CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that Simpson College softball student-athlete Megan Heidelbauer and Wartburg College baseball student-athlete Emerson Alberhasky have been named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending May 10, 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 - Softball - Position Player of the Week - Megan Heidelbauer (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar), Simpson College
-
Heidelbauer drove in the walk-off run over Coe in the A-R-C softball semifinals.
-
She batted in four runs in the championship game.
-
In the two games, she was 4-for-7 with a triple, three singles, and five RBIs.
Male Athlete of the Week - Baseball - Pitcher of the Week - Emerson Alberhasky (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial), Wartburg College
-
Alberhasky tossed 234 pitches in four days to lead the Knights to its first baseball tournament title since 2017.
-
He made two key starts, pitching 13.2 innings.
-
He set a new program record with 105 strikeouts in a single season, a record that had stood since 2012.
Baseball - Position Player of the Week - Keegan Schmitt (Independence, Iowa/Independence), Wartburg College
-
Schmitt guided the Knights to its first tournament title since 2017.
-
He hit .500, recorded five doubles, six RBIs, and six runs in the five games during the tournament.
Softball - Pitcher of the Week - Marina Cronin (Kingsley, Iowa/Remsen St. Mary’s), Simpson College
-
Cronin pitched the championship game in the A-R-C tournament.
-
She tossed a complete game while allowing just one run, two hits, and one walk while striking out five.
Weekly Report
The Luther College men’s and women’s tennis teams went 1-1 during the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
The Wartburg College Knights baseball team, as the fourth-seed, claimed the A-R-C baseball tournament title yesterday for the first time since 2017. The A-R-C will have Luther and Wartburg in the NCAA Tournament.
The University of Dubuque men’s golf team is set to take to the course this week at the NCAA Championship in Florida.
The Simpson College Storm claimed the tournament title for the first time in program history at the A-R-C softball tournament. The A-R-C remains one of the strongest leagues in the country for softball as four teams will be featured in the NCAA Tournament: Central, Loras, Simpson, and Wartburg.
Championship Central: 2025-26 A-R-C championships have come to a close. Get ready for the 2026-27 championship schedule here: https://shorturl.at/pgjGn
Spring Sport Standings: Baseball | Softball | Men’s Tennis
Watch all A-R-C action on the American Rivers Sports Network.
Don't forget to become a fan of the American Rivers Conference on Facebook @AmericanRiversConference, X (Twitter) @AmerRiversConf, and Instagram @AmericanRiversConference, ??and LinkedIn @AmericanRiversConference
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.
