11 minute read
Athletics Recap
The Waldorf Warrior athletic teams set out to excel in the 2021-22 academic year. All 22 Waldorf sports have either begun or completed their seasons, with numerous individual and team achievements to celebrate along the way.
FOOTBALL Warriors looking to close the gap
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MaCoy Yeakel
Jordan Cooper
Head Coach Will Finley’s squad turned in a fantastic season in 2021, finishing 7-3 overall and posting its first 6-1 start since becoming a four-year program in 2003. The Warriors began their season with a 30-3 win over Briar Cliff on Community Night at Bolstorff Field, then hit the road to earn their first win over Saint Ambrose in program history, 24-17. Waldorf won four straight games across the middle of its season, including a two-game sweep of Mayville State and a thrilling 26-21 win over Dakota State on Homecoming Weekend. Quarterback Jordan Cooper earned North Star Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Week twice. Wide receiver Dominick Watt earned the same honor after posting a program record 218 receiving yards on just four receptions, three of which went for touchdowns in Waldorf’s epic 52-51 win at Mayville State. Safety MaCoy Yeakel earned Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting two passes and recovering a fumble in the win at Saint Ambrose.
Watt, Yeakel, and senior defensive back James Jackson, Jr. were all named to the 2021 NSAA All-Conference First Team. The Warriors placed six players on the NSAA All-Conference Second Team: running back Jatoviay Hill, offensive lineman Kade Kloster-Hodak, tight end PJ Patterson defensive lineman Deqwunn McCobb, and senior placekicker Slater Gifford. Gifford and wide receiver/punter Zach Morel were selected to and played in the 2021 NAIA Senior Football Classic in Durham, North Carolina on December 17, the eve of the NAIA National Championship Game. Coach Finley and assistant coach Tyler Chapa were each chosen to serve as assistant coaches in the game. Boasting a recruiting class that stands at 29 new players as of February’s National Signing Day, the Warriors will look to close the gap on top NSAA competition in 2022.
CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD
Headed in the right diection
New Track and Field Head Coach Joel Popenfoose has the Warriors headed in the right direction as the programs continue to build and rejuvenate through the winter and into the spring. Thrower Wade Baker continues to have a remarkable year, setting a new school record in the weight throw on multiple occasions and qualifying for the NAIA’s national event.
On the women’s side, their 4 x 400 meter relay team has enjoyed success at several competitions. The squad, consisting of Emily Ryerson, Catherine Clark-Ashford, Cecelia Hemsworth, and Alana Wickering hopes to continue competing at postseason events.
VOLLEYBALL
Best program in over a decade
Abygail Wood Kenzie Kidd
The Waldorf Volleyball Team saw its best start as a program in over a decade. 2021 marked the first time in the past since 2007 that a Waldorf team registered wins in at least seven of its first 12 matches. The team also made program history when it earned its first-ever win at Mayville State stretching back to their first trip to Mayville in 2011. Outside hitter Kenzie Kidd was named to the NSAA AllConference Second Team. The sophomore recorded 3.21 kills per set and set an individual match record of 29 kills in one game. In addition to the allconference teams, the NSAA also bestows NAIA Champions of Character honors upon one player per conference team. Junior middle blocker Abygail Wood earned the Champions of Character recognition for the second consecutive season.
The Warriors posted an 11-16 overall record in 2021, which marked a seven-win improvement over the prior season.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Sydney Boyd
Alysha Donovan The Waldorf Women’s Soccer Team came up one goal short of a postseason berth in the 2021 season, winning five matches along the way without allowing a goal in any of the wins. After beating Iowa Wesleyan at Bolstorff Field on September 29, the Continental Athletic Conference scheduled a rematch which served as a de facto playoff game for both teams, with the winner advancing to the 2021 CAC Tournament in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The game, played at Iowa Wesleyan, ended in a 2-1 defeat. The Warriors then rebounded with their best performance of the year in an 8-0 win at Bacone. Forward Sydney Boyd was named to the CAC AllConference Second Team. Boyd scored a team-leading six goals in ten matches played for the Warriors. Her 14 points were also a team best. Boyd scored a pair of game-winning goals, at Mount Marty on August 28 and at Bacone on November 2. Goalkeeper Sara Rodriguez earned honorable mention from the CAC. The senior
netminder started 11 matches for the Warriors and made 76 stops en route to four victories in net, all of which were shutouts. Defender Adrianna Vargas and midfielder Araneg Leon Velazquez also earned CAC honorable mentions.
Senior Alysha Donovan finished her Waldorf career in style, being named CAC Offensive Player of the Week for the final week of the season. Donovan tallied five points with two goals and one assist in an 8-0 victory at Bacone, two of her three shots in the match found the back of the net.
MEN'S SOCCER Pinkney sets program record with 15 goals
Daniel Burko Henrique Vieira The Men’s Soccer Team enjoyed a very competitive season, finishing .500 at 6-6-2 and playing some of its best soccer against top competition. The Warriors earned a victory against a nationally-ranked opponent when it bested No. 21 Briar Cliff at Bolstorff Field on August 31. Daniel Burko, Daniel Pinkney, and Mordecai Nsabaah all scored for Waldorf in the memorable win, while goalkeeper Josh Bonaiti made four stops. The Warriors also played to a scoreless draw with regional powerhouse Northwestern, who was receiving votes in the NAIA poll the week of the September 15 game. Bonaiti made 11 saves to keep the Raiders off the board. Striker Daniel Pinkney set a program record with 15 goals in 2021, including three game winners and one scored on a penalty kick. Pinkney was named to the Continental Athletic Conference’s AllConference Second Team. He was also named CAC Offensive Player of the Week after a three-goal performance in a win over Iowa Wesleyan on September 29. Daniel Burko and defenseman Henrique Vieira each earned honorable mention from the CAC. The men’s and women’s team joined forces to post a 67-60 victory over Iowa Wesleyan in the annual coeducational Purple Cup hosted by Waldorf at Forest City’s Bear Creek Golf Course on September 25.
BOWLING average of 219.8 pins was good for the individual title.
Senior Tyler Harlow made an impressive comeback from arm surgery which kept him sidelined for most of the season. In the 2022 Kohawk Invitational, he rolled the full five strings, including a high of 269 to claim a 13th place finish among a field of 187 male bowlers.
GOLF
Karvala named NSAA Women's Golfer of the Week
Amanda Karvala Thomas Houdayer The Waldof Men’s and Women’s Golf teams saw success on the links this past fall, and eagerly await the opportunity to get back out on the course in the spring.
Few incoming freshmen made a better debut than women’s golfer Amanda Karvala, who won the individual title at the Luther Invitational at Oneota Golf & Country Club (5,625-yards, par72) in Decorah, leading Waldorf to a team title for the first time since March 26, 2019. For her efforts, Karvala was named NSAA Women’s Golfer of the Week. Waldorf’s women also took first place in the Waldorf Invitational in Albert Lea on September 26, besting four other area schools.
The men’s team turned in its best team effort at the Simpson Invitational on September 22, when it finished second among 11 competing schools. Thomas Houdayer of Evereux, France earned NSAA Men’s Golfer of the Week for his performance at the Grand View Invitational in Ankeny on October 18-19, shooting a 76 and 77, respectively.
Teams have incredible season
BASKETBALL
Marissa Gates Harry Weigle
The Waldorf Men’s and Women’s Bowling Teams wrapped up incredible seasons when they competed in the historic Hoosier Classic at the venerable Western Bowl in Indianapolis on February 18.
Quincy Minor Jr.
The women’s season included top ten team finishes when they placed fifth at the Cedar Valley Invitational on October 9 and a sixth-place finish in the Bronco Bash in Hastings, Nebraska on January 29. Marissa Gates set a Waldorf program record when she bowled a 275 in one of her games at the annual Kohawk Invitational in Cedar Rapids on February 5. Two NSAA players of the week named
Tina Lair-VanMeter
The Waldorf Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams wrapped up their seasons in late February. Warrior great Quincy Minor, Jr. finished his four-year Waldorf career in grand fashion, earning his second career North Star Athletic Association Player of the Week award on November 8. He scored 13 points and dished out eight assists in an 89-72 defeat to host-team Concordia (Neb.). He followed up with 26 points on his 9-of-15 field goals and contributed five assists in 89-82 victory over Hastings (Neb.).
The men’s squad very nearly won a tournament championship when it placed second in the Bronco Bash on January 29. Harry Weigle was the top men's finisher, placing first among 88 male competitors. Weigle started slow, rolling a 212 and a 191 in his first two strings. From there, the junior hit another gear as he rolled a 236, 225, and 235 respectively across his last three efforts. His cumulative Both Minor and teammate Lorenzo Smith scored their respective 1,000th career points on the same night, Monday, December 13 at William Woods. Minor became the fifth Warrior player in four-year program history to reach the 1,000 point milestone. Smith scored the majority of his current career points, 592, in two seasons at Dakota County Technical College. Since joining the Warriors for the 2020-21 season, he has
emerged as a primary offensive option.
The women’s team got off to its best start since 2013, winning five of its first nine games, including its first four-game winning streak since the 2012-13 season.
Forward Tina Lair-VanMeter earned NSAA Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the second time in her Waldorf career on November 29. LairVanMeter finished her collegiate career with over 1,500 cumulative points and 1,000 cumulative rebounds including her seasons at Southwestern Community College. Lair-VanMeter also surpassed the 1,000 point mark in Waldorf program history.
WRESTLING
Building toward a lofty future
The Waldorf Men’s and Women’s Wrestling Teams continue to grow, develop, and build toward their lofty future championship goals. The men’s team took an important step in its season opener on Nov. 2, when Head Coach Ryan Dickinson guided his squad to the Warriors' first dual meet victory since beating William Penn, 24-21, on November 15, 2017. Waldorf's win marked its first in program history against Graceland, and its first league win since becoming a member of the Heart of America Conference. The Women’s team hosted a major event when Waldorf put on its annual University Open event on Nov. 13, attended by numerous schools throughout the Midwest. The Warriors got strong performances throughout the season from grapplers such as Bernice spino, Ku’uipo Chan, Jenny Jiminez, Destiny Dominguez, and Diana Dzasezeva
HOCKEY
Men’s wrestling hosted a first of its kind event on January 26 as they welcomed in Waldorf alumnus Bo Bettinson '15 and his Saint Ambrose Bees for the inaugural "Battle at the Boman" held at the Boman Fine Arts Center. The dual marked the first time the Warrior wrestling program has hosted a competition outside of a conventional gymnasium setting. The event generated tremendous interest on campus and in the community and was attended by an estimated 400 fans. Woodward makes 38 saves for Warrior victory
Branden Woodward Tyler Nelson
The Waldorf Hockey Team finished an up and down season in grand fashion on Senior Night at Albert Lea City Arena on February 5 when it defeated Midwest College Hockey rival Midland in a 4-3 overtime thriller. In his final career home game, goalie Branden Woodward made 38 saves for the Warriors to guide them to victory. Fellow senior Tristan Klewsaat had two assists in the game, and Tyler Nelson sent the fans home happy with the game-winner 39 seconds into overtime.
The Warriors played one of the toughest schedules in the country, having played 13 games against ACHA Division 1 Top 25 opponents. Waldorf claimed two wins over ranked opponents, including a 6-1 win over No. 23 Illinois State in Albert Lea. The Warriors played both the biggest and the best, opening its season with trips to f ace the No. 6 Iowa State Cyclones and No. 24 Oklahoma Sooners.
ALUMNI CHAPTERS
CONNECT WITH ALUMNI IN YOUR AREA!
Interested in connecting with Warriors ALUMNI around the world?
Take the leap, and start a Waldorf Alumni Chapter near you!
It might not always be easy to come back to campus during the year, but we don't want that to stop you from continuing to build relationships with your fellow Waldorf friends and alumni.
Waldorf Alumni Chapters are meant to provide a fun, welcoming and inclusive environment to help bring together alumni, parents and friends of Waldorf throughout various parts of the nation. Chapter groups will allow members to stay connected with campus, no matter where they are located. These groups can be formed based off of geographic location or by special interest (small business owners, choir, football, major/minor, etc.), and are an awesome way to engage, network and reminisce with fellow Warriors all year round!
Through various events and activities (Think: sporting events, casual get-togethers, potlucks, etc.) throughout the year, we are hoping alumni take advantage of the opportunity to reconnect with former classmates and friends from Waldorf, while building and forming new relationships as well, that all have at least one wonderful thing in common: we all have a home in the Warrior family.
Interested in getting involved with or helping to start a chapter? Reach out to alumni@waldorf.edu today!
