Swimming sweeps conference performer of the week awards

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Jay Ceperley and Kate Minette of the Simpson College swimming and diving teams both won the American Rivers Conference Performer of the Week awards.

Minette, who was also named the overall A-R-C Female Athlete of the Week, is earning her third career weekly conference honor after being involved in breaking three school records at the Pioneer Classic this past weekend. "Kate always has a blast with her teammates and loves to compete", said head coach Adam Cvetich. "At the end of the day she's having fun with friends, but is also a true competitor who is going to close it out more often than not."

Ceperley is picking up his second career weekly award, setting a season or career-best in three individual events over the weekend. "I'm really excited and proud for Jay to earn this recognition," said Cvetich. "He is an athlete that puts in the work day in and day out and is hungry to keep getting faster."

Kate Minette, Junior

• Lowered her own school record in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 24.52 on the first day of the Pioneer Classic, placing third out of 51 swimmers.
• Also broke her own record in the 100 yard freestyle the next day, clocking a time of 54.16 to take third place again in a field of 44 swimmers.
• Anchored the 400 yard freestyle relay team that broke the previous school record in a time of 3:46.37.
• Recorded a top 10 finish in the 100 yard individual medley with a time of 1:06.05, breaking her career-best by over five seconds.
• Anchored the 200 yard freestyle relay team that was .01 seconds off another school record, swimming the fastest 50 yard relay split of her career in 23.99.

Jay Ceperley, Junior

• Swam a season or career-best in three individual events, while also helping four Storm relay teams to season-bests.
• Clocked a season-best 23.09 in the 50 yard freestyle on the opening day of the Pioneer Classic.
• Swam an opening leg of 23.02 in the 200 yard freestyle relay, one of the fastest splits of his career.
• Set career bests in the 100 yard freestyle (50.02) and 200 yard freestyle (1:50.44), recording a top 10 finish in each event.
• Clocked a 50.85 on his leg of the 400 yard freestyle relay, helping the Storm to swim a time of 3:41.30 that beat the previous season-best by almost 15 seconds.

2023-24 A-R-C PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOREES
Jay Ceperley, Men's Swimming and Diving (12/4/23)
Kate Minette, Women's Swimming and Diving (12/4/23*)
Haley Rasmussen, Women's Basketball (11/27/23*)
Cassie Nash, Women's Soccer (9/5/23, 10/10/23, 10/30/23, 11/6/23)
Mason Little, Football (10/23/23)
Ronaldo Ordaz, Men's Soccer (9/18/23, 10/10/23, 10/16/23)
CJ Hangartner, Football (10/2/23)
Jordyn Foelske, Women's Soccer (9/25/23)
Lani Mears, Women's Soccer (9/18/23)
Spencer Moon, Men's Cross Country (9/5/23, 9/11/23)
Julia Wagoner, Women's Soccer (9/11/23)
*also named A-R-C Athlete of the Week