November 25, 2003

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Luther College basketball player Jenny Laursen (Sac City, Iowa/Sac Community HS) and Simpson College wrestler Clint Manny (Peru, Iowa/Winterset HS) were named IIAC Female and Male Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, November 23.

Laursen, a senior guard, led Luther to two victories at its season opening Tip-Off Classic. She averaged 17.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in victories over St. Olaf College (52-43) and Nebraska Wesleyan College (63-54). She shot 50 percent from the floor (10-of-20), 60 percent from three-point land (6-of-10) and 81.8 percent from the free throw line (9-of-11). Against St. Olaf, Laursen scored 13 points, grabbed three rebounds (1-2) and had one assist. In the Nebraska Wesleyan contest, she scored 22 points, had three rebounds (1-2) and handed out four assists.

Manny, a junior, recorded five pins in five matches at 149-pounds. In a 46-3 Simpson victory over Cornell College, he pinned Mike Jahn at 2:45. He pinned the University of Dubuque’s Sean Feeley at 3:50 in the Storm’s 37-12 victory. At the Central College Duals, Manny pinned Missouri Baptist College’s Charles Michael at 5:25 (Simpson won 25-16), University of Minnesota-Morris’ Lucas Schakmer at 0:39 (Simpson won 48-4), and Millikin College’s Rob Roots at 3:07 (Simpson won 29-12).

The IIAC also announced its Players of the Week for the Conference’s five sports in competition during the week. Laursen and Manny received the weekly honors for women’s basketball and wrestling, while the following individuals were recognized for their athletic performances.

Men’s Basketball: Luther College junior guard Brandon Grimm (Manchester, Iowa/West Delaware HS) scored 16 points in the Norse’s 59-55 victory over Gustavus Adolphus College. Gustavus Adolphus was the 2003 National runner-up and ranked as high as #2 in preseason polls. Grimm shot 7-of-13 from the floor (53.8 percent) including 2-of-2 from behind the arc. He also added four rebounds (2-2) and three assists in the victory.

Women’s Swimming & Diving: Simpson College senior Dana Kuiken (Fairfield, Iowa/Fairfield HS) won two events and finished second in two events in Simpson’s dual meet against Loras College. She won the 100-yard freestyle (1:04.20) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:18.83) while finishing second in the 200-yard freestyle (2:25.91) and the 200-yard medley relay (2:24.67).

Men’s Swimming & Diving: Coe College senior Dustin Briggs (Jefferson, Iowa/Jefferson-Scranton HS) won three events at Coe’s dual meet against Buena Vista University. He was victorious in the 200-yard freestyle (1:58.26), 100-yard butterfly (1:01.50) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:40.24).

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