September 22, 2003

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today the Loras College cross country runner Marcus Murphy (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny HS) and soccer player Michelle Wieser (Dubuque, Iowa/Senior HS) have been named IIAC Male and Female Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, September 21.

Murphy, a senior, finished eighth overall and second among non-Division I runners at the National Catholic Invitational hosted by the University of Notre Dame. He finished the 8,000-meter race in 25:19, 42 seconds behind the winner from Division I St. Francis (Pa.) and led the Duhawks to a fifth place finish overall (among 28 schools) and a first place finish among 18 non-Division I schools.

Wieser, a junior forward, scored four goals and added an assist in two games during the week. She scored the game winning goal in both Loras victories including a 3-2 victory over Elmhurst College, which was ranked ninth in the Central Region. Wieser had two goals and an assist in the Duhawks’ 5-0 victory over cross-town rival Clarke College. She is now two goals shy of becoming Loras’ career leader in goals scored.

The IIAC also announced on Monday its Players of the Week for the Conference’s eight sports in competition during the week. Murphy and Wieser earned the honor in their respective sports while the following individuals were recognized for their athletic performances.

Women’s Cross Country: Simpson College sophomore Jen Wendt (Bettendorf, Iowa/Pleasant Valley HS) set the Simpson 6,000-meter record finishing the Woody Greeno Invitational in 23:13, third among Division III runners. She finished the College Division race (NCAA Division II, III and NAIA) 14th overall.

Football: Simpson College sophomore wide receiver Dusty Kain (Prairie City, Iowa/PC-Monroe HS) scored all three Storm touchdowns in its 20-13 victory over defending Conference tri-Champion Coe College including the game winning score with 22 seconds remaining. Kain finished the contest with 10 receptions for 190 yards.

Women’s Golf: Buena Vista University senior Betsy Hall (Lincoln, Neb./East HS) won the Luther Invitational by five strokes with a 1-over-par 73. She also shot an 86 at the Loras Invitational, finishing eight strokes behind the medalist.

Men’s Soccer: Wartburg College junior forward Micah McMorris (St. Louis, Mo./St. Thomas Academy) scored five goals and added one assist in three games during the week. He scored two goals (including the game winner) and added an assist in the Knights’ 7-0 victory over Lincoln Christian College. McMorris also scored both Wartburg goals in a 2-2 tie with Culver-Stockton College. His final tally came in a 6-1 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Women’s Tennis: Cornell College junior Steph Froehlich (Willowbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley HS) went 4-0 during the week. She posted a 6-0, 6-1 win at #3 singles over Clarke College’s Shelley Flynn and a 6-2, 4-6, 10-4 win over Augustana (Ill.) College’s Kristen Pence at #2 singles. She also recorded a pair of 8-2 victories at #1 doubles with partner Marie Schutte.

Volleyball: Cornell College senior middle hitter Kori Sims (Kansas City, Kan./Sumner HS) averaged 3.38 kills and 0.77 blocks per game in 13 games during the week. She hit .361 with 44 kills, 14 errors and 83 total attacks in a four-game loss to Wartburg College and three-game victories over St. Ambrose University, Knox College and MacMurray College. Sims also had five service aces during the week including three against Wartburg.

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