CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Nebraska Wesleyan University softball player
Elise Warneke (Bennington, Neb./Omaha Skutt Catholic) and Simpson College baseball player
Trey Castile (Urbandale, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) have been named American Rivers Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, March 10, 2024. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in baseball, softball, and men’s tennis.
Female Athlete of the Week - Softball – Pitcher Player of the Week
Elise Warneke, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Fifth Yr., P, Bennington, Neb./Omaha Skutt Catholic
- Warneke led the Prairie Wolves to a 6-0 mark in games she appeared in this week at the Spring Games in Florida. Overall, Nebraska Wesleyan finished 9-1 on the week.
- Nebraska Wesleyan picked up wins over Alfred University (4-1), Northland College (9-1), Marian (9-6), Penn State Berks (11-2), Geneva College (8-0), Saint Mary’s University (9-1), Elizabethtown College (12-11), University of Northwestern (7-2), and SUNY Geneseo (8-7). They fell to Wittenberg University (4-3).
- The fifth-year pitcher was in the circle for 33.1 innings recording 21 strikeouts while only walking five.
- Additionally, she allowed just nine earned runs on 25 hits.
- She recorded a 1.89 earned run average over her innings at work and a .168 opponent batting average.
- Nebraska Wesleyan is now 11-4 overall on the season.
- The Prairie Wolves will be back on the dirt on Wednesday when they host Concordia (Neb.).
- The Bennington, Nebraska native was a First-Team All-Conference selection a season ago.
- Warneke is picking up her first career Pitcher of the Week recognition.
Male Athlete of the Week – Baseball – Pitcher of the Week
Trey Castile, Simpson College
Sr., P, Urbandale, Iowa/Des Moines Christian
- Castile appeared in one game on the week as the Storm picked up a 3-0 victory over Saint Joseph’s (Maine) in his appearance.
- In the seven inning game, the senior pitched a complete game shutout.
- He tallied 11 strikeouts, which surpassed him for 200 strikeouts in his career.
- Additionally, he allowed three hits and one walk in the win.
- Simpson and Castile have a slew of games on the schedule this week as they continue their spring break trip in Florida.
- The Urbandale, Iowa native is garnering his first career Pitcher of the Week accolade.
Baseball – Position Player of the Week
Eliot Jurgensen, Wartburg College
Jr., CF, Ames, Iowa/Ames
- Jurgensen helped guide the Knights to a 2-1 week of competition.
- Game 1: Wartburg 9, Grinnell 4 – 2-for-5 (.400), 3 RBI, 2 runs, 2 HR
- Game 2: Wartburg 5, Elmhurst 3 – 1-for-3 (.333), 1 walk, two putouts
- Game 3: Wartburg 5, Kalamazoo 13 – 2-for-4 (.500), 3 RBI, 2 HR, 1 walk
- Overall, on the week the junior was 5-for-12 (.417) hitting four homeruns over the three games.
- Wartburg is now 8-2 overall.
- The Knights are scheduled to be back on the field at home for the first time this season on Saturday and Sunday as they have a three-game series with St. Olaf before heading into conference play.
- The Ames, Iowa native is collecting his first career Position Player of the Week honor.
Softball – Position Player of the Week
Hanna Roth, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Sr., OF, Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln North Star
- Roth helped lead the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves to a 9-1 week in the last week.
- Game 1: NWU 4, Alfred 1 – 1-for-3 (.333), 2B, BB, 1 run, 2 putouts
- Game 2: NWU 9, Marian 6 – 2-for-3 (.666), 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 1 run, 2 putouts
- Game 3: NWU 11, Penn State Berks 2 – 1-for-4 (.250), BB, 2 runs scored, 2 putouts
- Game 4: NWU 8, Geneva 0 – 1-for-2 (.500), 1 RBI, 2 putouts
- Game 5: Wittenberg 4, NWU 3 – 2-for-4 (.500), 2B, 1 run scored, 1 putout
- Game 6: NWU 9, Saint Mary’s 1 – 3-for-4 (.750), 2 2B, 1 run scored, 2 RBI, 1 putout
- Game 7: NWU 12, Elizabethtown 11 – 2-for-5 (.400), 2 2B, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI, 3 putouts
- Game 8: NWU 7, Northwestern (Minn.) 2 – 1-for-2 (.500), 2 BB, 2 runs scored, 1 putout
- The senior outfielder recorded 14 hits including seven doubles, while batting in eight runs and striking out just once.
- Roth had two stolen bases and scored 13 runs for the Prairie Wolves.
- Nebraska Wesleyan improved to 11-4 on the season and will take the field on Wednesday, March 13 for their home opener against Concordia University (Neb.).
- Roth was a 2022 A-R-C Honorable Mention performer.
- This is the Lincoln, Nebraska native’s second-career Position Player of the Week accolade (3/11/24, 3/22/21).
Men’s Tennis – Player of the Week
Graham Peterson, Coe College
Jr., Lincoln, Neb./Southeast
- The Kohawks began their spring break trip on Sunday splitting with Hampden-Sydney College in Florida.
- The Kohawks won 6-3 in the match Peterson appeared in and lost 4-5 in the second match of the day.
- The junior opened the match with an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles, partnering with Luke Doig for the victory over Taylor Fox and Henry Singleton.
- He followed up with a match-clinching win at No. 1 singles, earning a 6-4, 7-6 win in straight sets over Dillon McReynolds.
- Peterson was 2-0 overall with wins in singles and doubles on Sunday.
- He is now 4-5 in singles and 4-4 in doubles this season.
- This is Peterson’s second career Player of the Week honor (2/13/23, 3/11/24).
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.
