ORANGE CITY, Iowa – It was another successful season for Red Raider athletics, ending the fall sports season with plenty of wins, awards, and exciting moments.

*This recap will include fall sports as defined by the NAIA. Sports competing in split seasons (i.e. tennis, golf) will be featured in the spring recap.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

The Raiders rode a young lineup to a top-five finish at the GPAC Championships this year. Junior Ben VanDeBerg paced the team for most of the season, finishing in the top-25 three times and running a four-mile PR time of 20:34.9 to open the season at the Augustana Twilight. Four freshmen consistently ran in the scoring group for Northwestern, highlighted by Alik McIlravy and Isaiah Aragon. The Raiders put together their best finish in the regular season finale, placing second at the Mount Marty Invite.

NAIA Scholar Athletes: Braeden Brough, Brayden Dirks, Trey Engelmann, Ashton Hughes, Tommy Tracy

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

Northwestern’s women’s cross country squad placed in the top half of the GPAC this season, led by Emma Haley’s four top-20 finishes. Haley ran PRs in the 5K (18:47.9) and the 6K (23:00.7) in her senior season. Allie Hough also had a breakout season in her sophomore year, finishing second on the team on multiple occasions. Brooklyn Fryar was the team’s top newcomer, with a top-20 finish in the regular season finale in Yankton.

NAIA Scholar Athletes: Brielle Engelmann, Olivia Anderson, Lauren Derscheid, Abby Ervin, Emma Haley, Allie Hough, Bre Van Genderen, Emma Wilson, Ellie Zeutenhorst

ESPORTS - ROCKET LEAGUE/SMASH BROS ULTIMATE

After back-to-back appearances in the conference championship, the Raider Rocket League team was set to reload with a challenging schedule. They went 3-4 on the year, highlighted by a sweep of Kansas State and a season-ending, five-game win over John Brown (Ark.).

In the second season of the budding Smash Bros team, the Raiders improved to 6-2, falling to Nebraska Omaha in the conference quarterfinals. In their six wins, they did not give up a game to their opponents, winning 2-0 in each matchup.

The Raiders added a new element to their game day experience this season, performing their competitions live in The Hub, generating excitement among the student body. To watch the Raiders live next semester, head to youtube.com/nwcesports.

FOOTBALL

On the heels of consecutive NAIA National Championship Game appearances, Northwestern was primed and ready for another strong season in Orange City. The Raiders finished the season with a 9-3 record, good for second in the GPAC while making an eighth straight appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series. Ultimately Northwestern was defeated by Grand View, but not before securing a spot in the FCS Quarterfinal round for the fifth year in a row. 

Northwestern got out of the blocks early in the season, outscoring opponents 127-24 in the first four games. Concordia handed the Raiders their first loss of the season at home in Week 5, but Northwestern bounced back by winning five of the following six contests, before falling to No. 2 Grand View in Des Moines to close out the season. Parker Fryar received one of the major conference honors, being named GPAC Defensive Player of the Year.

AFCA/NAIA All-Americans: Parker Fryar (1st), Eli Stader (2nd), Trystin Voss (2nd), Cody Moser (3rd)

GPAC All-Conference: Parker Fryar (1st), Konner McQuillan (1st), Austyn Gerard (1st), Eli Stader (1st), Ty Schafer (1st), Trystin Voss (1st), Jacob Dragstra (1st), Tristan Mulder (1st), Cody Moser (1st), Korver Hupke (2nd), Korver Demma (2nd), Ben Egli (2nd), Kole Telford (2nd), Cameron Morgan (HM), Clayton Bosma (HM)

NAIA Scholar Athletes: Drew Alger, Kael Arends, Trever Beach, Gabe Borchers, Kole Cleveringa, Joey Desir, Ryan Dodds, Ben Egli, Will Faber, Parker Fryar, Drake Harder, Gabe Heitz, Landon Hofmeyer, Ty Hulshof, Korver Hupke, Luke Jeltema, Ayden Klein, Noah Lopez, Drew Quinlin, Sam Remmerde, Dane Schoenborn, Ashtin Van’t Hul, Trystin Voss

MEN'S SOCCER

With a young roster and a promise of potential, Northwestern’s men’s soccer squad finished in the top-four of the GPAC for the fifth-straight season with an 8-5-5 overall record. Senior leaders and All-Conference selections Stan van den Beld, Alex Ruiz, and Riley Aarbo set the foundation, while newcomers made an impact as well. Nino Berger was a First Team All-GPAC selection as a freshman to go along with three honorable mention freshmen in Jannes Kuehn, Gonzalo Domingo, and Miller Rojas.

GPAC All-Conference: Nino Berger (1st), Alex Ruiz (1st), Stan van den Beld (1st), Riley Aarbo (2nd), Gonzalo Domingo (HM), Jannes Kuehn (HM), Xavier O’Garro (HM), Miller Rojas (HM)

NAIA Scholar Athletes: Tark Griebel

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Exciting offensive output was on display for the Raiders this season, who scored 2.11 goals per game on their way to a 4-13-1 overall record. All-Conference selections Avril Baccam and Kylie Baccam led the way offensively, while returners Grace Timm, Taylor Brennan, Marissa Talamantes, and Josi Swanson were among the team’s multi-goal scorers. Emily VanderArk and Cali Wright helped set the back line, both sitting top five on the team in minutes played. The Raiders also showed potential in goal, with Peyton Anderson starting 15 matches in the box.

GPAC All-Conference: Avril Baccam (1st), Kylie Baccam (2nd)

NAIA Scholar Athletes: Grace Dahl, Isabel Griffin, Cate Hummel, Sarah Hummel, Annika Quamen, Olivia Regnerus, Keirsten Speck, Marissa Talamantes, Emily VanderArk

VOLLEYBALL

The Raiders generated plenty of excitement with their third undefeated regular season in program history. Holding the No. 1 spot in the NAIA poll for all but one week, Northwestern captured the GPAC regular season and tournament titles, punctuated by a five-set win over Concordia in the GPAC Championship. Jazlin Douma was named the GPAC Player of the Year and Zavyr Metzger was recognized as the GPAC Co-Defender of the Year, both receiving those honors for the second consecutive season.

GPAC All-Conference: Jazlin Douma (1st), Zavyr Metzger (1st), Alysen Dexter (1st), Savonne Sterk (1st), Jori Hajek (2nd), Liv Reitsma (2nd), Emma Westphal (HM), Logan Miller (HM)

NAIA Scholar Athletes: Jewel Bergstrom, Jazlin Douma, Rylie Fey, Cadence Goebel, Zavyr Metzger, Logan Miller, Liv Reitsma, Savonne Sterk

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