Recruits Friday, January 30, 2026 NWC Athletic Communications

Northwestern Announces 2026–27 Recruiting Class Additions

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Northwestern has announced its newest additions to the 2026-27 recruiting class.

Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Odin Hanson (Galva, Iowa) has announced his commitment to the Red Raider cross country and track and field programs.

Previously a standout athlete at Ridgeview High School, Hanson brings a wealth of experience and accomplishments to Northwestern. He has been recognized as a four-time All-Western Valley Conference athlete and is a two-time state cross country qualifier. Additionally, he boasts a personal best of 17:06 in the 5K.

Hanson expressed enthusiasm for the campus environment and his prospective teammates, stating, "I was drawn to the atmosphere on campus. Everyone was friendly and said hello in passing. I am looking forward to contributing to the Cross Country and Track teams and working towards my degree."

Pursuing a major in civil engineering, he is the son of Tiffany and Dan and has two siblings, Ian and Izzy.

Charlie Irvine (Albert Lea, Minn.) has officially committed to the Northwestern track and field and football programs.

During his time at Albert Lea, Irvine achieved a personal best of 21 feet 10 inches in the long jump and 42 feet 4 inches in the triple jump. His performance earned him two consecutive Big Nine honorable mentions for the long jump and a spot as a participant in the state track championships.

Irvine expressed his reasons for choosing Northwestern, stating, "I chose Northwestern because I like the culture and the way faith is used in the school. I also like how competitive all of the teams are."

Irvine is the son of Kristine and Troy and has two brothers, Max and Abe. He plans to major in accounting at Northwestern.

Davis Johnson (Ankeny, Iowa) has announced his intention to attend Northwestern and join the cross country and track and field teams.

Johnson comes from Ankeny Centennial, where he built a strong background in running with career stats including a 15:38 5K, a 9:43 in the 3200m, and a 4:35 in the 1600m.

In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Johnson is distinguished by several personal achievements. He has earned the rank of Eagle Scout and served as the Colonel of the State Patrol program in Boys State. He is also a recipient of the red chord and has lettered in band four times.

Johnson expressed enthusiasm for his new environment, stating, "Beautiful campus, and a home-like atmosphere." He plans to major in Nursing at Northwestern.

Davis is the son of Daniel and Jacqueline and has a sister named Genevieve.

Landon Sporrer (Wall Lake, Iowa) has announced his intention to attend Northwestern and join the cross country and track and field teams.

Sporrer comes from East Sac County High School, where he achieved notable accolades, including being a four-time State Cross Country qualifier and earning Second Team All-State honors in 2025. He also served as Co-Captain and Co-MVP of his high school team in 2025 and was named KCIM Runner of the Year. His career stats include a 16:24 5K, 4:50 in the 1600m, and 10:30 in the 3200m. Additionally, Sporrer was a member of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Student Advisory Committee.

Academically, Sporrer excelled as a member of the National Honor Society and received 2025 Academic All-State Cross Country and Twin Lakes Conference All-Academic Honors. He plans to major in either sport management or exercise science at Northwestern.

Sporrer, the son of Kevin and Alycia Sporrer and brother to Adalyn, expressed his reasons for choosing Northwestern, stating, "I chose Northwestern because after attending camps and visiting campus, I felt that this was the college for me. I appreciate the strong relationships I witnessed between coaches and athletes. Northwestern will also help me strengthen my relationship with God."

Men's Soccer
Rasmus Morrison (Berlin, Germany), a versatile striker, winger, and offensive midfielder, has joined the Northwestern men's soccer team.

Morrison comes from SV Empor Berlin, where he showcased his skills by scoring seven goals and providing three assists in just 10 games during his most recent season.

He is the son of Lena Schonberg and Gregor Morrison, and he has two siblings, Emma and Hanna. Morrison will be pursuing a major in sport management at Northwestern.

Josef Piskac (Leipzig, Germany) has committed to the Northwestern men's soccer program.

Piskac brings his experience from FC Lokomotive Leipzig, where he consistently performed with three assists in 16 games, starting 15 matches during his most recent season.

Piskac expressed his enthusiasm for joining Northwestern, stating, "I chose Northwestern College because it offers a competitive soccer program that pushes me to grow both as a player and as a teammate. The coaching staff showed genuine interest in my development on and off the field, which meant a lot to me. I was also drawn to the strong team culture and the opportunity to compete at a high level while earning a quality education. The campus environment and support for student-athletes made it feel like the right place to continue my soccer career."

Josef is the son of Toni and Tina and has a sister named Anna. He plans to major in business administration and marketing at Northwestern.

Kenderson Scheetz (Sioux Falls, S.D.), a center back, has joined the Northwestern men's soccer team. Previously, Scheetz was a standout player at Sioux Falls Washington High School and played club soccer with Dakota Alliance.

During his most recent season, Scheetz contributed to his team's efforts with a goal and two assists. His performance earned him a spot on the All-Conference First Team, highlighting his skills and dedication on the pitch.

In addition to his athletic pursuits, Scheetz will be studying Exercise Science at Northwestern. He is the son of Jeanine Scheetz.

Dylan Steinbock (Johnston, Iowa) has announced his intention to attend Northwestern and join the men's soccer program.

Steinbock arrives from Johnston High School, where he gained valuable experience in his position. He also played for Sporting Iowa Soccer Club, further honing his skills and contributing to his development as a player.

In addition to his athletic endeavors, Steinbock will be pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at Northwestern. He is the son of Christie and Jason and has a brother named Connor.

Bram Zwinkels (Den Haag, Netherlands), a midfielder, is joining the Northwestern men's soccer team. Previously, he played at Segbroek College where he consistently demonstrated his skills on the field. During the 2024-25 season, Zwinkels made 24 appearances, contributing 1 goal and 4 assists over 1820 minutes of play.

Zwinkels expressed his reasons for choosing Northwestern College: "I chose Northwestern because I immediately got a good feeling. The level of football and also the education that suits me were a good match."

He is the son of Paul and Brenda and brother to Jill. Zwinkels plans to major in sport management while at Northwestern.

Women's Track & Field
Olyvia Bahrke (Orange City, Iowa) has committed to the Northwestern College track and field team.

Bahrke, a four-year letterwinner, comes from MOC-Floyd Valley High School, where she has demonstrated her dedication and skill in athletics.

Bahrke is the daughter of Lyndsay and head coach Scott Bahrke and has two siblings, Payge and Isaac.

Expressing her enthusiasm for joining Northwestern, Bahrke stated, "I loved the Christian atmosphere, it's close to home, and the beautiful small-town campus."

Bahrke is considering majoring in either business or exercise science during her time at Northwestern.

Makayla Hargrave (Omaha, Neb.) has committed to the Northwestern cross country and track and field teams.

Hargrave comes from Ralston High School, where she has demonstrated strong performances in various track and field events. Her personal bests include an 800m time of 2:30, a 400m time of 1:03, a 1600m time of 6:03, and a 5K time of 21:03.

During her time at Ralston High School, Hargrave earned several accolades, including being named All Conference with a 6th place finish and qualifying for the state meet with a 47th place finish. Academically, she was recognized as both an Academic All-Conference and Academic All-State honoree, showcasing her dedication to her studies as well as her athletic pursuits.

Hargrave has chosen to attend Northwestern College, citing her desire to grow in her faith and the welcoming nature of the cross country team as significant factors in her decision: "I chose Northwestern College because I want to grow in my faith, and the cross country team was very welcoming and kind."

Hargrave is the daughter of Tom and Wendy Hargrave and has two siblings, Mariah and Daniel. She plans to major in Writing & Digital Media at Northwestern College.

Katelyn Maeschen (Harrisburg, S.D.) has announced her commitment to the Red Raider track and field program.

Hailing from Harrisburg High School, Maeschen brings impressive stats in the triple and long jump events to the Raiders. Her career statistics include a triple jump of 35'11.25" and a long jump of 17'7". Maeschen also achieved notable accomplishments such as placing 7th in the state triple jump in 2025, qualifying for the long jump at the state level in 2025, and being a state qualifier for the triple jump in 2024.

Maeschen has chosen to major in nursing at Northwestern College, where she is enthusiastic about integrating her faith with her academic and athletic pursuits. She expressed her commitment to the college's values and her excitement about growing within the Raider community, stating, "I chose Northwestern College because it integrates faith into every part of campus life—academics, athletics, and community. I know that as a nursing major and a member of the women's T&F team, my faith will only grow stronger and more grounded, and that was so important to me when I was making my decision. NWC made that very easy. It felt like home the second I stepped on campus, and I am so excited to see what God has in store for my future as a Raider!"

Katelyn is the daughter of Jessica and Eric Maeschen and has four siblings: Emma, Connor, Brody, and Owen.

Kaelyn Ulschmid (Arlington, S.D.) has committed to the Northwestern College cross country and track and field teams.

During her time at Arlington High School, Ulschmid earned the distinction of being an All-State Cross Country athlete for five consecutive years. Additionally, she was recognized as the Most Valuable Distance Athlete for the last four years. Her notable personal bests include a time of 2:27 in the 800 meters, 5:22 in the 1600 meters, 11:51 in the 3200 meters, and 18:30 in the 5K.

Ulschmid expressed her enthusiasm for joining Northwestern, stating, "I fell in love with the environment Northwestern has created. This unapologetically Christian community will no doubt influence my future in amazing ways. From the first time I visited campus, I felt genuinely welcomed by everyone's kindness."

Kaelyn is the daughter of David and Jodi and has a brother, Caleb. She plans to major in special education at Northwestern.

Volleyball
Aubrey Van Den Bosch (Orange City, Iowa) has committed to the Northwestern College volleyball team.

During her high school career at MOC-Floyd Valley, Van Den Bosch amassed 336 assists and 126 digs.

Van Den Bosch expressed her enthusiasm for joining Northwestern, stating, "Northwestern is a place where I can see myself growing in my faith, athletics, and character." She plans to major in elementary education, further highlighting her commitment to both academic and personal development.

Aubrey is the daughter of Dawn and head coach Kyle Van Den Bosch, and has a brother, Jackson.

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