Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Tennis Performer of the Week – Maria Bello Escobar (Dacono, Colo./Frederick), Coe College
Bello Escobar went 2-0 in singles as the Kohawk women went 1-1 during the week. She helped pick up a win against Division II Truman State. Against Truman State, she won 6-4, 7-6 at No. 5 singles. She later was one of two Kohawks to win a match against nationally-ranked Grinnell, winning 6-2, 6-3 at No. 6 singles.
Coe defeated Truman State 5-2
Coe lost to Grinnell 2-5
Male Athlete of the Week – Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week – Andrew Hutchinson (Poplar Grove, Ill./North Boone), University of Dubuque
Hutchinson began his outdoor campaign at the WashU Distance Carnival. He competed in the 800 meter race and finished with a time of 1:49.11, which is a new UD outdoor school record. He finished second out of 24 competitors and was the top Division III finisher. He currently sits atop in Division III this season and No. 25 all-time in Division III.
Baseball - Pitcher of the Week – Jack Walsh (Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert), Coe College
Walsh tossed a one-hitter, complete-game shutout against the Dutch on Friday afternoon. He allowed just one walk while striking out four batters. He picked up his third win of the season and dropped his ERA to 1.00 for the 2025 season. He ranks second in Division III in WHIP.
Coe lost to University of Dubuque 6-8
Coe defeated Central 4-0
Coe defeated Central 6-2
Coe defeated Central 16-0
Baseball – Position Player of the Week – Max McCallum (Aurora, Ill./St. Francis), Loras College
McCallum went 9-for-14 from the plate to post a .643 batting average in conference action over the weekend. He also added one homerun, seven runs, and seven RBIs.
Loras lost to Wartburg 21-11
Loras defeated Wartburg 17-5
Loras lost to Wartburg 10-8
Men’s Tennis Performer of the Week – Joao Benvenutti (Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil/Colegio Saber), Luther College
The Norse headed south for spring break in Orlando, Florida last week and posted a 4-2 record. Benvenutti went 7-1 overall playing all of his matches at No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles. All of his doubles matches were with Abhay Chhabra. He began the Florida swing with a 6-4, 6-4 singles victory over Union. In doubles they picked up a 6-2 win over Union. Against No. 34 nationally-ranked Hamilton, Benvenutti grabbed a 7-6, 6-2 victory. The doubles duo grabbed a 7-5 win over Hamilton. Benvenutti won again in singles, 6-2, 7-5, against Freed-Hardeman. The doubles pair earned a 6-1 victory over Freed-Hardeman. Versus Oberlin in singles, he earned a 6-4, 7-5 victory. Benvenutti and Chhabra grabbed a 6-1 win against Oberlin. Benvenutti fell in singles against Colby College, 6-2, 6-4 but bounced back in doubles with Chhabra earning a 7-5 win.
Luther defeated Union 5-2
Luther lost to Hamilton 3-4
Luther defeated Freed-Hardeman 5-2
Luther defeated Lawrence 7-0
Luther defeated Oblerlin 6-1
Luther lost to Colby 2-5
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week – Eli Mackowski (Fountain Hills, Ariz./Desert Mountain), Nebraska Wesleyan University
Mackowski competed at the Central Nebraska Challenge in Kearney, Nebraska, to kick off his outdoor season. He competed in the high jump and recorded a mark of 2.09m to finish fifth out of 29 competitors. He was the top Division III finisher. He currently sits atop the NCAA Division III rankings this season. He holds the fifth-best outdoor mark in the Nebraska Wesleyan program history.
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week – Anna Lundahl (Wakefield, Neb.), Nebraska Wesleyan University
Lundahl jump started her outdoor season at the Central Nebraska Challenge on Friday. She competed in the discus throw and recorded a mark of 46.98m to finish fifth out of 50 competitors. She finished as the best finisher in Division III. This mark currently ranks No. 2 in Division III this season and is the sixth-best toss in Nebraska Wesleyan program history.
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Track Performer of the Week – Peyton Steffen (Marion, Iowa/Marion), Central College
Steffen began her outdoor season at the WashU Distance Carnival where she competed in the 5000-meter race. She finished second out of 245 runners with a time of 16:53.39. She opens the season ranked second in the 5K in Division III.
Softball – Pitcher of the Week – Hannah Luellen (Woodward, Iowa/Dallas-Center Grimes), Wartburg College
Luellen went 3-0 from the circle this week, starting four games for the Knights. She tossed three complete games with nine strikeouts over 27.2 innings pitched. She posted an ERA of 1.52 on the week.
Wartburg defeated St. Catherine 8-2
Wartburg defeated St. Catherine 10-4
Wartburg defeated UW-La Crosse 3-2
Wartburg defeated UW-La Crosse 3-2
Wartburg lost to Illinois Wesleyan 7-14
Wartburg defeated Lake Forest 9-8
Wartburg defeated DePauw 4-3
Wartburg defeated DePauw 6-4
Softball – Position Player of the Week – Sydney Fellows (Iowa City, Iowa/City High), Wartburg College
Fellows led the Knights in batting average, hits, and runs during the week. She was walked five times and only struck out once in 26 appearances at the plate. She added one stolen base and moved her hitting streak to 12 games. Fellow posted a .462 batting average on the week, going 12-for-26.
Wartburg defeated St. Catherine 8-2
Wartburg defeated St. Catherine 10-4
Wartburg defeated UW-La Crosse 3-2
Wartburg defeated UW-La Crosse 3-2
Wartburg lost to Illinois Wesleyan 7-14
Wartburg defeated Lake Forest 9-8
Wartburg defeated DePauw 4-3
Wartburg defeated DePauw 6-4
Weekly Report
Spring seasons are officially in full swing. Check out the American Rivers Conference website (www.rollrivers.com) to see schedules, standings, and more as the spring progresses.
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.
