January 20, 2003

MOUNT VERNON, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today its Male and Female Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, January 19. Wartburg College wrestler Bart Mehlert (LaPorte City, Iowa/Union HS) was named IIAC Male Athlete of the Week and Central College basketball player Amy Steenhoek (Pella, Iowa/Pella HS) was named IIAC Female Athlete of the Week.

Mehlert, a 149-pound junior, posted a 5-0 record with two falls and two major decisions during the week including a 4-0 record at the Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals. At the National Duals, he won by major decision over Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Ryan Hansen (12-0), he pinned Luther’s Josh Shalla at 3:39, won by decision over Loras’ Chris Vogel (8-2) and won by major decision over Augsburg’s Josh Erlandson (9-1). In a dual against Coe, Mehlert pinned Jeff Wiele at 1:36. Top-ranked Wartburg won the National Duals with victories over #28-ranked Stevens Point (27-10), #8-ranked Luther (40-3), #5-ranked Loras (30-6) and three-time defending National Champion Augsburg (19-13)

Steenhoek, a senior forward, averaged 18.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game in three contests during the week. She shot 45.1 percent (23-of-51) from the floor and 76.9 percent (10-of-13) from the free throw line in victories over Upper Iowa (65-56) and Coe (64-60), and a loss to Cornell (53-51). Against Upper Iowa, Steenhoek scored 18 points (9-of-19 shooting), grabbed 11 rebounds (4-7), and had three assists and one steal. In the loss to Cornell, she scored 17 points (7-of-18 from the floor, 3-of-4 from the line), had 11 rebounds (2-9), one assist and four steels. Steenhoek recorded her fourth straight double-double with 21 points (7-of-14 from the floor, 7-of-8 from the line) and 12 rebounds (4-8) against Coe. She also had one assist.

The IIAC also announced on Monday its Players of the Week for the Conference’s five sports in competition during the week. Mehlert and Steenhoek earned the wrestling and women’s basketball honors, and the following individuals were recognized in their respective sports.

Men’s Basketball: Central College junior center Scott Huisman (Pella, Iowa/Pella Christian HS) averaged 21.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, and shot 59 percent from the floor (23-of-39) in three contests during the week. He scored a career-high 33 points, grabbed eight rebounds (4-4) and had two steals in 35 minutes of play in Central’s 77-62 loss to Upper Iowa. In an 82-73 loss to Coe, he scored 13 points, grabbed 10 rebounds (3-7), and had one assist and two steals. Huisman scored 17 points, had three rebounds (1-2) and one block in a 77-64 loss to Cornell.

Men’s Track and Field: University of Dubuque sophomore DeAndre Bovan (Chicago, Ill./South Shore HS) won the triple jump at the Wisconsin-Platteville Open, breaking his own school record and provisionally qualifying for the 2003 NCAA Indoor Track Championships with a jump of 48’-4 ½”. He also won the long jump with a jump of 21’-9 ½” and finished seventh in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.41 seconds. In the 55-meter hurdles preliminary, Bovan had the second fastest qualifying time at 8.08 seconds.

Women’s Track and Field: Buena Vista University freshman Kristine Norberg (Milaca, Minn./Milaca HS) won the pole vault at the Buena Vista Open, setting a school indoor record at 8’-6”.

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