CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Loras College women’s cross country student-athlete Keelee Leitzen and Wartburg College cross country student-athlete Isaiah Hammerand have been named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending November 2, 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 Cross Country - Runner of the Week - Keelee Leitzen (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead), Loras College
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Leitzen made noise in her first A-R-C Championship, finishing with gold.
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She finished in a time of 21:24.1.
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Her performance earned her the honors of Runner of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
Male Athlete of the Week - Men’s Cross Country - Runner of the Week - Isaiah Hammerand (Epworth, Iowa/Western Dubuque), Wartburg College
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Hammerand won his second consecutive A-R-C Championship title over the weekend.
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He crossed the finish line in 23:44.2, a new championship record.
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His performance led the Knights to another conference title as well as the honor of Runner of the Year .
Football - Defensive Player of the Week - Noah Noland (Carlisle, Iowa/Carlisle), Simpson College
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Noland is earning his second consecutive defensive player of the week honor after another impressive showing against Loras.
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He posted 17 tackles, including a career high 14 solo.
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He blocked two PATs in the fourth quarter, including the potential game-tying kick with 1:11 left.
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Additionally, Noland registered 2.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry, and his second sack of the season.
Football - Offensive Player of the Week - Cody Klein (Newton, Iowa/Newton), Central College
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Klein averaged 21.2 yards per carry on ten rushing attempts to compile 212 yards.
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He scored three touchdowns from 47, 29, and 26 yards out.
Football - Special Teams Player of the Week - Tanner Philpott (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee Northwest), Simpson College
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Philpott is earning his second consecutive special teams player of the week honor after punting for a career high 398 yards, averaging 44.2 yards per punt.
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He recorded three punts of 50+ yards, including a long of 55.
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He played a key role in field control as the Storm held Loras scoreless through three quarters and secured a 28-27 road victory.
Men’s Soccer - Defensive Performer of the Week - Morgan Finkenbinder (Elkhorn, Neb./Skutt Catholic), Central College
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Finkenbinder added two more shutouts to his resume including the program’s first shutout of Loras since 2000.
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He made six total saves, including four against Nebraska Wesleyan in the A-R-C semifinals.
Men’s Soccer - Offensive Performer of the Week - Dani Galiana Torres (Madrid, Spain/SEK Ciudalcampo), Loras College
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Galiana Torres had two goals on the week, one of which was the game-winning goal in the 7-0 win over Simpson in the A-R-C first round and one was a penalty goal kick.
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He additionally dished out an assist immediately after scoring the game-winning goal.
Women’s Soccer - Defensive Performer of the Week - Zoey Sizemore (Omaha, Neb./Mercy), Central College
Women’s Soccer - Offensive Performer of the Week - Rylee Rustad (Gilbert, Ariz./Casteel), Central College
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Rustad ignited a wild comeback in the A-R-C quarterfinal win over Wartburg.
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She scored her first goal in the 71st minute, added a second goal six minutes later and then assisted the game-winning goal in the 87th minute.
Men’s Swimming & Diving - Performer of the Week - Kevin Kretz (Fairfield, Iowa/Fairfield), Luther College
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Kretz won three events on November 1 in a dual against Carleton.
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He picked up wins in the 50 free (22.12), 100 free (48.40), and 100 butterfly 52.29).
Women’s Swimming & Diving - Performer of the Week - Mia Prater (Superior, Colo./Monarch), Luther College
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Prater earned two individual wins over the weekend in a dual against Carleton.
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Her wins came in the 50 free (23.77) and 100 free (53.58).
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Her time in the 50 free ranks seventh in Division III so far this season and 18th in the 100 free.
Women’s Volleyball - Defensive Performer of the Week - Taylor Bechen (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial), University of Dubuque
Women’s Volleyball - Offensive Performer of the Week - Emily Williams (Malvern, Iowa/East Mills), Simpson College
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Williams averaged a league-best 4.1 kills per set, tallying double-digit kills in all three matches.
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She started the week with ten kills and a .421 hitting efficiency against Illinois College in non-conference action.
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Additionally, she posted 14 kills against nationally ranked University of Dubuque in conference play.
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She ended the week with a career-high 24.0 points against Loras, registering her first double-double (17 kills, 11 digs) of the season as well as a career-high aces (four), and solo blocks (three).
Men’s Wrestling - Performer of the Week - Clayton McDonough (Nora Springs, Iowa/Central Springs), Luther College
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McDonough won the 165-pound Gold Division bracket at the Pointer Open.
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He picked up three pins and a major decision.
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He defeated wrestlers from Wisconsin-Oshkosh, North Central, Wisconsin, and Minnesota State Mankato.
Women’s Wrestling - Performer of the Week - Annelise Obermark (Labadie, Mo./Washington), Simpson College
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Obermark won the 145-pound weight class title at Simpson’s Luther Hill Invite over the weekend.
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She picked up one fall victory, one tech fall victory, and two wins by decision.
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Obermark defeated wrestlers from Grand View, Quincy, Hastings, and Iowa.
Weekly Report
The Wartburg College Knights football program earned at least a share of the conference title over the weekend after defeating Nebraska Wesleyan on the road. This is Wartburg’s fourth consecutive conference title.
The University of Dubuque women’s soccer program won the conference title as well as the Luther and Wartburg men’s soccer programs sharing the title. The soccer tournaments are underway with semifinal matches occurring on Wednesday evening.
The Spartans moved to 7-0 in women’s volleyball over the weekend and have clinched at least a share of the regular season, with the chance to earn it outright on Wednesday evening in the regular season finale.
Championship Central: The soccer tournaments are underway with semifinal action on Wednesday evening. The volleyball tournament will tipoff on Tuesday, November 11. 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.
