Central Men’s Golf Team Claws Back to Third in Own Tourney
Slashing 12 shots off its first-round score, the Central College men’s golf team climbed back to a third-place finish at its Central Fall Classic Tuesday.
After opening in seventh in the 13-team meet, the Dutch closed at 323-311—634 on the par-72 Finkbine Golf Course. Nebraska Wesleyan University had one of its best fall showings to win with 302-304—606 while St. Ambrose University followed at 315-309—624. Buena Vista University was fourth at 321-319—640.
Harold Dobernecker made the biggest move for the Dutch, regaining his footing to tie for 10th individually at 83-74–157. Cole McGriff shot 80-78—158, Lucas Wendel had 77-81—158, Jacob Moffett had 83-79—162 and Kyle Gabos shot 85-80—165. Central’s second unit, the White team, finished sixth at 329-316—645. Freshman Blake Wynn posted an 83-77—160, tying Kayden Pendergrass who shot 80-80—160.
Central closes the fall season next Monday and Tuesday at the 36-hole Grand View Invitational at the par-72 Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny. The Dutch were fifth in a nine-team field at the meet last year of primarily NAIA schools.
Central Kicker Sunvold on Fred Mitchell Award Watch List
Central College football kicker Logan Sunvold was one of 29 kickers nationwide named to the Fred Mitchell Award September Watch List Tuesday.
Kickers from all non-Division I FBS schools are eligible for the award based on athletic performance and community service. This year’s list includes eight kickers from Division III schools and eight other juniors.
Sunvold is 5-for-6 on field goal attempts this season, hitting three in the same game against St. Olaf College (Minn.) in the opener. He had a season-long effort of 43 yards against the Oles. He’s 21-for-22 on extra point attempts this season. In 2021, Sunvold was named to the D3football.Com All-Region 5 second team and was a first team All-American Rivers Conference pick. He has been the league’s special teams player of the week five times in three seasons.
Sunvold has helped run a free youth football camp in Pella and worked with local youth kickers in the summer. He has volunteered at the Dutch football team’s food stand during Pella’s Tulip Time Festival. He also assisted in cleaning up debris after a tornado damaged a teammate’s family home in March of 2022.
The Dutch (3-1, 1-1 American Rivers Conference) host Wartburg College Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff in Pella.
Dutch Steady in Regional Cross Country Rankings
The Central College men’s and women’s cross country teams were unmoved in the USTFCCCA Division III regional rankings this week.
The Dutch women stayed at No. 5 in the Midwest Region while the men are No. 6. American Rivers foe Wartburg College is No. 1 in both polls followed by North Central College (Ill.) in the men’s rankings and the University of Chicago in the women’s rankings. The Dutch are the third American Rivers Conference school in both rankings, behind Loras College who is No. 4 in each.
Central swept the Aurora Invitational in Geneva, Illinois last weekend as both teams were team champions in fields of 15 squads. Central’s next race is October 15 at the Augustana InterRegional Invitational in Rock Island, Illinois.
More Votes in National Soccer Poll for Central Women
Adding nine more votes to its total, the Central College women’s soccer team remains on the receiving votes list after the latest edition of the D3soccer.com top-25 poll was released Tuesday.
In the fifth edition of the rankings, Central (6-2-2) received 15 total votes with six teams closer to cracking the top-25 poll. Central has only played one other team cited in the poll so far, earning a 1-1 road draw at Hope College (Mich.) who is also receiving votes. Around the American Rivers Conference, Wartburg College (10-0-1) is No. 9 and Loras College (7-0-3) is No. 18.
Central is unbeaten in its last six matches, winning five and drawing once on the road. Central travels to No. 9 Wartburg Wednesday for a 5 p.m. match.
Two Dutch Student-Athletes Earn Latinos Unidos of Iowa Scholarships
Central College women’s tennis player Jenna Hernandez and wrestler Julian Rodriguez were honored at the Latinos Unidos of Iowa Academic Scholarship Awards Ceremony over the weekend.
Latinos Unidos of Iowa raises resources from individuals, leverages them against business, government and non-profit partners in order to invest them in Latino leaders and organizations via scholarships and small grants. The Bright Futures ceremony was held on Central’s campus on Saturday, October 1.
Hernandez and Rodriguez were on a list of 22 students from Iowa colleges and universities to be recognized with a merit-based scholarship.
Hernandez, who holds a 3.75 GPA as a biochemistry major, is 4-4 in singles so far this tennis season and 3-6 in doubles play. She was an academic all-conference selection in 2021 and an Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete for the 2020-21 academic year.
Rodriguez has a 3.83 GPA as a computer science and Spanish double major. Rodriguez was 4-9 on the mat as a junior, earning his first varsity letter. He’s also a two-time academic all-conference honoree.