JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Illinois College men's track and field's
Melvin Hodge and softball's
Jordan Closs have been named the recipients of the William J. Downer and Doris B. Hopper Awards for the 2025-26 athletic year, as 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 at IC.
Hodge, a senior from Moro, Ill., was a first-team All-American in the hammer throw after finishing seventh at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Earlier in the year, he earned second-team All-American accolades after placing 10th in the weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Hodge was named the Midwest Conference's Outstanding Field Performer at the league's indoor meet and won the conference title in both the weight throw (indoor) and hammer throw (outdoor). In addition to his conference accolades, he earned All-Region in both the indoor and outdoor seasons while establishing school records in the weight throw (18.75 meters - 61' 10 ¼") and hammer throw (60.60 meters - 198' 10"). He was also a four-time Midwest Conference Field Performer of the Week selection.
Closs, a senior from Niantic, Ill., who also won the award last year, becomes the fifth female and 10th IC athlete overall to be honored multiple times. She is the reigning two-time Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Year and was a first-team All-Region selection for the second consecutive season. Twice this season, Closs was named the Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Week and led the league in ERA (1.75), innings (138.1), victories (15), and was second in opposing batting average (.204). Her 15 wins this season established a single-season school record, and her 112 strikeouts are the sixth-best season total in school history. Closs concluded her Lady Blues' career with the lowest all-time ERA (1.67), while also ranking fourth in strikeouts (264) and fifth in victories (27). She won the championship game of the Midwest Conference Tournament, sending IC to the NCAA Regionals.
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