Senior women’s swimmer Ibby Simcox has been named Missouri State’s winter recipient of the 2015-16 State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award, the league announced on Tuesday. The award was created by The Valley in an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes.
A captain on the Bears’ 2015-16 women’s swim team, Simcox concluded her MSU career at the Missouri Valley Conference Swimming and Diving Championship from Feb. 17-20 by earning her fourth selection to the all-conference team. A two-time All-MVC First Team and two-time Honorable Mention selection, Simcox earned fifth in the 200-yard butterfly for a final podium appearance at the 2016 MVC meet. She also placed ninth and 11th overall in the 100 fly and 500 freestyle, respectively.
Previously, Simcox earned career-best finishes of third at the conference championship in the 200 fly as a junior and the 100 fly as a freshman. As a junior, Simcox earned a gold medal as a member of MSU’s 200 medley relay team. She is also a member of the Bears’ 800 free relay record-holding squad that earned a silver medal at the 2015 MVC Championship.
The Blue Springs, Missouri, native holds a 3.72 grade point average and is an international business major with a minor in Spanish. Simcox has been named to the Dean’s List five times, been a recipient of the provost scholarship on four occasions, is a four-time Maroon & White Scholar Athlete, a two-time MVC Scholar Athlete and has been on the Missouri State Athletic Director’s Honor Roll each of the last seven semesters.
Simcox has been active out of the pool throughout her time enrolled at MSU. She is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She also has worked as a volunteer for Healthy Heroes, the Boys and Girls Club and Bears Read!.
In order to be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must be in good academic standing, must demonstrate good citizenship through good sportsmanship and significant community service, and must participate in a sport, during the season of recognition. The Valley will recognize 10 student-athletes three times annually (fall, winter, spring), for a total of 30 honorees. Institutions select their State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award honorees.
Previous Missouri State winners of the MVC Leadership and Service Award are:
Fall 2007 – Carrie Vestal, Sr., women’s cross country
Winter 2007-08 – Amy Crowder, Sr., women’s swimming & diving
Spring 2008 – Chris Playter, Jr., baseball
Fall 2008 – David Arkin, So., football
Winter 2008-09 – Roxy Stiles, Jr., women’s basketball
Spring 2009 – Jen Carr, Sr., softball
Fall 2009 – Terry Phillips, So., women’s cross country
Winter 2009-10 – Will Creekmore, Jr., men’s basketball
Spring 2010 – Scott Glenn, Jr., men’s golf
Fall 2010 – Heath Melugin, Jr., men’s soccer
Winter 2010-11 – Rene Smith, Sr., women’s swimming & diving
Spring 2011 – Emily Matthews, Jr., women’s golf
Fall 2011 – Ashlee Mason, So., volleyball
Winter 2011-12 – Christiana Shorter, Jr., women’s basketball
Spring 2012 – Emily Beaver, Jr., women’s track/cross country
Fall 2012 – Chelsea Voet, Sr., women’s soccer
Winter 2012-13 – Jared Roberts, Jr., men’s swimming & diving
Spring 2013 – Kimsue Grant, Sr., track & field
Fall 2013 – Caleb Schaffitzel, Jr., football
Winter 2013-14 – Bryonna Snow, Sr., women’s basketball
Spring 2014 – Eric Straub, Sr., men’s golf
Fall 2014 – Leah Reitmayer, Jr., field hockey
Winter 2014-15 – Tyler McCullough, So., men’s basketball
Spring 2015 – Ali Trickey, Sr., softball
Fall 2015 – Tenaly Smith, Sr., cross country
Swimming news courtesy of MSU Swimming & Diving.
