Signing Day 2016

Jordan Hall, Quarterback and Defensive Back from Whitney Young in Chicago, IL has decided to join the Pioneers for the fall of 2016.  Jordan's primary position was at cornerback, but he has the skills, the talent, and the mentality to play any number of positions for us next fall.  He is the third player from Whitney Young that we've added over the past few years (Barrett Morrissette '16 and Cole Riley '19).  We're very excited to add Jordan, and can't wait to see him in the Scarlet and Black next fall!

Jordan Hall Highlights

Signing Day 2016

Alex Quist (left) will bring size and leadership experience

Alex Quist from Saint Peter, MN is the first offensive lineman to commit to the Pioneers in the class of 2016.  Alex will be a valuable addition to The Drove, as he has good size and technique.  He played guard at Saint Peter High School, and will likely stay at that position for us.  We are very happy to add Alex to the 2016 Pioneers!

Alex Quist Highlights

Jacob Beecher Named Co-Recipient of the Scholar Athlete Award

As previously noted, the Pioneers added to their lineup of postseason awards in 2015, adding the scholar-athlete award.  The award goes not just to the Pioneer with the best GPA, but rather to the Pioneer who has an outstanding GPA, challenged himself in his area of study, and also excelled on the playing field.  Two Pioneers were selected for the inaugural award, one being safety/outside linebacker Jacob Beecher.

Jacob has been a two-sport athlete at Grinnell College since day one.  Contributing to both the football and baseball teams, Jacob has stayed busy but has not let it affect his studies.  He is a bio-chemistry major who finished with an outstanding GPA, was named academic all-conference four times and was named to the Dean's List twice.  As if that weren't enough, he graduated a semester early and will begin his studies at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences this fall.

Congratulations Beech.  Best of luck!

Signing Day 2016

The first player in the class of 2016 from the state of Iowa is Zisimos Doulaveris, a defensive tackle from Columbus Catholic in Waterloo, IA.  Z will provide added size in the interior of the defensive front, eating up blockers and freeing up our inside linebackers like Ryan Slager to make even more tackles this year.  I'm excited to add Z to the lineup for 2016!

Signing Day 2016

Bradford Knowlton, a linebacker from Punahou High School in Hawaii, will also be joining the Pioneers in 2016.  Brad has the speed to make plays from sideline to sideline, as well as the physicality to stuff the inside run.  He has played with and against the best players in the state of Hawaii, and is ready to make an immediate impact.  We are very excited to have him join the Black Swarm Defense!

Bradford Knowlton Highlight

Signing Day 2016

Michael O'Shea with another powerful run through the defense

The next addition to the Grinnell Pioneers is Michael O'Shea, from St. Paul Academy.  Michael is a multi-talented player that could fill many roles on either offense or defense.  We'll likely take a look at him as an H-Back or as another running back.  Michael will bring added size and speed our offense, able to run between the tackles with power, as well as the speed to take those carries all the way to the end zone.  He is also an effective blocker.  We're very excited to add a weapon like Michael to our offense!

Michael O'Shea Highlights

Tazon de Estrellas

Colton Feller, Kevin Hwang, and Morgan Kinsinger in 2013

ESPN recently put out a great piece on the Tazon de Estrellas, the all-star game that pits the best players from Division III against the best players in Mexico.  Over the years the Pioneers have represented team Stars and Stripes very well.  Going back to 1998, ten different Pioneers have participated in the all-star game.

1998 - Richard Wemer - WR (known as the Aztec Bowl at the time)
2001 - Jeff Pedersen - TE (known as the Aztec Bowl at the time)
2010 - Marquis Bradley - LB
2011 - Logan Granera - WR
2011 - Robert Seer - WR
2012 - Tom Brinkman - DL
2012 - Brian Taylor - DL
2013 - Colton Feller - LB
2013 - Kevin Hwang - S
2013 - Morgan Kinsinger - OL

Signing Day 2016!

Signing Day is, and always has been, quite a bit different at the division 3 level.  Because we do not offer athletic scholarships and the corresponding letters of intent, and because there are several different deadlines throughout the year, it is difficult to hold a signing day similar to divisions 1 and 2.  However, the NCAA recently passed legislation allowing a Celebration Letter to be signed by any Division 3 student-athlete that has already submitted a deposit.

Here at Grinnell, we add to our roster through Early Decision 1, Early Decision 2, and Regular Decision.  We typically get slightly less than half our class through the Early Decision rounds, and we're sitting in a good place so far this year.  We've got two strong defensive players from the class of 2015 that deferred their admission for a year, and we've added an additional eight players through the Early Decision round.  Over the course of the next few days we'll highlight those guys, and celebrate their decisions to be Pioneers!

Up first, Trent and Trey Wiebusch from Providence Academy and Long Lake, MN.  Trent and Trey are from the class of 2015, but they deferred their decisions in order to complete year long service commitments.  Both are very good defensive players that can be used anywhere in the front seven.  They will add both size and physicality to the Black Swarm defense!  We're looking for an immediate contribution from both!

Trent Wiebusch Highlights

Trey Wiebusch Highlights

Congrats to Coach Booth!

Coach Booth (right) a first-time father

Assistant wide receivers coach Greg Booth and his wife Patricia recently welcomed their first child, a daughter, named Isabella.  Isabella came three weeks early, and has spent quite a bit of time in the hospital these first few weeks, but she is doing well now and all are home,  happy, and healthy!

Congrats to the Booths!