Luther's Kauls and Coe's Schnurr Named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week

Performers of the Week Announced in Three Sports

12/11/2023 10:55:46 AM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Luther College women’s basketball player Lizzie Kauls (North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) and Coe College men’s basketball player TJ Schnurr (Algona, Iowa/Bishop-Garrigan Catholic) have been named American Rivers Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, December 10, 2023. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in men’s and women’s basketball, and wrestling.

Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Basketball – Player of the Week19957
Lizzie Kauls, Luther College
Fifth Yr., F, North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View
  • Kauls and the Norse picked up two wins, including one non-conference win over Martin Luther (65-59) and a dominant conference win over Buena Vista (75-37).
  • The fifth year forward found herself on the court for 27 minutes in non-conference action where she recorded six points and six rebounds in the victory.
  • She went 2-for-3 from the field and a perfect 2-for-2 from the line.
  • Against the Beavers, she recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
  • Kauls went 6-for-13 (46%) from the field and a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.
  • 15 points is a season high for the North Oaks, Minnesota native.
  • The Norse improved their record to 5-4 overall and 3-1 in league action with their only contest of the week coming on Saturday against Cornell.
  • This marks her second-career Player of the Week honor (11/22/22).

Male Athlete of the Week – Men’s Basketball – Player of the Week19936
TJ Schnurr, Coe College
Sr., F, Algona, Iowa/Bishop-Garrigan Catholic
  • Schnurr, earning back-to-back A-R-C Player of the Week honors, lifted the Kohawks to an overtime, buzzer beater victory over the Central College Dutch.
  • The senior hit the 20-point mark for the fourth straight game with the 85-83 win on Saturday.
  • He scored 22 points, going 9-for-20 (45%) from the floor and 3-for-8 from long.
  • The most important basket he made came on a buzzer beater soft touch shot from the middle of the lane to secure the Kohawks conference victory over the defending regular season champion.
  • The Kohawks move their record to 9-1 overall and 4-0 in league play with two non-conference games on the slate this week facing Cornell and North Central (Minn.).
  • The Algona, Iowa native is earning his fourth-career Player of the Week honor in his career (2/20/23, 2/27/23, 12/4/23, 12/11/23).

Wrestling - Wrestler of the Week19958
Massoma Endene, Wartburg College
Jr., Dallas Tex./James Bowie
  • Endene and the No. 2-ranked Knights competed against Nebraska Wesleyan in an A-R-C dual.
  • Wartburg picked up a 54-0 win.
  • The junior faced Caleb Schwerdtfeger for the Prairie Wolves, but they did not remain on the mat for long as Endene picked up a fall in just 14 seconds.
  • This marks Endene’s fourth fall of the season and remains undefeated on the season.
  • Wartburg improved their record to 3-0 overall and in league action.
  • The Knights will be back on the mats this weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada for the Desert Duals.
  • This is the first time the Dallas, Texas native is picking up Wrestler of the Week honors.

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