Athletes of the Week & Weekly Report Announced by A-R-C - February 16, 2026

2/16/2026 3:55:00 PM

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

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Loras College women’s track & field student-athlete Keelee Leitzen and Wartburg College men’s wrestling student-athlete Jake Walker have been named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending February 15, 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 - Track Performer of the Week - Keelee Leitzen (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead)
  • Leitzen competed at the Boston University Hemery Valentine Invitational on Saturday. 
  • She finished 24th out of 187 runners in the 800m with a time of 2:09.83. 
  • Leitzen broke her own school record, her time currently ranks No. 2 in Division III, and her time is the all-time fastest time in the indoor 800m in A-R-C history. 
Male Athlete of the Week - Men’s Wrestling - Performer of the Week - Jake Walker (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock), Wartburg College
  • Walker improved to 10-2 on the season after earning a clutch 4-2 decision victory over No. 7-nationally ranked Jonah Clark of Loras, helping the Knights secure its sixth consecutive A-R-C title. 
Men’s Basketball - Performer of the Week - Jack Haynes (Streator, Ill./Streator Township), Loras College
  • Haynes averaged 20.5 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game in a 2-0 week for the Duhawks.
  • He shot 54.8% from the field across both conference games. 
  • Haynes tallied his ninth double-double of the year against Luther with 20 points and 12 rebounds. 
Women’s Basketball - Performer of the Week - Haylie Strum (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville), Luther College
  • Strum scored 44 points for the Norse during a 1-1 week. 
  • She posted a double-double in the win over Loras with 26 points and 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season.
Men’s Tennis - Performer of the Week - Jumpei Kasai (Ota, Tokoyo/Seikei), Coe College
  • Kasai was 4-0 for the Kohawks in a pair of wins. 
  • He picked up doubles victories with partner Bryton Short at the top spot. 
  • He earned singles wins at No. 5 and No. 2. 
Men’s Track & Field - Field Performer of the Week - Lance Bunde (Guthrie Center, Iowa/ACGC), Central College
  • Bunde competed at the Darren Young Classic on Saturday.
  • In the high jump, he jumped a mark of 2.05m to finish first out of 15 competitors. 
  • He now ranks No. 8 in Division III this season. 
Men’s Track & Field - Track Performer of the Week - Gunner Meyer (Fairbank, Iowa/Wapsie Walley), Central College
  • Meyer ran at the Darren Young Classic on Saturday. 
  • He finished first out of 25 in prelims with a time of 7.90 in the 60m hurdles. 
  • In high jump, he finished with a jump of 2.05m. 
  • His time in the 60m hurdles improves him to No. 3 in the country this season and his high jump mark ranks No. 8. 
Women’s Track & Field - Field Performer of the Week - Jaden Gatts (Solon, Iowa/Midland), University of Dubuque
  • Gatts competed at the UW-Platteville Invite on Saturday. 
  • She finished first in the high jump with a jump of 1.74m. 
  • Her jump is a new UW-Platteville indoor facility record, UD indoor record, and currently ranks fourth in Division III this season. 
Weekly Report
We have officially entered the final week of the regular season for basketball. On the men’s side, Nebraska Wesleyan continues to stand at the top, but did hit a bump over the weekend as they fell to Loras on the road. On the women’s side, Wartburg just has one game remaining on its schedule as they sit 14-1 overall. The Kohawks will finish with two games this final week as they sit 13-1. 
 
The Wartburg College Knights claimed their 43rd A-R-C regular season title last week. Competition heats up for both men’s and women’s wrestling as they prepare for postseason action. Women’s wrestling will compete in regionals this upcoming weekend in Indianola, Iowa, as it becomes an NCAA sport. Men’s wrestling will compete the following weekend 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 7. More information can be found here about the championship event.
 
Championship Central: The next championship will be swimming & diving beginning on February 18 and running through February 21 in Decorah, 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.