March 31, 2003

MOUNT VERNON, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced today its Male and Female Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 30. Simpson College softball player Amy Kulisky (Pleasant Hill, Iowa/S.E. Polk HS) was named IIAC Female Athlete of the Week and Central College golfer Jake Pearson (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge Isanti HS) was named IIAC Male Athlete of the Week.

Kulisky, a senior pitcher, went 3-0 during the week in three appearances including two starts at the Washington (Mo.) University Midwest Regional Invitational. She surrendered just one run (0.57 ERA) and five hits in 12.2 innings while striking out 16 batters and walking just two. She pitched six innings in a 6-0 victory over Maryville (Mo.) surrendering just four hits and striking out eight. In a 2-1 victory over St. Mary’s (Minn.), she pitched five innings, allowing one run and one hit while striking out seven and walking two. In Simpson’s 8-inning 1-0 victory over Washington (Mo.), Kulisky pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to pick-up her 11th win of the season.

Pearson, a sophomore, won the Central Dutch Classic battling 30 degree temperatures, strong winds and occasional snow flurries to shoot a seven-over-par 115 (39-76). Pearson won by one stroke in the 60-player field in the weather shortened 27-hole Tournament. He led Central to a nine stroke victory on the team side.

The IIAC also announced on Monday its Players of the Week for the Conference’s six sports in competition during the week. Kulisky and Pearson earned the weekly honors in softball and golf, respectively, and the following individuals were recognized for their weekly performances.

Baseball: Simpson College junior first baseman/pitcher Mike Donnenwerth (Sheffield, Iowa/SCMT HS) hit .636 (7-11) in four games during the week. He had three doubles and two home runs to finish the week with a 1.450 slugging percentage. Donnenwerth also drove in seven runs and scored six in doubleheaders splits with Nebraska Wesleyan and Graceland. He was the starting pitching but did not figure in the decision in Simpson’s loss to Graceland. He pitched 3.1 innings and gave up two earned runs.

Men’s Tennis: Coe College senior Nick Frank (Waterloo, Iowa/West HS) posted a 9-0 record during the week including five singles victories and four doubles victories with partner Nick Barnes during Coe’s trip to California. Frank went 4-0 at #2 singles and 1-0 at #1 singles to improve to 11-1 on the season with 11 straight victories. He did not lose a set nor lose more than three points in a set during the week and lost more than four points in a match just once.

Women’s Track and Field: Wartburg College senior Megan Pagel (Sumner, Iowa/Sumner HS) provisionally qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the hammer throw. He set a school and meet record with a throw of 152’-3¾” at the Wartburg Open.

Men’s Track and Field: Wartburg College senior Jason Huegel (Ionia, Iowa/New Hampton HS) provisionally qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in both the discus and javelin. He won both events at the Wartburg Open, setting meet records in both events. His winning discuss throw was 161’-10½”, which set a school record. His winning javelin throw was 196’-9”.

-30-