Sports 2004: A good year for the Storm

by Ben Frotscher

This year was full of outstanding Storm athletic moments – some for teams, some for individuals. Here are a few of the shining moments and a few of the heartbreakers.

Feb. 7

Senior Dana Kuiken finished first for Simpson’s swimming team in the 100 freestyle and the 100 and 200 breastroke at the Iowa Conference Championships.

Feb. 14

The Simpson men’s basketball team pulled out a double-overtime road win at Buena Vista 112-111. Six Simpson and five Beaver players hit double digits for points in the game.

Feb. 27

Junior Ross Parker finished second in the Iowa Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in the shot put. Parker earned All-Conference honors, along with a second-place finish in the shot put at the Iowa Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May.

Mar. 12

Senior Dana Kuiken finished in a tie for 10th at the NCAA Championships in the 100 breastroke.

May 1

The Simpson men’s golf team finished third at the Iowa Conference Championships, and finished in the top three for the second time in three years.

The Simpson softball team finished its season with a pair of tough losses to Central. The Storm finished just one game away from sharing an Iowa Conference Championship, but ended up with an overall record of 33-7.

May 16

The Simpson baseball team won the Iowa Conference Tournament over top-seeded Wartburg, 10-7 in 10 innings. It was Simpson’s first conference tournament championship since 1994. The win also qualified the team for its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance.

Sept. 4

Senior Nick Bowerman placed first in the Central Invitational to start the men’s cross country season off on the right foot. He also began a very successful senior season. Bowerman placed in the top-seven of six of the Storm’s seven meets.

Sept. 11

Volleyball coach Lana Smith became the second coach in Simpson’s history to reach 100 wins when the Storm defeated St. Mary’s (Minn.), 3-1.

Oct. 1

Senior Shannon Stewart became the fifth player in Simpson’s history to record at least 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs as a member of the Simpson volleyball team. Stewart ended her career with 1,360 kills and 1,165 digs.

Oct. 9

The Simpson women’s golf team finished the regular season in second place at the Iowa Conference Tournament. The Storm placed either first or second in all nine of its meets this season with the team taking first four times and second five times. Senior

Janelle Claiborne finished first individually at the Iowa Conference Tournament with a four-day total of 315.

Oct. 23

The Simpson football team hit the high point of its 2004 season, handing Buena Vista its first conference loss of the season, 17-7.

Nov. 13

The Storm football team ended the season with a disappointing loss at home to Luther, 38-24. The team ended the season on a three-game losing streak. The loss to Luther marked the team’s fourth loss at home, something that hadn’t happened since 1986.