April 4, 2005

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Loras College track and field performer Ellyn Thys (Victor, Iowa/HLV) and Loras golfer Pete Weber (Peosta, Iowa/Western Dubuque) were named IIAC Female and Male Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, April 3.

Thys, a freshman, provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in two events and recorded four top-six finishes at the Central Invitational. She won and provisionally qualified in the javelin (133-3.5) and discus (141-11.75). She won the discus by over six feet and the javelin by over three feet. Thys also finished fourth in the shot put (38-11.5) and sixth in the hammer throw (131-2).

Weber, a senior, finished in the top-2 of two tournaments during the week. He won the Loras Invitational on Saturday and Sunday by two strokes with a 36-hole scored of 139 (69-70). Weber tied for second at the Central Dutch Classic on Monday and Tuesday with a 36-hole score of 150 (77-73), finishing five strokes behind the medalist. The Duhawks tied for fourth (of 20 teams) in their own tournament and finished eighth (of 14) at the Central Classic.

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

Baseball: Luther College senior first baseman/pitcher Brad Paulsrud (DeSoto, Wis./DeSoto) hit .421 (8-for-19) with three doubles, a home run, six RBI and six runs scored in six games during the week. He also won his only appearance on the mound during the week. Offensively, he had at least one hit in each game including two multi-hit contests (2-for-4 vs. Clarke and 2-for3 vs. St. Mary’s (Minn.)). He drove in at least one run and scored at least one run in five of six games including a two-RBI, two-run scored performance against Clarke. On the mound, he struck out 10 batters, walked just two in a 5-3 win over Clarke.

Softball: Coe College junior outfielder Ashley Wagner (Lansing, Iowa/Kee) hit .368 (7-for-19) with a double, two home runs, five RBI and seven runs scored in six games. She went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in an 8-1 victory over Augustana (Ill.) and 2-for-3 with two runs scored in an 8-1 win over Clarke. Wagner also had two RBI in a 7-5 win over Central and scored two runs in a 10-1 win over Clarke.

Men’s Tennis: Luther College senior Christian Klein (Excelsior, Minn./Minnetonka) went 3-1 during the week including 2-0 in singles play and 1-1 in doubles. At #2 singles, he posted a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Mark Hallstrom Bethel (Minn.). At #3 singles, Klein posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over Blair Madsen of St. Thomas (Minn.), the 10th ranked team in the Central region. Klein, and partner Matt Olson, defeated Bethel (8-1) at #2 doubles, and lost at the same position to St. Thomas (8-6).

Men’s Track & Field: Loras College senior John Reilly (Marshalltown, Iowa/East Marshall) provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in two events at the Central Invitational. He won the shot put with a throw of 54-2 and finished second in the discus with a throw of 159-4.75.

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