CAMPUS NEWS
ATHLETICS RECAP
Columbus, Ohio, former Warrior football defensive lineman Perry M. Laures (1984) from New Hampton, and former Warrior women’s basketball player Beth Ann (Skogen) Van Roekel (1999) from Lake Mills, all were inducted into the Waldorf Athletic Hall of Fame. FOOTBALL
The fall season in Warrior Athletics began with a big change in leadership as longtime Director of Athletics Denny Jerome retired at the end of September, and former Waldorf baseball coach Chad Gassman returned to Forest City, to take over the leadership mantle. That smooth transition proved to be just one of many major highlights for Waldorf Athletics in a fall that saw the Warrior football team earn national recognition, the Waldorf cross country team send two more student-athletes to the NAIA National Championships, the golf team grab two tournament titles, the hockey and volleyball teams leap into first place in their respective leagues, and the men’s soccer team go on an eight-game run allowing just one goal on the pitch.
Along with those on-field, on-ice and on-court achievements, another one of the great highlights for Waldorf Athletics came in mid-October during Homecoming as former Warrior softball pitcher Brady (Stumpff) Goerdt (2001) from Brooklyn, former Warrior football quarterback Patrick Ryan Jackson (1989) from 12
Warrior football fights for league title, finishes No. 23 in nation It was another season to remember for the Waldorf football team as the Warriors went 7-3 overall, finished second in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) with a 5-2 record, and found themselves in a Top25 battle with Dickinson State for the league title and a trip to nationals with one week left in the season. A last-second field goal gave the visiting Blue Hawks the win and a berth to the NAIA National Tournament, while the Warriors bounced back strong from the near-miss to roll past Valley City State and cap a stellar season, earning the No. 23 spot in the final NAIA Top 25 Coaches poll.
Along with being ranked in the Top 25 for the first time in the program’s NAIA history, Waldorf led the way in the NSAA in postseason honors as All-American quarterback Hilton “Bo” Joseph was named the NSAA Offensive MVP for the second straight season, and senior linebacker Marcel Lindner was named the NSAA Defensive MVP.
WALDORF MAGAZINE // SPRING 2020
Both were named to the NSAA All-Conference team, along with 17 of their teammates: running back Jeff Jones; wide receivers Ryan Martinez, Zach Morel and Ryan Harrison; offensive linemen Robert Mosley and Maxwell Drebenstedt; defensive linemen Logan Knutson, DeShaun Quinn, Keyon Hodges and Nick Harrison; linebackers Caleb Wilson, James Bell and Thomas Edwards; defensive backs Cameron Newsome, James Jackson Jr and MaCoy Yeakel; and kicker Slater Gifford. Along with earning a spot in the Top 25 and sweeping the league’s MVP awards, the Waldorf football team added a few more honors as Joseph and center Zach Throne each were named to the CoSIDA District 3 All-Academic Team, and Joseph was selected to play in the inaugural NAIA Senior Classic. Four Warrior players – quarterback Hilton "Bo" Joseph, linebacker Caleb Wilson, offensive lineman Robert Mosley and cornerback Cameron Newsome – along with Waldorf head coach Josh Littrell and assistant head coach Will Finley all participated in the inaugural NAIA Senior Classic held on Saturday, Dec. 14, in Savannah, Ga. The Warrior senior football players competed on the East Squad, while Coach Littrell was the team's offensive coordinator and Coach Finley was the East Squad's defensive coordinator.
Murley each made their second trip to nationals.
Racing in Vancouver, Wash., in mid-November, Murley finished 149th in the nation, clocking a time of 26 minutes, 46.5 seconds on an 8-kilometer course, while Widener finished 237th in 20:24.1 on the women’s 5K course. Both earned their trip to nationals after All-Conference finishes – finishing in the Top 10 – at the NSAA Championships hosted by Waldorf at Bear Creek Golf Club in Forest City in early November. MEN'S SOCCER
Waldorf men’s soccer allows 1 goal in 8-game win streak as they roll into playoffs The Warrior men’s soccer team went on an unstoppable roll that started in late September and carried Waldorf into the semifinals of the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) tournament, winning eight straight games and allowing just one goal during the win streak.
CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD
Waldorf cross country seniors Andrew Murley and Marissa Widener run at nationals For the third straight year the Warrior cross country program was well represented at the NAIA National Cross Country Championships as seniors Marissa Widener and Andrew
Waldorf goalkeeper Raul Guillamon-Bejar had six of those shutouts, earning co-A.I.I. Goalie of the Year honors, while teammate Joao Guiherme
waldorf.edu
