February 28, 2005

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Wartburg College track and field performers Josh Hauser (Union, Iowa/BCLUW) and Missy Buttry (Shenandoah, Iowa/Shenandoah) were named IIAC Male and Female Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, February 27.

Hauser, a junior, was named Iowa Conference Indoor Track and Field Most Valuable Performer with four top-three finishes. He won the 200-meter dash, breaking his own Conference record with a time of 22.22 seconds, and ran the lead-off leg of the winning 4x200 relay (1:30.56). He also placed third in the 400-meter dash (50.20) and the long jump (21-11.75) leading the Knights to a share of their third straight Conference Championship.

Buttry, a senior, was named Iowa Conference Indoor Track and Field Most Valuable Performer for the second time in three years. She won the 800-meter run (2:15.96) and the mile run (4:46.06), and ran the anchor leg of the winning distance medley relay (11:51.61, a Conference record) leading the Knights’ to their third straight Conference Championship.

The IIAC also announced on Monday its performers of the week in five Conference sports in competition. Hauser and Buttry received the weekly honor for men’s and women’s track and field, while the following individuals were recognized for their weekly performances.

Men’s Basketball: Buena Vista University senior forward Randy Bissen (Earling, Iowa/Harlan) averaged 17.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game during the Conference Tournament, leading the Beavers to their fourth straight Tournament title. In a 103-80 quarterfinal victory over Central, he scored 24 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and had five steals, two blocks and two assists. He had double-doubles in the semifinals and finals, scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds against Luther, and scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the Championship game against Wartburg. In the 77-62 win over Luther, Bissen also had two assists and one steal. In the 79-68 win over Wartburg, he had four assists.

Women’s Basketball: Simpson College junior center Sarah Pearson (Mechanicsville, Iowa/North Cedar) averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game during the Conference Tournament, leading the Storm to their first Tournament title since 2000. In a 73-67 quarterfinal victory over Central, she scored 17 points, grabbed six rebounds and had one steal. She scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and had two blocks, an assist and a steal in a 70-67 victory over Luther in the semifinals. In the Championship game against Wartburg (69-62), Pearson scored 11 points, grabbed four rebounds, and had one assist and one steal.

Men’s Tennis: Coe College sophomore Ryan Yao (Naperville, Ill./Nequa Valley) went 4-2 during the week with his losses coming against Division I Creighton. At #1-singles he defeated Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Todd Miller (6-2, 6-0) and Wheaton (Ill.)’s Joe Williams (6-2, 6-3). He took Creighton’s Tom McCarthy to three sets before suffering the loss (6-4, 4-6, 6-10). Yao, and doubles partner Jake Michael defeated Oshkosh, 8-1, and Wheaton, 8-5. The duo lost 8-6 to Creighton.

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