April 25, 2005

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Coe College softball player Beth Rohlena (Sioux City, Iowa/North) and Buena Vista University baseball player Mike Soenen (Emmetsburg, Iowa/Emmetsburg) were named IIAC Female and Male Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, April 24.

Rohlena, a senior outfielder, hit .769 (10-for-13) with three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and five runs scored in four games during the week. She had four multi-hit games including two three-hit performances as Coe swept Luther and Loras. In the final three games of the week, she had a home run and three RBI in each game. All three of Rohlena’s hits in game two of the Luther doubleheader (an 11-6 win) went for extra bases including two doubles and a home run to go along with two runs scored. She also scored twice while going 3-for-3 in the second game of the Loras doubleheader (an 8-0 win).

Soenen, a senior pitcher/outfielder, hit .750 (9-for-12) with two doubles, two triples, four RBI and eight runs scored in four games during the week as the Beavers extended their win streak to five games and moved from seventh-place in the Conference standings to a tie for second. On the mound, he went 1-0 with a save and a 2.25 ERA. He went 7-for-8 with two doubles, two triples, two RBI and five runs in a doubleheader sweep of Dubuque. He picked up the save in a 4-3 victory over Dubuque, pitching one inning of perfect relief. In the doubleheader against Simpson, he went 1-for-2 in both games, scoring three times in the first game. He pitched a complete game four-hitter, striking out six and allowing just two earned runs in a 16-4 win over Simpson.

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

Men’s Golf: Loras College senior Pete Weber (Peosta, Iowa/Western Dubuque) shot a four-under-par 140 in the first 36-holes of the Iowa Conference Championship to hold a three stroke lead in the individual race heading into the final weekend of the Championship. With rounds of 71 and 69, Weber is the only golfer with two sub-par rounds.

Men’s Tennis: Central College junior Nick Cochrane (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) went 4-0 during the week with two victories at #1 singles and #1 doubles. In singles play, he defeated Grinnell’s Julian West (6-1, 6-1) and Augustana (Ill.)’s John Feehan (6-2, 7-6). Cochrane teamed with Aaron Enderlin to post an 8-4 victory over Grinnell and an 8-6 victory over Augustana in doubles play.

Women’s Track & Field: Wartburg College senior Missy Buttry (Shenandoah, Iowa/Shenandoah) provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championship in the 5000-meters and 1500-meters with her performances in those events at the Kansas Relays. She won the 5000-meters by nearly 11 seconds in a time of 17:03.68. Her second place finish in the 1500-meters in a time of 4:34.55 was just 55/100ths of a second shy of the automatic qualifying time.

Men’s Track & Field: University of Dubuque senior DeAndre Bovan (Chicago, Ill./South Shore) won two events, provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Championship in one, at Grinnell’s Dick Young Classic. He won and provisionally qualified for the NCAA’s in the triple jump with a jump of 47-6.25. He also won the long jump with a mark of 22-3.

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