Contact: Emily Adlfinger, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

Jan. 24, 2022 – Following a successful weekend of Loras College athletic achievements, four student-athletes were honored as Athletes of the Week by the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) and College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). Women's track and field senior Kassie Parker, men's track and field sophomore Holden Murphy and No. 2 wrestling senior Zeke Smith were named Athlete of the Week honorees by the A-R-C on Monday, led by Parker collecting the Female Athlete of the Week award. Murphy was the Men's Field Performer and Smith was the Wrestler of the Week. No. 20/RV men's volleyball junior Joe Horn was recognized by the CCIW as the Defensive/Setter/Libero Player of Week.

In her first race on the track following her historic NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country National Championship title in November, Parker made a statement, winning the mile run at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Karl Schlender Invite on Saturday in 4:50.29. Her performance lowered her previous school record by eight seconds and set the nation's leading mark by more than three seconds. The Guttenberg, Iowa native also sits No. 12 on the NCAA Division III All-Time list in the event. Parker was one of 14 event winners on Saturday that helped the Duhawks win the meet with a commanding 259 points, finishing 160 points ahead of the host Warhawks. This is Parker's third-career Women's Indoor Track Performer honor.

Murphy had an impressive showing at the Karl Schlender Invite for the men's track and field team with a lifetime-best 16.12 meter toss in the weight throw, good for eighth on Loras' all-time list. He also added a fourth-place finish in the shot put, throwing 13.78 meters. The Benton, Wis. native helped the Duhawks to a second-place team finish at the meet and he is collecting his first-ever Men's Indoor Field Performer of the Week award.
Smith, ranked No. 7 in Division III, put on a dominant display at 157 lbs. at the A-R-C Duals over the weekend for the No. 2-ranked Duhawks, posting an 11-1 major decision win against Luther College's Braeden Hendel to help Loras defeat the Norse 43-4. He finished out the day when he pinned No. 3-ranked Brady Henderson from Coe at the 4:45 mark, aiding in Loras' 19-18 win against the Kohawks. The Prairie du Sac., Wis. native's performances helped the Duhawks remain undefeated on the season in dual action and improve to 4-0 in A-R-C competition. This is Smith's first career Wrestler of the Week honor.

Horn, a junior setter from Oak Lawn, Ill., helped the Duhawks to their first win of the season with a 3-0 sweep at Concordia University Wisconsin on Jan. 21. He posted a career-high four service aces, accounting for nearly half of Loras' nine aces, and led the Duhawks with 30 assists, nine digs and three blocks. This is Horn's first career Player of the Week award.

The men's volleyball team plays its first home match of the season on Tuesday, Jan. 25 against No. 4 Benedictine University at 7 P.M and the wrestling team is back in action on Thursday, Jan. 27 against Nebraska Wesleyan University at Coe College at 4:30 P.M. The track and field teams' next meet is set for Saturday, Jan. 29 at the University of Dubuque for the Sol Butler Classic.