Central Enters Men’s Outdoor Track Rating Index

The Central College men’s track and field team leapfrogged into the third week of the USTFCCCA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Team Rating Index, coming in at No. 18

Placement in the index is reflective of the best NCAA Division III individual marks and times. Central has five individuals in the top 20 of an event and four others in the top 50. High jumper Sam Beatty is number three nationally and teammate Drake Lewis is tenth in the same event . Long jumper Brock Lewis is fourth in the long jump. Discus thrower Theo Baldus is ninth in the discus throw. 

Central is one of four teams from the American Rivers Conference to crack the top-25, and they are also ranked No. 4 in the Central Region. Central men’s track and field competes at the Statesmen Invitational in Oskaloosa Friday starting at 10 a.m.

12 Central Players Gain National Football Academic Honors—Most in Iowa

Twelve Central College seniors were added to the school’s state-leading number of National Football Foundation Hampshire Society members Wednesday. The Hampshire Society, in its 16th year, recognizes senior football players who are starters or significant reserves and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher.

The Dutch have 131 honorees in the past 14 years, the most in Iowa. It’s the sixth time Central has placed 11 or more players on the honor team. Central’s 12 honorees rank 12th among NCAA Division III schools and are the most of any Iowa college or university. Heading Central’s list is quarterback Blaine Hawkins, the Gagliardi Trophy recipient as Division III’s outstanding player and a consensus all-America pick. Hawkins graduated with a 3.61 grade point average while majoring in economics and business management. The seniors selected helped lead Central to its 32nd conference championship, a perfect 10-0 regular season, and the program’s 22nd NCAA Division III playoff berth. The Dutch advanced to the national quarterfinals and finished with a 12-1 mark.

The Hampshire Honor Society is a component of the National Football Foundation’s efforts to promote combined athletic and academic success. 

Central’s 2021-22 honorees:

Name	Position	GPA	Major
Thomas Adolph	DL	3.65	Engineering
Brayden Egli	DB	3.53	Elementary education
Ty England	OL	3.26	Exercise science
Blaine Hawkins	QB	3.61	Economics/business management
Cade Humphries	LB	3.37	Accounting/business finance
Josh Kuiper	OL	3.91	Engineering
Joshua Mayhew	OL	3.41	Social science
Drew Smith	LB	3.71	Political science/sociology
Reid Taylor	LB	3.33	Exercise science/pre-health
Hayden Vroom	WR	3.54	Elementary education
Cody Wonderlich	DL	3.26	Business management
J.R. Zeitler	LB	3.63	Elementary education