Downard earns conference player of the week honor

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Drake Downard of the Simpson College men's tennis team was named the American Rivers Conference Men's Tennis Player of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday.

Despite the Storm's loss to St. Ambrose last week, Downard continued to be a standout for the team in his sophomore season. The local Indianola product is receiving his first career player of the week award.

Downard and partner Ethan Humble won their doubles match at the No. 3 spot against St. Ambrose, giving the duo its sixth straight win in the dual season.

Downard then won his singles match at the No. 6 spot in straight sets. After the win, Downard has won three singles matches in a row and sports a 5-2 record in dual match singles play.

The Storm are off until the last week of March, when the Storm open A-R-C play with the first spring home match of the year against Buena Vista on Mar. 29.

2022-23 A-R-C Player of the Week honorees
Drake Downard, Men's Tennis (3/13/23)
Easton Dunwoody, Baseball (3/6/23)
Spencer Moon, Men's Track and Field (2/27/23*)
Cassie Nash, Women's Basketball (2/13/23, 2/6/23*)
Jay Ceperley, Men's Swimming (2/6/23)
Kate Minette, Women's Swimming (1/16/23, 12/5/22)
Cassie Nash, Women's Soccer (10/31/22, 10/24/22*, 10/17/22, 9/12/22)
Lani Mears, Women's Soccer (10/31/22)
J Jensen III, Football (10/31/22)
Ronaldo Ordaz, Men's Soccer (10/24/22)
Ricardo Ibarra, Men's Soccer (9/26/22)
Mateaus Lewis, Men's Soccer (9/26/22)
Andrew Klein, Men's Cross Country (9/12/22)
Jessica Jacobs, Volleyball (9/6/22)
*also named Athlete of the Week