive Player of the Week19791
Curtis Ratzer, Wartburg College
Sr., D, Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy
  • Thanks to Ratzer, the Knights season is moving onto the NCAA Tournament.
  • The senior defender captained the Knights to a 2-0 week on their way to a A-R-C tournament title for the first time since 2014.
  • Ratzer led the Knights to two defensive shutouts over Dubuque (1-0) and Loras (1-0) after earning a first-round bye with the No. 2-seed.
  • Additionally, Ratzer made some noise on the offensive side with the game-winning goal in the championship match in the 50th minute.
  • Wartburg is now 12-1-6 overall and 5-1-2 in the league as they prepare for Gustavus Adolphus in the NCAA Tournament in Waverly, Iowa. 
  • The Cedar Rapids native is picking up his fourth-career Defensive Player of the Week honors (11/6/23, 9/25/23, 9/5/23, 9/19/22).
Women’s Soccer – Offensive Player of the Week19409
Cassie Nash, Simpson College
Sr., F, Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast
  • Nash and the Simpson Storm made it back to the A-R-C championship before falling short in the overtime penalty shootout versus Loras College on Saturday.
  • The senior forward led the Storm on the offensive side during the semifinals and championship match.
  • In the semifinals, Simpson picked up a 2-0 win over Luther, where Nash scored both goals.
  • The semifinal match was her third consecutive multi-goal game and seventh of the season.
  • Nash found the net in the 25th minute of action in the championship match to give the Storm an early 1-0 lead.
  • Nash’s goal in the championship game was only the fifth goal Loras had given up throughout the entire season and was only the second time they had trailed in the season.
  • Simpson’s overall record sits at 15-2-2 overall and 7-1 in league action.
  • The Storm patiently had to wait to see if they would make the big dance, and they did! Simpson will face St. Catherine in the opening round at Wisconsin-La Crosse. 
  • The Lincoln, Nebraska native is garnering her ninth-career Offensive Player of the Week honor (9/27/21, 9/12/22, 10/17/22, 10/24/22, 10/31/22, 9/5/23, 10/10/23, 10/30/23, 11/6/23).
Women’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week19792
Margaret Rhodes, Coe College
So., Decorah, Iowa/Decorah
  • Rhodes had a strong showing for the Kohawks in their first home dual of the season.
  • The sophomore competed in the 200-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle, and the opening leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay.
  • Rhodes hit the wall first in the 200-yard freestyle, with a time of 2:03.92, and the 500-yard freestyle, with a time of 5:30.29.
  • Additionally, the 400-yard freestyle relay swam the fastest with a time of 3:54.09, to win by just over two seconds.
  • The Kohawks lost the dual to Loras, 113-83.
  • Rhodes earned Swimmer of the Year in 2023 for her performance at the A-R-C Championships.
  • The Decorah, Iowa native is collecting her first-career Performer of the Week accolade.
Men’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week19793
Colin Halverson, Luther College
So., Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek
  • Halverson picked up two wins on Saturday over Grinnell.
  • The sophomore won the 1-meter dive with a total score of 250.25.
  • With a score of 251.85, he picked up the 3-meter dive win as well.
  • The Norse lost to Grinnell by a score of 175-110.
  • Luther will rest for a little before getting back into it with their home invitational on November 17 and 18.
  • Halverson was named the 2023 Diver of the Meet following his two gold medals in the 1-meter dive and 3-meter dive.
  • The Oak Creek, Wisconsin native is garnering his fourth Performer of the Week honors (11/7/22, 11/22/22, 1/23/23, 11/6/23).
Volleyball – Offensive Player of the Week19611
Addie Thomas, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Jr., OH, Elkhorn, Neb./Elkhorn
  • Thomas helped lead the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves to a 3-0 weekend ahead of the conference tournament.
  • NWU traveled to the Augustana Pumpkin Bash and defeated Benedictine University (3-2), No. 24 Cornell College (3-1), and Augustana College (3-2).
  • In all three contests, Thomas recorded double-doubles to bring her total to 15 on the season.
  • Thomas recorded 54 kills, averaging 3.9 per set.
  • On the defensive side, the junior recorded 46 digs.
  • Additionally, Thomas picked up five aces and three blocks.
  • The Prairie Wolves picked up their first win over a ranked opponent since 2014 as they improved to 21-7 overall.
  • NWU will be back in action on Thursday for the semifinal round of the conference tournament. They will host the winner of No. 3-seed Coe and No. 6-seed Loras.
  • The junior outside hitter was named an All-Conference performer last season, after earning honorable mention honors in 2021.
  • The Elkhorn, Nebraska native is collecting her third-career Offensive Player of the Week accolade (10/10/23, 10/23/23, 11/6/23).
Volleyball – Defensive Player of the Week19794
Raegan Holle, Nebraska Wesleyan University
So., L, Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Lutheran
  • In the final weekend of the regular season, Holle shined for the Prairie Wolves.
  • Nebraska Wesleyan went 3-0 on the weekend at Augustana Pumpkin Bash Tournament.
  • They picked up wins over Benedictine (3-2), No. 24-ranked Cornell (3-1), and Augustana (Ill.) (3-2).
  • The win over Cornell was the first win over a ranked opponent since the 2014 season for the P-Wolves.
  • The sophomore recorded 4.07 digs per set, posting 57 total over the three matches.
  • Additionally, she recorded six assists and one kill.
  • Nebraska Wesleyan is recording their first 20-win season since 2019 as they finish the regular season with a 21-7 overall record and finished 7-1 in the league.
  • Holle and the Prairie Wolves now await to see if Coe or Loras will be their opponent in the semifinals of the A-R-C Volleyball Tournament on Thursday evening, after earning the No. 2-seed in the tournament and a first-round bye.
  • The Lincoln, Nebraska native is garnering her first-career Defensive Player of the Week accolade.
Wrestling - Wrestler of the Week19796
Pierre Baldwin, Central College
So., 141 lbs., Carol Stream, Ill./West Chicago
  • Baldwin began his sophomore campaign with a big weekend at the Pointer Open on Saturday.
  • He began the day with a win by fall over Trent Lytle of Luther, 5:27.
  • His next win came by sudden victory (SV-1, 9-6) over Division II wrestler, Troy Dolphin of Wisconsin-Parkside.
  • In the quarterfinals, Baldwin picked up a major decision over Kayle Bearson from North Central (14-4).
  • Baldwin was contested in the semifinals against Minnesota-Mankato’s Trayton Anderson, but came out with a 5-4 decision win.
  • A tall task was at hand for Baldwin in the championship match going up against No. 7-nationally ranked and 2023 national qualifier Bradley Rosen of North Central, but Baldwin prevailed to pick up a 5-3 decision and his first collegiate title.
  • Baldwin begins the 2023 season with a 5-0 mark.
  • The Dutch will begin their conference slate on Wednesday evening when they travel to Lincoln, Nebraska to take on Nebraska Wesleyan. Central will then travel to Decatur, Illinois on Saturday for the Millikin Open.
  • Baldwin earned All-Conference honors last season following his fifth-place finish at the Lower Midwest Regional at 141-pounds.
  • This is the first time the Carol Stream, Illinois native is picking up Wrestler of the Week honors.
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