Freshman Marin Thorson of St. Ansgar High School became North Iowa Area Community College’s first-ever individual national champion in track and field, winning the women’s discus event Saturday at the NJCAA Outdoor Nationals at South Plains College.

Thorson, a three-time state champion while in high school, had her best toss of the year, 157 feet, 4 inches and needed every bit of it, edging the 157-3 toss by Kelsey Poljansek of Cowley County Community College. Thorson had been seeded behind Poljansek in the national rankings before Saturday’s competition.

Sophomore Ronnisha Hall of Pahokee, FL and Pahokee High School finished off an illustrious career at NIACC by placing fifth in the women’s javelin with a school-record toss of 125-6. Central Arizona’s Ashton McGuire won the event with a throw of 132-10. Hall competed in four events at nationals, placing third in the hammer throw on Friday with a personal-best toss of 154-2 and also participating in the shot put and discus over the weekend. For her two-year career – indoor and outdoor track combined – she was a top-10 finisher six times, placing third three times.

Freshman Kacy Nehowig (Paynesville, MN/HS) finished 14^th in Saturday’s 5,000-meter women’s race. She was clocked in 19 minutes, 39.93 seconds on Saturday. She was 11^th in the 1,500 – sixth among Americans – and earned NJCAA USA Coaches Association All-American honors (top six Americans). Overall, NIACC (coached by Curtis Vais) finished 11^th as a team with a total of 20 points as Central Arizona (131 points) edged the host school (124) for team honors.

In the men’s competition, sophomore Jordan Anderson of Mason City High finished 10^th on Saturday in the 5,000, running a 15:30.37. On Thursday, he had placed sixth in the 10,000, having moved up a spot in the official standings and earning All-American honors. He earned NJCAA USA Coaches Association All-American honors in the 5,000 as well.

NIACC athletes in other sports had much to celebrate as well:

Smith, a two-year starter, hit .469 with 21 doubles, 10 homers and 66 runs batted in. He’s nationally ranked among NJCAA Division II hitters in batting average and RBI statistics and his 21 doubles set a school record. Last weekend, Smith closed out the 2008 campaign by going 11-for-17 with two homers and nine RBI in three games as the Trojans played in the Region XI tournament in Mason City. His 6-for-7 performance (including a homer and six RBI) helped NIACC defeat eventual Region XI champion Des Moines Area Community College 15-14 on May 10 and he had two hits each in the Trojans’ other two contests. He finished the regular season as the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference’s top hitter, tied for the ICCAC lead in triples, was second in doubles and third in RBI.

Lee, who prepped at Mason City High School and earned All-State honors three times, finished the season with a .387 batting average, including a team-high 11 homers and 55 RBI. He added 14 doubles and stole 17 bases this spring. He ranked among the ICCAC leaders in homers and RBI and led the conference by getting hit-by-pitch 15 times. At the Region XI tournament, he homered in games against DMACC and Southeastern Community College and drove in four runs overall. Lee was ICCAC Scholar Athlete of the Week after going 5-for-10 with three homers against DMACC earlier this spring. The lefty will play Division-I baseball at South Dakota State University beginning this fall.

Younis hit .374 with 10 homers, 58 RBI and 14 doubles. He saved his best for last in 2008, hitting three homers (including a grand slam) and driving in nine runs during a 14-13 loss to Ellsworth Community College May 11 in regionals. In his team’s final 16 games, he produced 25 RBI and hit eight homers. NIACC, under head coach Todd Rima, finished third during the regular season in the ICCAC, winning 12 of 20 conference contests. The Trojans were ranked 13^th in the pre-season by Collegiate Baseball publications and were nationally ranked in the NJCAA polls for much of the season as they finished 36-16 overall.

Bauer hit .448 with 54 hits, 11 doubles, three triples and 25 RBI. She earned Athlete of the Week honors in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference after hitting over .400 during her team's 10-2 spring trip in Cocoa, FL. She was also named NIACC's Female Athlete of the Year.

Rewind for May 12

Rewind for April 28

A trio of national qualifiers in two sports and a heavy dose of games and meets highlighted NIACC’s athletic schedule this past week.

On Saturday in Okoboji, women’s golfers Brittany O’Brien (Elgin/Valley) and Kayli Jones (Garner/Garner-Hayfield) earned top-10 finishes at the two-day Region XI meet, qualifying for the NJCAA women’s golf championships in Daytona Beach next month. O’Brien had a two-round score of 174, shooting an 80 on Friday to put her in a tie for second after the first day of play. Jones carded a combined score of 181 to earn her second national berth in two years. She was the 10^th and final individual to earn a trip to nationals. Des Moines Area Community College shot a team score of 680 to earn the lone team berth from the region. NIACC was fourth with a team score of 747.

On Tuesday, O’Brien shot an 87 for 18 holes as the Trojans played at the same course in Okoboji in the Iowa Lakes Community College Invitational and finished fifth as a team. The men played in Okoboji also, with Steve Wyborny (Rockford/RR-MR) leading NIACC with a 73 for 18 holes to help NIACC’s men place fifth out of nine teams. Greg Engels (Rockford/RR-MR) shot a 76 to support Wyborny’s season-best effort in a meet full of ICCAC schools. Kirkwood Community College had a team score of 294 to win the meet, edging Iowa Lakes (297); NIACC had a team score of 311.

Other NIACC athletic teams had busy schedules last week, none busier than the softball team, which is in the midst of five double headers in five days. The Trojans’ best effort occurred last Wednesday as NIACC won its second consecutive home double header, beating Ellsworth Community College 12-5 and 12-4 as Leah Mork (Dewitt/Central Dewitt) and Andrea Aguilar (Victoria, TX/Memorial) both had three hits and drove in four runs. That gave the Trojans three out of four wins in games played on consecutive days against the Panthers. On Tuesday, NIACC had beaten Ellsworth 11-2 and lost 7-2 in a double header played in Iowa Falls. Aguilar picked up all three wins on the mound for NIACC.

On Tuesday, Fjelstad and Molly Niedert (Sumner/Sumner-Fredricksburg) each doubled and homered, Aguilar homered and Traci Lerch (Dewitt/Central Dewitt) tripled twice as NIACC took game one from Ellsworth. A seven-run seventh inning broke open a close game as the Trojans had 14 hits in all. Although NIACC lost the second game on Tuesday, Allyson Gross (Titonka/WCLT) and Fjelstad had two hits apiece. On Saturday and Sunday, NIACC lost twin bills to Kirkwood (10-0 and 13-3) and Muscatine Community College (6-5, 14-2). In Sunday’s opener, Neidert produced a grand slam to give the Trojans a 5-1 first-inning lead and nearly upended the third-ranked team in the nation before falling in the final inning. Fjelstad had four hits in the double header for head coach Tyler Sisco’s team, which is now 16-18 overall. NIACC plays 3:30 p.m. home double headers Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday against Kirkwood, Iowa Central Community College and Marshalltown Community College respectively.

In baseball, NIACC moved to 28-12 overall, 12-8 in conference play by winning four of six games last week. Last Monday in Cedar Rapids, Danny Mousel (Sioux City/Heelan) totaled three homers and drove in nine runs as NIACC swept host Kirkwood 13-11 and 10-8 in a double header. Mousel’s grand slam in the opener helped Bryce Howard (Centerville, UT/West) pick up a victory in relief and Pete Sullivan (Waterloo/Columbus) earned the save. Sullivan then earned the win in game two and Zack Welter (Cedar Falls/HS) notched the save as NIACC rallied with nine runs in the final two innings after trailing 5-1 midway through the contest.

Over the weekend, NIACC won three of four contests with visiting Ellsworth after having a pair of non-conference double headers rained out last Wednesday and Thursday. On Saturday, the Trojans took game one 12-10 and lost the nightcap 8-1 at Roosevelt Field. NIACC scored five runs in the third frame of Saturday’s opener, getting two-run doubles (and three RBI in all) from Lee and Andy Beck (New Albin/Kee). In the fifth frame, NIACC tallied six runs to help Chuck Lukanen (Apple Valley, MN/Eastview) earn his sixth victory of the spring. Sullivan earned his second save of the week after Ellsworth made a late comeback. Beck led NIACC with three hits. Tony Younis (Fuerth, Germany) and Welter hit homers as the Trojans made the most of nine hits. In game two on Saturday, NIACC had just three hits, two by Dean Molitor (Carroll/Kuemper).

On Sunday, head coach Todd Rima’s team won 5-4 in eight innings and finished the weekend by overcoming a 7-0 deficit to win 9-8. In game one, Sullivan picked up another win in relief while Younis’ RBI double drove in Mousel with the winning run. In game two, Mousel hit his second grand slam of the week and added a solo homer and Lee scored the winning run after a mad scramble around home plate in the bottom of the seventh after Ellsworth had tied the game 8-8 in the top of the inning. Welter picked up the win in relief, helping his own cause by blooping a single that scored Lee. NIACC plays a 2 p.m. non-conference home double header against Marshalltown on Thursday. On Saturday and Sunday in Estherville, NIACC plays Iowa Lakes as it prepares for the Region XI playoffs in Mason City.

In track and field, most of NIACC’s program competed at the Loras College Open in Dubuque Saturday while men’s long distance standout Jordan Anderson (Mason City/HS) ran last Thursday night at the nationally-renowned Penn Relays in Philadelphia, PA. Anderson placed ninth in the college division 5,000-meter race with a time of 14 minutes, 36.89 seconds, the fourth fastest time among NJCAA runners this season and more than 13 seconds better than his clocking at the NJCAA indoor national meet.

At Loras, women’s long distance runner Kacy Nehowig (Paynesville, MN/HS) finished fourth in the women's 5,000 and qualified for the NJCAA outdoor track and field nationals to highlight the team’s efforts last Saturday. Nehowig ran her race in 19 minutes, 05.50 seconds as the Trojans had numerous top-5 finishes in the women's competition. Becky Dahn (Lake Mills/HS) placed second in the 400 in a time of 1:02.57 and finished fourth in the 200 with a 27-second clocking. Allie Millonig (St. Ansgar/HS) ran a 12.93 to place second in the 100 and teammate DeAubrey Johnson (St. Paul, MN/Central) was fifth in 13.30. Millonig and Johnson were among those who combined to help NIACC earn a first-place finish in the 400 relay, running the race in 52.32. Emily Mujica (Mason City/HS) also ran well for NIACC, finishing eighth in 2:30.68 in the 800.

In the discus, Ronnisha Hall (Pahokee, FL/HS) and Marin Thorson (St. Ansgar/HS) finished fourth and fifth respectively, both posting season-best numbers. Hall's toss of 148 feet, 7 inches is second best among NJCAA competitors. Thorson's 148-2 is third in the NJCAA. Hall placed seventh in the javelin and threw the hammer 139-8 to place ninth. In the men's competition, Ashton Smith (Moscow Mills, MO/Buchanan) was NIACC's top finisher, placing fourth in the 200 (22.50) and sixth in the 100 in 11.33 seconds after running an 11.21 in qualifying heats.

Rewind for April 21

Marin Thorson (St. Ansgar/HS) set a school record with a toss of 147 feet, 11 inches to finish second in the discus as the North Iowa Area Community College women's track and field team placed sixth at the Dick Young Classic at Grinnell College last Saturday. Thorson's throw is second on the NJCAA performance lists this season.

Another thrower for the Trojans, Ronnisha Hall (Pahokee, FL/HS) placed fourth in the javelin throw (111-5) and the hammer throw (148-7) and was sixth in the shot put (39-6 3/4). In the 400-meter race, Becky Dahn (Lake Mills/HS) ran a 1:01.29 to finish fifth while Allie Millonig (St. Ansgar/HS) was eighth in the 100 (13.31) and in the 200 (27.53). NIACC's 400 relay team was sixth with a 52.74 clocking while the 3,200 relay team placed fifth in 10:32.22. NIACC finished with 38 team points. Nebraska Wesleyan (176.5 points) won the team competition while Simpson College was second (156.3).

In the men's competition, NIACC placed 12th in the team competition as Nebraska Wesleyan (201 points) was the team champion. Juan Rodriguez of Bogota, Colombia, placed fourth in the 10,000 with a 33:44.69 clocking while Jordan Anderson (Mason City/HS) was fifth in the 1,500 in a time of 4:05.39. Head coach Curtis Vais’ program travels to Dubuque on Saturday to compete in a meet at Loras College.

In softball, NIACC dropped a pair of games to Iowa Lakes Community College last Wednesday, but recovered to post a 3-2 and 7-4 wins over Southwestern Community College on Sunday in Mason City. Andrea Aguilar (Victoria, TX/Memorial) picked up both victories on the mound for the Trojans, now 13-13 overall. Nicole Sternat (Fredricksburgh/Sumner-Fredricksburg) hit a solo homer for the winning margin and first baseman Molly Niedert (Sumner/Sumner-Fredricksburg) had two hits in game one and threw out the potential tying run in the seventh inning to close out game one. Aguilar drove in a run in the opener and Whitney Bauer (Dewitt/Central Dewitt) doubled in another. Niedert’s pair of run-scoring singles keyed the victory in game two and Bauer and Traci Lerch (Dewitt/Central Dewitt) added two hits apiece to pace an 11-hit team effort. Niedert’s RBI single and Bauer’s RBI triple keyed a three-run first inning for the Trojans. The visitors scored four runs in the top of the second to take a 4-3 lead, but in the bottom of the inning, Bauer tied the game 4-4 with a double and Laura Fjelstad (Lake Mills/HS) singled her in to put NIACC ahead 5-4. Aguilar took control from there and won her second game of the day (and eighth overall) by tossing five consecutive scoreless frames to finish off SWCC. Lerch’s run-scoring single in the fifth inning and Neidert’s RBI single in the sixth brought home NIACC’s final two runs in the second contest.

In golf, Greg Engels (Rockford/RR-MR) shot a 36-hole score of 165 to lead the NIACC men's golf team to a 10th-place finish at the Community 1st Credit Union Spring Invitational last Saturday at Ottumwa Country Club.

The host school - Indian Hills Community College Maroon team - won the meet with a team score of 584 (four golfers count in the scoring). Steven McGlynn shot a 141 for 36 holes for medalist honors. The Trojans finished with a score of 693. Rounding out the NIACC scorers were Jason Urdahl (Mason City/Newman Catholic), who had a 168, Jim Dingeman (Pella/HS), who carded a 174 and Elliott Sheriff (Rockwell/Rockwell-Swaledale), who scored a 190. Engels had the best 18-hole score for the Trojans with an 81 and he finished with an 84 on his second 18 holes. Urdahl had an 83 on his second round of 18 holes on Saturday. The two-day meet was condensed into one day due to inclement weather.

On Tuesday, Chris Frenz’ program - both the men and women - will travel to Okoboji to compete against Iowa Lakes at Brooks National Golf Course. From Thursday through Saturday, NIACC’s women play again at Brooks National, this time at the Region XI meet.

Rewind for April 14

Rescheduled games, baseball’s home opener and 13 softball recruits start off this week’s NIACC Rewind.

NIACC baseball and softball will add to their busy schedule over the next few weeks because of bad weather. This week, the softball team had to reschedule home games with Iowa Central, Muscatine and Kirkwood. The baseball team had to postpone one game with Iowa Central, and rescheduled a road series with Southwestern. Both teams have yet to play home games this season.

NIACC’s golf meet with Marshalltown Community College was cancelled, and the track meet at Cornell Community College was delayed one day from Saturday to Sunday.

The baseball team, ranked 11^th by the first Ringor NJCAA Division II baseball poll of the season, finally played their first home games of the season against 7^th ranked Iowa Central on Sunday, splitting the two games 7-5 and 2-16. Jason Hunt’s solo homer in the fourth sparked a five run fourth. NIACC took momentum in the top of the fourth off of a bases loaded double play to end the Tritons scoring threat. Chuck Lukanen struck out five Tritons in the game.

Game two was a different story, as errors plagued the Trojans into the 16-2 defeat. Iowa Central reached base off of eight his and five errors in the first two innings and scored seven more in the fifth to end the game early. NIACC scored its two runs off a hit by pitch in the third and a past ball in the fourth.

Earlier in the week, NIACC traveled to Centerville to play Indian Hills Community College on April 7, coming out with the sweep of the Falcons. Outfielder John Lee had three hits in and four RBI in the sweep, and the team collectively reached base 33 times on 18 hits, 10 walks and five Falcon errors in the two games. The Trojans collected 11 hits in game one and used a three run sixth inning to take the lead by the final margin of 7-6.

NIACC put the second game away early, scoring eight in the first inning, and drawing six walks from the Falcons starting pitcher. The Trojans capped off the night by scoring four in the sixth and adding one more in the seventh to take game two, 13-3.

In softball, 13 recruits have signed national letters of intent to play for the Trojans in the 2009 season. Highlighting the signings was Laci Pustina of Highland, Wisconsin, who struck out 13 batters in the state finals two years ago as a sophomore. Last week, Pustina threw a no hitter. NIACC softball also signed 10 local recruits and two more Wisconsin players, adding up to six more all-conference players and an honorable mention All-State player in Brooke Manhahl of Hudson, Iowa. The full list of recruits can be seen on the NIACC softball website.

On the diamond, the softball team slipped to 11-9 overall and 1-7 in the ICCAC after 13-0 and 8-0 losses at Iowa Lakes. The team struggled to get the bats going, getting only three hits on the night.

The NIACC Track and Field teams traveled to Cornell College on Sunday to participate in the Cornell Invite, where the women’s team won five events and the men’s team had numerous top five finishes, both leading to fourth place finishes. Allie Millonig and Ronnisha Hall both won two events during the meet, Millonig winning the 100 and 200 meter dashes and Hall winning the shot put and the javelin. Marin Thorson won the discus throw. The men were led by Ashton Smith, who finished second in the 200 meter dash and third in the 100 meter dash, and Spenser Rahm, who finished second in the hammer throw, third in the discus, and fifth in the shot put.

NIACC golf had one result, as Kayli Jones led the Trojans women’s golf team with a two-day score of 189 at the Grand View College Classic in Fort Dodge. The women’s team shot a team score of 790 to finish ninth out of 11 at the meet. Dakota Wesleyan won the women’s event with a score 666. The NIACC men shot 670 to take 14^th out of 16 at the same event. Greg Engels and Justin Abell both recorded 166 strokes to lead the Trojans with 66^th place finishes individually. Grand View took the meet with a score of 590.

Rewind for April 6

The North Iowa Area Community College head football coach Scott Strohmeier resigned this past week after compiling a 16-14 record and earning two Graphic Edge Bowl bids during his three years at the school. Strohmeier’s teams finished in the top 11 in total offense during the past two seasons and three players – Anton Cullom, Ben Alford and Lorenzo Brown – earned All-American status. A national search for a new head coach has already begun, said NIACC athletic director Dan Mason.

In golf, NIACC participated in the Grand View College Viking Classic, which began Sunday and finishes today in Ft. Dodge. On Thursday, head coach Chris Frenz’ program plays at Marshalltown Community College. On Sunday, NIACC travels to Iowa Central for a meet at the Ft. Dodge Country Club.

Rewind for March 31

In baseball, pitcher Chuck Lukanen (Apple Valley, MN/Eastview) was honored as Athlete of the Week for his efforts during the week of March 19-25 by the conference. He tossed a two-hit shutout against Southeastern Community College on March 22 in Burlington, fanning five during a 3-0 victory. Over the weekend, NIACC split four games at Des Moines Area Community College. John Lee (Mason City/HS) homered and drove in six runs as NIACC beat the Bears 14-3 to complete a sweep of an ICCAC double header on Sunday.

Lee’s big game made a winner of Riley Tincher (Oregon, WI/HS), who scattered eight hits in a five-inning complete game to move to 4-0 overall. Dean Molitor (Carroll/Kuemper) had three hits and Lee and Tony Younis of Fuerth, Germany added two hits apiece for the Trojans, who moved to 15-5, 5-3 in ICCAC play. NIACC gave Tincher all the runs he’d need with seven runs in the top of the second inning.

In game one, Lee smacked a pair of solo homers and NIACC beat DMACC 9-4, with Austin Denny (Johnston/HS) raising his record to 4-0 on the season with an eight-hit, seven-inning complete game. Younis added three runs batted in on two hits, Erik Smith (Pisgah/West Harrison) had two doubles and the Trojans broke open a close game with a five-run flurry in the top of the sixth inning.

Sunday’s sweep helped head coach Todd Rima’s team regroup after DMACC swept NIACC 17-5 and 11-1 on Saturday. Australian Brent Young had two hits for NIACC in the opener as Lukanen (3-1) took the loss. Molitor and Younis produced two hits each in the nightcap. NIACC is scheduled to play host to Indian Hills Community College on Thursday in non-conference action.

In golf, NIACC traveled to Council Bluffs for the Reiver Spring Classic, hosted by Iowa Western Community College, on Sunday, finishing sixth in both the women and men’s team standings. Individually, Brittany O’Brien of Elgin carded a 90 for 18 holes to finish in a tie for 11^th in the women’s meet and Jason Urdahl (Mason City/Newman Catholic) shot an 81 for team honors in the men’s competition. On Saturday and Sunday, NIACC plays in the Grand View College Viking Classic in Ft. Dodge.

Rewind for March 24

This week, along with results of NIACC spring sports and notes on how current athletes have gained recognition, there are numerous updates on how former NIACC students are faring at four-year schools.

Due to inclement weather, NIACC’s softball team had their away double header with the William Penn University junior varsity cancelled. The Trojans will play a double header Wednesday in Ft. Dodge against Iowa Central Community College. Meanwhile, a track and field meet NIACC was to have participated in today – the Loras Open in Dubuque – was cancelled as well. Head coach Curtis Vais’ program runs in a meet at Coe College, the Kohawk Open, on Saturday in Cedar Rapids. Meanwhile, the NIACC men’s and women’s golf teams will begin play later this month. The Trojans will travel to Council Bluffs for the Reiver Spring Classic, hosted by Iowa Western Community College, on March 30.

One team did find a dry date to play its games last week, however. NIACC’s baseball team managed to get four games in against Iowa Community College Athletic Conference foe Southeastern Community College in Burlington last Friday and Saturday and won three contests to move to 13-3 overall.

On Friday, Chuck Lukanen (Apple Valley, MN/Eastview) tossed a two-hit shutout against the host Blackhawks in an 8-0 game one victory as the Trojans put the game away with four runs in the top of the second inning. Lukanen is now 3-0 this spring. Erik Smith (Pisgah/West Harrison) produced three hits, including a pair of doubles, and drove in four runs to pace the offense. In game two, Russ Jiskra (Hudson, WI/HS) threw well but lost a 1-0 decision as NIACC managed just three hits, two by Andy Beck (New Albin/Kee)

On Saturday, NIACC pitchers continued to throw effectively during a 6-3, 6-1 double header sweep against Southeastern. Austin Denny (Johnston/HS) also moved to 3-0 overall, getting help from three relievers in the opener. Zack Welter (Cedar Falls/HS) earned his fourth save to complete the four-hitter and John Lee (Mason City/HS) had two hits, including a double for NIACC’s offense. In the second game, Riley Tincher (Oregon, WI/HS) moved to 3-0 as he and two others combined on a six-hitter. Meanwhile, Beck produced three hits, Welter had a pair of RBI and the Trojans broke a 1-all tie with four runs in the top of the fourth inning. NIACC travels to Marshalltown Community College on Thursday for a non-conference double header beginning at 2 p.m. The Trojans are scheduled to host Des Moines Area Community College in double headers on Saturday and Sunday.

Here are the other pieces of news involving NIACC athletics, along with alumni updates:

-In track and field, Colombian native Juan Rodriguez was honored with NJCAA U.S. Coaches Association Academic All-American honors – he has bettered the 3.4 grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) thus far in his collegiate career while performing as a distance runner for the Trojans. Meanwhile, 2007 grad Zach Bales-Henry is now on the Drake University men’s track and field roster after earning All-American honors for NIACC.

-In men’s basketball, Justin Redman-Trotter of Eastern New Mexico University was named to the Lone Star Conference’s second team for the second consecutive year. He averaged 18.6 points per contest and was third in the LSC in that category. He was also among the top 20 in four other categories in the conference, including averaging 5.7 rebounds from the guard position.

-In women’s basketball, senior Milica Kovacevic averaged 11 points per game – fourth best on her team – as Waldorf College finished 18-13 overall. Kovacevic also led her team in rebounding and had a team-best .478 field goal percentage.

-In baseball, NIACC’s 2006 All-American player, Danny Reed, was hitting .355 after Northern Illinois University’s annual spring break trip. Meanwhile, 2007 Division II All-American player has played mostly as an infielder for the University of Evansville (IN) in the Missouri Valley Conference. Tommy Mousel, who graduated from NIACC in 2006, is now playing at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. A 2007 NIACC grad, Jared Koch, is a pitcher for South Dakota State University. A 2006 grad, Nick Lauver, had a 1.42 earned run average in seven appearances with a save after 16 games with the University of Northern Iowa. Outfielder Josh Swenson is now playing regularly for Nicholls State University in Louisiana and Justin Johnson is with Morehead State University in Kentucky. At NAIA power Southern Nazarene University of Oklahoma, Alex Rehnstrom – who left NIACC in 2007 – had hit .340 to help the Crimson Storm post a 22-7 mark after 29 games heading into last weekend’s action.

-In softball, NIACC’s top player from 2007, Brittany Balduf, is a regular for the University of Northern Iowa, which was hovering around the .500 mark after two dozen games.

-In football, NIACC’s quarterback coach from last fall, James McNear, is now the starting quarterback for the Omaha (NE) Beef United Indoor Football team. McNear was an All-American player in college and played last year for the Beef. More about McNear and the Beef can be found on www.beeffootball.com.

-In wrestling, NIACC head coach Richard Fergola received an award during a pre-tournament dinner at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships last Wednesday for his work at Dana College in Nebraska during the 2006-07 season. Dana was honored for its academic success under Fergola, who was head coach at Dana before being hired by NIACC last winter.

Rewind for March 17

The North Iowa Area Community College baseball and softball teams enjoyed equally successful spring trips in Cocoa, FL to highlight the latest news and notes in NIACC athletics.

Head coach Todd Rima’s baseball team used strong starting pitching to post a 10-2 mark over eight days, including Rima’s 200^th career win with the Trojans. Chuck Lukanen (Apple Valley/Eastview), Brandyn Agnew (Toronto, ON/Mowat), Riley Tincher (Oregon, WI/HS) and Austin Denny (Johnston/HS) started and won two games apiece and closer Zack Welter (Cedar Falls/HS) recorded three saves as the Trojans’ young staff performed well throughout. Welter saved Tincher’s second win with a pair of seventh-inning strikeouts during a 3-2 decision over Dakota Community Technical College of Minnesota on Friday. He also fanned two in the seventh inning to save a win for Agnew in an 8-5 win over Alfred State College (NY) on Thursday. Earlier that day, Lukanen held the University of Connecticut-Avery Point to one run during a 9-1 win.

Sophomore shortstop Erik Smith (Pisgah/West Harrison) was the offensive hero in Thursday’s wins, producing three hits and driving in five runs against Avery Point and adding a pair of hits in the Alfred State win. Outfielder John Lee (Mason City/HS) had three hits and two runs batted in against Alfred State and Dean Molitor (Carroll/Kuemper) and Brent Young (Queensland/Australia) also had a pair of RBI.

Lee had two hits and NIACC used a three-run eighth inning to edge Hagerstown Community College (MD) 5-3 in Tuesday’s first game. Molitor singled and doubled for the Trojans as NIACC dropped game two that day 5-4 to Montgomery College of Germantown, MD. On Monday, the pitching and the offense were clicking on all cylinders as Rima’s squad beat Rock Valley Community College of Illinois 13-2 and routed the London (Ontario) Badgers 12-1. NIACC pitchers allowed just three hits in 11 total innings and Smith drove in five runs on the day.

On Saturday, NIACC beat Ontario 11-3 for Denny’s second pitching victory as Molitor produced four hits, Welter doubled twice and Smith and Lee also had two hits. Tony Younis (Fuerth, Germany) homered and drove in three runs as the Trojans ripped out 14 hits in all. Later that day, Smith added two more hits but NIACC lost a 2-1 decision to Genesee Community College of New York before heading home.

NIACC opens its home season with a non-conference double header against Dakota County at 2 p.m. Thursday, playing on the NIACC campus. At 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday, the Trojans play away double headers in West Burlington against Iowa Community College Athletic Conference opponent Southeastern Community College.

The fortunes of first-year head coach Tyler Sisco’s softball team mirrored Rima’s as the Trojans finished 10-2 before leaving Florida on Friday. Pitchers Andrea Aguilar (Victoria, TX/Memorial) and Traci Lerch (DeWitt/Central DeWitt) both went 5-1 during the spring trip, with Lerch finishing her week with a 2-0 shutout of Lackawanna Community College (PA).

Although the team won consecutive double headers to start the trip, NIACC may have played its best ball last Wednesday, beating Illinois schools Waubonsee Community College 3-0 and Kishwaukee Community College 6-2. In the Waubonsee victory, Aguilar tossed a seven-hit shutout and added a triple offensively while Laura Fjelstad (Lake Mills/HS) and Samantha Shoger (Nora Springs/Nora Springs-Rock Falls) picked up two hits apiece. Lerch picked up the win against Kishwaukee as Nicole Sternat (Sumner/Sumner-Fredricksburg) had three hits and Sternet and Aguilar drove in two runs each.

On Thursday, Aguilar tossed a six-hitter to beat the Ancaster Blizzard of Hamilton, Ontario, 5-1 as her team broke open a 1-all tie with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Shoger and Allyson Gross (Titonka/WCLT) had two hits apiece as NIACC produced six hits. The Trojans lost 8-4 to Waubonsee in the nightcap despite three hits (including two doubles) and two RBI by Whitney Bauer (DeWitt/Central DeWitt). Before beating Lackawanna on Friday, NIACC edged Kishwaukee 5-1 for Aguilar’s fifth victory.

Along with their games against Ancaster, Sisco’s team split two other games with club teams from Canada on Monday. NIACC’s next game is a 5 p.m. non-conference double header Friday in Oskaloosa against the William Penn University junior varsity. The Trojans open their ICCAC schedule with a 3:30 p.m. double header in Ft. Dodge against Iowa Central Community College on March 26.

Two other springs sports programs at NIACC will begin outdoor competition in the coming days. Only two weeks removed from a strong showing at the NJCAA indoor nationals, the NIACC track and field program will travel to Dubuque on March 24 for the Loras Open outdoor meet. Meanwhile, the NIACC men’s and women’s golf teams will begin play later this month. The Trojans will travel to Council Bluffs for the Reiver Spring Classic, hosted by Iowa Western Community College, on March 30.

-In women's basketball, Madelyn Houser was named second team All-Region XI and Katie Monson was given third team All-Region XI honors. Houser averaged 10 points per game and had 95 blocks for the season, second most in one season in NIACC's record books and second most in the conference.  Houser was also in the top 10 for steals per game and rebounds per game.  Monson was second on the team for rebounds per game and was third on the team for points scored.

Rewind for March 10

Ronnisha Hall (Pahokee, FL/HS), Becky Dahn (Lake Mills/HS) and Jordan Anderson (Mason City/HS) earned NJCAA Coaches Association All-American honors during the National Junior College Athletic Association indoor track and field championships last weekend, with Hall placing third in both the women’s weight throw and the women’s shot put.

Hall, who placed fourth in the 2007 indoor nationals, tossed the shot put 41 feet, 8 ¾ inches to finish behind winner Kelsey Poljansek of Cowley County Community College (47-0 ¼). Hall then had a toss of 51-1 in the weight throw for third on Saturday as Kamryn Clark of Rend Lake Community College of Illinois (56-8 ¾) won the event. In two NJCAA indoor nationals appearances, Hall has finished third three times and fourth once.

In women’s running events, Becky Dahn (Lake Mills/HS) placed fifth in the 600-meter finals last Saturday with a time of 1:43.79. She had qualified for the finals by running her heat Friday in 1:41.19 for the seventh fastest time of the day.

Emily Mujica (Mason City/HS) ran in the women’s 800 on Friday and her 2:31.54 clocking was good enough for 11^th overall. Kelly Ipsen (Homestead/Iowa Valley) ran the 3,000 in 11:37.51 to place 14^th overall.

For the men, Anderson ran the 5,000 last Friday in 14 minutes, 50.03 seconds as Rend Lake Community College’s Elkanah Kibet ran a 14:38.78 for first. Anderson competed in the 3,000 later that day, running his race in 8:52.09 to place 10th overall.

Spenser Rahm (Wesley/Bishop Garrigan) was among 16 pentathletes that earned a berth into the NJCAA indoor nationals and he placed 11^th overall on Friday with 2,929 points, well over the 2,786-point effort that earned him first at the Region XI meet on February 23. His best effort in the five-event competition was the shot put, where he was first with a toss of 41-6. He was also seventh in the 1,000, where he ran a 3:03.18.

Joe McCall (Council Bluffs/Abraham Lincoln) placed 11^th in the shot put with a toss of 42-2 ¾.

Three other teams either started or finished their seasons last week:

-In softball, first-year head coach Tyler Sisco received solid efforts from his pitchers and the Trojans opened their spring trip in Cocoa, FL with four straight victories last Saturday and Sunday. Sunday’s double header sweep of Lakeland College of Ohio included a six-hit complete game from Traci Lerch (DeWitt/DeWitt Central) in a 3-1 second-game win. High school teammate Whitney Bauer belted two doubles in a 10-4 victory in game one as Andrea Aguilar (Victoria, TX/Memorial) earned the win. Laura Fjelstad (Lake Mills/HS) produced five hits in Sunday’s wins.

-In baseball, head coach Todd Rima’s squad won two games on Saturday and another on Sunday to begin the 2008 season 3-0. Chuck Lukanen (Apple Valley/Eastview) tossed four scoreless innings and NIACC produced 13 hits in an 11-1 win over the Minot State (S.D.) junior varsity to open the season. Pre-season All-American Jeremy Ische (Norwood, MN/Central) homered and Dean Molitor (Carroll/Kuemper) had three hits to lead the offense. Brandyn Agnew (Toronto, ONT/Mowat) tossed a five-inning shutout in a 10-0 win over Rock Valley Community College of Illinois in Saturday’s second game as German recruit Tony Younis had two hits. A triple play by NIACC’s defense in the fourth inning and an eight-run fifth inning offensively were highlights for the Trojans. On Sunday, Younis had two hits and drove in three runs as NIACC beat the Ontario Blue Jays 12-2. Like the softball team, the Trojans play games in Cocoa, FL all week.

-In women’s basketball, NIACC lost 74-46 to seventh-rated Iowa Central Community College in Ft. Dodge last Tuesday at the Region XI playoffs to finish 8-21 overall. Tiffany Braun (St. Ansgar/HS) led the Trojans with 13 points and finished the season as NIACC’s top point scorer. Katie Monson (Garner/Garner-Hayfield) and Marin Thorson (St. Ansgar/HS) added 10 points apiece for head coach John Oertel’s team. Madelyn Houser (Gilbert/HS) finished the season with 95 blocked shots, the second highest total ever from a NIACC player. She was second in her conference in blocks and also placed in the top 10 in rebounding and steals.

-In men’s basketball, Greg Smalls earned honorable mention All-Region XI after leading his team in rebounding, steals and assists. Second on his squad with a 12.1 per game scoring average, Smalls averaged 5.9 rebounds and a conference-leading four steals per game (104 in all). He also placed fourth in the conference with 4.4 assists per game. NIACC finished 12-19 overall.

Rewind for March 3

Ronnisha Hall (Pahokee, FL/HS) upgraded her season bests in both the weight throw and shot put as she readies for nationals, beginning Friday and continuing through Saturday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL.

Hall’s 15.97-meter toss in the weight throw is the second best effort in the NJCAA heading into nationals. She also threw the shot put 13.28 meters on Friday, is fifth in the NJCAA. Others that have qualified for nationals with head coach Curtis Vais’ program include Jordan Anderson (Mason City/HS), who qualified in the 3,000 and 5,000, Becky Dahn (Lake Mills/HS), who has qualified in the women’s 600, Kelly Ipsen (Homestead/Iowa Valley), who was first in the region in the women’s 3,000, and Spenser Rahm (Wesley/Bishop Garrigan), who won the Region XI meet in the men’s weight throw.

In men’s basketball, NIACC ended its season with a 77-58 loss to Des Moines Area Community College last Saturday in Estherville at the Region XI playoffs. The Trojans (12-19) were led in scoring by Greg Smalls (Charleston, SC/West Ashley), who tallied 19 points. Brandon Stephens (Flint, MI/Central) added 16 points for head coach Bryan Martin’s team. Smalls, Stephens, Bernell Benjamin (Minneapolis, MN/Hopkins) and Jeff Loats (Belmond/Belmond-Klemme) finished their careers at NIACC, with Smalls finishing with the most steals in the conference and Stephens ranking among conference leaders in field goal shooting percentage.

In women’s basketball, NIACC lost 69-47 to seventh-rated Iowa Central Community College at NIACC’s gymnasium last Saturday to fall to 8-20 overall heading into the Region XI playoffs. Katie Monson (Garner/Garner-Hayfield) led the Trojans in scoring with 10 points. Three days earlier, NIACC had lost to visiting Marshalltown Community College 64-59 despite 15 points and five assists by Sara Cox (Waterloo/West). On Tuesday, NIACC travels to Ft. Dodge to play Iowa Central in a 7 p.m. matchup.

Two other NIACC programs begin their seasons this week. The baseball program under head coach Todd Rima will head to Cocoa, FL on Saturday after being rated 13^th in the Collegiate Baseball’s pre-season NJCAA Division II poll. A handful of All-Region XI returnees lead the Trojans, who finished 33-20 a year ago. Meanwhile, first-year head coach Tyler Sisco’s softball program also heads to Cocoa, FL on Saturday, with a pair of All-Region XI returnees in Laura Fjelstad (Lake Mills/HS) and Leah Mork (DeWitt/DeWitt Central). NIACC finished 20-19 in 2007.

Rewind for February 18

A pre-season All-America honor, a national wrestling preview and the approach of a coaching milestone highlight this week’s NIACC athletics report.

As the snow and cold pelt Iowa, the NIACC baseball team readies for a trip to Florida in early March and one of the Trojans is getting some early recognition. Sophomore catcher Jeremy Ische (Norwood, MN/ Central) was named a pre-season Division II National Junior College Athletic Association All-American after finishing with a .386 batting average and eight homers and 40 runs batted in last spring. Ische is one of five players from the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference mentioned in the pre-season player ratings. NIACC finished 33-20 in 2007 and is rated 13^th in one pre-season poll.

As spring programs practice for their initial contests, the NIACC wrestling team culminates a successful season this Friday and Saturday at the NJCAA wrestling nationals in Rochester, MN. Head coach Richard Fergola’s team is ranked fifth heading into the meet, which includes nearly four dozen programs in both scholarship and non-scholarship categories.

Nine Trojans will wrestle at nationals, including two that are rated No. 1 in their weight classes. Albert White (Harvey, IL/St. Rita) enters this weekend 27-3, having won the Region VIII meet on February 10 and three other meets. DaVaughn Perkins (Omaha, NE/North) is 35-5 and has beaten the second-rated wrestler and third-rated wrestler already this year. Three other NIACC wrestlers are rated in the top nine of their divisions. T.J. Moen (Des Moines/Saydel) and Glenn Rhees (Atascadero, CA/HS) are ranked fourth at 141 and 174 respectively while Cody Hogan (Richmond, MO/HS) is ninth at 133.

Others competing for NIACC this weekend include: Beau Tudor (Camp Verde, AZ/HS) at 283, Brad Theilen (Nashua/Nashua-Plainfield) at 197, Tyler Hancock (Camp Verde, AZ/HS) at 165 and Jordan Bartoszek (Mason City/HS) at 125.

In basketball, the NIACC women’s and men’s team will travel to Iowa Falls on Wednesday to play ICCAC foe Ellsworth Community College. The women play at 5:30 p.m., with the men’s game following. A win for the women’s team would be the 416^th career victory for women’s head coach John Oertel, which would tie him for 25^th on the all-time NJCAA career list with Greg Krause of North Oklahoma College-Tonkawa. The women’s team also plays a home game at 6 p.m. Thursday against the William Penn University junior varsity and another home contest at 4 p.m. Saturday against AIB College of Business.

Last weekend, the Trojans (6-17 overall) lost 84-34 at Iowa Western Community College on Friday and 62-57 on Saturday at Southwestern Community College. In the Iowa Western contest, Tiffany Braun (St. Ansgar/HS) tallied 13 points. She also scored 13 points versus Southwestern while teammate Katie Monson (Garner/Garner-Hayfield) added 10 points.

In men’s basketball, NIACC lost home games against Iowa Central Community College and Iowa Lakes Community College last Monday and Wednesday before falling 74-61 at Southwestern on Saturday. Greg Smalls (Charleston, SC/West Ashley) led the Trojans with 13 points while NIACC teammate Brandon Stephens (Flint, MI/Central) added 13 points. Stephens scored 20 points in the Iowa Central loss while Nate Haaland (Osage/HS) and Jeff Loats (Belmond/Belmond-Klemme) tallied 10 points apiece in the Iowa Lakes defeat.

NIACC’s track and field team competed last Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Ronnisha Hall (Pahokee, FL/HS) placed sixth in the women’s 20-pound weight throw to top the Trojans individually. Hall also placed ninth in the shot put while Becky Dahn was seventh in the 400-meter dash and 17^th in the 200. On the men’s side, Dean Molitor (Carroll/Kuemper) finished seventh in the 55-meter dash while Al Carlisle (St. Louis, MO/Jennings) placed eighth for NIACC’s best finishes. Carlisle also placed 10^th out of 76 competitors in the 200 with a time of 23.13 while Joe McCall was 12^th out of 51 athletes in the 35-pound weight throw.

On Saturday, NIACC competes in the Region XI meet, which will be held in Cedar Falls at the University of Northern Iowa. The NJCAA national indoor track and field meet is March 7-8 in Charleston, IL at Eastern Illinois University.

Rewind for February 11

The North Iowa Area Community College wrestling team qualified nine of 10 wrestlers to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) wrestling nationals by virtue of its strong effort at Region VIII tournament last Sunday in Willmar, MN.

The Trojans finished third among eight teams. Top-ranked Iowa Central Community College won the team title with 182.5 points and sent all 10 of its wrestlers on to nationals. The host school, Ridgewater Community College, placed fourth with 103.5 points. NIACC and the defending national champion Tritons each had three champions at individual weight classes, with two Trojans winning their titles by beating Iowa Central competitors.

NIACC’s No. 1-rated 149-pound wrestler in the NJCAA, Albert White (Harvey, IL/St. Rita), won his weight class with a 6-3 victory over 2007 national champion Matt Burns of Iowa Central. Meanwhile, second-ranked DaVaughn Perkins (Omaha, NE/North) beat third-rated Carrington Banks of Iowa Central in the finals at 157. NIACC’s third individual champion was 174-pounder Glenn Rhees (Atascadero, CA/HS), who is currently rated fifth nationally.

T.J. Moen (Des Moines/Saydel) – rated fourth at 141 – placed second in his division, losing in the finals to No. 1-rated David Greenwald of Iowa Central. Brad Theilen (Nashua/Nashua-Plainfield) continued a remarkable season by placing second at 197 pounds. Theilen, an All-Region XI wide receiver in football, didn’t come out for the wrestling team until midway through the season.

Third-place finishers for NIACC at regionals included Cody Hogan (Richmond, MO/HS) at 133 and heavyweight Beau Tudor (Camp Verde, AZ/HS) while fourth-place finisher Jordan Bartoszek (Mason City/HS) at 125 and 165-pounder Tyler Hancock (Camp Verde, AZ/HS) also qualified for nationals.

On February 22-23, head coach Richard Fergola’s team travels to Rochester, MN for the NJCAA wrestling nationals. The event is being held at the University Center of Rochester Regional Sports Center.

In men’s basketball, NIACC followed up a 62-39 blowout win against the Wartburg College junior varsity last Monday with a 71-51 loss at Des Moines Area Community College on Saturday. Tokie Aramona (Kansas City, MO/Bishop O’Hara) scored a season-high 19 points while Greg Smalls (Charleston, SC/West Ashley) produced 11 points. The Trojans (11-14 overall) host Iowa Central in an Iowa Community College Athletic Conference matchup tonight at 7 p.m. and play host to Iowa Lakes Community College on Wednesday.

In women’s basketball, head coach John Oertel’s team lost 60-46 to DMACC on Saturday despite 12 points by Tiffany Braun (St. Ansgar/HS) and 10 points by Madelyn Houser (Gilbert/HS). The Trojans play their next contest at 6 p.m. Wednesday, hosting Iowa Lakes in the first game of a women’s/men’s basketball double header. The team’s busy week continues Friday with a non-conference game at Iowa Western Community College and ends with a Saturday ICCAC contest at Southwestern Community College, the first game in a women’s/men’s basketball double header.

NIACC’s track and field team competed in an invitational at Buena Vista University last Saturday in Storm Lake and continues its indoor season on Saturday with a meet held at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

In football news, more than 40 players signed national letters-of-intent to play for NIACC last week, including a dozen from North Iowa and 13 from out of state. Head coach Scott Strohmeier continued to see some of his sophomores have a chance to move on and play football at four-year institutions as well. Two signees last week included wide receiver Marques Parker (Omaha, NE/Westside), who committed to Texas Christian University, and defensive lineman Michael Daniels (Leesburg, GA/HS), who signed with Missouri State University. A handful of former NIACC players made commitments to various colleges in the past two months and are already at their new schools this semester.

Rewind for February 4

The North Iowa Area Community College track and field team continued to have success during the indoor season to highlight winter sports performances this week.

On Saturday in Mt. Pleasant, Becky Dahn (Lake Mills/HS) placed third in the 400-meter dash as the top finisher for the Trojans at the Hilltop Open held at Cornell College. Dahn, who has qualified for the national indoor track and field meet in the 600, ran a 1:02.63 and was nipped by Simpson College’s Suzi Anderson (1:01.57). Dahn also ran a 28.81 in the 200 to finish 17^th of 77 runners. Sprinter Allie Millonig (St. Ansgar/HS) ran a 7.81 in the 55-yard dash, seventh best of all runners in preliminary heats, and Ronnisha Hall (Pahokee, FL/HS) was seventh in the weight throw with a toss of 44-11 ½ feet. The men’s team fared well in the 4 x 800 relay, placing second in 8:43.31 and the distance relay team was third in 11:03.85.

On Friday, head coach Curtis Vais’ team heads to Storm Lake, competing at the NAIA Challenge at Buena Vista University.

In other sports action:

-In men’s basketball, Greg Smalls (Charleston, SC/West Ashley) scored a season-high 27 points and Brandon Stephens (Flint, MI/Central) made 9-of-10 field goals for 18 points, but NIACC lost 75-66 to second-rated Kirkwood Community College Saturday at the NIACC gymnasium. The Trojans regrouped on Monday as Smalls scored 11 points in a 62-39 away win against the Wartburg College junior varsity. The team is now 11-13, 2-6 in Iowa Community College Athletic Conference play, heading into a Saturday afternoon ICCAC game at Des Moines Area Community College.

-In women’s basketball, despite 15 points by Madelyn Houser (Gilbert/HS), the North Iowa Area Community College women’s basketball team dropped a 69-56 decision to host Marshalltown Community College Wednesday night. Marin Thorson (St. Ansgar/HS) had a collegiate-high nine points off the bench for head coach John Oertel’s team. On Saturday, Tiffany Burgess (Des Moines/East) tallied 12 points and Katie Monson (Garner/Garner-Hayfield) added 11 points during a 98-50 loss to ninth-rated Kirkwood Community College in Mason City. The Trojans – now 6-14, 5-6 – host the William Penn University junior varsity at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

-In wrestling, NIACC routed Pratt Community College 38-3 on Tuesday in a dual meet held in Baldwin City, KS, as Cody Hogan (Richmond, MO/HS) won by technical fall and T.J. Moen (Des Moines/Saydel), Albert White (Harvey, IL/St. Rita) and Glenn Rhees (Atascadero, CA/HS) all won their matches by major decision. On Sunday, head coach Richard Fergola’s team heads to regionals in Minnesota as the Trojans ready for the NJCAA national championships later this month. In the most recent rankings, White is first at 149 pounds, DaVaughn Perkins (Omaha, NE/North) is second at 157 and Moen and Rhees are also ranked in the top eight at 141 and 174 pounds respectively.

Rewind for January 28

Bouncing back from tough losses highlight this week’s NIACC Rewind.

In wrestling, the Trojans went down to Fort Dodge on Tuesday to grapple against the top ranked Iowa Central Tritons. At 141, top ranked Albert White (Harvey, IL/Chicago St. Rita) won a decision over defending NJCAA champion Matt Burns, 5-2, to cut into an early Central lead. Ranked three DeVaughn Perkins (Omaha, NE/North) also won a decision over Central’s Carrington Brooks in two overtimes, but the Trojans lost 27-15. Other NIACC winners at the dual were Glenn Rhees (Atascadero, CA/Dana College), who is ranked sixth at 174, over Joe Johnson, 6-2, and Brad Thielen (Nashua, IA/Nashua-Plainfield) at 197 who pinned Kevin Kelly. The Trojans were back on the road on Saturday to dual against St. Olaf, and NIACC rode seven victories to win 38-15. NIACC received forfeits at 125 and 133, while White, Theilen and heavyweight wrestler Beau Tudor (Cornville, AZ/Camp Verde) all recorded pins against the Oles. The Trojans, now 4-4 in dual meets, travel to Baldwin City, Kansas on Tuesday to face Pratt Community College, then they will travel to the Harper Duals in Palatine, Illinois.

The men’s basketball team went 1-1 this past week, starting with a 72-54 loss at second ranked Kirkwood. The Trojans were led by Greg Smalls (Charleston, SC/West Ashley), who scored 13 points, and Tokie Aramona (Kansas City, MO/Bishop-O’Hara), who added 10 more. The Trojans rebounded at home against Clinton Community College, winning 76-43. Using a staudt defense, the Trojans held the Cougars to just two points over the first 10:10 of the game, and the offense shown through the rest of the game. Nate Haaland (Belmond, IA/Belmond-Klemme) went 4-8 from three point range and came up with 14 points on the night. Kur Deng (London, United Kingdom) was second in scoring with 10, while pulling down eight rebounds. The Trojans, now 10-12 overall and 2-5 in ICCAC play, are off until Saturday when they host Kirkwood at 6 PM.

The women’s basketball team also split their two games, dropping a 107-38 struggle to Kirkwood on Wednesday. Sara Cox (Waterloo, IA/West) scored in double digits for the Trojans, recording 14 points. On Saturday, Madelyn Hauser (Gilbert, IA/HS) scored a career high 23 points and 16 rebounds, 10 of those rebounds on the offensive end of the court, in a 68-51 win over the American Institute of Business. After going into halftime with a 29-28 lead, the Trojans broke away from the Eagles, outscoring them 39-23 in the second half. Tiffany Burgess (Des Moines, IA/East) also had a solid game against AIB, scoring 17 points. The women, now 6-12 overall and 5-4 in the ICCAC, will travel to Marshalltown Community Collge on Wednesday before returing home to host Kirkwood at 4 PM.

The NIACC track and field team went to the ISU Open on Friday and Saturday, a meet usually dominated by NCAA schools. Highlights of the meet were Jordan Anderson (Mason City, IA/HS), one of NIACC’s national qualifiers, who ran a 15:02.87 in the 5000 meter run. The run gave him in third place finish, four seconds behind the race winner. NIACC’s other national qualifier, Ronnisha Hall (Pahokee, FL/HS), finished fifteenth in the meet for the women’s shot put, throwing an 11.39 meters (37-4½ feet). The track team will travel to the Hilltop Open at Cornell College on Saturday.