CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Wartburg College wrestler Zane Mulder (Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center Grimes) and Simpson College women’s basketball player Cassie Nash (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast) have been named American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, February 5, 2023. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, and wrestling. Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Basketball – Player of the Week
Cassie Nash, Simpson College
Sr., G, Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast

• Nash led the Simpson Storm to a 75-73 victory over Luther College on Saturday.
• The senior guard had a 26-point performance with 14 of those coming in the third quarter.
• Nash shot 70.6 percent from the floor, while also tallying four assists, five steals, and two blocked shots.
• The Lincoln native set up the game-winning shot by driving to the basket and drawing a triple team which left her teammate open in the corner to hit the three to give the Storm the lead with 5.3 seconds left in the game.
• This win was Head Coach Brian Niemuth’s 400^th conference victory in his career with the Storm.
• The Storm improved to 11-10 overall and 6-6 in league play.
• Simpson is back in action on Wednesday when they host the Buena Vista University Beavers.
• Nash is a two-time All-Conference performer.
• The senior guard is garnering her third Player of the Week honor in her career (2/6/23, 2/14/22, 3/15/21).

Male Athlete of the Week - Wrestling - Wrestler of the Week
Zane Mulder, Wartburg College
Jr., 174lbs., Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center Grimes

• The No.1-ranked Wartburg College Knights defeated No. 13 Coe College Kohawks 33-12 on Friday night in Cedar Rapids.
• Mulder, ranked No. 2 in his weight class, defeated No. 11 LJ Richardson by tech fall (15-0).
• This was the fourth ranked competitor Mulder has faced this season.
• The No. 1 Knights improved to 13-1 overall and 7-0 in the conference.
• Wartburg will be in action this Friday when they host No. 5 Loras College for the final conference dual of the season.
• Mulder is a two-time All-Conference performer.
• The Grimes native is picking up his third-career Wrestler of the Week accolade (2/6/23, 11/15/21, 1/25/21).

Men’s Basketball – Player of the Week
Grant Johnson, Central College
Sr., F, Van Meter, Iowa/Van Meter

• Johnson led the Central College Dutch to a 1-1 week with a win over Loras College to remain on top of the league standings.
• The Dutch lost their first game of the week 76-67 to Nebraska Wesleyan University.
• On Saturday, Central College secured a comeback road win over Loras 66-56.
• Johnson had a career high in field goals (12) and points (26) in the victory over Loras.
• On the week, the senior forward shot 75% from the field, while averaging 18 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
• Additionally, Johnson had four assists, two blocked shots, and tallied a steal.
• The Dutch are 14-6 on the season with a 9-3 mark in conference play.
• They are set to host Wartburg College on Wednesday in Pella.
• This is the Van Meter native’s second Player of the Week honor in his career, both coming this season (2/6/23, 1/6/23).

Women’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week
Lauren Pio, Coe College
Sr., Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg

• Pio and the Coe College Kohawks hosted Simpson College in a dual where the Kohawks came away with a 163-44 victory.
• The Kohawk senior earned three gold medals in the 200 Free, 100 Fly, and as a member of the 200 Free Relay team.
• Pio finished the 200 Free with a time of 2:05.39.
• In the 100 Fly, Pio recorded a time of 1:03.49.
• Her and her teammates posted a mark of 1:52.54 to claim the title in the 200 Free Relay.
• All five conference swimming & diving teams will be in action February 16-18 at the A-R-C Swimming & Diving Championships.
• This is the Galesburg, Illinois natives second Performer of the Week accolade (2/6/23, 10/24/22).

Men’s Swim & Dive – Performer of the Week
Jay Ceperley, Simpson College
So., Hastings, Neb./Hastings

• Ceperley and the Simpson College Storm traveled to Coe College for a dual where the Storm went home with a 56-52 victory.
• The sophomore took second in the 50 Free and the 100 Fly.
• Ceperly set a new career best time in the 50 Free with a time of 23.68.
• In the 100 Fly, Ceperly clocked a time of 59.33.
• All five conference swimming & diving teams will be in action February 16-18 at the A-R-C Swimming & Diving Championships.
• This is the Hastings, Nebraska natives first time earning Performer of the Week.

Men’s Indoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week
Sam Beatty, Central College
Sr., Mount Pleasant, Iowa/Mount Pleasant

• The Central College Dutch competed at the Wartburg College Select Meet on Saturday where they finished fifth of seven teams.
• Beatty took home the crown in the high jump with a mark of 2.07 meters.
• The senior’s jump set a new meet record while improving on his season-best and moving up to No. 3 on the NCAA Division III qualifying list.
• The Dutch are back in action this weekend where a limited roster will travel to Boston, Massachusetts for the David Hemery Valentine Invitational and the rest of the team will compete at the Darren Young Classic, hosted by Grinnell College.
• Beatty is earning his second-career Indoor Field Performer of the Week honor (2/6/23, 1/16/23). The Mount Pleasant native has earned Outdoor Field Performer of the Week three times in his career (4/25/22, 4/4/22, 5/3/21).

Men’s Indoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week
Eli Etherton, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Jr., Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln East

• The No. 12-ranked Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves competes at the Concordia (Neb.) Classic on Friday.
• Etherton put up an impressive time of 8.08 in the prelims of the 60 meter hurdles.
• His time puts him tied for first on the NCAA Division III qualifying list for this season.
• He also etched his name at the top of the record books, breaking a 12-year-old record.
• Etherton went on to win the finals with a time of 8.11.
• The next time the No. 12 Prairie Wolves are in action is this weekend at the South Dakota State University Classic in Brookings, South Dakota.
• The Lincoln, Nebraska native is picking up his second Indoor Track Performer of the Week honors in his career (2/6/23, 1/23/23).

Women’s Indoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week
Breya Christopher, Wartburg College
Sr., Galena, Ill./River Ridge

• The No. 16-ranked Wartburg College Knights hosted the Wartburg Indoor Select on Saturday, and came out with a team victory, recording 223 points.
• Christopher won the high jump with a 1.69 (5’ 6.5”) to set a new season-best.
• The jump moved the senior up to No. 5 on the NCAA Division III qualifying list.
• The No. 16 Knights are back in action this weekend at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, hosted by Boston University.
• This marks the Galena native’s third-career Indoor Field Performer of the Week accolade (2/6/23, 1/30/23, 3/8/21). Additionally, Christopher has earned Outdoor Field Performer of the Week honors once (4/19/19).

Women’s Indoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week
Aubrie Fisher, Wartburg College
Sr., Ackley, Iowa/AGWSR

• The No. 16-ranked Wartburg College Knights hosted the Wartburg Indoor Select on Saturday, and came out with a team victory, recording 223 points.
• Fisher won the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:44.76.
• This time stands second on the NCAA Division III qualifying list.
• The No. 16 Knights are back in action this weekend at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, hosted by Boston University.
• This marks the Ackley native’s first-career Indoor Track Performer of the Week honors. Additionally, Fisher has earned Cross Country Runner of the Week accolades two times in her career (9/6/22, 11/9/20).