February 23, 2004

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Loras College track and field performer Megan Medinger (Camanche, Iowa/Camanche HS) and Simpson College wrestler Dustin Brewer (Kansas City, Mo./Oak Park HS) were named IIAC Female and Male Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, February 22.

Medinger, a senior, provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championship in the shot put and the weight throw with her performances at the University of Iowa Open. She won the shot put with a throw of 44-2½ and she finished second in the weight throw with a mark of 47-11¼.

Brewer, a sophomore, was named the Dick Walker Outstanding Wrestler of the Iowa Conference Championship. As the second-seed at 125-pounds, Brewer pinned top-seeded and nationally fourth-ranked Justin McClintock of Wartburg at 3:47 in the Championship match. Brewer entered the Conference meet ranked seventh nationally. En route to the Championship, he also pinned Central’s Adam Ohnemus (0:22, fastest pin of Championship) and defeated Coe’s Sean Pearl by technical fall (16-0, 4:09).

The IIAC also announced on Monday its Players of the Week in the Conference’s six sports in competition during the week. Medinger and Brewer received the weekly honor in women’s track and wrestling, while the following individuals were recognized for their weekly performances.

Women’s Basketball: Buena Vista University senior forward Amy Meggers (Manilla, Iowa/I-K-M HS) averaged 22.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in two games during the week. She shot 60.7 percent from the floor (17-of-28), including 60 percent from three-point range (3-of-5) in victories over Luther (81-53) and Upper Iowa (74-70). She scored 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting (60 percent) to go along with eight rebounds (2-6), two steals, an assist and a blocked shot against Luther. Meggers scored 23 points in 19 minutes against Upper Iowa on 8-of-13 shooting (61.5 percent) including 3-of-4 from behind the arc. She also had six rebounds (2-4), an assist and a blocked shot.

Men’s Basketball: Central College senior guard/forward Scott Veldhuizen (Eddyville, Iowa/Eddyville-Blakesburg HS) averaged 30.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 2.0 steals and 1.5 assists in two games during the week. He shot 54.1 percent from the floor (20-of-37) including 10-of-14 (71.4 percent) from three-point range in a loss to Coe (72-66) and a victory over Cornell (99-90). Against Coe, he scored 23 points, grabbed eight rebounds (1-7), and had four blocked shots, three steals and three assists. He shot 50 percent from the field (8-of-16) and from behind the arc (3-of-6). In 34 minutes against Cornell, he scored 37 points on 12-of-21 shooting and connected on 7-of-8 three-pointers. He scored 24 first half points and surpassed the 30 point mark for the second time this season. Veldhuizen also grabbed eight rebounds (2-6), and had a steal and a block.

Men’s Tennis: Coe College senior Nick Barnes (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington HS) improved to 16-0 on the season with six victories during the week including two over Division I competition and two over regionally ranked competition. In singles play, he defeated Division I Creighton’s Kevin Otto (6-2, 7-5), Wisconsin-LaCrosse’s Drew Polleck (6-2, 6-2) and Carthage’s Dane Schmidgall (6-4, 6-4). Schmidgall is ranked seventh in the region. In doubles play with partner Adam Elliott, Barnes defeated Creighton’s Otto/Vince Meens (8-5), Wisconsin-LaCrosse’s Polleck/Jon Palmer (8-4) and Carthage’s Schmidgall/Brad Livingston (8-6). Schmidgall and Livingston are ranked eighth in the region.

Men’s Track & Field: Cornell College senior Ean Caskey (North English, Iowa/English Valleys HS) provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships 800-meter run with his first place finish in the predominately Division I field at the UNI-Dome Open. Caskey ran a time of 1:54.81, currently the 10th fastest time in Division III this year.

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