The Race of the Year

By: Mackenzie Tataryn

On Sept. 25, students gathered for Simpson University’s annual Davenport Derby, a campus tradition where residence halls team up to decorate couches on wheels and race them to the finish line.  

This year, the third floors of Thompson and Irwin celebrated the victory. The floors were led by their resident assistants, Keegan Perches and Angela Junokas. Together, the two floors prepared their couch to resemble a nest incorporating their building’s floor theme, “The Nest”. The design was intended to create a home for the university’s mascot, Reggie the Red Hawk.  

The team spent a week preparing for the race, working on the couch’s design, and taking team shopping trips to gather supplies. One of the team’s biggest advantages was its couch because it was so small and lightweight. However, the team faced a major setback when a handlebar fell off after the first race.  

“We had to secure it back before our second race and couldn’t find the right drill bit to use for the screws,” Junokas said, “But we got it back on eventually, and everything was good from there!” 

Despite the last-minute setback, the team secured the handlebar and finished the race. 

Junokas said she was surprised and excited when the team won, especially because she had mainly focused on making sure the couch simply stayed together throughout the race.  

“I was super shocked and excited when we won, I was so focused on making sure that the wheels would stay on, so actually winning didn’t really cross my mind,” Junokas said.  

Perches, on the other hand, predicted the team’s victory earlier that day. He shared his prediction during a text interview.  

“I couldn’t believe it when we won because I remember telling Noah Bryerton earlier in the day that we were going to take it all, and it really happened,” Perches said. 

Beyond the win, both RAs said the derby was a great opportunity to connect with fellow students and build community. Junokas encouraged students interested in participating next year to help wherever they can and enjoy the experience.  

“Just get as involved as you can, see where you can help out, and come for the vibes,” Junokas said. 

Perches also encouraged students to take part by highlighting the memories created during and leading up to the event.  

“I really think they should because you make amazing memories,” Perches said. 

For the third floors of Thompson and Irwin, this year’s Davenport Derby was a memorable experience. It was a chance to work together, represent their floor and ultimately celebrate a victory.