Dubuque Women's Golf Earns the Top Spot in American Rivers Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll

8/28/2024 11:55:00 AM

By: Ali Wilson, A-R-C Assistant Commissioner

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – As the 2024 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) women’s golf season tees off, the University of Dubuque is the favorite in this year’s preseason poll after winning their fourth conference title last fall, as voted on by the league’s head coaches. Read below about the Dubuque Spartans and the entire A-R-C as we prepare for the upcoming season. 

2024 American Rivers Conference Women's Golf Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Rank

School (1st place votes)

Points

1.University of Dubuque (8)64
2.Central College53
3.Coe College (1)50
4.Wartburg College46
5.Buena Vista University35
6.Simpson College31
7.Luther College17
8.Nebraska Wesleyan University16
9.Loras College12

The Poll: 

The University of Dubuque Spartans are the coaches’ choice to win the 2024 American Rivers Conference women’s golf title. The Spartans were last season’s conference champions and were chosen first on eight ballots (coaches do not vote on their own team) and earned 64 points to earn the No. 1 ranking. Central garnered 53 points in the poll. Coe debuts at No. 3 in the coaches’ poll, earning 50 points and one first place vote. Wartburg picked up 46 points to put them at the No. 4 spot. The Beavers tallied 35 points to put them at the No. 5 spot and Simpson picked up 31 points to earn sixth. Luther, Nebraska Wesleyan, and Loras finished seventh, eighth, and ninth, respectively. 

National Spotlight: 

The Women's Golf Coaches Association has not released any polls for the 2024-25 season. 

The Schedule: 

The first putts of the 2024 season will drop on Saturday, August 31 with all nine members of the league taking the course at the Kohawk Invite at Priarie Links Golf Course in Cedar Falls, Iowa. 

On the Line: 

The A-R-C Women’s Golf Championship will take place on Saturday, October 5 through Monday, October 7 in Ames, Iowa at Ames Golf & Country Club hosted by Loras College. The champion will receive the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Championships at Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas. 

Preseason No. 1 | University of Dubuque Spartans

Dustin Bierman enters his ninth season as the head coach of the Spartans and under his guidance they have reached new heights. Dubuque is coming off their fourth A-R-C conference title in just five years. 

The Spartans will return three to the starting lineup this season and return Morgan Hawkins and Leah Balsbaugh as all-conference performers. Balsbaugh shot up the leaderboard at last year’s championship to earn medalist honors and the honor of Golfer of the Year. Bierman named Aubrey Duncan and Brianne Arzbaecher as returning golfers to watch this season. 

We graduated five from last year's team and brought in six freshmen, so looking forward to see who will step up out of that group. We have very good leadership up top returning in Morgan Hawkins and Leah Balsbaugh and will look to them to lead us. Looking forward to the fall season in the American Rivers Conference. It should be an exciting race.
Dustin Bierman, University of Dubuque Head Women's Golf Coach

Preseason No. 2 | Central College Dutch

Tabitha Schumacher is entering her fifth season as the leader of the Dutch women’s golf program. Central finished second at the championship a season ago after winning the league title in 2022. 

Central will look quite different this year only returning Lydia Grond as a starter from last season. Schumacher named Grond and Parker Stout as returning golfers to watch this year. 

We have six returners and seven incoming freshmen this fall. With only one player returning from last year’s A-R-C Women’s Golf Championship team, I am excited to see which players are going to step up and earn their spot in our top five.
Tabitha Schumacher, Central College Head Women's Golf Coach

Preseason No. 3 | Coe College Kohawks

Coe’s Eric Karius is entering his sixth season guiding the women’s golf program. Last season, the Kohawks finished third at the conference championship. 

A lot of familiar faces will be back on the course this season for Coe as they return four starters. Molly Baker and Morgan Cain return this season after earning all-conference honors in 2023. Karius noted Anja Mills, Kye Daywitt, Cain, and Baker were the Kohawk golfers to watch this season.

With our roster filled with upperclassmen and experience we are going to have to lean on their leadership throughout the fall. We are excited to compete this fall and believe we can continue to build a competitive program.
Eric Karius, Coe College Head Women's Golf Coach

Preseason No. 4 | Wartburg College Knights

John Thompson leads the Wartburg Knights women's golf program. Last season the Knights finished fourth at the conference championship. 

Wartburg will return four starters to the lineup this season including Hannah Fangmann, an all-conference performer. Thompson named Drucilla Kramer, Fangmann, and Makenna Conrad as returning golfers to watch this season. 

I'm excited to start this season with a strong returning upper class. Drucilla Kramer and Hannah Fangmann are experienced senior leaders. Makenna Conrad with another year of experience will improve off her great freshman year. The team will high energy and super talented freshman in Breanna Bodensteiner. With this much talent I expect to improve off last season.
John Thompson, Wartburg College Head Women's Golf Coach

Preseason No. 5 | Buena Vista University Beavers

Joe Powell enters his fourth season as the head coach of the Beavers women’s golf program. In 2023, Buena Vista finished fifth at the conference championship and they continue to move up the conference leaderboard. 

The Beavers will lean on experience this season returning four starters from last season. Powell named Brooke Stellmaker and Hailey Bistodeau as returning golfers to watch this upcoming season. 

I am really excited to see what our women’s program can do this coming fall season of 2024. We have had a lot of growth over the past couple seasons both from the scoring side and player development side. We will be returning four conference championship starters and have a good mix of juniors, sophomores, and freshmen this year which I believe will add to our continued success.
Joe Powell, Buena Vista University Head Women's Golf Coach

Preseason No. 6 | Simpson College Storm

Jeremy Johnson enters year four as the head coach of the Simpson women’s golf program. The Storm continues to build off previous years to compete in the competitive A-R-C. 

The Storm will return three starters for the 2024 campaign. Johnson listed Maddy Streicher and Kaylin Long as returning golfers to watch this year. 

We are excited for the fall season. We have some women that are ready to step into a new role and compete for a starting role. I am also excited to see our newcomers come in and compete.
Jeremy Johnson, Simpson College Head Women's Golf Coach

Preseason No. 7 | Luther College Norse

Luther is welcoming back Terry Tipton back for his second season leading the Norse women’s golf program. 

Luther is returning five starters from last season, so they will look to build off championship experience during this season. Tipton named Annemarie Schloo, Samantha Suski, and Teagan Schaefer as returning golfers to watch this season. 

Our top seven from last year’s squad are returning and the team is eager to compete. They are a high caliber group on and off the course; including being one of 25 Division III women’s golf teams receiving the 2023-24 All-Scholar Team GPA Award by WGCA.
Terry Tipton, Luther College Head Women's Golf Coach

Preseason No. 8 | Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves

David Clouse is entering his second season leading the P-Wolf women’s golf program. Last season, Nebraska Wesleyan finished eighth at the conference championship. 

Nebraska Wesleyan will look to returning all-conference performer Madison Jackson to lead the group again this year. Overall, the Prairie Wolves return four starters from last season. Clouse named Jackson and O’Brasia Amos as returning golfers to watch this season. 

The team is excited to get back to work this fall and keep making strides forward as a program. Our group is eager to continuously improve and compete with plenty of returners coming back to help guide our first years through the season.
David Clouse, Nebraska Wesleyan University Head Women's Golf Coach

Preseason No. 9 | Loras College Duhawks

Will Arndt is entering year three as the head coach of the Duhawks. During his first few seasons, he has guided improvements within the program and this year will be no exception. 

With five starters returning this season, Loras looks to make their biggest jump on the conference leaderboard. Jenna Bistline and Elle Pechan were Arndt’s golfers to watch for the upcoming season. 

This team is getting better and better each year, and it is no different in 2024-25. We are excited to have a strong class of first years and all our veterans have returned.
Will Arndt, Loras College Head Women's Golf Coach

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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.