Watkins named IIAC Performer of the Week

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Simpson senior Wardell Watkins began the 2010 indoor track season on the right foot, earning Iowa Conference Performer of the Week honors after winning the long jump and triple jump at the season-opening Wartburg Relays on Jan. 15 in Waverly.

Watkins, a 2006 graduate of Northwest High School in Olathe, Kan., posted a winning effort of 42-3 1/4 in the triple jump, and his winning leap of 21-7 1/2 bettered the field by 10 1/4 inches.

Other Outstanding Weekly Performers
The IIAC also recognized the following outstanding athletic performances from the past week.

Women's Basketball – Sophomore center Stacey Schutjer (Titonka, Iowa/Woden-Crystal Lake-Titonka) notched her second double-double in three games with a 23-point, 10-rebound, 3-block effort in an 80-73 win over Coe Jan. 16. Schutjer enters the week third in the league in scoring (16.9 ppg) and is the league leader in blocked shots with 33.

Wrestling – Senior 157-/165-pounder Wade Dowling (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) went 7-2 during the week, including a 6-2 mark en route to a season-best-tying fourth-place finish at the Central Invitational. After dropping a 4-2 decision to Zac Holland of Augustana (Ill.) early in the day, Dowling battled through the wrestlebacks, eventually avenging his defeat to Holland with an 11-3 major decision in the consolation semifinals before falling to Wartburg's Keelan Moore in the third-place match.