March 21, 2005

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Coe College softball player Amy Ernst (Monona, Iowa/MFL MarMac) and University of Dubuque baseball player Joe Hapanionek (Hanover Park, Ill./Hanover Park) were named IIAC Female and Male Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 20.

Ernst, a senior pitcher, has posted a 9-0 record with 1 save through 12 games this season as the Kohawks are off to their best start in school history). In 10 games (7 starts), she has pitched 47 innings, allowed just 13 hits and no runs, and struck out 72 batters while walking just seven. Ernst recorded three victories over ranked opponents - #4 Muskingum (2-0), #11 Cortland State (2-1 in relief) and #20 Methodist (8-0). She pitched three or more innings in nine of 10 appearances and allowed more than two hits just twice (3 vs. Baldwin-Wallace in 5 innings and 4 vs. Muskingum in 7 innings).

Hapanionek, a senior first baseman/pitcher, has hit .514 (19-for-37) with five home runs, 18 RBI and 13 runs scored through 10 games. In the season opener against Concordia (Mich.) on February 28, he went 4-for-4 with six RBI (in a 14-12 victory) and also went 4-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI against Neumann on March 1 (10-2 victory). Hapanionek went 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored in a 10-5 victory over Thiel on March 19. He also registered two saves in perfect innings of relief against Concordia and Neumann.

The IIAC also announced on Monday the Performers of the Week for in six Conference sports in competition during the week. Ernst and Hapanionek were recognized in softball and baseball, while the following individuals were recognized for their athletic performances.

Men’s Golf: Coe College senior Josh Ketter (Parker, Colo./Chaparral) finished second at the Millikin Spring Opener with a 36-hole score of one-over-par 145 (77-68), losing in a playoff. His second round 68 matched his own school record for the lowest round.

Men’s Tennis: Coe College sophomore Ryan Yao (Naperville, Ill./Nequa Valley) posted a 4-0 record during the week with two victories at #1 singles, one at #2 doubles and one at #3 doubles. In singles, he defeated St. Norbert’s Aaron Sunday, the 45th ranked player in the nation and 11th ranked player in the Central Region (6-4, 6-3). Yao also recorded a singles victory over Grinnell’s Julian West (6-0, 6-0). In doubles, Yao and partner Jake Michael defeated Grinnell (8-4) at #3 doubles and St. Norbert (8-1) at #2 doubles.

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field: Simpson College sophomore Caroline Capper (Washington, Iowa/Washington) had three top-10 finishes at the Florida State Relays. She finished third in the Garnet hammer with a school record throw of 148-2, breaking the old school mark by nearly 12 feet. She also placed second in the Garnet javelin (117-11) and placed eighth in the Garnet shot put (38-2.75).

Men’s Outdoor Track & Field: Simpson College senior Matt Albert (Dublin, Ohio/Logan) had five top-15 finishes at the Florida State Relays including third-place finishes in the Garnet 110-meter hurdles (14.82) and Garnet 400-meter hurdles (54.14). His 110-meter hurdle time is an NCAA provisional qualifying time and was the fourth fastest time in school history. Albert also ran in three Gold events – the 4x100 relay (8th, 45.29), the 4x400 relay (10th, 3:21.40) and the 110-meter hurdles (12th, 16.04).

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