Coming Back Home!

After a full two weeks on the road, I'm finally returning back home.  It's been a great time, and very productive, but I'm excited to be returning to Grinnell just in time for our spring season to get under way.

I started my trip with a few days of family vacation in Daytona Beach, FL.  We had a nice time at the pool, the beach, and at De Leon Springs State Park.  The highlight of the trip was the up close views of alligators on the river.

It's a little hard to see, but that's a big old gator staring us down.

The track team soon joined us in Daytona for a week of quality training at Embry Riddle University.  This was the fourth year in a row we've trained there, and it is one of the highlights of the track and field season.  Besides the quality training and recruiting for the football team, the trips to the beach, and the outstanding shopping at the Volusia Mall (!), the most anticipated events of the trip are Coach Will Freeman's regular trips to Krispy Kreme for fresh donuts.

"Here he comes!  The Donut King!"

Warm donuts for all

From Daytona, the team headed north to Atlanta, for the two-day meet at Emory University.  We don't traditionally have great performances at this meet, as most athletes are coming off an intense week of training, but it is nice to get in a quality meet to start the outdoor season.  The trip to Atlanta also serves as a great opportunity for me to continue my recruiting.  Besides the two student-athletes that have been admitted to Grinnell for the recruiting class of 2015, I was able to visit many area coaches to increase our prospect pool for 2016.  I put plenty of miles on the car, but I'm pleased with the results of the trip. 

937 miles and 24 total hours in the car later and I'm happy to be headed home!

For now though, I'm happy to be headed back to Grinnell.  We've got a great group of Juniors visiting campus for our Junior Day next Friday, in addition to the Admitted Student's Programs the 12th -13th and 19th-20th.  Throw in our spring practices, plus the outdoor season for track and field, and April will be a busy month!  Can't wait!

Sam Poulos Enjoying His Time Overseas

Poulos waits for Meixler to come open before delivering a touchdown strike

Pioneer quarterback Sam Poulos '16 is spending his spring semester studying abroad in Denmark.  Check out his quick update from his semester:

So far the experience has been pretty awesome. Living in a different country has been very different, but over time I have began to get used to it. While seeing the differences between countries is unique, it made me appreciate the culture that I grew up in.

I would say one of the cooler experiences so far would be traveling to Berlin, Germany and Prague, Czech Republic with my international business class. In both of these cities, I was able to visit different companies to learn about business in different countries. In Berlin, I was able to visit the headquarters for the German automobile industry, and DB bahn (German train company). With each company they talked about how to market themselves in Germany, as well as different ways to market themselves in Europe and the U.S.

In Prague, my class visited Skoda car company and Siemens. At the Skoda car factory we were able to go watch how the cars were assembled, which was something I had never done before. At Siemens, they taught us about how they market their company in the U.S. and about the new technology fields they were looking to expand too.

Even though I most likely will not go into international business in the future, it was a unique experience that I would not be able to have in the U.S. I was able to learn how foreign industries think differently than U.S. companies. Hearing a different perspective of business is also a unique experience.

Former Pioneer Seth Gustafson '14 Featured on Grinnell Homepage

Seth pulls down and interception against Lake Forest in 2013

Former Pioneer defensive back Seth Gustafson '14 was recently featured on the front page of the Grinnell College web site.  Seth was a four year starter for us and finished with five career interceptions and 15 passes defended.  The article features Seth in his current role at The Pavilion Behavioral Health System as well as his research at the Beckman Institute for Science and Technology at the University of Illinois.  He is a great example of someone who made the most of his four years, both on the field and with his studies.  Seth spent one summer completing an off-campus internship and one completing a MAP.  Both experiences helped him land where he is today.  

Keep up the good work Seth! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Pioneers!  If you're looking for a little luck o' the Irish when you choose your college, keep in mind that Grinnell College is one of the Ten College's With the Most Generous Financial Aid.  The highest ranked Division III school, and ranked in the same list as Vanderbilt, Duke, and the University of Chicago, Grinnell is proud f it's longstanding tradition of making ourselves affordable to all.  Check out the article!

Former Pioneer Wins Prestigious Teaching Award

Former Pioneer defensive back Dwain Desbien '90 has been named the 2015 David Halliday and Robert Resnick Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching.  Selected by the American Association of Physics Teachers, Desbien was recongized for his "contributions to undergraduate physics teaching and awardees are chosen for their extraordinary accomplishments in communicating the excitement of physics to their students." 

Grinnell Director of Athletics, and former head football coach Greg Wallace noted that, "Dwain was a defensive back at Grinnell when I started here years ago.  He was a great guy and it is great to see him getting the recognition he deserves.  He's always been passionate about his studies and about his students, and it's great to see him getting this recognition."

Congratulations Dwain, keep up the good work!

2015 Schedule: Part 2

Quarterback Sam Poulos scores a fourth quarter TD

After the first four games of the season, the Pioneers will jump into the southern division portion of their schedule.  We will take the short trip east to Mt. Vernon to take on the Cornell Rams.  In last years meeting we fought back to cut the lead to 14-10 at the end of the third quarter, and 21-17 midway through the fourth, before falling short.  Cornell has proven to be a physical and talented opponent since re-joining the MWC in 2012, and we look forward to the challenge this fall.

1st team all-conference punter Graham Fisher got the scoring started vs Illinois College

We follow up the trip to Mt. Vernon with a trip south to Jacksonville, IL to face Illinois College.  The Blueboys are the defending southern division champions, but they'll have a new look heading into the 2015 season without long-time starting quarterback Michael Bates.  IC has always been able to score points, and it's our challenge to score with them.  It should be an entertaining game.

Renteria seals the victory with this fumble recovery

The Pioneers return to Rosenbloom to take on the Knox Prairie Fire for the third of five divisional games.  After a slow first half in last year's contest, the Pioneers completed a furious rally to win 21-18.  Trailing 10-0 heading into the fourth quarter, we scored 21 straight to take control of the game.  We gave up a late score, but sealed the victory when Scott Beecher forced a fumble that Rich Renteria returned to the Prairie Fire one yard line.  We kneeled out the clock and earned a nice road win.  Hopefully the 2015 contest is less dramatic!

After the home contest against Knox, the Pioneers will hit the road once again, traveling to Monmouth to take on the Scots.  A traditional MWC power, it will be interesting to see how the departure of long-time head coach Steve Bell will affect the Scots.  Before Bell's arrival, Monmouth was near the bottom of the league on a yearly basis, but since have strung together a sustained run of success matched only by St. Norbert.  Two of our biggest recent wins have come over Monmouth though, and hopefully 2015 is another!

We finished with a big win on Senior Day in 2014, looking to do the same against Lake Forest in 2015

The Pioneers will celebrate Senior Day with their final home contest against Lake Forest.  After two straight frustrating trips to the north shore suburb of Chicago, we are looking to turn the tables on the Foresters in 2015.  The weather played quite a role in the 2014 contest, as we took an early 7-6 lead playing with the wind.  After switching directions for the 2nd and 3rd quarters Lake Forest took advantage and built a 28-7 lead.  We were able to cut into the lead with one fourth quarter score, but it was too little, too late.  We should be fired up and ready to go in 2015, celebrating our seniors on Rosenbloom for the last time and playing for a higher seed for the crossover weekend.  It should be an exciting day!