Simpson's Minette and Central's Baldwin Named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week

Performers of the Week Announced in Five Sports

12/4/2023 12:43:33 PM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Simpson College women’s swimmer Kate Minette (Liberty, Mo./Liberty) and Central College wrestler Pierre Baldwin (Carol Stream, Ill./West Chicago) have been named American Rivers Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, December 3, 2023. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming & diving, and wrestling.
Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week19933
Kate Minette, Simpson College
Jr., Liberty, Mo./Liberty
  • Minette and the Storm competed at the Pioneer Classic at Grinnell College on Friday and Saturday.
  • The junior was part of three school records on the weekend.
  • She lowered her own school record in the 50-yard freestyle on day week, recording a time of 24.52 to take third out of 51 swimmers.
  • On day two, Minette broke her own school record in the 100-yard freestyle, clocking a time of 54.16 to take third again out of 44 competitors.
  • Minette anchored a school record breaking 400-yard freestyle relay, where the team swam in 3:46.37.
  • Additionally, Minette was the anchor for the 200-yard freestyle relay, where they recorded a time of 1:42.94, just .01 seconds off another school record.
  • The junior capped off the meet with a career-best in the 100-yard individual medley by over five seconds (1:06.05) to take sixth place in the race.
  • The Storm are off until January 13 when they host St. Mary’s in Indianola.
  • This is the Liberty, Missouri native’s third time earning Performer of the Week honors (12/5/22, 1/16/23, 12/4/23).
Male Athlete of the Week – Wrestling - Wrestler of the Week19796
Pierre Baldwin, Central College
So., Carol Stream, Ill./West Chicago
  • Baldwin had a successful 5-0 week, competing at the Augustana dual and MSOE Invitational.
  • The sophomore picked up a win over Augustana’s Will Taylor with a fall in 1:53.
  • Going 4-0 at the MSOE Invitational earned him the title after a grueling bracket at 141-pounds.
  • In his opening match, he won by fall in 3:54 over Corey Bagby of Concordia-Wisconsin.
  • He then picked up a major decision (14-2) over Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Ethan Pogorzelski.
  • In the semifinals, Baldwin earned a decision (8-5) over Jake Penzato of Aurora.
  • In the championship match, Baldwin had a hefty test with defending national champion and No. 1-ranked wrestler, Sam Stuhl of Augsburg. He picked up an impressive major decision win (12-4) to earn the title.
  • This is the second time the Carol Stream, Illinois native is picking up Wrestler of the Week honors (11/6/23, 12/4/23).
Men’s Basketball – Player of the Week19936
TJ Schnurr, Coe College
Sr., F, Algona, Iowa/Bishop-Garrigan Catholic
  • Schnurr led the Kohawks to a 2-0 week picking up two conference wins over Simpson (82-75) and Buena Vista (78-66).
  • The senior began the week recording 24 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and one block in the win over Simpson.
  • He shot 61% from the field (11-for-18) on Wednesday against the Storm.
  • The senior followed up against the Beavers with another 20-point performance, scoring 20 points with seven rebounds and one assist.
  • He shot 8-for-11 from the field (73%) in the win.
  • Schnurr and the Kohawks will be back on the court Wednesday night when they travel to Macomb, Illinois to face off against Division I opponent Western Illinois. They return to conference action Saturday when they travel to Central.
  • (RV) Coe’s record sits at 8-1 overall and 3-0 in league action.
  • The Algona, Iowa native is earning his third-career Player of the Week honor in his career (2/20/23, 2/27/23, 12/4/23).
Women’s Basketball – Player of the Week19934
Haylie Strum, Luther College
Fr., G, Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville
  • Strum guided the Norse to a 2-0 week in conference action over Dubuque (64-58) and Nebraska Wesleyan (64-32).
  • Shooting 4-for-6 from the field against the Spartans, totaling 14 points, while also adding seven assists, six steals and five rebounds.
  • The freshman recorded her first double-double against the Prairie Wolves with 11 points and ten rebounds.
  • Additionally, she tallied five assists, four steals, and one block in the Nebraska Wesleyan win.
  • The Norse improved their record to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in A-R-C action.
  • Luther and Strum return to the court on Tuesday evening for a non-conference matchup against Martin Luther and again on Saturday when they travel to Storm Lake to face Buena Vista in league play.
  • This marks the Stewartville, Minnesota native’s first-career Player of the Week honor.
Men’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week19935
Jay Ceperley, Simpson College
Jr., Hastings, Neb./Hastings
  • At the Pioneer Classic, hosted by Grinnell College, Ceperley had a successful showing.
  • The junior swam a 23.09 in the 50-yard freestyle on the first day of the meet, to record a season-best time.
  • He followed that up with a 1:50.44 in the 200-yard freestyle, taking fifth out of 20 swimmers.
  • Ceperley set a career-best in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 50.02, recording another top-10 finish.
  • The Hastings, Nebraska native was also a member of four Simpson relay teams that all set season-bests.
  • The Storm will be out of the pool until January 13 when they host St. Mary’s in Indianola.
  • This is the junior’s second time earning Performer of the Week honors (2/6/23, 12/4/23).
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