CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Coe College women’s volleyball student-athlete Maggie Furlong and Wartburg College men’s basketball student-athlete Ethan Yungtum have been named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending November 16, 2025. The A-R-C weekly awards are nominated and voted on by the league’s sports information departments. The conference office then selects the female and male athletes of the week based upon sport performers of the week.
Female Athlete of the Week - Women’s Volleyball - Offensive Performer of the Week - Maggie Furlong (Galena, Ill./Galena), Coe College
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Furlong was a crucial piece of Coe’s run to the conference tournament title.
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She totaled 26 kills across the semifinal win and followed it with 18 kills in the championship match.
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Furlong hit .432 in 37 chances against UD.
Male Athlete of the Week - Men’s Basketball - Performer of the Week - Ethan Yungtum (Elkhorn, Neb./Elkhorn), Wartburg College
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Yungtum is earning his second consecutive performer of the week honor to begin the season for the Knights.
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He recorded two 20-point double-doubles, recording an efficient 57.1% from the field and 30% from deep.
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Eight of his 21 rebounds were offensive on the week.
Women’s Basketball - Performer of the Week - Mary Walker (Fonda, Iowa/Newell-Fonda), Buena Vista University
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Walker averaged 22.5 ppg and 4.5 spg over two games on the week.
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She was the first Beaver with back-to-back 20 point scoring performances this season.
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Her 24-points versus St. Olaf was her highest single-game point total in a BVU jersey.
Football - Defensive Player of the Week - Trent Cakerice (Grundy Center, Iowa/Grundy Center), Central College
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Cakerice made 14 stops, including two solo sacks versus Coe.
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He added three total tackles for loss and tipped a ball that was intercepted for the Dutch.
Football - Offensive Player of the Week - Jacob Richtman (Mount Pleasant, Iowa/Mount Pleasant), Loras College
Football - Special Teams Player of the Week - Jace Winkler (Littleton, Colo./Heritage), Nebraska Wesleyan University
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Winkler impacted the game in two phases: punting and placekicking.
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He drilled a 45-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to give NWU a late lead.
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He flipped the field repeatedly with three punts for 126 yards.
Men’s Swimming & Diving - Performer of the Week - Caden Gillmore (Greeley, Colo./Frontier Academy), Loras College
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Gillmore finished first in both individual events against Simpson in a dual meet.
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His wins were in the 500 freestyle (4:52.38) and 200 freestyle (1:54.74).
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The Duhawks defeated Simpson 99-77.
Women’s Swimming & Diving - Performer of the Week - Audrey Bramlett (Frisco, Texas/Reedy), Simpson College
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Bramlett won two individual events over the weekend.
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She picked up wins in the 500 freestyle (5:32.97) and 200 freestyle (2:07.08).
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Her time in the 500 freestyle was second best in school history and her 200 freestyle time was eighth fastest in school history.
Women’s Volleyball - Defensive Performer of the Week - Kelsey Hansel (Edgewood, Iowa/Edgewood-Colesburg), Coe College
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Hansel anchored Coe’s back line during the A-R-C Tournament run.
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She totaled 24 digs across the two matches.
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She recorded seven digs over Simpson and 17 digs in the championship against UD.
Men’s Wrestling - Performer of the Week - Clayton McDonough (Nora Springs, Iowa/Central Springs), Luther College
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McDonough went 5-0 at the Luther Open in the Elite 165 bracket.
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He earned wins over wrestlers from Hawkeye CC, Wartburg, Loras, Wartburg, and Augsburg.
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He picked up two wins by fall, a win by tech fall, and two wins by decision.
Women’s Wrestling - Performer of the Week - Autumn Calvert (Kansas City, Mo./Winnetonka), Simpson College
Weekly Report
The Wartburg College Knights football program claimed their 21st overall title and fourth consecutive league title. The Knights and Coe College Kohawks both entered the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs. Coe will open this weekend in the first round on the road at Concordia-Wisconsin while Wartburg will await the winner of Wheaton/Crown for the second round in Waverly.
The Luther College Norse advanced to the second round of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament, but saw their season come to a close against St. Olaf after falling 1-0. The Duhawks of Loras fell in the opening round to North Central (Ill.).
The Coe College Kohawks won the A-R-C Women’s Volleyball Tournament to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The UD Spartans earned an at-large bid after a successful year. Both will be in action this week in regionals.
Championship Central: The A-R-C takes a break from conference championship action until January now. The next championship will be women’s wrestling on January 24 in Pella, Iowa. All matches will begin at 7:00 p.m. throughout the tournament. The full 2025-26 championship calendar can be found here: https://tr.ee/xwew1v
Fall Sport Standings: Football | Men’s Soccer | Women’s Soccer | Women’s Volleyball | Women’s Tennis
Winter Sport Standings: Men’s Basketball | Women’s Basketball | Men’s Wrestling
Watch all A-R-C action on the American Rivers Sports Network.
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About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to nine full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. Luther College has announced its departure from the conference, effective at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year.
