DUBUQUE, Iowa — Oct. 20, 2026 — Five University of Dubuque student-athletes earned American Rivers Conference athlete-of-the-week honors on Oct. 19, 2026, spanning football, volleyball, and men’s soccer, the university announced.

Quarterback Joey Rhomberg of Mount Vernon, Iowa, took football offensive athlete of the week after leading the Spartans to a 56-27 road win over the Simpson College Storm. Rhomberg accounted for seven touchdowns — six through the air and one on the ground — completing 22 of 34 pass attempts for 276 yards while rushing eight times for 45 yards. It was his second consecutive weekly honor and the fourth of his career.

Mike Westbrooks of Northfield, Ohio, earned football defensive athlete of the week for his performance in the same victory over Simpson. Westbrooks made nine total tackles, five solo and four assisted, and spent much of the afternoon in the Storm backfield with two sacks for 11 yards, three tackles for loss totaling 17 yards, and two quarterback hurries. The honor is the first conference athlete-of-the-week award of his career.

On the volleyball court, Taylor Bechen of Ankeny, Iowa, and Chloe Reiser of Decorah, Iowa, swept the defensive and offensive honors, respectively. Bechen anchored the Spartan defense through two five-set victories over Nebraska Wesleyan University and Buena Vista University, totaling 58 digs for the week — 31 against the Beavers and 27 against the Prairie Wolves — while adding four service aces. It is her fourth defensive player-of-the-week honor this year and the 14th of her career.

Reiser powered the Spartan offense in the same two wins, recording 36 kills on 98 attempts. She posted a career-high 21 kills against the Prairie Wolves on Oct. 17, adding two service aces and 21 digs across the two matches. The award is her first career volleyball athlete-of-the-week honor.

Luka Tomic earned the men’s soccer defensive player-of-the-week award, rounding out the five honorees. The conference announcement named Tomic without publishing a detailed stat line in the portion of the release reviewed; those specifics were pending as of Oct. 20, 2026.

The five awards cap a strong weekend across Dubuque athletics, highlighted by the football team’s road rout of Simpson and the volleyball team’s pair of five-set conference victories.

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