General Monday, May 4, 2026 NWC Athletic Communications

Northwestern Announces Annual Athletics Award Winners

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Northwestern College athletics has announced the winners of its annual department awards and N-Dubs awards.

Visit the link at the top of the story to watch the 2026 N-Dubs on demand.

Vander Stoep Award, Female – Zavyr Metzger (Volleyball)
Leading the NAIA in blocks per set (1.99) for the third consecutive season, Metzger broke her own single-season record for total blocks (251) and finished her career in second in Northwestern history with 688 blocks. This season, she was named the NAIA and GPAC Defender of the Year, a First Team NAIA All-American, and the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Team Member of the Year. She was named the NAIA Defender of the Week on September 23 and was a two-time GPAC Defensive Player of the Week.

Vander Stoep Award, Male – Braden Kalvelage (Track & Field)
Kalvelage has had a year to remember, winning GPAC Indoor titles in the 200m and long jump, and taking Outdoor titles in the long jump, 200m, and 4x100m relay. The USTFCCCA Track & Field Regional Athlete of the Year, Kalvelage has broken indoor records in long jump, 4x400, 200m, 200m oversized, and 60m and outdoor records in long jump and 200m. Most recently, Kalvelage was honored as the GPAC Athlete of the Meet for his effort at the conference championships.

Dr. Noordewier Academic Achivement Award, Female – Zavyr Metzger (Volleyball)
Northwestern's first three-time CSC Academic All-America selection, Metzger earned honors as GPAC Co-Defender of the Year, First Team NAIA All-American, and First Team AVCA All-Region honors. The senior nursing major from Larchwood, Iowa broke her own single-season blocks record (251), led all college divisions in blocks per set (1.99), and closed her career second in total blocks (688).

Metzger was Northwestern volleyball's third Academic All-American of the Year, joining Karlie Schut (2015) and Robin Pals (1990).

Dr. Noordewier Academic Achievement Award, Male – Jacob Lewis (Baseball)
A senior biology health professions and chemistry major from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Lewis is a three-time NAIA Scholar Athlete and will attend medical school at Liberty University (Va.). Lewis has been sworn to the Navy Medical Corps, serving on active duty orders during the summers when he will rotate through specialties at Navy medical hospitals.

Dunlop Sportsmanship Award – Carter Van Hulzen (Men's Basketball)
A senior from Edgerton, Minnesota, Van Hulzen has served as a leader on the men's basketball team. As stated by his coaches and peers, he has incredible character and is someone that everyone in the program has great respect for. He has continued to elevate the program's culture through his relationships with his teammates, his strong faith, and his willingness to put others before himself.  Carter and his wife, Lucy, are actively involved in their church, and will be great additions to the community for years to come.

Jeltema Altena Christian Women's Athlete Award – Mya Cole (Women's Soccer)
A sophomore defender for the Raider women's soccer team, Cole scored two goals and dished out three assists, adding a game-winning goal against William Penn. While Mya is committed to excellence on the field, her identity is rooted first in her faith. She serves as a small group leader for a soccer Bible study and is actively involved in additional studies that continue to deepen her relationship with Christ. She is a vocalist and guitarist on the NWC worship team. Beyond campus, Mya invests in others as a summer counselor at Camp Judson, where she mentors younger students and shares her faith.

Academic Team of the Year – Women's Tennis
Women's tennis led the department with a 3.66 GPA. Pietra Ferreira, Alloree Else, and Madalyn Kolb were named NAIA Scholar Athletes for their academic efforts.

Team of the Year – Volleyball
Volleyball advanced to the national championship match for the second time in the last three seasons, propelled by a 33-4 overall record and 16-0 conference mark. The Raiders claimed the GPAC regular season and tournament titles for the third consecutive season and made their 21^st NAIA tournament appearance.

Most Improved Team – Women's Soccer
The Raiders made strides in their first season under head coach Vitor Perreira, earning the most wins in a year since 2019. Northwestern held a 1.71 goals against average, posted four shutouts, and claimed three all-conference performers.

Aden De Jong Unsung Hero Award – Gabe Heitz (Football)
A senior member of the Red Raider football team, Heitz serves as a peer tutor, an ambassador, and with the NEXT program on campus. He is noted by his coaches and peers as an overall great representative of Northwestern, Raider athletics, and the football program.

Raider Award – Lyle De Zeeuw
De Zeeuw has served as a charter bus driver for many Red Raider teams, transporting athletes to and from regular season and postseason events. He is also a dedicated Raider fan, attending Raider home events throughout the season. Lyle and his wife, Helen, reside in Rock Valley.

Play of the Year – Men's Soccer at Midland
With the GPAC regular season title on the line, Edoardo Alessandrini booted the ball nearly 70 yards, finding Daniel Lindahl for the game-winning goal, putting the Raiders ahead 2-1 in the second half.

Athlete of the Year, Female – Stella Winterfeld (Volleyball)
Winterfeld moved into an outside hitter role for the Raiders but played all around the rotation to lead her team to a third-straight GPAC title. She was named the GPAC Player of the Year after finishing fifth in the NAIA in kills per set (4.41) and leading the Raiders with 419 kills. In addition to her GPAC honor, Winterfeld landed NAIA All-American and AVCA All-Region accolades.

Athlete of the Year, Male – Jesse Van Kalsbeek (Men's Basketball)
Named the Bevo Francis Award Winner as the top player in all of small college basketball, Van Kalsbeek racked up the honors in his sophomore season. He led the NAIA in scoring (27.8) and was second in rebounding (12.4), while setting single-season school records in field goals made (356) and free throws made (219). Van Kalsbeek was named the Player of the Year by the GPAC, NAIA, and NABC.

Breakthrough Athlete, Female – Aliza Edwards (Women's Soccer)
Edwards led the Raiders with 11 goals, six assists, and 59 shots in her junior season after scoring just three prior goals in her collegiate career. She was recognized with First Team All-GPAC honors and was tied for third in the conference in both goals and points (28). Edwards had three multi-goal games and recorded a hat trick on September 6 at Avila (Mo.).

Breakthrough Athlete, Male – Brennan Reid (Men's Basketball)
Reid started his first game in Raider Red on November 28 before going on to be a regular in the starting five. He finished third in the GPAC in three-point percentage (50.0%) and recorded three double-doubles. Reid scored in double figures 10 times, becoming a key part of the Raider offense.

Game of the Year – Football vs. Morningside
No. 4-ranked Morningside came to Orange City for a battle with a hungry and motivated Raider football team. Jordan Carter took an interception to the house early in the first quarter to gain momentum, but the defenses battled to a 7-7 deadlock at the half. Early in the second half, Tanner Schouten found himself open downfield to score a 73-yard touchdown and move Northwestern ahead 14-7. After Morningside scored late, Kylar Fritz timed the snap to block the PAT and secure a one-point win.

Best Comeback – Noah Parmelee at GPAC Championships
Trailing late in the title match at 141 pounds, Parmelee needed two takedowns to punch his ticket to the NAIA Championships. After tying the bout at 6-6 in the third, Parmelee got his second takedown with 10 seconds on the clock to give Northwestern its first GPAC champion since 2022.

Best Individual Performance, Female – Stella Winterfeld at Concordia
After missing seven games due to injury, Winterfeld bounced back in a top-10 matchup at No. 2 Concordia, leading the Raiders to a four-set victory with 22 kills and 11 digs. Winterfeld was an efficient .319 on her attacks and added a block to her totals.

Best Individual Performance, Male – Jalen Langsy vs. Dordt
Langsy put on a shooting clinic in the home win against Dordt, knocking down a school-record 12 threes on 16 attempts to total 48 points in 33 minutes. His 12 threes broke a record that had stood since the 1989-90 season.

Newcomer of the Year, Female – Kenzie Harder (Track & Field)
Harder earned NAIA All-American honors in her freshman season, finishing eighth in the long jump at the NAIA Championships. In her first indoor season, Harder broke records in the 60m, oversized 200m, and long jump. She was also a member of the Raider 4x100m relay team, which broke the program record twice in the outdoor season.

Newcomer of the Year, Male – Nikolai Wede (Baseball) and Caleb Tofteland (Cross Country/Track & Field)
In his first season with the Raiders, Wede hit 12 home runs, two triples, 14 doubles, and slugged .649. He led the team with a 1.108 OPS, 96 total bases, and was tied for the team lead in home runs.

A freshman from Wichita, Kansas, Tofteland placed seventh in the GPAC and 52^nd nationally while claiming the third-best 8K time in school history (24:54). On the track, Tofteland recorded two all-conference marks in the 1500m and 5K and placed fifth at the GPAC Indoor Championships in the 3K.

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Players Mentioned

Aden De Jong: Student Coach; Senior

#10 Zavyr Metzger: MH; 6' 1"; Senior

#5 Stella Winterfeld: OH; 5' 9"; Junior

#11 Jalen Langsy: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#15 Brennan Reid: F; 6' 7"; Sophomore

#35 Carter Van Hulzen: F; 6' 6"; Senior

#42 Jesse Van Kalsbeek: F; 6' 6"; Sophomore

#37 Gabe Heitz: LB; 6' 1"; Senior

#8 Tanner Schouten: WR; 6' 4"; Senior

Noah Parmelee: 141; 5' 7"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Aden De Jong
: Senior
: Student Coach

#10 Zavyr Metzger
: 6' 1"; Senior
: MH

#5 Stella Winterfeld
: 5' 9"; Junior
: OH

#11 Jalen Langsy
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

#15 Brennan Reid
: 6' 7"; Sophomore
: F

#35 Carter Van Hulzen
: 6' 6"; Senior
: F

#42 Jesse Van Kalsbeek
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: F

#37 Gabe Heitz
: 6' 1"; Senior
: LB

#8 Tanner Schouten
: 6' 4"; Senior
: WR

Noah Parmelee
: 5' 7"; Senior
: 141