CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Wartburg College Knights maintain their lead in the men’s and women’s All-Sports Trophy standings following the completion of the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) slate of six winter championships. The combined men’s and women’s results also put the Knights atop the American Rivers Combined All-Sports Trophy. 

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Men

School	Points	Place
Wartburg	42.2	1st
Loras	35.6	2nd
Central	32.0	3rd
Univ. of Dubuque	31.4	4th
Nebraska Wesleyan	28.8	5th
Luther	26.1	6th
Coe	24.3	7th
Simpson	22.2	8th
Buena Vista	10.9	9th

After three fall and four winter championship events, Wartburg finds themselves atop the Elmer Hertel Men’s standings with 42.2 points. The Knights claimed fall championships in cross country and football while adding a winter title in wrestling and indoor track & field. Additionally, Wartburg had a runner-up finish during the soccer season. Loras has totaled 35.6 points behind a second-place finish in cross country and third place finishes in soccer and basketball. Central sits in third place in the standings with a total of 32.0 points followed by the University of Dubuque with 31.4. The Spartans were propelled by a title in basketball this winter. Nebraska Wesleyan sits in fifth place with 28.8 points. The Norse of Luther own sixth place with 26.1 points after a championship finish during the soccer season. Coe sits in seventh with 24.3 points, Simpson in eighth with 22.2 points, and Buena Vista in ninth with 10.9 points. 
 
At the conclusion of the 2023-24 sport seasons, Wartburg earned the program’s 25th Elmer Hertel Men’s All-Sports Trophy. Central has won the trophy 15 times while Luther owns 11 trophies, Loras with three, and Simpson with one.  

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Women

School	Points	Place
Wartburg	52.9	1st
Central	47.1	2nd
Univ. of Dubuque	39.5	3rd
Loras	37.2	4th
Simpson	36.7	5th
Coe	35.8	6th
Luther	33.6	7th
Nebraska Wesleyan	30.8	8th
Buena Vista	20.9	9th

With five fall and five winter championship events in the books, Wartburg jumped Central to take the lead in the race for the Marjorie Giles Women’s All-Sports Trophy. Wartburg sits atop the standings with 52.9 points after claiming titles in cross country, basketball, and wrestling through the fall and winter. The Knights also earned a runner-up finish at indoor track & field and a third place finish in soccer. Central has totaled 47.1 points to sit in second place after earning a crown in dance and second-place finishes in golf and cross country. The University of Dubuque sits in third with 39.5 points with a title in golf in the fall. Loras has totaled 37.2 points to grab a fourth place standing through the winter championships behind a track & field title. Simpson sits in fifth place with 36.7 points with a strong runner-up finish in soccer in the fall. Coe was led by a title in volleyball in the fall as they sit in sixth place with 35.8 points. Luther is in seventh with 33.6 points, Nebraska Wesleyan in eighth with 30.8 points, and Buena Vista in ninth with 20.9 points. 
 
Wartburg leads all schools with 18 total trophies. Central and Luther own a conference second-best with ten. Simpson has won four trophies and Loras owns one. 

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Combined All-Sports Trophy

School	Points	Place
Wartburg	18	1st
Central	15	2nd
Loras	14	3rd
Univ. of Dubuque	13	4th
Coe	7	T-5th
Luther	7	T-5th
Nebraska Wesleyan	7	T-5th
Simpson	7	T-5th
Buena Vista	2	9th

With seven men’s and ten women’s American Rivers Conference Championships decided, Wartburg owns first place in the All-Sports Trophy standings with 18-points. Wartburg has claimed seven league championships. The Knights’ conference titles were earned in men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s wrestling, women’s basketball, and men’s indoor track & field. 
 
Wartburg has won or shared all 18 of the conferences Combined All-Sports Trophies which began in 2002-03. Luther College shared the All-Sports Trophy with Wartburg in 2010-11 and 2011-12. It will be an exciting spring championship season to see who will earn the Combined All-Sports Trophy at the conclusion of the year. Stay up-to-date with all things A-R-C on social media and www.rollrivers.com. 

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About the Trophies
Each school’s finish in each sport is determined and given a numerical worth by inverting the finish (i.e.) first place is worth nine points, second place is worth eight points, third place is worth seven points, etc). In case of ties, the worth of all places involved are totaled and divided by the number of teams in that tie. Each school’s finish in all sports is then totaled, and the school with the largest number of points shall be awarded the respective Championship Trophy. The Marjorie Giles Women’s All-Sports Trophy, first awarded in 1982-1983 (at the time named the Women’s Sports Championship Trophy), is presented annually to the Conference member that accumulates the most points in women’s sports. The Elmer Hertel Men’s All-Sports Trophy was first awarded in 1970-71 (at that time named the Men’s Sports Championship Trophy) and presented to the Conference member that accumulates the most points in men’s sports. The school displaying overall excellence in men’s and women’s sports is awarded the American Rivers Conference All-Sports Championship Trophy. 
 
Marjorie Giles is a former Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) from Central College serving from 1981-98. During her tenure as a FAR, she participated in writing of the Conference Constitution to include women’s athletics and to establish women’s championships. She was the first female to serve as President of the Conference and was actively involved with the NCAA serving on several committees and on the Management Council. 
 
The Elmer Hertel Men’s Sports Championship Trophy was renamed in 1981 to honor the former Wartburg College coach. Dr. Hertel served as the Conference secretary-treasurer from 1944-1981.