JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Illinois College men's track and field's
Dylan Doss and softball's
Jordan Closs have been named the recipients of the William J. Downer and the Doris B. Hopper Awards for the 2024-25 athletic year, it was announced by the IC athletics department today.
Beginning in 1967, Illinois College began awarding the William J. Downer Award, which recognizes the outstanding male student-athlete of the year at IC. It was established by Robert "Bob" Edward Downer '64 and James "Jim" Mitchell Downer '66 in honor of their father.
In 1978, IC added the Doris B. Hopper Award, which recognizes IC's outstanding female student-athlete of the year. It was established by Dean Doris Broehl Hopper '41, who played a pivotal role in developing the women's intercollegiate athletic program.
Doss is a sophomore from Sterling, Ill., who was a standout during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Indoors, he finished fourth in the nation in the 200 meters to earn first-team All-America honors. He was named All-Region in four events by the USTFCCCA (60m, 200m, 400m, and long jump) and was the Midwest Conference Indoor Track Athlete of the Year after winning individual conference titles in the 200 and 400 meters as well as the long jump. Doss was also a part of two league championship relay teams (4x200 and 4x400 meters). He set three individual school records and two facility records.
During the outdoor season, Doss placed eighth in the nation in the long jump to garner first-team All-American accolades and was 13th in the 100 meters, thus earning second-team All-American distinction. As he did in the indoor season, Doss was named All-Region in four events (100m, 200m, 400m, and long jump). He won conference titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter events and was a member of the 4x100-meter relay team that won the league title. He set three school records and one facility record throughout the season.
Closs is a junior from Niantic, Ill., who had a stellar season in her first campaign on the Hilltop after transferring from the University of St. Francis. She was named first-team All-Region 9 by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and was both the Midwest Conference Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year. A five-time Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Week honoree, Closs posted a scoreless innings streak of 55 2/3, which ranks eighth all-time in NCAA Division III history and was the longest in the division since 2011.
In addition to her honors, Closs authored the first two perfect games in Lady Blues' softball history while leading the conference in ERA, strikeouts, wins, batting average against, innings pitched, and strikeouts looking.Â
