Cooper, Smith named Simpson Athletes of the Month for February
INDIANOLA, Iowa – Men's gymnastics junior Jake Smith and women's track and field sophomore Emma Cooper have been selected as the Simpson Athletics Athletes of the Month for February.
Cooper reset multiple school records and earned all-conference recognition on the track, while Smith played a key role in a historic month for Simpson men's gymnastics with medal finishes and record-setting performances.
Emma Cooper, women's track and field
- Opened the month by breaking her own school record in the 60-meter dash, running a 7.77 to place second at the Darren Young Classic
- Captured two event titles at the same meet, winning the 200-meter dash (26.58) and long jump (5.22m)
- Lowered her own 60-meter record again at the Iowa Open, finishing in 7.76 seconds
- Ran the fastest 200-meter time in school history with a 25.71 performance at the Iowa Open
- Earned All-American Rivers Conference honors with a runner-up finish and school-record time of 7.70 seconds in the 60-meter dash
- Added another top-five conference finish in the long jump, recording a personal-best leap of 5.37 meters
- Led Simpson on high bar at the Nebraska Quadrangular, helping the Storm set a new program record on the event
- Posted a season-best score on floor and placed top five on vault at the same meet
- Earned three medals in Simpson's program-record team performance against Army
- Shared the high bar title with a season-high score of 12.900 against the Black Knights
- Also tied for third place on both vault and floor in the meet
- Helped Simpson secure its first win over an NCAA opponent in program history
- Named ECAC Co-Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 17
2025-26 Female Athletes of the Month
September: Morgan Denbeste, volleyball
October: Elle Street, soccer
November: Audrey Bramlett, swimming
December: Maddax DeVault, basketball
January: Keeley Kehrli, wrestling
February: Emma Cooper, track and field
2025-26 Male Athletes of the Month
September: James Johnson, cross country
October: Noah Noland, football
November: Tanner Philpott, football
December: Trey Kellow, wrestling
January: Cam Henderson, basketball
February: Jake Smith, gymnastics
