December 6, 2004

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Wartburg College wrestler Dustin Hinschberger (Belle Plaine, Iowa/Belle Plaine) and Simpson College basketball player Ashley Bogaards (Pella, Iowa/Pella) were named IIAC Male and Female Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, December 5.

Hinschberger, a junior ranked #1 nationally at 141-pounds, went 6-0 during the week with three falls and a major decision. In an Iowa Conference dual against Loras, he pinned Mike Ressler at 6:34 as the Knights extended their Conference dual win streak to 88 straight. As the third-seed, Hinschberger won the 141-pound weight class at the University of Northern Iowa Open with three victories over Division I wrestlers and two victories over Division II wrestlers. He pinned Division I Eastern Illinois’ Dexter Johnson (at 1:01) and Division II Upper Iowa’s Kevin Burkle (at 3:15) in his first two matches. In the quarterfinals, Hinschberger won by decision over Division II Nebraska-Omaha’s Eli Dominguez (11-7) and in the semifinals, he defeated Division I Illinois’ Cassio Pero (4-3). Hinschberger won by major decision in the finals, defeating Illinois’ Michael Martin (10-0), a 2003 NCAA Division I national qualifier.

Bogaards, a senior forward, averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.3 assists per game in three Storm victories during the week. She shot 38.2 percent (13-of-34) from the floor and 89.5 percent (17-of-19) from the free throw line in victories over Central (58-56), Carroll (82-63) and Webster (92-86). In the Conference-opener against Central, she scored eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds (1-9). Bogaards was named Most Valuable Player of the Webster Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament leading the Storm to the Championship while averaging 17.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, shooting 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from the floor and connecting on all 13 free throw attempts. Against Carroll, she scored 14 points, had six rebounds (3-3) and three steals. She scored a season-high 21 points, tied a career-high with six assists to go along with six rebounds (4-2) and four steals in the Championship game against Webster.

The IIAC also announced on Monday that University of Dubuque sophomore forward Nick Thomas (Blackville, S.C./Blackville-Hilda) was named IIAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Thomas averaged 30.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game in two contests during the week. He shot 42.9 percent (18-of-42) from the floor including 57.9 percent (11-of-19) on three pointers, and he shot 87.5 percent (14-of-16) from the free throw line in a loss to Loras (84-74) and a victory over Calumet (83-66). In the Conference-opener against Loras, Thomas scored 23 points on 7-of-18 shooting (4-of-8 behind the arc). He scored 38 points on 11-of-24 shooting (7-of-11 behind the arc) against Calumet to go along with three rebounds, three steals and two assists.

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