CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Central College track & field student-athlete Megan Johnson (Parkersburg, Iowa/Aplington-Parkersburg), University of Dubuque track & field student-athlete Kaitlyn Wilder (Dunkerton, Iowa/Dunkerton), Wartburg College track & field student-athlete Deyton Love (Waterloo, Iowa/West), and Loras’ Holden Murphy (Benton, Wis./Benton-Scales Mound) have been named American Rivers Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, May 12, 2024. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s outdoor track & field. Co-Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week
Megan Johnson, Central College
Sr., Parkersburg, Iowa/Aplington-Parkersburg

• Johnson and the Central Dutch competed at the 2024 American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships over the weekend.
• The senior took home track MVP honors after an impressive showing.
• She finished as champion, recording a new championship record, in the 3000m steeplechase with a  time of 10:21.93.
• She additionally picked up a win in the 5000m run, recording a time of 17:09.13.
• In her final event, Johnson finished second with a time of 4:30.38 in the 1500m.
• Central finished in third place at the championships.
• Next up for the Dutch is the Augustana Twilight Qualifier prior to the NCAA Championships.
• The Parkersburg, Iowa native is picking up her third career Outdoor Track Performer of the Week honor (4/15/24, 5/6/24, 5/13/24). Additionally, Johnson has earned Indoor Track Performer of the Week once (2/19/24) and Cross Country Runner of the Week once (9/6/21).

Co-Female Athlete of the Week - Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week
Kaitlyn Wilder, University of Dubuque
Gr., Dunkerton, Iowa/Dunkerton

• Wilder and the Spartans were in action over the weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska at the A-R-C Championships.
• Following Wilder’s performance, she was named Field MVP.
• Wilder finished atop the podium in shot put, after recording a mark of 13.77m.
• She finished runner-up in the discus (47.16m) and hammer throw (58.30m).
• The Spartans finished fifth at the championships.
• Dubuque is back in cation at the Augustana Midwest Twilight Qualifier this Thursday ahead of NCAA selections.
• The Dunkerton, Iowa native is collecting her fifth career Women’s Outdoor Field Performer of the Week honors (4/4/22, 4/11/22, 4/19/22, 4/28/24, 5/13/24). Additionally, Wilder has earned Indoor Field Performer of the Week accolades five times in her career (2/22/21, 2/7/22, 1/23/23, 1/22/24, 2/11/24).

Co-Male Athlete of the Week – Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week
Deyton Love, Wartburg College
Sr., Waterloo, Iowa/West

• Love and the Wartburg Knights competed at the A-R-C Championships over the weekend.
• Love was named the men’s track most valuable performer following his performance.
• He grabbed two individual titles over the championship.
• His titles came in the 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles.
• Setting championship records in both events, Love recorded times of 14.06 in the 110m hurdles and 51.65 in the 400m hurdles.
• Additionally, he finished third in long jump with a mark of 7.13m.
• The Knights finished third at the championships.
• Next up is the 2024 NCAA Division III Championships.
• This marks the Waterloo, Iowa native’s first career Outdoor Track Performer of the Week honor. Additionally, he was named Indoor Track Performer of the Week one time earlier this year (2/19/24).

Co-Male Athlete of the Week - Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week
Holden Murphy, Loras College
Sr., Benton, Wis./Benton-Scales Mound

• Murphy and the Duhawks competed at the 2024 A-R-C Outdoor Track & Field Championships over the weekend in Lincoln, Neb.
• He was named Most Valuable Field Performer following his performances.
• Murphy took home the crown in the shot put with a mark of 16.95m, tenth best in Division III this season.
• He finished second in hammer throw (58.54m), third in javelin (54.32m), and 14^th in discus (41.37m).
• The Loras men claimed the team title for the first time since 2005.
• The Duhawks will compete in a few last chance qualifiers prior to NCAA selections.
• This is the fourth time in Murphy’s career he is earning Men’s Outdoor Field Performer of the Week accolades (4/11/22, 4/17/23, 4/8/24, 5/13/24). Additionally, the senior has been named Men’s Indoor Field Performer of the Week four times in his career (1/24/22, 1/23/23, 2/20/23, 2/26/24).

Baseball – Pitcher of the Week
Drew Osterman, Coe College
Sr., P, Macomb, Ill./Macomb

• Osterman was crucial out of the bullpen for the Kohawks during the week, picking up a pair of saves in two strong outings.
• Pitching 2.0 innings versus Loras, the senior allowed no runs, three hits, and three strikeouts.
• In 2.0 innings of work against Buena Vista in the championship game, Osterman allowed no hits and forced three strikeouts.
• The Kohawks went a perfect 3-0 in the A-R-C Baseball Tournament to claim the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
• The Macomb, Illinois native is garnering his first career Pitcher of the Week accolade.

Baseball – Position Player of the Week
Tyce Johnson, Coe College
Sr., 1B, Indianola, Iowa/Indianola

• Johnson was one of Coe’s top performers during the conference tournament.
• Game 1: Coe 6, Loras 4 – 1-for-3 (.333), 2B, run, five putouts
• Game 2: Coe 4, Buena Vista 3 – 2-for-3 (.667), RBI, HR, two runs, RBI, eight putouts
• Game 3: Coe 6, Buena Vista 2 – 2-for-4 (.500), two runs, 3B, RBI, five putouts
• Overall, Johnson recorded five hits, five runs, and a pair of RBI.
• The senior knocked a homer out of the stadium.
• The Kohawks won the 2024 A-R-C Tournament and will continue their season in the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.
• The Indianola, Iowa native is garnering his first career Position Player of the Week accolade.

Softball – Pitcher Player of the Week
Ellie Thurow, Coe College
Fifth Yr., P, Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock North

• Thurow was dominant in a pair of victories to lead Coe to the A-R-C postseason title for the first time since 2009.
• The fifth year picked up two wins in complete games.
• Thurow allowed eight hits and one earned run, striking out three batters.
• She is 15-4 on the season now.
• The Kohawks will head to the NCAA Softball Tournament later this week.
• The Woodstock, Illinois native is garnering her third career Pitcher of the Week recognition of her career (4/3/23, 4/23/24, 5/13/24).

Softball – Position Player of the Week
Madi Parson, Coe College
Fifth Yr., LF, Clinton, Iowa/Camanche

• Parson led Coe at the plate en route to their first A-R-C Softball Tournament title since 2009.
• Game 1: Coe 3, Luther 2 – 1-for-3 (.333), 2B, RBI, two putouts
• Game 2: Coe 5, No. 24 Central 3 – 2-for-4 (.500), run, RBI, seven putouts
• The fifth year drove in the game-winning run in the semifinal against Luther and later opened the scoring in the championship game against Central.
• The Kohawks will now head to DePauw for the regional round of the NCAA Softball Tournament.
• The Clinton, Iowa native is collecting her third career Position Player of the Week honor (5/10/21, 4/23/24, 5/13/24).