November 4, 2002

MOUNT VERNON, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today its Male and Female Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, November 3. Wartburg College cross country runner Missy Buttry (Shenandoah, Iowa/Shenandoah HS) was selected IIAC Female Athlete of the Week and Loras College cross country runner Marcus Murphy (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny HS) was selected IIAC Male Athlete of the Week.

Buttry, a sophomore, and Murphy, a junior, both set Conference records en route to winning the IIAC Cross Country Championship on Saturday at Luther College. Buttry finished the 5,000-meter race in 16:35.0, knocking 49 seconds off the old Conference record of 17:24 set by former Luther standout Johanna Olson in 2000. Buttry won the race by 1:57 over Coe’s Tiffany Foster (Tripoli, Iowa/Tripoli HS).

Murphy won his third straight Conference title as he finished in 25:06.6, nearly 30 seconds ahead of Wartburg’s Joe Hughes (Tama, Iowa/South Tama HS). Murphy shaved 18 seconds off the 8,000-meter record he set last year (25:24).

The IIAC also announced the Players of the Week for the Conference’s six sports in competition during the week. Buttry and Murphy earned weekly honors for women’s and men’s cross country while the following individuals were recognized for their athletic achievements.

Football: Simpson College senior wide receiver Jesse Von Behren (Olin, Iowa/Olin HS) had 223 yards of total offense and two touchdowns in the Storm’s 69-48 victory over Loras College. Von Behren had eight receptions for 163 yards including a 33-yard touchdown. His lone carry resulted in a 60-yard touchdown run. In the contest, he set the school record for receiving yards in a season and touchdown receptions in a season. He now has 885 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Men’s Soccer: Wartburg College sophomore forward Verne Houston (Omaha, Neb./Burke HS) scored four goals on four shots in the Knights’ 6-1 victory over the University of Dubuque. It marked the second time in Houston’s career that he scored four goals in a match, which is the school record.

Women’s Soccer: Luther College sophomore Katie Pettigrew (Farmington, N.M./Farmington HS) scored six goals and three assists in two games during the week. In a 3-2 double-overtime victory over Augustana (Ill.), she tallied two assists including one on the game winning goal. She had 13 points including six goals in Luther’s 18-0 victory over Upper Iowa University. On the season, Pettigrew has 34 goals, one shy of the Luther school record.

Volleyball: Wartburg College junior outside hitter Dia Dohlman (Eldora, Iowa/Eldora-New Providence HS) hit .382 with 33 kills in eight games during the week. She also recorded 38 digs, six aces and two blocks in three Wartburg victories.

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