CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Loras College women’s track & field student-athlete Caitlyn Cox and Loras College men’s track & field student-athlete Eric Rutherford have been named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending January 25, 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 Track & Field - Field Performer of the Week - Caitlyn Cox (Des Moines, Iowa/Valley), Loras College
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For the second straight week, Cox is earning A-R-C field performer of the week honors after an impressive showing.
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She competed at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational at the University of Iowa on Friday in the weight throw premier.
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She was named USTFCCCA Athlete of the Week for the second straight week.
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Her mark of 20.33m was a new personal best, broke her own school record, ranks No. 1 in Division III this season, and No. 4 all-time in Division III.
Male Athlete of the Week - Men’s Track & Field - Track Performer of the Week - Eric Rutherford (Elmhurst, Ill./Elmhurst), Loras College
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Rutherford ran at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational at the University of Iowa on Friday.
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In the 3000m Premier, he crossed the finish line in 8:19.71 to finish third out of 11 competitors.
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His time was a new personal best and broke the Loras record.
Men’s Basketball - Performer of the Week - Owen Schipper (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee), Central College
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Schipper registered double-doubles in both of Central’s overtime wins in conference action this week.
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He had 26 points and 14 rebounds against Buena Vista, including scoring 22 points in the second half and overtime.
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He recorded 18 points and 14 rebounds against Coe.
Women’s Basketball - Performer of the Week - Haylie Strum (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville), Luther College
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Strum scored 44 points with two 20+ point games in a 2-0 week in conference action for the Norse.
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Additionally, she posted 15 rebounds, nine assists, six steals, and five blocks.
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She is just shy of ten points to receive a career 1,000-point total.
Men’s Track & Field - Field Performer of the Week - Dakota Hoffman (Worthington, Iowa/Western Dubuque), University of Dubuque
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Hoffman competed at the Cornell College Hilltop Invitational over the weekend in the shot put and weight throw.
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In the shot put, he recorded a mark of 15.87m to finish first out of 47 competitors.
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He posted a mark of 16.79m in the weight throw to set a new personal best to finish fourth out of 43 competitors.
Women’s Track & Field - Track Performer of the Week - Peyton Steffen (Marion, Iowa/Marion), Central College
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Steffen ran at the Cyclone Open on Friday in the mile and 1000m.
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In the mile, she crossed the finish line in 4:55.68 to finish second out of 55 runners.
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In the 1000m, she finished with a time of 2:56.58 to finish seventh out of 22 runners.
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Steffen was the top Division III runner in both of her races on Friday.
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She is now up to No. 4 nationally in the mile and broke the school record in the 1000m.
Men’s Swimming & Diving - Performer of the Week - Mattia Rosatelli (Rome, Italy/Liceo Scientifico Albert Einstein), Nebraska Wesleyan University
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Rosatelli won two individual events against Morningside, taking gold in the 100 breaststroke and 400 IM.
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He captured the 400 IM by nearly three seconds with a time of 4:18.09.
Women’s Swimming & Diving - Performer of the Week - Elena Lazzaretto (Venice, Italy/Liceo Galileo Galilei), Nebraska Wesleyan University
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Lazzaretto nearly broke Morningside’s pool record in the 100 breaststroke, touching the wall in 1:07.47 to win the event by nearly 13 seconds.
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She added an individual victory in the 400 IM.
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Additionally, she placed second in the 50 freestyle.
Men’s Wrestling - Performer of the Week - Kade Blume (Roland, Iowa/Roland-Story), Wartburg College
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Blume led the Knights to a perfect 3-0 showing at the annual A-R-C dual pods, delivering a strong weekend of performances at 141lbs.
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He picked up a win over No. 2 Pierre Baldwin from Central by a 5-2 decision to highlight his weekend.
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He picked up another win over Gavin Ross of UD by fall in 3:43.
Women’s Wrestling - Performer of the Week - Keeley Kehrli (Quasaqueton, Iowa/East Buchanan), Simpson College
Weekly Report
We have hit just over the halfway point of the basketball season now and the Loras Duhawks and Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves sit tied at the top in the men’s standings. On the women’s side, the Wartburg Knights got revenge on the Coe Kohawks over the weekend. The two now sit atop the women’s standings at 8-1.
The Wartburg Knights won their second consecutive A-R-C Women’s Wrestling championship over the weekend in Pella, Iowa with 173.5 points.
On the mats on the men’s wrestling side, Loras and Wartburg went undefeated during the annual A-R-C dual pods. Loras is now 5-0 and Wartburg is 6-0 in league action. These two teams will meet on February 12 in Dubuque, Iowa.
The American Rivers Conference nears the 2026 NCAA Division III Men’s Wrestling Championship in Cedar Rapids on March 13-14 at Alliant Energy PowerHouse. Tickets go on sale February 3. More information can be found here about the championship event.
Championship Central: The next championship will be cheer & dance on February 15 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.
