Athletes of the Week & Weekly Report Announced by A-R-C - January 12, 2026

1/12/2026 3:55:00 PM

By: Ali Wilson, A-R-C Assistant Commissioner

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Nebraska Wesleyan University swimming & diving student-athlete Beatrice Massa Micon and Luther College men’s wrestler student-athlete Clayton McDonough have been named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending January 11, 2026. 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 Swimming & Diving - Performer of the Week - Beatrice Massa Micon (Torino, Italy), Nebraska Wesleyan University
  • Massa Micon won two individual events to lead the Prairie Wolves to two victories on Saturday in a double-dual against Iowa Western and the College of Saint Mary’s. 
  • She touched first in the 100-freestyle (52.53), breaking the Weary Natatorium pool record. 
  • She added another win in the 50-freestyle (24.35). 
  • Massa Micon was the leadoff leg in the first-place 200 medley relay. 
Male Athlete of the Week - Men’s Wrestling - Performer of the Week - Clayton McDonough (Nora Springs, Iowa/Central Springs), Luther College
  • McDonough had an impressive, dominant showing at 2026 NWCA National Duals over the weekend. 
  • McDonough, the No. 1 nationally ranked wrestler at 165lbs, picked up four wins by fall during the championship event. 
  • He recorded the most falls in the least amount of time out of all wrestlers during the dual championship. 
  • McDonough set a new school record for falls with 56 now in his career. 
Men’s Basketball - Performer of the Week - Grady Thompson (Princeton, Ill./Princeton), University of Dubuque
  • Thompson led the Spartans to a 2-0 week in conference action with wins over Wartburg and Nebraska Wesleyan. 
  • In 36 minutes of action versus Wartburg, he recorded 27 points, ten rebounds for a double-double. 
  • In 37 minutes on the road against Nebraska Wesleyan, he finished with 15 points and recorded three steals, while making 3-of-4 at the free throw line down the stretch to seal the win over the Prairie Wolves. 
Women’s Basketball - Performer of the Week - Caydee Kirkham (Carthage, Ill./Illini West), Coe College
  • Kirkham kept up on her impressive season last week, leading the Kohawks to a pair of conference wins, while recording her first career triple-double. 
  • She opened up the week versus Luther with 24 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds. 
  • She followed that performance up with ten points, five assists, and four rebounds against Simpson.
  • In the Simpson game, Kirkham set the record for career assists in the Coe program. 
Men’s Swimming & Diving - Performer of the Week - Mattia Rosatelli (Rome, Italy/Liceo Scientifico Albert Einstein), Nebraska Wesleyan University
  • Rosatelli won three events to lead Nebraska Wesleyan to a 114-86 victory over Iowa Western. 
  • He captured individual wins in the 100-breaststroke (59.15) and 200 individual medley (1:58.92). 
  • He broke the Weary Natatorium pool record in the 200 IM. 
  • Additionally, he swam the breaststroke leg of the first-place 200 medley relay. 
Women’s Wrestling - Performer of the Week - Aniyah Kelly (Greer, S.C./Woodmont), Wartburg College
  • Kelly posted a perfect 3-0 record at the NWCA National Duals, playing a major role in the Knights national title.
  • Kelly competed at the 145lb weight class and her weekend was highlighted by a pin victory versus the No. 3 nationally ranked wrestler. 
Weekly Report
The basketball season is heating up in conference action. On the men’s side, the Loras Duhawks have claimed the outright position at the top after the Univ. of Dubuque knocked off Nebraska Wesleyan. On the women’s side, the Coe Kohawks remain dominant this season, sitting at 6-0 as we near the halfway point. 
 
The Wartburg Knights women’s wrestling program won the 2026 NWCA Division III National Dual title, the first in program history. The Simpson Storm claimed runner-up honors as wrestlers gear up for the conference championship. 
 
The men’s wrestling team from Wartburg finished runner-up at the 2026 NWCA Division III National Dual, falling in the championship match against Roanoke. 
 
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. The full 2025-26 championship calendar can be found here: https://tr.ee/xwew1v
 
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.