CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Simpson College softball player
Alexis Ehlers (Bryant, Ill./Northeast Goose Lake) and University of Dubuque baseball pitcher
Johnny Blake (Dubuque, Iowa/Senior) have been named American Rivers Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, March 24, 2024. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in baseball, softball, and men’s tennis.
Female Athlete of the Week - Softball – Position Player of the Week
Alexis Ehlers, Simpson College
Jr., SS, Bryant, Iowa/Northeast Goose Lake
- Ehlers continued her terrific start to the season by being a driving force in the Simpson Storm’s 4-0 week.
- Game 1: Simpson 8, Westminster 0 – 2-for-4 (.500), 2 runs, 3 RBI, 2B, HR
- Game 2: Simpson 19, Westminster 0 – 3-for-3 (1.000), 2 runs, 4 RBI, 2 2B, HR
- Game 3: Simpson 7, Cornell 0 – 1-for-1 (1.000), 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2B, 3 BB
- Game 4: Simpson 0, Cornell 0 – 2-for-3 (.667), 1 run, 2B
- Ehlers went 8-for-11 (.727) at the plate, collecting nine RBIs and seven extra base hits.
- The junior also smacked homeruns in back-to-back games during the doubleheader wins over Westminster (Mo.).
- Elhers scored six runs, drew four walks, and stole two bases on the week.
- The Bryant, Iowa native currently leads the conference in RBIs (25), doubles (11), and OPS (1.392), while ranking second in slugging percentage (.847).
- The Storm are back in action on Saturday as they travel to take on the Grinnell Pioneers.
- The junior is a 2023 Second Team All-Conference Performer.
- This is the second time Ehlers is earning Position Player of the Week in her career (3/25/24, 4/10/23).
Male Athlete of the Week – Baseball – Pitcher of the Week
Johnny Blake, University of Dubuque
Sr., RHP, Dubuque, Iowa/Senior
- Blake tossed a complete nine inning no-hitter game in the conference opener on Saturday.
- The Spartans picked up a 7-0 dominating win with the senior on the mound over Luther.
- In his nine innings of work, he allowed no runs on zero hits after facing 28 batters.
- He recorded 10 strike outs and allowed one lone walk.
- Blake threw just the third no-hitter in Dubuque baseball history and the first since 1984.
- Dubuque is now 13-4 overall and 2-0 in the A-R-C.
- The Spartans take the field on Tuesday for a doubleheader against Coe College.
- The Dubuque, Iowa native is garnering his first career Pitcher of the Week accolade.
Baseball – Position Player of the Week
Joel Garcia, Buena Vista University
Jr., SS, Laredo, Texas/John B. Alexander
- Garcia went 8-for-13 from the plate during the American Rivers Conference opening series with Simpson.
- The Beavers went 3-0 to begin the conference slate.
- Game 1: (RV) Buena Vista 3, Simpson 2 – 3-for-6 (.500), two putouts, eight assists
- Game 2: (RV) Buena Vista 11, Simpson 8 – 2-for-4 (.500), one run, one RBI, one walk, one putout, three assists
- Game 3: (RV) Buena Vista 14, Simpson 0 – 3-for-5 (.600), three RBI, two run, two assists
- The junior recorded the walk-off RBI single during the bottom of the 15th inning of game one of the series on Friday.
- During 17 total chances throughout the series, Garcia recorded just a single error.
- Buena Vista is now 14-4 overall and 3-0 in the league.
- Garcia and the Beavers will take the field again this weekend in a three-game series in Cedar Rapids against the Kohawks.
- The Laredo, Texas native is collecting his first career Position Player of the Week honor.
Softball – Pitcher Player of the Week
Olivia Engler, Luther College
Jr., P, Atlantic, Iowa/Atlantic
- Luther went 10-2 overall at THE Spring Games and 4-1 with Engler in the circle.
- Engler picked up wins against Carleton (7-4), Worcester State (6-0), Wisconsin-Eau Claire (10-4), and Wisconsin-River Falls (3-0). Her lone loss came against Millikin (6-5). Additionally, she earned the save against Southern Virginia (13-10).
- The junior pitcher was in the circle for 34.2 innings recording 31 strikeouts while walking six on 151 batters faced.
- She matched her season high of nine strikeouts in two games (Worcester State and Wisconsin-Eau Claire).
- Additionally, she allowed only eight earned runs during her time on the mound.
- Luther improved to 11-5 overall.
- The Norse are scheduled to be back on the field on Friday and Saturday with doubleheaders against Monmouth and Illinois College ahead of conference action.
- Engler is picking up her second career Pitcher of the Week recognition (3/4/24, 3/25/24).
Men’s Tennis – Player of the Week
Juan Hernandez Herrera, Luther College
Fr., Bogota, Columbia
- Over spring break, the Norse went 6-2 overall in Orlando, Florida.
- Hernandez Herrera picked up his first win at No. 4 singles over Noah George of Oglethrope 4-6, 6-2, 10-3.
- Against Goucher, he played No. 2 singles and picked up a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Gabe Naftoly.
- In his final match at No. 6 singles, the freshman defeated Ryan Fonseca of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 6-1, 6-2.
- The Norse are 14-5 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
- Luther will be back on the courts on April 3 when they host Dubuque in an A-R-C match.
- The Bogota, Columbia native is collecting his first career Men’s Tennis Player of the Week honor.
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.
