2012-13 Student-Athletes of the Month

September, 2012

Jennifer Gaffney, golf
A senior from Grimes, Iowa, Gaffney recorded the lowest round ever by a Simpson golfer at the Iowa Conference Championship in the first round on Friday, Sept. 28. She used four birdies to shoot an even-par 72 on the day, just one stroke away from tying the conference record. Gaffney led the Storm with an 83.7 average on the year and earned Iowa Conference Golfer of the Week honors Sept. 2 after winning the Buena Vista Fall Invitational.

Brad Vogel, football
A junior receiver from Donnellson, Iowa, Vogel closed the month as the nation’s third-leading receiver in yards per game (131) while also ranking third in all-purpose yards per game (236.5). Through four games he caught 23 passes for 524 yards and seven touchdowns, crossing the goal line in every contest. He was named Iowa Conference Player of the Week on Sept. 23 after making five catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Eureka. He also returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, the second longest kickoff return in school history and first since 2008. In a win over Wartburg, Vogel caught seven passes for 202 yards, becoming the fourth player in Simpson history to surpass 200 yards receiving in a game.

October 2012

Megan Petersen, soccer
A senior goalkeeper from Indianola, Iowa, Petersen closed her career ranked second in school history in saves (314) and shoutouts (18) and third in wins (31) and goals against average (1.24). She had arguably the best season of her career in 2012, turning in six clean sheets and allowing only 1.16 goals per game. In the final home game of her career, Petersen put on a show by making 16 saves against nationally-ranked Loras, coming within one of tying a school record and single-handedly keeping Simpson in contention for an upset.

Mark Lahart, soccer
A senior midfielder from Newton, Iowa, Lahart enjoyed the best season of his career in 2012 and had one of his best months in October. He finished the season with seven goals and nine assists, more than he had in his previous three seasons combined. He led the team in assists (4) and tied for the team lead in goals (4) in Ocotober as Simpson went 5-4-1, ending the season 13-8-1, the program's best record since 2002. He closed his career with 17 assists, tied for fifth in school history.

November 2012

Kara Lovik, soccer
A senior defender from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Lovik earned first team all-conference honors in 2012, the second all-conference selection of her career after earning second team honors in 2011. She served as the top defender on the team the past two seasons, helping goalkeeper Megan Petersen take home first team all-conference honors on two occasions. Despite playing in the back row, Lovik distributed two assists on the season.

Taylor Rogers, football
A senior wide receiver from South Sioux City, Neb., earned first team all-conference honors for the second time in his career after setting career highs with 68 catches for 956 yards to go along with 10 touchdowns in 2012. He closed his career with 31 touchdown catches, the most in school history. He also ranks third all-time in receiving yards (2,481) and receptions (184).

December 2012

Kate Nielsen, basketball
A senior forward from Urbandale, Iowa (Johnston HS), Nielsen dominated the competition during the month of December, averaging a double-double with more than 21 points and 12 rebounds in four games. She scored a career-high 35 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a narrow 62-60 loss to No. 7 Amherst at the Land of Magic Classic in Daytona Beach on Dec. 28. Her 35 points tied for the fifth-most in Simpson history and were the most since 1996. Through the end of the month, she had already been named IIAC Athlete and Women's Basketball Player of the Week twice.

Charles Swain, basketball
A sophomore shooting guard from Austin, Texas (Summit Christian Academy), Swain led Simpson in scoring in six games during the month, averaging better than 15 points per game. His average shot up significantly after breaking out for a career-high 31 points in a 91-86 loss at Whitman on Dec. 20. His scoring performance was the most by a Simpson player since 2010. He went on to earn IIAC Athlete and Men's Basketball Player of the Week honors for the period ending Sunday, Dec. 23.

January 2013

Nicole Crisp, basketball
Crisp, a senior from Shiprock, N.M. averaged 10.3 points per game as the Storm went 9-0 and improved to 19-1 on the year. The off-guard reached double figures in five of Simpson's nine games, including a game-high 15 points in a win over Buena Vista. Through 20 games, Crisp nearly doubled her scoring average from a year ago, averaging 10.3 points per game compared to 5.5 in 2011-12.

Kyle McKim, swimming
McKim, a freshman from Boone, Iowa, set five school records in January, including the 200 breaststroke (twice), 100 breaststroke, 800 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay. In all, he won six events in dual competition in wins over Coe and Iowa Lakes. McKim earned Iowa Conference Swimmer of the Week honors for the period ending Sunday, Jan. 13 after winning the 100 and 200 breaststroke, the 200 IM and helping the Storm to a win in the 400 freestyle relay against Coe.

February 2013

Kelsie Reeves, basketball
Reeves, a senior from Des Moines, Iowa, was named Second Team All-Iowa Conference for the Storm, who won the league title for a sixth straight season and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Reeves earned IIAC co-Player of the Week honors for the period ending Sunday, Feb. 24 after scoringa career-high 24 points in Simpson's win over Dubuque in the IIAC Tournament Championship game. She averaged 11.7 points and 2.31 assists per game during the month.

Joe Farrand, track & field
Farrand, a sophomore from Kansas City, Mo., won the 3,000- and 5,000-meter run at the 2013 Iowa Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships on his way to Most Valuable Track Performer honors. He also earned IIAC Track Performer of the Week honors for his efforts, as he became Simpson's first track & field MVP since 1997. He helped Simpson to a fifth-place finish in the meet and a No. 9 ranking in the region.

March 2013

Chelsea Winegard, softball
Winegard, a senior outfielder from Muscatine, Iowa, hit .435 with 15 RBIs as the Storm went 15-3 during the month. She had nine multi-hit games and posted a team-best 12-game hitting streak. The left-hander posted a team-high .726 slugging percentage thanks to two home runs, four doubles and four triples.

Tyler Craig, baseball
Criag, a junior first baseman from Urbandale, Iowa, hit .488 and posted a 1.000 slugging percentage in 10 games during the month. He had 11 extra-base hits, including three home runs, two doubles and two triples. The left-hander drove in a team-high 15 runs and hit safely in 9 of 10 games. He was named Iowa Conference Position Player of the Week for the period ending March 10.

April 2013

Ashley Prettyman, softball
A sophomore outfielder from Des Moines, Iowa (East), Prettyman hit a team-high .340 with 10 RBIs and 14 games for the Storm during the month. She reached safely in 10 games and closed the month on a six-game hitting streak. Prettyman earned Iowa Conference Position Player of the Week honors for the period ending April 28 after hitting for the cycle in a win over Wartburg.

John Cord, track & field
A senior multi-athlete from Atlantic, Iowa, Cord posted the No. 9 score in Division III when he placed third in the decathlon at the Kansas Relays with 6,151 points. It was his first ever decathlon and Cord earned Iowa Conference Field Performer of the Week honors for the period ending April 21 because of the effort. He also took first in two events during the month, winning the javelin throw and the long jump at the Cornell Invitational.

May 2013

Bayley Fleshner, track & field
A sophomore hurdler/sprinter from Rockwell, Iowa, Fleshner earned all-conference honors in two events at the Iowa Conference Outdoor Championships. She took third in the 100 hurdles and ran the opening leg of Simpson's third-place 4x100-meter relay team. She also won the 100 hurdles at the Monmouth Fighting Scot Invitational earlier in the month.

Brett Crable, baseball
A junior outfielder from Phoneix, Ariz., Crable earned first team all-conference honors at the end of the season. He finished the season hitting a team-best .363 to go along with 22 RBIs and six outfield assists. Crable was at his best at the end of the season, hitting .417 with three doubles as the Storm went 5-3 in May and won two games at the Iowa Conference Tournament.