Baseball Thursday, March 2, 2023 NWC Athletic Communications

19 Join Northwestern Recruiting Class in February

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Northwestern College athletic communications office announces the signings of 19 Red Raider recruits during the month of February.

Baseball
Carlos Gomez-Banchs (Algona, Iowa) has signed a letter of intent to join the Red Raider baseball team.
carlos-gomez

A five-year varsity player at Algona High School, Gomez-Banchs posted a career batting average of .304 while hitting two home runs, driving in 15 runs, and totaling on-base and slugging percentages of .375 and .418, respectively. He was also named to an All-Area team for his athletic achievements.

"To me, Northwestern looked like the perfect place for me to do something good for myself," Gomez-Banchs said.

He is the son of Arlene Banchs, and brother to Aneysha and Luis Figueroa. Gomez-Banchs plans to study Exercise Science and pre-Physical Therapy.

Cheerleading
Hannah Crichton (Sioux City, Iowa) has signed a letter of intent to join the Northwestern cheer program.

Crichton was on the cheer and golf teams at Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School, serving as a captain on both teams. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.

"I chose Northwestern because I loved the welcoming environment it had when I visited," noted Crichton. "My visit was very personalized to me which I enjoyed greatly. Not only this, but I also wanted to grow closer with Christ, and I definitely think I can do this at Northwestern."

She is the daughter of Brian and Heather Crichton, and sister to Maddie, Sarah, and Allison. Crichton plans to study Criminal Justice at Northwestern.

Orquidia Kannah (Sioux Falls, S.D.) has announced her intention to attend Northwestern and join the cheer and track and field teams.

A student at Washington High School, Kannah has been a member of the track and field team for three years and is a two-year cheer team member.

"I chose Northwestern because of the environment and how close to home it is," noted Kannah.

She is the daughter of Hellen Seon and Barro Kannah, and sister to Michelle, John, Melody, Emma, and Calvin. Kannah plans to study Nursing at Northwestern.

Isabelle Olson (Marcus, Iowa) has announced her intention to attend Northwestern and join the cheer program.

A multi-sport athlete at MMCRU High School, Olson was a member of multiple first-place cheer and dance teams. She was selected for Iowa Honor Cheer, a two-year captain, and a four-year letter winner. Academically, Olson was a member of the Principal's Honor Roll, National Honor Society, and an Academic All-Conference selection.

"I chose Northwestern College for the small, welcoming community based on Christian values, along with the opportunity to continue my cheerleading career," Olson said.

She is the daughter of Michael and Darcie Olson, and sister to Tristen and Faith. Olson plans to study Elementary Education at Northwestern.

Allison Reinking (Kingsley, Iowa) has announced her intention to attend Northwestern College and join the Red Raider cheer team.

A four-year student-athlete in cheer, dance, track, basketball, and volleyball, Reinking attended Kingsley-Pierson High School. She was a four-year letter winner in cheer and was also a member of the "A" honor roll, National Honor Society, Academic All-Conference team, and had a 4.0 GPA.

"I chose Northwestern because of its Christian community and commitment to missions," Reinking commented. "It is a small-town, friendly college where I know I will make friendships that last a lifetime."

She is the daughter of Sandy and Brent Reinking, and sister to Cole. Reinking plans to study Elementary Education at Northwestern.

Sydnie Sherwood (Sioux Falls, S.D.) has signed a letter of intent to join the Red Raider cheer team.

A four-year cheerleader at O'Gorman High School, Sherwood was a National Champion in Senior Level 3 and Senior Level 4.2.

"I chose Northwestern because of the close-knit environment, smaller classes, and how supportive and positive the cheer team is," Sherwood noted.

She is the daughter of Veronica and Michael, and sister to Kaiden. Sherwood plans to study Exercise Science at Northwestern.

Dance
Lilly Smith (Granger, Iowa) has signed a letter of intent to join the Northwestern dance team.

Smith attended Woodward-Granger High School where she was a four-year dancer, earning Division I ratings for group and solo competition. She was also an honor roll student and a varsity letter winner.

"I chose Northwestern because I wanted a Christian education," Smith said. "I also loved everyone that I met as well as the campus."

She is the daughter of Lisa and Nathan, and sister to Samantha and Mackenzie. Smith plans to study Youth Ministry at Northwestern.

Men's Basketball
Jaime Grossoehme (Webster City, Iowa) has signed a letter of intent to join the Red Raider men's basketball program.

Grossoehme was a First Team All-Conference and All-District performer at Webster City High School, averaging 16.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in his most recent season. He also was an honor roll student.

"I chose Northwestern because of the great relationships I immediately made with the coaching staff and how comfortable I felt walking around campus," Grossoehme noted.

"Jaime is a great fit for Northwestern in every way," said head coach Kris Korver. "As a basketball player, he has length, is a good shooter, and he knows how to score. He had a tremendous senior season and an outstanding high school career. He is going to get better as he works hard and keeps maturing. We are excited to have Jaime joining us!"

He is the son of Aaron and Joella Grossoehme, and brother to Clara and Izzy. Grossoehme plans to study Sport Management at Northwestern.

Jackson Nemmers (Ankeny, Iowa) has signed a letter of intent to join the Red Raider men's basketball program.

Averaging 11.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game at North Polk High School, Nemmers was a Raccoon River Conference Honorable Mention his junior year and a member of the Gold honor roll, National Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society.
"The coaches and the environment were great, and I really appreciated the values that Northwestern has," Nemmers commented.

"Jackson has had an excellent senior year helping lead his team to a state tournament appearance," Korver commented. "As a basketball player, he is a skilled guard who can attack and makes the people around him better. Jackson is a quality young man who will fit well into our program and the Northwestern community as a whole. We are excited that Jackson is joining us!"

He is the son of Susan and Nathan Nemmers, and brother to Madi and Jacinda. Nemmers plans to study Engineering at Northwestern.

Men's Golf
Davis Korver (Orange City, Iowa) has announced his intention to attend Northwestern College and join the men's golf program. davis-korver

A member of the MOC-Floyd Valley golf team, Korver is a two-time individual conference champion, two-time First Team All-State selection, and placed fourth at the state tournament. He has a low score of 70 and an 18-hole average of 77. Academically, Korver is an honor roll student.

"Northwestern offers me the opportunity to pursue my academic and athletic goals while at the same time continuing to grow in my Christian faith," Korver commented.

"We are ecstatic that Davis has chosen to join our Raider golf family," said head coach Aaron Aberson. "We've had a chance to witness firsthand how hard he works and how much he loves golf. His passion for getting better is contagious and we believe he's someone we can continue to build a solid program around. He's the exact type of student-athlete that we want representing Northwestern."

He is the son of Travis and Jennifer, and brother to Carson. Korver plans to study Accounting at Northwestern.

Men's Soccer
Kristian Paronto (Fort Scott, Kan.) has signed a letter of intent to join the Northwestern men's soccer team.
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A striker and midfielder from Fort Scott High School, Paronto scored 24 goals and dished out 10 assists in his most recent season. He was a four-sport letter winner, has the second-most goals in school history and was third in the state in goals last season. In the classroom, he was in the top 5% of his class.

"Northwestern is a good place to be as a student and athlete, and I'm glad that people took a chance on a small-town kid," said Paronto. "I can repay them by doing my best for the school and for the athletic program."

He is the son of Kris and Tanya, and brother to Adelyn and Colton. Paronto plans to study Criminal Justice at Northwestern.

Men's Track and Field
Lane Johnson (Centerville, S.D.) has signed a letter of intent to join the Northwestern men's track and field team.
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A dual-sport athlete at Centerville High School, Johnson competed in the pole vault and 200m in track and field, while also being a member of the football program. He was the 2022 regional runner-up in the pole vault and placed sixth at the 2022 Class B State Meet. Johnson is an honor roll student.

"I chose Northwestern because I wanted an education that would not only push me in academics and athletics, but in my faith as well," Johnson said. "After talking with students, coaches, and other faculty members, I felt a sense of belonging here at Northwestern."

He is the son of Todd and Nikki Johnson, and brother to Blake and Colter. Johnson plans to study Elementary Education at Northwestern.

Jackson Tooker (Orange City, Iowa) has signed a letter of intent to join the Red Raider men's track and field program. jackson-tooker

A member of the track and field team at MOC-Floyd Valley High School, Tooker was a two-time conference champion and a Drake Relays qualifier in the 4x100m relay.

"I've always grown up watching Northwestern athletics so having the opportunity to compete for Northwestern is going to be very exciting," Tooker commented.

He is the son of Crisinda and Brian, and brother to Kaleigh. Tooker plans to study Sport Management at Northwestern.

Grant Wagner (Primghar, Iowa) has announced his intention to attend Northwestern College and join the men's track and field program. grant-wagner

Wagner competed in the 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles at South O'Brien High School, posting times of 17.3 in the 110m and 1:04 in the 400m in his most recent season. During his career, he was a member of the district and conference champion shuttle hurdle teams and the sixth-place state shuttle hurdle team.

"I liked the community that I saw at Northwestern when I first went to visit," Wagner noted. "It seems like a great place to grow."

He is the son of Tom and Holly Wagner, and brother to Garrett and Erin. Wagner plans to study Exercise Science at Northwestern.

Volleyball
Emilee Caudill (Tarkio, Mo.) has signed a letter of intent to join the Northwestern volleyball team.
emilee-caudill

A three-year player at Tarkio High School, Caudill posted 788 digs, 120 aces, and 48 kills for her career. She was an All-Conference Honorable Mention, Second Team All-District, a team captain, and was the most improved player for her sophomore year. Academically, she is an honor roll student, a member of the National Honor Society, and student council secretary.

"I chose Northwestern College because it has always felt like home to me," Caudill said. "I knew it was where I wanted to go whether I played volleyball or not. The first time I saw the campus, I loved it and continued to come back to support the athletic teams. I am so excited to continue my career at Northwestern College!"

She is the daughter of Bryan and Jill Caudill and the late Casondra Caudill, and sister to Cynthia, MaKenna, and Kecia Caudill, Megan, Melissa, and Amanda Culver, and Emmy Laur. Caudill plans to study Biology at Northwestern.

Ella Peterson (Lawton, Iowa) has announced her intention to attend Northwestern College and join the Red Raider volleyball program. ella-peterson

A multi-sport athlete at Lawton-Bronson High School, Peterson notched 331 kills, 133 blocks, 58 digs, and 53 aces for her career, earning Second Team All-Conference honors in 2022. She is also an honor roll student, member of the National Honor Society, and a silver cord participant.

"I chose Northwestern because they have given me the opportunity to build my faith while receiving an education that will prepare me for my future," Peterson commented. "From my first step on campus I felt a strong sense of community and belonging that I have never felt anywhere else."

She is the daughter of Dan and Kim Peterson, and sister to Jenna, Amelia, and Lydia. Peterson plans to study Marketing at Northwestern.

Women's Tennis
Aliya Peterson (Buffalo, Minn.) has signed a letter of intent to join the Northwestern women's tennis team. aliya-peterson

Peterson was a two-year varsity letter winner at Buffalo High School, posting a record of 11-6 in her most recent season. She is also an "A" honor roll student.

"On my campus visit, Northwestern felt like a place I could call home especially with the strong faith component and the fact that it is close to family," Peterson said. "I am super excited to join the women's tennis team and play for Coach Jamie De Jong."

She is the daughter of Joel and Deb Peterson, and sister to Joselyn and Lydia. Peterson plans to study Secondary Education at Northwestern.

Women's Cross Country/Track and Field
Karina Hulzebos (North Mankato, Minn.) has signed a letter of intent to join the Northwestern women's cross country and track and field teams.

A five-year letter winner in cross country and track and field at Mankato West High School, Hulzebos posted career bests of 20:55 in cross country and 12:38 in the 2 Mile run. She was also a team captain, Big 9 Scholar-Athlete, and academic letter winner.
"I chose Northwestern College because I loved the faith-based community, and being able to be a part of the cross country and track teams," Hulzebos said.

She is the daughter of Travis and Shawna Hulzebos, and sister to Kayleigh. Hulzebos plans to study Nursing at Northwestern.

Taylor Statema (Rock Valley, Iowa) has announced her intention to attend Northwestern College and join the women's track and field program. taylor-statema

A three-sport athlete at Western Christian High School, Statema qualified for the 4x400m and 4x200m state meet in the most recent season, also placing third in the distance medley relay in 2021. She was also an Academic All-District selection for basketball in 2023.

"I chose Northwestern to help me grow in my faith in a small Christian community and look forward to challenging myself on the track and in the class room," Statema commented.

She is the daughter of Jason and Becky, and sister to Kyler and Brody. Statema plans to study Marketing at Northwestern.

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