Coe's Parson and Luther's Scurr Named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week

Performers of the Week Announced in Seven Sports

4/23/2024 9:57:05 AM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Coe College softball player Madi Parson (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton) and Luther College baseball player Gavin Scurr (San Diego, Calif./University City) have been named American Rivers Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, April 21, 2024. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in baseball, men’s golf, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s outdoor track & field.
Female Athlete of the Week - Softball – Position Player of the Week20491
Madi Parson, Coe College
Fifth Yr., UTL, Clinton, Iowa/Clinton
  • Parson was incredible from the plate during Coe’s 4-0 week, helping the Kohawks to a pair of sweeps against Simpson and Loras.
  • Game 1: Coe 6, Simpson 5 – 1-for-3 (.333), three RBI, one run, HR, two putouts
  • Game 2: Coe 10, Simpson 0 – 1-for-2 (.500), two runs, RBI, 2B
  • Game 3: Coe 9, Loras 0 – 2-for-2 (1.000), two RBI, one run, HR, four putouts, stolen base
  • Game 4: Coe 4, Loras 0 – 1-for-3 (.333), two RBI, one run, HR, three putouts
  • The fifth year was 5-for-10 from the plate with five hits, eight RBI, and five runs.
  • She hit three homeruns and registered a double while adding three walks and one stolen base.
  • Parson hit a walk-off homerun against Simpson in game two.
  • Coe, who is receiving votes in the NFCA national poll, improved to 24-6 overall and 8-2 in league play.
  • The Kohawks are slated to play Nebraska Wesleyan and Luther in conference action this week and take on Illinois Wesleyan in non-conference play.
  • The Clinton, Iowa native is collecting her second career Position Player of the Week honor (5/10/21, 4/23/24).
Male Athlete of the Week – Baseball – Position Player of the Week20492
Gavin Scurr, Luther College
Jr., C, San Diego, Calif./University City
  • Scurr led the Norse to a series sweep over Buena Vista.
  • Game 1: Luther 3, Central 8 – 1-for-4 (.250), HR, two RBI, one run,
  • Game 2: Luther 8, Buena Vista 2 – 3-for-4 (.750), four RBI, three runs, HR, 13 putouts
  • Game 3: Luther 13, Buena Vista 4 – 2-for-5 (.400), three RBI, 2B, one run, six putouts
  • Game 4: Luther 7, Buena Vista 3 – 1-for-4 (.250), one RBI, one run, 2B, seven putouts
  • Overall on the week, Scurr went 6-for-17 (.412) with ten RBI, six runs scored, three doubles, and two homeruns.
  • Luther improved to 20-11 overall and 9-6 in conference action.
  • The Norse are back on the field today, Tuesday, in a doubleheader against Central in Pella, Iowa before taking on Nebraska Wesleyan in a three-game series over the weekend.
  • The San Diego, California native is garnering his first career Position Player of the Week honor.
Baseball – Pitcher of the Week20331
Trey Castile, Simpson College
Sr., RHP, Urbandale, Iowa/Des Moines Christian
  • Castile registered a career high 15 strikeouts in a near no-hitter against conference opponent, Central College.
  • Simpson picked up a 7-0 win with Castile on the mound.
  • In his 8.2 innings of work, Castile only gave up one hit and three walks.
  • He forced a batting average of .034 upon the Dutch.
  • The Simpson Storm are now 15-18 overall and 8-10 in A-R-C play.
  • Simpson is back on the field for a three-game series against Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday and Saturday.
  • The Urbandale, Iowa native is garnering his second career Pitcher of the Week accolade (3/11/24, 4/23/24).
Men’s Golf – Golfer of the Week20497
Carter Ruegsegger, University of Dubuque
Sr., Blanchardville, Wis./Pecatonica
  • Ruegsegger led the Spartans to a first-place team finish at the Loras Duhawks Spring Invitational.
  • The senior earned medalist honors after firing rounds of 71 and 70 (141), a total of three under par.
  • Dubuque shot team rounds of 303 and 294 to win the event by four shots.
  • Later in the week, Ruegsegger and the Spartans competed at the Millikin University Take Back the Night Challenge in Decatur, Illinois.
  • Ruegsegger shot rounds of 80 and 77 (157) and tied for 55th out of 100 golfers.
  • Dubuque finished ninth out of 17 teams in Decatur with team rounds of 305 and 310.
  • These two events were the final preparation for the Spartans as they gear up for the American Rivers Conference Championship at Glen Oaks Country Club April 28-30.
  • This marks the Blanchardville, Wisconsin native’s first career Golfer of the Week accolade.
Softball – Pitcher Player of the Week20490
Ellie Thurow, Coe College
Fifth Yr., P, Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock North
  • Thurow was dominant for the Kohawks in a 4-0 week, throwing 14.0 scoreless innings of action while going 3-0.
  • The fifth year earned a win against Simpson to start the week, throwing a five-inning no-hitter against the Storm as the Kohawks picked up a 10-0 win.
  • She started both games on Saturday against Loras, pitching four scoreless innings in the opener and a five-inning complete-game in game two.
  • During the week, Thurow allowed just eight hits and a .170 batting average against opponents while striking out nine batters.
  • (RV) Coe is now 24-6 overall and 8-2 in A-R-C action.
  • Coe faces Nebraska Wesleyan this afternoon, Tuesday, at home. They conclude their week against non-conference opponent Illinois Wesleyan and conference opponent Luther.
  • The Woodstock, Illinois native is garnering her second career Pitcher of the Week recognition of her career (4/3/23, 4/23/24).
Men’s Tennis – Player of the Week20489
Ayden Fletcher, Central College
Jr., Waukee, Iowa/Waukee
  • Fletcher went 4-0 on the week as the Dutch picked up two important conference victories.
  • Central defeated Dubuque (9-0) and Loras (8-1).
  •  The duo of Alex Slaymaker and Fletcher picked up a 8-0 victory at No. 2 doubles over Dubuque’s Dawson Freese and Ryan Linkie.
  • Fletcher defeated Dubuque’s Pedwar Castillo at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 7-6.
  • The junior paired up with Slaymaker again at No. 2 doubles to defeat Lucas Healy and Sam Canas Guerrero of Loras 8-6.
  • At No. 1 singles, Fletcher took down Loras’ Gage Becker 6(4)-7(7), 6-3, 1(10)-0(8).
  • Central is 8-10 overall on the season and 5-1 in conference action.
  • The Dutch are back on the court later this week as they round of their conference slate against Wartburg (Friday) and Coe (Saturday).
  • The Waukee, Iowa native is collecting his first career Men’s Tennis Player of the Week honor.
Women’s Tennis – Player of the Week20493
Julianna Mascardo, Luther College
Fr., Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City West
  • The Norse picked up a 6-3 win over Augustana guided by two wins from Mascardo.
  • At No. 2 doubles, Mascardo teamed up with Lena Lichau and took down Anna-Maria Huebel and Maitreyi Shrikhande of Augustana, 8-4.
  • The freshman appeared at No. 4 singles where she defeated Natasha Gauerke 6-2, 6-3.
  • Luther is now 17-5 overall this season after finishing a perfect 8-0 in conference action in the fall.
  • The Norse will be back on the court tonight, Tuesday, against non-conference opponent Wisconsin-La Crosse as they round of their regular season before hitting postseason action on Thursday in the A-R-C AQ Tournament semifinals on their home courts.
  • The Iowa, City native is garnering her first career Women’s Tennis Player of the Week accolade.
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week20099
Ulysses Patterson, Simpson College
Sr., Clinton, Iowa/Clinton
  • Patterson competed at the Augustana Meet of Champions in Rock Island, Illinois.
  • The senior finished first out of 26 competitors in the decathlon with 6,513 points.
  • Patterson’s score is now fifth in school history and also ranks fifth this season in Division III.
  • He set new outdoor career bests in the long jump (6.79 meters), the 110 meter hurdles (15.90), and the 1,500 meters (4:45.45).
  • Patterson also won the 400 meters in a time of 50.32, just .04 seconds off his personal best.
  • There were no team results.
  • The Storm are back in action this week at the Kip Janvrin Open and the Drake Relays.
  • This is the first time the Clinton, Iowa native is earning Outdoor Field Performer of the Week accolades. Additionally, he has been named Indoor Field Performer of the Week on one occasion (1/29/24).
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week20498
Jack Kinzer, Wartburg College
Jr., North Liberty, Iowa/North Liberty
  • Kinzer competed at Wisconsin-La Crosse on Saturday.
  • The Knights finished fifth out of 14 teams with 76 points.
  • The junior competed in the steeplechase where he finished first out of 33 competitors with a time of 9:01.00.
  • His time currently ranks seventh in Division III so far this season.
  • The North Liberty, Iowa native is picking up his first career Outdoor Track Performer of the Week honor.
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week20101
Olivia Bohlen, Central College
So., Belle Plaine, Iowa/Belle Plaine
  • Bohlen competed at the John Green Combined Events at Doane.
  • There were no team scores.
  • She competed in the heptathlon and finished first out of 15 competitors.
  • The sophomore recorded 4,737 points.
  • Bohlen currently ranks sixth in Division III this season.
  • The Dutch are back in action this week at the Kip Janvrin Open and Drake Relays.
  • The Belle Plaine, Iowa native is collecting her first career Women’s Outdoor Field Perfomer of the Week honor. Additionally, she earned Indoor Field Performer of the Week once in her career (1/29/24).
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week20494
Lara Kallem, Simpson College
Sr., Dallas Center, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes
  • Kallem was in action at the Phil Esten Challenge in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
  • There was no team score reported.
  • She competed in the 10,000 meters and finished with a time of 35:10.24 to finish second out of 50 competitors.
  • Kallem broke the school record by over two minutes and was the top collegiate finisher.
  • Her time currently ranks tenth in Division III this season.
  • The Storm are slated to compete at the Kip Janvrin Open and Drake Relays this week.
  • The Dallas Center, Iowa native is picking up her first career Women’s Outdoor Track Performer of the Week honor and first since 2012 for Simpson.
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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.