The Sixth and Seventh Days of Pioneer Football

On the sixth day of Pioneer Football my Pioneers gave to me: six great assistant coaches.  In order of longest tenure, they are: Tim Hollibaugh (head baseball coach, assistant head football and defensive line coach), Jason Martinez (defensive coordinator and linebackers coach), Nate Smith (kickers and linebackers coach), Nick Plato (special teams coordinator and quarterbacks/receivers coach), Darien Bell (running backs coach), and Tom Brinkman '13 (defensive backs coach).  There's not a finer staff in the conference.

On the seventh day we recognize Jacob Bernholtz '17 and his seven rushing touchdowns.  That total is the most in a single season for a Pioneer since Sean Pfalzer in 2006.  Bernholtz recorded two rushing touchdowns against both Ripon College and Beloit College, and was named Midwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week after the victory over Beloit.  Bernholtz capped his season by being named the Pioneers Offensive Rookie of the Year.

USA! USA! USA!

Colton Feller, Kevin Hwang, and Morgan Kinsinger all played major roles in the victory

Behind the contributions of many former Midwest Conference all-stars, the team from USA won the Tazon de Estrellas 29-7. 

Quarterbacks Luke Barthelmess (Lawrence University) and Juan Flores (Cornell College) both led scoring drives, and the defense was almost entirely Midwest conference players.  Morgan Kinsinger played the majority of the game at left tackle, helping the United States to over 450 yards of total offense, 6.3 yards per carry rushing, and a thirteen minute advantage in time of possession.

Defensively, Kevin Hwang and Colton Feller each recorded two tackles.  Hwang stopped one Mexico drive with an interception in the end zone.

The Fourth and Fifth Day of Pioneer Football

Andrew Clark intercepts a Cornell College pass.

Clark's coaches and teammates celebrate his record-tying interception.

 On the fourth day of Pioneer Football my Pioneers gave to me: four interceptions in one game.  Facing defending co-champion Lake Forest, the Pioneer defense rose to the occasion, intercepting four passes, consistently thwarting the Foresters scoring attempts.  Andrew Clark, Seth Gustafson, Kevin Hwang, and Colton Feller all recorded interceptions on the day, with Clark's setting up the lone Pioneer touchdown.

On the fifth day of Pioneer Football, we once again recognize Kevin Hwang and Andrew Clark, who tied for the Midwest Conference lead with five interceptions each.  For Clark, his fifth interception of the season, in the finale against Cornell College, tied the Grinnell College career record.  Clark and Matt Johnston (1997-2000) both recorded 14 career interceptions.

New Link for Tazon de Estrellas Broadcast

Feller, Kinsinger, and Hwang with three players from Mexico's roster.

Here is a new link to watch the live broadcast of the Tazon de Estrellas.  The game will kick off at 1:00 pm Central.  Tune in to support Pioneers Colton Feller, Kevin Hwang, and Morgan Kinsinger, as well as Team USA.

12 Days of Pioneer Football - the Third Day

On the third day of football my Pioneers gave to me: three players participating in post-season all-star games.  

Left tackle Morgan Kinsinger played the entire game for the South All-Stars in the D3 Senior Bowl in Salem Virginia last Friday night.  Kinsinger's South squad lost 10-7, but missed two field goal tries.  Morgan capped off a great career by being named Most Valuable Offensive Linemen for the third time, winning the Abe Rosenbloom Most Outstanding Offensive or Defensive Lineman, being named 2nd team All-Conference, and being invited to the D3 Senior Bowl as well as the Tazon de Estrellas.

Linebacker Colton Feller will also lace up the pads one more time at the Tazon de Estrellas.  Feller started 37 of 40 games in his career, and served as a captain his senior year.

Kevin Hwang was also named All-Conference after his senior year.  He has been moved from cornerback to outside linebacker to safety, where he was the most productive.  Hwang finished the year tied for first in the conference in interceptions and tied for sixth in tackles. 

The Tazon de Estrellas will kick off Saturday, December 21 at 1:00 pm central time, and can be viewed at: www.Terra.com.mx

12 Days of Pioneer Football - the Second Day

On the second day of football my Pioneers gave to me: two non-offensive touchdowns and a Cliff Harris Award finalist.

The Pioneers hosted their first home game of the season Saturday, September 28th against Beloit College.  Looking for their first win of the season, and starting a backup quarterback in rainy conditions, the Pioneers needed an early spark to gain some momentum.  That's exactly what they got from Junior linebacker Rich Renteria.  Renteria came off the edge for a huge sack/forced fumble that was recovered in the end zone by junior defensive end Clayton Desjardin for a 7-0 lead.

Later in the second quarter, sophomore safety Jacob Beecher broke through the punt protection to pressure and sack Buccaneer punter.  The ball squirted away and was recovered by first year Jacob Bernholtz for one of his three touchdowns on the day, and a 14-0 lead. 

The Pioneer offense got rolling soon after, and the team earned it's biggest victory of the season, 42-17.

Pioneers Help Stock the Local Food Pantry

Captains Seth Gustafson and David Ternes do some grocery shopping.

Each year the Pioneer Football team uses the proceeds from t-shirt sales to give back to a worthy group.  This year they've decided to help stock the local food pantry for the upcoming holiday season.  The local food pantry is run by MICA (Mid-Iowa Community Action).  MICA has been in operation for over 40 years, with a mission of "Helping People.  Changing Lives.  Building Communities."  For information on how you can get involved, visit MICA's website.  
 

12 Days of Pioneer Football

In honor of the holiday season, we will be presenting the 12 Days of Pioneer Football video series.  Since it's already the 16th, check back often, as we'll be posting two videos a day for the first part of the week.

Day One highlights David Ternes, a Cliff Harris Award finalist.  David capped a second-consecutive strong campaign by being named All-Midwest Conference for the second year in a row, Midwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 2),  the Most Outstanding Defensive Line/Inside Linebacker for the second year in a row, and the Dick Ullrich '33 Most Outstanding Offensive or Defensive Back.  Ternes was also re-elected as a team captain, a position he's held since last December. 

Morgan Kinsinger set to Play in D3 Senior Classic

Kinsinger pins a Carroll defender inside.

 Stalwart left tackle Morgan Kinsinger will play in the first of two post-season all-star games Friday, December 13.  The game is scheduled for a 6:00 PM Central kickoff, and can be viewed here. 

Kinsinger is only the second Pioneer to be selected for the D3 Senior Classic, receiver Rob Seer was the other in 2011.  Morgan is also slated to play in the Tazon de Estrellas in Mexico, joined by teammates Colton Feller and Kevin Hwang.  A link to view the Tazon de Estrellas will be released soon.

Ternes Named a Finalist for Inaugural Cliff Harris Award

Ternes celebrating an interception vs Monmouth

Junior linebacker David Ternes continues to rack up the accolades, with the latest being named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award. 

A total of 100 players were nominated for the award, across Division II, Division III and NAIA.  The list was narrowed to 49 finalists, and Ternes was one of only 21 from Division III.  He was also the only finalist from the Midwest Conference.

Ternes finished the season as the conference leader with 13.0 tackles per game.  He also recorded 7.5 tackles for a loss, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.

The winner of the Cliff Harris Award will be announced later this month, and honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club in February.

Kinsinger's Story Picked up by KCCI

Morgan Kinsinger

Senior left tackle Morgan Kinsinger's story was picked up by Des Moines news station KCCI Channel 8.  As chronicled earlier, Kinsinger has battled through football injuries this season, as well as illness off the field, to remain a consistent force on the offensive line for the Pioneers.

Kinsinger blocks a PAT attempt by Lawrence, his second of the season

Morgan played another solid game in the Pioneers 24-21 victory over Lawrence this past Saturday.  With a huge block to spring Emmi Sandoval on a screen pass and his second blocked PAT of the season, he had a huge impact on the game.  Kinsinger and the rest of the senior class have two games left, this Saturday at St. Norbert, and November 16 at home against Cornell.

The 2013 senior class

Ternes Named MWC Defensive Player of the Week

David Ternes celebrates a fourth down sack that stopped another Lawrence drive

Linebacker David Ternes was named the Midwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week after the Pioneers 24 - 21 victory over the Lawrence Vikings last Saturday.  Ternes led all defenders with 16 total tackles, 12 solo, and a crititcal sack on fourth and one, from the two yard line.  Spurred by Ternes, the Pioneers Black Swarm defense made three huge goal line stands on the day, all three being key to the victory.

The Black Swarm defense stops the ball carrier on the first goal line stand of the game

After eight games, Ternes leads the Midwest Conference with 108 tackles, six for a loss.  He also has a sack, an interception, and two fumble recoveries.  Ternes was named all-region by d3football.com last year, as well as pre-season all-american by USA Football Network.

Ternes' selection was the second of the year for the Pioneers (Jacob Bernholtz on Sept. 28), and the eleventh since the 2010 season.

The Pioneers will return to northern Wisconsin this Saturday to take on conference leader St. Norbert.  The game will kick off at 1:07 pm, with a live video feed on MWCTV and the local audio feed from KGRN.

Pioneers Among Statistical Leaders

As the Pioneers prepare for back to back trips to the northern-most schools in the conference (Lawrence and St. Norbert) it is time to take a look at how the Pioneers rank statistically, both nationally and within the Midwest Conference.

David Ternes forces a fumble against Lake Forest

Nationally, the Pioneers Black Swarm Defense ranks 17th in total turnovers forced with 20.  Indvidually, David Ternes ranks 6th in the country with 13.1 tackles per game.  The last time a Pioneer defender ranked so high in a national statistical category was in 2008, when linebacker Brett Maloney led all of Division III with 16.1 tackles per game (see them here and here).

Richard Renteria with one of his 4.5 sacks

The Pioneers also rank well within the conference, with four individuals leading the league in a statistical category.  Ternes of course leads the league in tackles per game, senior defensive back Andrew Clark is leading in kick return average (22.6), senior safety Kevin Hwang is tied for the league lead with four interceptions, and junior Richard Renteria is tied for the lead in forced fumbles.  Ternes is also second in the league in fumble recoveries and Renteria is third in sacks (4.5).  Clark is fourth in passes defended and Hwang is fifth, while fellow senior defensive back Seth Gustafson is tied for second with nine in only seven games.  Rounding out the leaders on the defensive side of the ball, senior linebacker Jeremy Wiles is fifth in tackles per game.

Jeremy Wiles getting ready to bring pressure from the edge.

Offensively the Pioneers are paced by quarterback Sam Poulos, who is ranked third in passing yards per game (214.4), just .2 yards per game behind second place.  Wide receiver Jake Meixler is fourth in the conference in receptions per game (4.9) and fifth in yards per game (60.4).  First-year running back Jacob Bernholtz is 8th in the league in scoring with 6.0 points per game.

Jake Meixler turns a short hitch into a long gain against Beloit

The Pioneers look to improve their standing, both individually and as a team, this weekend against Lawrence.  The game will kick off at 1:00 PM, with the webcast at MWCTV and the live audio at KGRN.

Morgan Kinsinger Featured in NCAA.ORG Article

Senior left tackle Morgan Kinsinger has been a steadying force up front for the Pioneers for the past three years.  Morgan and fellow senior Quinn Rosenthal (36 straight starts on the offensive line), have been the constants on the offensive side of the ball since late in the 2010 season.  For Morgan, there have been some bumps along the way, but he's overcome all obstacles to remain a force up front.

Part of Morgan's story (beating cancer and overcoming injury) is detailed in this weeks Faces of the NCAA.  Left out of the story was the hard work Morgan put in during his first year at Grinnell to even be in a position to play Division III football. 

Morgan arrived in Grinnell as a 6'04" 205 pound project.  After some debate about where he'd play, (OL or TE), it was decided the offensive line had bigger needs, but maybe he'd move to TE down the road.  Towards the end of his first-year, Morgan filled in for injured starter Jake McVeigh '11, seeing significant action in the last three games of the season.  With an off-season of hard work, Morgan left campus in May having gained some good weight (up to 240 pounds) and having lost any chance of ever playing tight end.  Projected as the starting left tackle, he lost most of his summer due to the cancer diagnosis, but Morgan returned in time to see limited action in the pre-season intersquad scrimmage.  He went on to play every offensive snap during both his sophomore and junior seasons. 

Morgan now tips the scales at around 270 pounds, and is perhaps quicker than when he started at Grinnell.  He has had to fight through several injuries this year, but is putting together his best season yet.

Morgan and the rest of the senior class will lead Grinnell against Carroll this Saturday, on Rosenbloom Field.  Kickoff is at 1:00 and you can listen to the game here and watch the live webcast here.

Pioneers Return to Rosenbloom

For only the second time all season, the Pioneers will host an opponent on Rosenbloom Field.  They will face a difficult opponent in Ripon College, but with the home field advantage they appear up to the task.

The game will kick off at 1:00 PM, and will be broadcast by MWCTV, with an audio feed provided by KGRN 1410. 

The Pioneers look to get back on track, and to continue their winning ways at home.  In order to have success the Pioneers must stop the triple-option attack that has helped Ripon move the ball on the ground with great effectiveness for many years.  Offensively, Grinnell must counter with a balanced attack against the Redhawk defense. 

The Pioneers are also inviting all area recruits to visit the game.  Please contact Head Coach Jeff Pedersen for a schedule of the day and for further details.

Pioneer Black Swarm Defense on a Roll

The Grinnell College Pioneer Black Swarm defense has forced ten turnovers in the past two games.  The Pioneers have intercepted six passes and forced four fumbles, scoring two touchdowns themselves and setting up the Pioneer offense inside the five yard line on a third drive (click here to see the video: Black Swarm Forces Ten Turnovers).

This past Saturday, against Beloit College, the Pioneers finally put together a complete team effort.  Playing in rainy conditions the offense took care of the ball (only one turnover compared to Beloit's six) and scored on several big plays.  The Pioneers travel to Monmouth College October 12, where they'll look to defeat the Midwest Conference heavyweight Monmouth Scots for the third time in four years.  

Jacob Bernholtz Named MWC Offensive Player of the Week

Rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries, Jacob Bernholtz helped lead the Pioneers to a 42 - 17 victory over Beloit College.  Earlier today he was also named the Midwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

Bernholtz slips through the hole on the way to a 59 yard scoring run.

Bernholtz scored his first touchdown of the day on a fumble recovery in the end zone, to give the Pioneers a 14 - 0.  He followed that up with a beautiful 59 yard scoring run to put the Pioneers up 21 - 3.  He capped off the scoring with a 65 yard run in the fourth quarter. 

Bernholtz' second TD run came behind the right side of the line, covering 65 yards.

The Pioneers 42 points were the most since scoring 43 against Knox College in October of 2011.  It was also the most the Pioneers have score against Beloit since a 45 - 20 victory over the Buccaneers in 1996.  The Pioneer defense has now forced 12 turnovers in four games, on pace to far outdistance last year's total of 21. 

The Pioneers will enjoy a bye week before heading to Monmouth College to take on the Scots October 12.

Stellar Defensive Effort Not Enough

In front of a tremendous crowd of traveling Pioneer friends and family, a stellar defensive effort, including four first-half interceptions, was not enough for the Pioneers Saturday, as they dropped another road game 15 - 7 at Lake Forest.

Andrew Clark sets up the Pioneer offense with an interception return

The Pioneers struck first as Andrew Clark returned an interception inside the Forester five yard line.  Jacob Bernholtz punched it in from the one two plays later, and Graham Fisher's extra point made it  7 - 0 Grinnell.

Seth Gustafson intercepts a Forester pass.

Later in the half Lake Forest answered with a touchdown of their own to tie the game, and took the lead after stopping the Pioneers for a safety.  In an unfortunate turn for the Pioneers, Seth Gustafson stopped a promising Lake Forest drive with a very nice interception, and looked to have fallen into the end zone for a touchback.  Instead the ball was spotted on the six inch line, and the Pioneers weren't able to advance it, giving up the safety.

Kevin Hwang prevents a touchdown with a second quarter interception

The first half closed with the 9 - 7 score, after interceptions by Kevin Hwang and Colton Feller.

Colton Feller makes the final interception of the day

The Foresters were able to add two more field goals to make it 15 - 7, heading into the final minutes of the game.  With two minutes to go, the Pioneer offense finally mounted a serious threat into Lake Forest territory.  Quarterback TJ Goetz completed passes to Emmi Sandoval, Greg Ruzich, Jake Meixler, and Aamir Walton. The final completion brought the offense to just outside the 20, unfortunately they failed to convert a 4th and 6, and Lake Forest was able to kneel out the clock.

The Pioneers look forward to their home opener this Saturday, September 28, against Beloit College.  The kickoff at Rosenbloom Field will be at 1:00 PM Central, and the game will be on the radio at KGRN 1410, and webcast at MWCTV . 

Happy Birthday Nora Jane!

Showing off the new dress

On a Friday afternoon 34 years and a couple days ago Sandy Pedersen went into labor with her first child.  Her husband, Jhan was an assistant coach for the the Starmont Stars, and they were scheduled to play a road game that evening.  As the labor dragged on it became apparent that Jhan would have to miss the game.  I was born shortly before midnight, and it would be the only game my dad ever missed as a coach.

Fast forward to Saturday, September 18, 2010, a rainy and stormy day.  In my first year as the head coach of the Grinnell Pioneers we had gotten of to a 2-0 start, including an upset road win over nationally ranked Monmouth College.  We were scheduled to play conference foe Ripon College.  I woke up about 7:00 to walk the dog and get ready for the day, trying to be quiet so my daughter Frances and pregnant wife Jordan could sleep in a little.  As I was getting ready to leave the house Jordan says, "I think today is the day."  WHAT?!!  TODAY?!!

I sent Jordan to the hospital while I came in for our 8:40 team meeting.  At the meeting I urged the guys to block out the things they couldn't control (weather, etc.) and to focus on what they could control (executing their assignment).  I sent them off to breakfast, then told assistant head coach Tim Hollibaugh that I was headed to the hospital to see what was happening. 

Once I got to the hospital I was told that yes, today would be the day.  I rushed back to campus to meet the team at breakfast and give them the news that I would be missing the game for the birth of our second daughter.  I wished them luck, then reminded them of what I had said earlier, control what you can control and don't worry about the rest!

Well, we were partly successful that day.  Nora Jane Pedersen was born around 3:00 PM, a healthy and beautiful 8 pound baby girl.  Unfortunately for the Pioneers, the afternoon did not go as planned.  We fell behind early in a sloppy game, and as the teams headed for the locker rooms at halftime it turned from a rain storm into a thunder storm.  There was an hour-long delay due to lightning in the area.  When the teams finally resumed play we made a nice comeback in the third quarter, but ultimately fell short.

"Dad, we're making a good comeback here."

"They scored again?  Ppfftt!!"

"Oh man!  This game stinks!"

As I walked into the team meeting room that Sunday morning, I was unsure of what to expect.  Would the team be upset, feeling I had abandoned them?  Would they have some level of understanding?  I wasn't sure.  Well, the moment I walked in the door I got my answer, I received a standing ovation from the guys.  Was it deserved?  Probably not, after all, my only role was holding Jordan's hand during the delivery.  Was it appreciated?  For sure.  That let me know all I need about this team, and the privilege I have being a part of it every day. 

Go Pioneers and Happy Birthday Nora Jane!!

Pioneers Down One Score at Half, Let it Slip Away

Jeremy Wiles makes one of his 18 tackles

Graham Fisher's '16 45 yard field goal with 5 seconds left in the first half cut the lead to 21 - 13, but that would prove the final score of the day for the Pioneers.  The Blueboys of Illinois College pumped in two third-quarter touchdown as the Pioneers saw several promising drives stall near mid-field.  The final score of 42 - 13 was a disappointment for the Pioneers, especially after playing one of the pre-season conference favorites so close for a half.

Fisher celebrates his 45 yard field goal

The Pioneers got on the board in the first quarter when Fisher nailed a 24 yard field goal to cap a ten play drive.  Fisher had a strong day kicking, with field goals of 24 and 45 yards.  He barely missed a third, when his 48 yard attempt bounced off the left upright.  Fisher punted the ball well all day, pinning the Blueboys inside the 20 three times on the day.

The second score of the day came on a three yard run by Jacob Bernholtz '17.  The Pioneer offense looked to have found some rhythm in the first half, converting several third downs to keep drives alive.  Unfortunately the opposite proved true in the second half, as they failed to convert on several makeable third downs.

Bernholtz creases the defense for a touchdown

Defensively, the Pioneers were led by Jeremy Wiles' 14 18 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss.  Seth Gustafson '14 also played well, blanketing the Blueboy receivers all day.

Gustafson tackles a ball-carrier for a short gain

The Pioneers will travel to Lake Forest for their third straight road game to open the season.  The kickoff against the Forresters will be at 1:00 PM at Farwell Field, and will be broadcast live on MWCTV with an audio broadcast on KGRN 1410.     

36 Completions to Ten Different Receivers

Pioneer quarterback Sam Poulos '16 completed a total of 36 passes in the game last Saturday.  That total is good for second most in a single game in Grinnell College history.  Ten different receivers caught passes, led by Jake Meixler '15, and his 12 receptions.

Football 101

Zaw Bo '17 (Yangon, Myanmar) and Han Trinh '17 (Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam)

This past Friday a group of international students continued their orientation to life at Grinnell College and in the United States with a session on football.

Jake O'Polka '16 and Ibuki Ogasawara '17 (Takasaki, Japan) discuss the basics of the game

Most knew of football only in the international sense, soccer as we know it, and were eager to learn more about the game as it's played here.  The group joined the Pioneers for their Friday walk-through to try on some equipment and to get a few pointers.

Jeremy Wiles '14 works with Na Chainkua Reindorf '14 (Accra, Ghana) on her touchdown celebration

After practice, the group got a basic introduction to the game from Residence Life Coordinator Dan Hirsch.  Hirsch did a nice job breaking the game down to it's most basic principles, and relating it to their shared knowledge of other games.  Hopefully a few "graduates" of the course will be interested in continuing to learn more about the game!

Harnak Mann '14 helps Christine Ajinjeru '14 (Kampala, Uganda) lace up her pads

Pioneers Drop Non-Conference Game

On another smoldering late summer day the Pioneers dropped their season opener 29-10.  The Pioneer offense failed to score on several promising drives early in the game, once being stopped on downs and once missing a field goal.  They fell behind after a long scoring strike in the first quarter and two more long touchdowns in the second.

Coming out of halftime the Pioneers put together a nice 13 play drive that once again ended in a turnover.  They finally got on the board with a field goal midway through the third quarter, but saw another opportunity slip away when yet another drive inside the red zone ended on the final turnover of the day.

The final score was reached late in the fourth quarter when Greg Ruzich '16 caught the first touchdown of his career.

Greg Ruzich '16 hauls in his first career touchdown.

Statistically, the Pioneers were led by Sam Poulos '16 who completed 36 of 59 passing attempts.  Both marks were good for second all-time in a single game. 

Sam Poulos '16 delivers one of his 36 completions

Defensively, Kevin Hwang '14 recorded ten tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery.  Hwang's day was limited to only three quarters, as he had to leave due to severe cramping.

Kevin Hwang '14 goes high for the interception

The Pioneers will regroup and prepare for their conference opener against Illinois College in Jacksonville, IL.  The game will kickoff at 1:00 PM, Saturday the 14th.  It will be broadcast live on MWCTV with an audio broadcast on KGRN 1410. 

Pioneers Look Good in Scrimmage

The Pioneers hosted their annual intrasquad scrimmage Saturday on Rosenbloom Field and got the season started in fine fashion. 

Goetz '14 delivers the ball.

Dressed in their new black Adidas Techfit jerseys, the defense looked good early.  They forced two quick three-and-outs to start the scrimmage, and forced a fumble to start the fourth series.  The linebacking corps of Colton Feller '14, David Ternes '15, Richard Renteria '15, and Jeremy Wiles '14 led the way as expected, doing a nice job stuffing the run and pressuring the quarterback.  The experienced defensive backfield of Seth Gustafson, Andrew Clark, Kevin Hwang, and Max Keller, all class of 2014, looked sharp as well. 

Ed Hardman '16 brings down Aamir Walton '15.

The Pioneer offense finally got things clicking with some quick passes from backup quarterback TJ Goetz '14, and a nice scoring toss from starter Sam Poulos '16 to Jake O'Polka '16.  Senior linemen Morgan Kinsinger and Quinn Rosenthal led the way up front.

O'Polka '16 hauls in a touchdown.

All told, the Pioneers ran 62 plays on the sixth consecutive day with a heat index of over 95 degrees.  The mental toughness displayed by the Pioneers throughout the pre-season should pay dividends when they head to Northfield, MN this Saturday to take on Carleton.  The game will kick off at 1:00 PM and will be webcast by Carleton (details will be provided soon).  You can also catch the broadcast of Chris Varney, the voice of the Pioneers, on KGRN 1410 and online.

Busy Day for the Pioneers

In what was the busiest day yet for the 2013 Pioneers, they were still able to find time for some fun.

The day began with a 6:30 practice.  The Pioneers were greeted with a heavy layer of fog for the special-teams heavy practice.

Classic football weather for the 6:30 AM practice

The practice finished with speed and agility drills for the skill guys and strongest man drills for the linemen.  After practice each player got a protein bar and gatorade to begin the re-fueling process immediately, then they made their way to the pool for twenty minutes to aid in the recovery process.

In an event coordinated by Pioneer track and field star Christine Ajinjeru '14 and captains Colton Feller '14, Seth Gustafson '14, Morgan Kinsinger '14, and David Ternes '15, the Pioneers joined the students from the International Pre-Orientation Progam (IPOP) for lunch.

Harnak Mann '14 connects with new students

The lunch was a great opportunity for each group to learn about the other.  Obviously no two international students are the same, and neither are any two student-athtletes, but it was a great opportunity to connect and learn.

Following lunch the Pioneers spread across campus to help the incoming first-year students move into their dorms.  With groups stationed at the North, South, and East campus dorms they made quick work of a difficult task for the incoming students.

At 3:00 they finally moved back into football-mode.  They had a special teams meeting, followed by offense and defense meetings, then a full-padded practice.  There was a lot of good back and forth competition with the offense finally breaking off some long, explosive plays.  However the defense forced more turnovers yesterday than they had all pre-season.  It's great to see those groups compete!

The day continued with a trip to equipment manager Roger Bauman's farm for some bbq and a fishing derby.  The food and hospitality were both better than the fishing, but the Pioneers managed to reel in a few. 

Clayton Desjardin '15, winner of the smallest fish prize

The night concluded with a players-only trip to the Dairy Barn. 

It was certainly a full-day, but such is the life of a student-athlete at Grinnell College.

Looking Good on Testing Day

The Pioneers reported Thursday, August 15th and officially began the season on Friday with some testing in the weight room.  You could feel how anxious and excited the guys were to get started, and they performed well once they did.

The Pioneers had one new entry on the top five hang clean list in Colton Feller '14. 

Senior Linebacker Colton Feller hang cleans 345

Kevin Hwang '14, who is currently second all-time, also cleaned well.

Senior defensive back Kevin Hwang

The Pioneers re-wrote the top five pro-agility times, recording the new three fastest times.  Richard Renteria '15, Jeremy Wiles '14, and Kevin Hwang '14 led the way.  There were two new entries in the 20 yard dash, with Barrett Morrissette '16 and Jacob Meixler '15 tying for third all-time, and Andrew Clark '14 tying his previous best, which is second on the list. 

We finished testing with strong performances from Morgan Kinsinger '14 and Zach Davis '17 in the bench press and Wiles, Hwang, and Morrissette in the vertical.

Sophomore running back Barrett Morrissette

The Pioneers will look to turn their strength and speed into on-field success.  Be sure to attend the intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, August 31 at 1:00 pm on Rosenbloom Field.

Pioneer Football Featured in Grinnell Magazine

Brian Westerlind '12 #33 with his fellow defensive linemen at Macalester in September, 2011

Former Pioneer Brian Westerlind '12 was featured in the Observations section (page 15) of the Summer 2013 issue of Grinnell Magazine.  His letter, titled Pioneer Football: It has made me who I am is a great testament to the many benefits of participating in varsity athletics at Grinnell, and football in particular.

Westerlind began his Pioneer career as a tight end and moved to the defensive side of the ball for his Junior and Senior seasons.  He was in the midst of a productive senior season as a defensive end when he suffered a broken leg midway through the season.  Brian's attitude in recovering from the injury and subsequent surgeries was admirable, as was the leadership and coaching he provided for younger players on the defensive line.  A recipient of the Florence Smith Sifferd '30 Science Scholarship and the James Walter Rosenfield Scholarship, Westerlind is now a medical researcher for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. 

Thanks for the great letter Brian!

Staff Changes for the Pioneers

Former Pioneer Football assistant coach Ben Cooprider has taken a new position within Grinnell's Athletic Department.  Cooprider will serve as the Coordinator of Athletic Facilities, while continuing to serve as an assistant baseball coach.  With Cooprider's departure the football staff has added one new member and re-organized heading into the upcoming season.

Nick Plato will assume the duty of special teams coordinator, while also coaching the receivers and quarterbacks.  Darien Bell will join Plato on the offensive side of the ball, coaching the running backs.  Head Coach Jeff Pedersen '02 will continue to coach the offensive line and coordinate the offense.

Plato and Bell work some x's and o's

Defensively, Jason Martinez enters his fourth year as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.  Long-time Pioneer head baseball and assistant football coach Tim Hollibaugh will once again coach the defensive line.  New addition to the staff, Tom Brinkman '13 will coach the defensive backs.

Brinkman on the recruiting trail

Nate Smith will continue to serve as a defensive assistant the the kickers coach.

Coach Pedersen is pleased with the staff changes, and optimistic heading into the season.  "Of course it's tough to lose Ben, he's done a great job for us the past four seasons, but baseball is his passion, and this will be a good move for him.  I'm very excited to add Tom to the staff.  He was a great player for us, known for being a technically sound and high effort player.  I believe he'll instill the same characteristics with our guys.  He's a great addition for us."

The Pioneers will host an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, August 31 at 1:00 on Rosenbloom Field.  The home opener is against Beloit Saturday, September 28.