September 15, 2003

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Buena Vista University football player Eric Wiebers (Denison, Iowa/Denison-Schleswig HS) and Wartburg College cross country runner Missy Buttry (Shenandoah, Iowa/Shenandoah HS) were named IIAC Male and Female Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, September 14.

Wiebers, a sophomore quarterback, led Buena Vista to a 37-34 opening weekend victory over Gustavus Adolphus in two overtimes. Wiebers completed 21-of-34 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns. Two of his four touchdown passes (17-yards and 14-yards) came in overtime. He also rushed for one touchdown.

Buttry, a junior, won the Iowa State Open finishing the 5,000-meter race in 17:12. She won by 1:20 over second place runner, Sarah Arens of the University of Iowa in the 52-runner field. Buttry’s time is the second fastest in Wartburg history and the race marked her seventh straight individual victory.

The IIAC also announced its Players of the Week in the Conference’s eight sports in competition during the week. Wiebers and Buttry earned the weekly honor in football and women’s cross country while the following individuals were recognized for their athletic performances.

Men’s Cross Country: Wartburg College junior Josh Moen (Fairbank, Iowa/Wapsie Valley HS) finished second at the Iowa State Open in a time of 25:27. He finished 10 seconds behind a Division I unattached runner in the 98-runner field. Moen’s time was the eighth-best time in school history.

Women’s Golf: Buena Vista University senior Betsy Hall (Lincoln, Neb./East HS) won the 85-golfer Wartburg Invitational with a 36-hole score of 158. She shot an opening round 77 and final round 81, winning the Tournament by two strokes.

Women’s Soccer: Loras College junior forward Michelle Wieser (Dubuque, Iowa/Senior HS) scored three goals and added six assists in three games during the week. She set a school record with five assists in a 7-1 victory over Aurora University on Sunday. She also tallied two goals in a 3-0 win over St. Xavier College and a goal and an assist in a 5-0 victory over University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Men’s Soccer: Loras College junior midfielder Nick Sullivan (Waukee, Iowa/Dowling HS) scored three goals and added an assist in three games during the week. He scored both goals in the Duhawks 2-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. After being held scoreless in a 1-0 loss to the University of Chicago, Sullivan scored a goal and an assist in a 7-0 victory over Aurora University.

Women’s Tennis: Luther College senior Miriam Blom-Skrade (Neenah, Wis./Neenah HS) finished second at #1 singles and won #2 doubles with partner Lindsay Hagen at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse Invitational. Blom-Skrade lost the tie-breaker in the Championship match to LaCrosse’s Angie Reidel (0-6, 7-5, 6-7 (3)). In doubles, Blom-Skrade/Hagen recorded 8-1, 8-0 and 8-3 victories en route to the Championship.

Volleyball: Simpson College junior middle hitter/outside hitter Shannon Stewart (Urbandale, Iowa/Urbandale HS) was named MVP of the Wartburg Invitational after hitting .493 (84 kills-11 errors-148 total attacks) in four Tournament matches. Simpson won its first in-season tournament since 2000. In five matches during the week, Stewart averaged 4.80 kills, 2.20 blocks and hit .497 in 20 games.

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