CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – After a run to the NCAA Final Four last season, the Wartburg College Knights were chosen to take the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) title again this season as the league releases the 2024-25 women’s basketball preseason poll. Read below about the Knights and the entire A-R-C as the league prepares for another women’s basketball season. 

The Poll: 

Wartburg College is the coaches’ pick to win the 2024-25 American Rivers Conference title after their successful trip to the Final Four last season. The Knights earned 64 points in the poll, recording eight first-place votes. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team. Coe College earned the second spot with 54 points. Loras College was selected third earning one first-place vote and 50 points. In fourth this preseason is Simpson College after recording 41 points. Luther grabbed 35 points to earn the fifth position and Dubuque earned 30 points. Central, Buena Vista, and Nebraska Wesleyan were selected seventh, eighth, and ninth, respectively. 

New Head Coaches:

Kylee Boettcher - Buena Vista University

Jim Wiedie - Nebraska Wesleyan University

National Spotlight: 

The A-R-C has a storied history of success in the NCAA Tournament and has stayed at the forefront of the national spotlight with continued success in recent years. Although the WBCA poll has not been released yet, the conference will be strong again this year. 

The A-R-C is proud to be the host of the 2027 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National Semifinals and Championship in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

The Schedule: 

The 2024-25 season officially kicks off on Friday, November 8 with four teams in action. Wartburg will host Westminster, Coe and Loras will compete in the Loras Tip-Off Tournament, and Central will host St. Olaf. Buena Vista, Dubuque, and Simpson all tip-off their seasons on Saturday, November 9. Buena Vista will host Northwestern-St.Paul, Dubuque will host Marian, and Simpson will travel to face Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Nebraska Wesleyan begins their season against Mount Marty at home on Tuesday, November 12. Luther is the final A-R-C team to get into action and they face Crown at home on Wednesday, November 13. 

The 2024-25 American Rivers Conference schedule begins on Tuesday, November 26 with Central heading to Simpson, Loras hosting Coe, Dubuque traveling to Nebraska Wesleyan, and Luther hosting Wartburg. Buena Vista will tip off their season on Wednesday, December 4 when they travel to Central. 

The American Rivers Conference season is a 16-game double round-robin schedule finishing on Saturday, February 22. The league’s top six teams from the regular season standings qualify for the A-R-C Tournament. The conference tournament will be held Tuesday, February 25 (first round), Thursday, February 27 (semifinals), and Saturday, March 1 (championship). Game locations for the A-R-C Tournament are at the higher-seeded team’s venue. 

On the Line:

The American Rivers Conference Tournament Champion receives the league’s automatic qualifying bid to the 2025 NCAA Division III Tournament. 

Preseason No. 1 | Wartburg College Knights

Bob Amsberry is entering his 19th season leading the Wartburg College Knights. Last season, Wartburg finished the season with a 29-3 overall record and a perfect 16-0 in league action to claim the regular season title and eventually the tournament title. The Knights had great success last year advancing to the Final Four and look to make another deep run with a veteran squad. 

The Knights return All-Conference performers Jaedon Murphy, Sara Faber, Britney Young, and Lauren Woeste. 

Preseason No. 2 | Coe College Kohawks

Entering her eighth season as the Coe College head coach is Kayla Waskow. Last season, she led the Kohawks to a third place finish in the league standings with a 11-5 conference record and 21-6 overall record. 

The Kohawks return Caydee Kirkahm and Taylor Brunson from last year’s all-conference team. Additionally, Kelly Knight returns as a starter this season for Coe. 

Preseason No. 3 | Loras College Duhawks

Justin Busch enters his second season leading the Duhawks after having a successful first campaign on the hardwood. Loras finished 23-4 overall and 14-2 in the league last season, good enough for a runner-up regular season finish. 

Although losing impressive talent, the Duhawks welcome back Silvana Scarsella and Daninella Jarrell as previous all-conference performers. 

Preseason No. 4 | Simpson College Storm

Entering his 38th year of an impressive career is Simpson’s Brian Niemuth. Niemuth led the Storm to a 9-7 conference record last season and 14-12 overall record. 

The Storm return starters Elle Street, Haley Rasmussen, and Molly Lutmer. Rasmussen and Lutmer are previous first-team all-conference performers and look to lead Simpson this upcoming season. 

Preseason No. 5 | Luther College Norse

Amanda Bailey enters her 14th season as the head coach of the Norse of Luther College. Last season, Luther finished the regular season with an overall mark of 11-15 and a conference record of 6-10. 

The Norse will return Kailey Jones and Haylie Strum as returning all-conference honorees. Kate Hosking is the third starter returning this season to the court for Luther. 

Preseason No. 6 | University of Dubuque Spartans

Entering his fifth season as the head coach of the Dubuque Spartans is Justin Smith. The Spartans posted an overall record of 16-11 and conference record of 9-7 last season. 

The Spartans lost three key starters, but do return Moe Hawkins and Isabella Tierney this season to the court who look to make key differences in the difficult conference schedule. 

Preseason No. 7 | Central College Dutch

Justin Weiland is off and running in year two of leading the Dutch of Central College. Last season, the Dutch finished 11-14 overall and 5-11 in A-R-C action. 

Central returns Abby Johnson as a previous all-conference performer. They return four of their five starters this season: Emily Naughton, Sam Scott, Johnson, and Kaitlyn Mumm. 

Preseason No. 8 | Buena Vista University Beavers

Kylee Boettcher is entering her first year as the head coach of the Buena Vista Beavers and is glad to be back on campus at her Alma Mater. The Beavers finished 3-20 overall and 2-14 in the league last season. 

Danika Demers, McKenna Cone, and Jenna Hallock return this season as starters from last season.

Preseason No. 9 | Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves

Another first year coach is Jim Wiedie of Nebraska Wesleyan University. Wiedie takes over and looks forward to the 2024-25 campaign. The P-Wolves finished last season 0-21 overall and 0-16 in A-R-C play. 

Nebraska Wesleyan welcomes back Tessa Skelton as a starter. The P-Wolves will lean on newcomer talent this season after losing four starters. 

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About the American Rivers Conference

The Conference dates back to December 8, 1922, when representatives from 12 colleges got together and formed the "Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association." Honoring its heritage in Iowa and its expansion outside the state, the American Rivers Conference brand was established on August 9, 2018, to build on the academic and athletic success provided by its legacy, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The A-R-C has nine full-time members: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College.