Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week – EMMA KOBER, University of Dubuque
Kober had an impressive start to her final year scoring three goals and adding an assist for the Spartans leading them to wins over Grinnell and Lake Forest. Kober was on the pitch all but eight minutes in the two contests.
Dubuque defeated Grinnell 3-0
Dubuque defeated Lake Forest 4-3
Male Athlete of the Week – Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week – KENDALL BICKFORD, Buena Vista University
Bickford led the Beavers through opening weekend. Buena Vista won back-to-back matches for the first time since 2012. Bickford scored the game-winning goal on Sunday versus Monmouth with 3.8 seconds left on a free-kick just outside the box. On the week, Bickford recorded three goals and one assist to total seven points.
Buena Vista defeated Martin Luther 3-0
Buena Vista defeated Monmouth 3-2
Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week – ERIC RUTHERFORD, Loras College
Rutherford had a strong start to the 2024 campaign posting a 15:20.02 time in the Bob Schultz Invite, a 5K race. He finished third out of 102 runners and 4.1 seconds behind the first runner to cross the finish line. The No. 26 nationally ranked Duhawks finished first out of eight teams with 33 team points.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week – FRANKIE CHAIDEZ, Loras College
Chaidez finished runner-up out of 61 runners at the Bob Schultz Invite on Friday evening with a time of 18:57.5 in the 5K race. Loras finished first out of six teams with 30 team points.
Women’s Golfer of the Week – MORGAN HAWKINS, University of Dubuque
Hawkins began her senior campaign finishing third out of 88 competitors at the Kohawk Classic at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls, Iowa. In the opening round Hawkins fired a round of 75 and followed that up with a 73. The Spartans finished second out of 14 teams with team scores out 315 and 309.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week – THOMAS PISASALE, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Pisasale had a remarkable performance over the weekend. Over the Prairie Wolves two games, Pisasale scored three goals on just three shots from the defender position. His standout performance came with a hat trick against Principia in the first 70 minutes of action.
Nebraska Wesleyan defeated Westminster 2-1
Nebraska Wesleyan defeated Principia 5-0
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week – ZOEY SIZEMORE, Central College
Sizemore registered consecutive shutouts to begin the 2024 season. She made eight saves over the two contests. Sizemore was in the goal for all 180 minutes.
Central defeated Wisconsin-Whitewater 3-0
Central defeated North Park 1-0
Women’s Tennis Player of the Week – MORGAN KATHMAN, Wartburg College
Kathman began her sophomore campaign with a 2-0 singles record and 1-0 doubles record. She defeated Ella Darrow of North Park 7-5, 6-0 and Angelica Conwell of Illinois Tech 6-4, 6-3, both at No. 5 singles. At No. 3 doubles, Kathman paired up with Brooke Bloom to defeat Alexandra Pugachova and Darrow of North Park, 7-5.
Wartburg lost to North Park 1-6
Wartburg defeated Illinois Institute of Technology 5-2
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week – ELLA MEYER, Simpson College
Meyer averaged 4.73 digs per set throughout her first collegiate tournament. The freshman had 28 digs in Simpson’s five-set victory over Rose Hulman and also registered ten assists. She excelled in serve receive, making just two reception errors in 60 total chances.
Simpson defeated Saint Mary’s (Minn.) 3-1
Simpson lost to Wisconsin-Platteville 3-0
Simpson defeated Rose Hulman 3-2
Simpson defeated St. Scholastica 3-0
Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week – SARINA STORTZ, Luther College
Stortz began her fifth year with a bang as Luther finished 2-2 in opening weekend. Stortz registered 69 kills for a .425 hitting percentage over the course of the weekend including a season high of 26 kills versus Ripon. She also added 13 blocks and four service aces. In the Luther record books, Stortz entered the top-10 for career kills with 898 and she ranks ninth now.
Luther lost to Illinois Institute of Technology 3-2
Luther defeated Ripon 3-2
Luther lost to Marian 3-0
Luther defeated Martin Luther 3-1
Weekly Report
American Rivers Conference student-athletes and coaches began their 2024-25 campaigns over the weekend as the conference is excited for another excellent year of performances in the classroom and on the playing field.
The football season kicks off this Saturday with eight of the nine institutions in non-conference action.
The first conference championship of the year will be September 20-21 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as Coe College hosts the A-R-C Men’s Tennis Individual Tournament.
The A-R-C partnered with FanWord earlier this summer, an AI storytelling platform, and will be using the platform throughout the academic year to enhance the storytelling of student-athletes, alumni, coaches, and many others. Fans, student-athletes, and coaches are encouraged to contact Ali Wilson, A-R-C Assistant Commissioner, if they have a compelling story. Student-athlete and alumni spotlights are set to begin the week of September 16.
Don't forget to become a fan of the American Rivers Conference on Facebook @AmericanRiversConference, X (Twitter) @AmerRiversConf, and Instagram @AmericanRiversConference.
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.
