Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Basketball Player of the Week – CAYDEE KIRKHAM, Coe College
Kirkham posted back-to-back 30 points performances for the first time in Coe program history, scoring 33 and 36 points in a pair of victories. Kirkham opened the week totaling 33 points, six assists, three steals, and one rebound. She followed up with 36 points, six assists, five rebounds, four steals, and one block. She was efficient in her outstanding weekend, shooting 25-for-40 from the floor, 7-for-11 from deep, and 12-for-17 from the charity stripe.
Coe defeated Wisconsin-Platteville 68-63
Coe defeated Saint Mary’s (Minn.) 76-69
Male Athlete of the Week – Football Offensive Player of the Week – JOEY RHOMBERG, University of Dubuque
Rhomberg in the opening half went into the locker room completing 15-19 passes for 228 yards and six touchdowns. The Spartans ran 30 plays and gained 289 yards in just 10:11 of possession in the first half of action. Rhomberg compiled 303 yards and seven touchdowns and was 21-26 in passing for a quarterback rating of 267.5. He was sacked just once and his longest throw of the day was from 61 yards, his longest of the season.
Dubuque defeated Buena Vista 56-21
Men’s Basketball Player of the Week – MARSHUN WILLIAMS, Wartburg College
Williams averaged 32 points per game and eight rebounds per game for the Knights in a 1-1 week. Against St. Olaf, Williams posted a 30 point and ten rebound double-double and then followed it up with 34 points against Cornell. He surpassed 1,000 career points at Wartburg. He was named to the Buzz Levick All-Tournament team.
Wartburg defeated St. Olaf 73-60
Wartburg lost to Cornell 98-94
Football Defensive Player of the Week – JAKE WALKER, Wartburg College
Walker had a career high 12 tackles (four solo and eight assists). He added 2.5 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. Additionally, he had two quarterback hurries. This was his first double digit total tackle game of his career.
No. 11/11 Wartburg defeated Loras 69-14
Football Special Teams Player of the Week – CAEL O’NEILL, Wartburg College
O’Neill set a new Wartburg record in PATs with nine made. In addition, he made two field goals from 33 yards and 22 yards.
No. 11/11 Wartburg defeated Loras 69-14
Men’s Swimming & Diving Performer of the Week – KAMEN RANGELOV, Coe College
Rangelov’s impressive start to his freshman campaign continued on Friday in a dual against Grinnell. He posted a pair of top-ten times in the Coe record book in the 100-yard breastroke and 200-yard breaststroke. Both events were the second-fastest times in school history. Rangelov won the 100 and 200, finishing in times of 58.55 and 2:09.58.
Women’s Swimming & Diving Performer of the Week – DEVYN NABARETTE, Coe College
Nabarette posted a new top-ten mark for Coe in Friday’s dual meet against Grinnell, continuing her impressive start as a freshman for the Kohawks. She won the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard breaststroke while helping the 200-yard medley relay team finish second. Her top-ten time came in the 100-yard breaststroke, recording a mark of 1:11.70.
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week – TAYLOR BECHEN, University of Dubuque
Bechen led the Spartans to the A-R-C Tournament title this past weekend after defeating Nebraska Wesleyan and Wartburg. Bechen recorded 42 digs on the week with a game-high 24 against Nebraska Wesleyan. She also added six assists and the lone kill she recorded was the championship clinching point against Wartburg.
Dubuque defeated Nebraska Wesleyan 3-1
Dubuque defeated Wartburg 3-0
Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week – EMMA POWELL, University of Dubuque
Powell led the Spartans to the A-R-C Tournament title this past weekend after defeating Nebraska Wesleyan and Wartburg. Powell had 25 kills on 77 attack attempts during the tournament and had a hitting percentage of .285. She also added 40 digs on the Spartans backline.
Dubuque defeated Nebraska Wesleyan 3-1
Dubuque defeated Wartburg 3-0
Men’s Wrestler of the Week – MASSOMA ENDENE, Wartburg College
Endene was invited to the NWCA All-Star Classic and defeated Division II defending national champion Derek Blubaugh from UIndy. Endene won in major decision (12-1) in the exhibition match.
Women’s Wrestler of the Week – ASHLEY CANNON, Simpson College
Cannon went 4-1 at the Lindenwood Duals, with her only loss coming against third-ranked Shelby Moore from McKendree. She improved to 12-1 on the year now. In her opening appearance on the mat at the duals, she defeated No. 9 ranked Allison Meyer of Lindenwood in tech fall (11-1). In her second match, she took down Missouri Valley’s Isla Baeza by tech fall (15-4). Her final win of the day came against Quincy’s Autumn Van Bremen by fall in 2:41.
Weekly Report
Basketball season remains in full swing for A-R-C teams. On the men’s side, Loras kept its undefeated record alive. On the women’s side, Luther and Wartburg remained undefeated in the early part of their seasons.
The Loras women’s soccer program advanced to the Sweet 16 after defeating Carleton in the Round of 32 in PKs. The Duhawks will host the sectional round on Saturday and Sunday.
The University of Dubuque has earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Wartburg College Knights and Coe College Kohawks heard their names called for the 2024 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs. The Kohawks will compete this weekend against Bethel and Wartburg will face Wisconsin-Platteville on Saturday, November 30.
The A-R-C partnered with FanWord earlier this summer, an AI storytelling platform, and will be using the platform throughout the academic year to enhance the storytelling of student-athletes, alumni, coaches, and many others. Fans, student-athletes, and coaches are encouraged to contact Ali Wilson, A-R-C Assistant Commissioner, if they have a compelling story.
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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.
