February 9, 2004

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Loras College basketball player Alicia Davis (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead HS) and Cornell College basketball player Dan McClanahan (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption HS) were named IIAC Female and Male Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, February 8.

Davis, a senior center, averaged 24.5 points, 12.0 rebounds and 6.0 blocked shots in two games during the week. She shot 71.4 percent from the floor (20-of-28) and connected on all nine of her free throw attempts in games against Simpson (57-54 win) and Central (74-55 loss). Davis recorded a triple-double in the Simpson contest, scoring 15 points, grabbing 13 rebounds (5-8) and blocking 10 shots. In a losing effort against Central, she scored a career-high 34 points on 14-of-19 shooting (73.7 percent) to go along with 11 rebounds (6-5) and two blocked shots.

McClanahan, a sophomore center, averaged 27.0 points, 8.0 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals in two games during the week. He shot 66.7 percent from the floor (20-of-30) in games against Wartburg (77-74 loss) and Buena Vista (92-86 win). McClanahan scored 17 points, dished out nine assists, grabbed five rebounds (2-3) and had four steals in a losing effort against Wartburg. He scored 37 points on 14-of-18 shooting (77.8 percent) to go along with seven assists, six rebounds (2-4) and five steals in the victory over Buena Vista.

The IIAC also announced on Monday its Players of the Week in each of the Conference’s eight sports in competition during the week. Davis and McClanahan earned the weekly honor in women’s and men’s basketball respectively, while the following individuals were recognized for their athletic performances.

Women’s Swimming & Diving: Coe College freshman Naomi Fottral (Swisher, Iowa/Prairie HS) was named Swimmer of the Year at the Iowa Conference Championship after winning five events and setting four meet records. Individually, she won and set the meet record in the 400-yard individual medley (4:54.67) and the 100-yard butterfly (1:01.16). Fottral was also a member of the winning 200-yard medley relay team (1:54.98) and 400-yard medley relay team (4:12.60), both of which set meet records. She also won the 200-yard individual medley (2:17.66).

Men’s Swimming & Diving: Loras College junior Scott Sampson (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf HS) was named Swimmer of the Year at the Iowa Conference Championship after winning three events and finishing second in three others. He won the 400-yard individual medley (4:28.54), the 1650-yard freestyle (17:09.73) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:17.55), setting meet records in the 1650-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle relay. Sampson finished second in the 500-yard freestyle (4:57.48), the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:27.88) and the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:33.30).

Men’s Tennis: Coe College senior Nick Barnes (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington HS) went 3-0 during the week including two victories at #1 doubles and one victory at #1 singles. He defeated St. John’s (Minn.) Mike Solum, the 15th ranked player in the region, 6-1, 6-1. In doubles, Barnes teamed with Adam Elliott to post a 9-8 (5) victory over the team of Solum/Sean Borg and an 8-5 victory over Augustana (Ill.)’s John Feehan/Dan Rooney.

Women’s Indoor Track & Field: Coe College senior Jenna Boerboom (Walnut Grove, Minn./Tracy Area HS) set two school records in winning two events at Cornell’s Hilltop Invitational. Boerboom was a member of the distance medley relay team that provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in a time of 12:13.02. She also won the 1,000-meter run in 3:06.70.

Men’s Indoor Track & Field: Luther College freshman Tyler Sherden (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall HS) won the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes at the Luther-Macalester-Alumni Meet. His times of 23.01 in the 200-meters and 50.04 in the 400-meters both set meet records and are the second fastest times in school history.

Wrestling: Wartburg College senior Ozzie Saxon (Bremerton, Wash./Bremerton HS) was named Outstanding Wrestler at the North Country Invitational hosted by St. John’s (Minn.) after winning the 133-pound weight class. He defeated the top ranked wrestler in the country, Augsburg’s Mark Matzek, in the finals (6-4) to avenge a loss to Matzek at the NWCA National Duals three weeks earlier. En route to the Championship, Saxon defeated Ridgewater Community College’s Mike Ferguson (10-7), pinned Luther’s Ben Kissling (5:56) and defeated Dakota State’s Micah Mathieson by major decision (16-5).

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