Two-Sport Athletes

One of the many advantages to Division III athletics is the opportunity for more student-athletes to enjoy competing in more than one sport at the collegiate level.  We had 11 guys on last fall's roster that are playing two-sports this year.  Four are currently playing baseball while 7 others are members of the track and field team.  Today we'll highlight those four football-baseball guys, and later in the week we'll focus on the track and field athletes.

Chad Christoff '10, Ryan Fletcher '11, Mike Bogard '12, and Brian Taylor '13 are all enjoying huge success this spring with the Pioneer baseball team jumping out to an 8-0 start in MWC play and 17-11 overall.

Christoff is a relief pitcher and has the second most appearances on the team and has held opposing hitters to a .213 average.  Only giving up 10 hits, he has 2 saves and 4 strikeouts.

Fletcher has been rotating in and out of the starting lineup as a first baseman/designated hitter starting 13 of the team's 28 games.  Currently he has the 6th highest batting average on the team at .326, while driving in 7 runs, stealing 2 bases and only committing 2 errors in 116 chances at first base.

Bogard has just been cleared to resume full activity after rupturing 3 ligaments in his knee in a football game this fall.  He is slowly working himself back into pitching shape, and might be able to pitch for the Pioneers down the stretch.

Taylor serves as both a pitcher and back-up catcher for the baseball squad.  He leads the team in ERA, with a spot-free 0.00 and is allowing opposing hitters only a .200 batting average.

The opportunity for these guys to play two sports at the collegiate level is an experience they'll never forget.  Bogard says "There is absolutely no substitute for the camaraderie and friendships developed through sports, and being involved with multiple teams facilitates these one-of-a-kind interactions."  Sharing similar sentiments about his teammates, Christoff said, "The benefits of playing two sports at the next level extend beyond the fact that I didn't have to give up playing one of the games I loved, but manifest themselves off the field in a way that I could never have imagined."

Pioneer Awards Announced

This past Sunday night, the 2009 Grinnell Pioneer football team gathered together for one final time at the team banquet. Along with great food and some bad jokes, the 2009 Pioneer football awards were announced.

Dick Ullrich '33 Award (Most Valuable Offensive or Defensive Back): Marquis Bradley '11.

Abe Rosenbloom '34 Award (Most Valuable Offensive or Defensive Lineman): Mike Tricoli '10

Special Teams Most Valuable Player: Ryan Boehm '10

Steve Kriegel Award (for dedication, desire, and determination): Chad Christoff '10

Troy Barboza Award (Most Inspirational Rookie): Cody Weber '13

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mike McCabe '13

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Kevin Hwang '13

Congratulations to all the honorees and to the entire 2009 Pioneer team. It was a memorable year and we continue to work towards making 2010 even better!

Senior Profiles: Chad Christoff

Throughout the season we will run profiles on each of our 14 senior players. We've asked them to tell us why they chose to attend Grinnell, what their favorite moment as a Pioneer football player was, among other fun facts. Please enjoy getting to know a little more about these guys before they graduate this spring!

Next up, is senior defensive tackle and fullback, Chad Christoff!


Name: Chad Christoff
Hometown: Donahue, IA
Major: Economics

Why did you choose to attend Grinnell?
The combination of a great education and an opportunity to contribute significantly and immediately to the football and baseball teams.

What is your favorite Pioneer football moment?
Beating Knox at home as a freshman with a two-point conversion pass from Sean Pfalzer to Todd Doleshal from the 40 yard line after a 10 second scramble only to be followed up by a game winning PAT by converted soccer player and newest member of the football team, Scott Koenning.

What are your career ambitions and/or future plans?
I plan on pursuing a career putting to use my Economics degree in some fashion. I have yet to decide what avenue that will lead me but this summer I spent time interning at Edward Jones financial services and would like to continue to investigate my opportunities in the financial services sector.

Favorite Professional Team: St. Louis Cardinals and whatever NFL team has the most former Hawkeyes on its roster

Favorite Division I team: Iowa Hawkeyes

Favorite Song: Fighters by Lupe Fiasco and My Town by Montgomery Gentry

Favorite Food: At school - turkey club sandwich; At home - ribeye steak with fresh Iowa sweet corn

Favorite Movie: Field of Dreams

Favorite Book: "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe

Favorite Course at Grinnell: ECN 338 Advanced Game Theory with Bill Ferguson

Other hobbies: Following North Scott High School athletics, collecting vintage Iowa Hawkeye apparel, maintaining two aquariums at home

Grinnell Football in the News

Des Moines' NBC affiliate, WHO - Channel 13, paid a visit to Grinnell last week to talk college football. And in particular the history behind the Pioneers defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes!

Enjoy the video!

Pioneer Summer Internships

Every summer, Pioneer football players disperse across the country for their exciting summer internships. Throughout the course of the summer, they will share their experiences here. Today's entry comes from utility-player Chad Christoff '10:



This summer I am participating in an internship at a branch office of Edward Jones in my hometown of Eldridge, IA. The local office houses just two employees – the perfect setting to work one on one with the Financial Advisor, Dave Schnorrenberg. The unique thing I have learned about Edward Jones is their focus on the community. Their business plan requires a strong local presence, meeting clients and potential clients face to face, and building trust through a sincere effort for a personal relationship with everyone. Throughout my internship, I have realized the wide variety of tasks and roles that a Financial Advisor takes on: from a market analyst performing research, to a small business owner doing marketing and promotion, to a counselor listening to and enhancing clients’ financial and everyday lives. My tasks have included marketing to potential clients through face to face interactions, sitting in on meetings with clients, becoming familiar with the proprietary Financial Assessment Software Tool, and studying relevant security options available to fit clients’ needs. The internship has been a valuable learning experience not only in the financial services sector, but in the overarching theme of entrepreneurship and developing a reputation.