Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Basketball Player of the Week – MOLLY LUTMER, Simpson College
Lutmer erupted for 37 points in Simpson’s overtime conference victory on Saturday. Her 37 points were the third highest single total in Simpson program history and the most by a player since 1996. She shot 62.5% behind the arc and scored the first nine points for the Storm in overtime.
Simpson lost to Coe 82-68
Simpson defeated Luther 88-83
Male Athlete of the Week – Men's Indoor Track & Field - Field Performer of the Week – CARSON COLLET, Wartburg College
Collet competed at the Friday Knight Lights event with the Wartburg College Knights. He competed in the pole vault and finished first out of four total competitors. He recorded a mark of 4.60m to break the all-time Wartburg school record.
Men’s Basketball Player of the Week – JAYLIN MCCANTS, University of Dubuque
The Spartans picked up two conference wins last week to propel them into sole possession of first place with two weeks to go in the conference season. He finished with 48 total points on the week, including a 29 point performance against Luther. He added another 19 points to finish out the week while only being on the court for 25 minutes. He went 19-for-29 (65.5%) from the field and finished with 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks.
Dubuque defeated Luther 60-59
Dubuque defeated Buena Vista 81-50
Men’s Swimming & Diving Performer of the Week – TRISTAN BLAIR, Simpson College
Blair helped the Storm to a win on the road over the weekend. He picked up wins in the 200 and 500 freestyles with his collegiate best times. Additionally, he contributed to a first place finish in the 200 freestyle relay.
Simpson defeated Coe 110-80
Women’s Swimming & Diving Performer of the Week – HOLLYE GUTIERREZ, Coe College
Gutierrez played a key role in the Kohawks dual victory over Simpson on Saturday. She picked up a pair of individual wins in individual events while also contributing on the relay winning squad. She grabbed wins in the 200 freestyle (2:16.21) and 100 back (1:06.76). The 200 medley relay squad hit the wall in 2:02.84.
Coe defeated Simpson 104-78
Men's Indoor Track & Field - Track Performer of the Week – LANCE SOBASKI, Wartburg College
Sobaski competed at Friday Knight Lights at Wartburg College on Friday evening. He finished second out of 61 competitors in the mile with a time of 4:08.79. This time stands fifth in Division III this season.
Women's Indoor Track & Field - Field Performer of the Week – CAITLYN COX, Loras College
Cox and the Duhawks competed at Wartburg’s Friday Knight Lights event this past week. She finished first out of 29 competitors in the weight throw with a mark of 19.36m. This mark is currently second in the country. She additionally competed in the shot put where she finished with a mark of 12.70m to finish sixth out of 26 competitors. Her shot put mark was recorded as a new personal record.
Women's Indoor Track & Field - Track Performer of the Week – EMMA SIEPEL, Loras College
Seipel joined the Duhawks at Friday Knight Lights where she grabbed two individual wins. She started by gaining a personal best by 0.49 in the 200m with a time of 25.03. This ranks seventh nationally this season and is the third all-time in Loras program history. She also recorded a win in the long jump with a mark of 5.93m.
Men’s Tennis Performer of the Week – BRYTON SHORT, Coe College
Short went 4-0 for the Kohawks in a pair of wins on Saturday. He picked up two doubles wins at number one while earning singles victories at number one and number two. He and Jumpei Kasai won 6-1 against Loras and later secured a 6-3 win against Wisconsin-La Crosse. In singles, he won 7-6, 6-3 at the top spot against the Duhawks before edging out a 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 decision against the Eagles at number two.
Men’s Wrestler of the Week – BRETT BIRCHMAN, Wartburg College
Birchman upset No. 14 Brayden Parke of Coe in the Knights versus Kohawks dual on Friday evening. The match ended in sudden victory, 8-5. The Wartburg Knights clinched their 42nd conference championship during this dual.
Wartburg defeated Coe 33-9
Women’s Wrestler of the Week – REWA CHABABO, Wartburg College
Chababo played a major role in the Wartburg Knights earning the team title at the 2025 D3 National Invite over the weekend. She began the weekend with a 2-1 decision victory over Wisconsin-Stevens Point followed by two fall victories (1:02 and 1:14) over Otterbein and Albion. She finished the tournament with a 10-0 tech fall victory over Simpson. She won the 207lb weight class bracket and moved her winning streak to 11.
Weekly Report
Just two weeks left in the regular season conference season now. The Wartburg women maintain a three game lead and a perfect 13-0. On the men’s side, Dubuque holds the lead after the Wartburg men pulled an upset victory over Nebraska Wesleyan. The Spartans sit 10-2 and the P-Wolves are 9-3. With the second NCAA NPI rankings released this morning, the Wartburg women sit at No. 20 and Nebraska Wesleyan continues to lead the league at No. 44.
The next championship on the docket for the A-R-C is the Swimming & Diving Championship at Coe College on February 20-22. Quickly following will be the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments as well as the Indoor Track & Field Championship.
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.
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.
