Central College Athletics

Grace Benson
Newton, Iowa
Class of 2026

Why did you chose Central?

I chose Central for a number of reasons, but what struck me most when visiting campus was how genuinely welcoming and invested everyone was in in spite of the fact that I wasn’t even a student yet.

Favorite professor and why?

I’ve been loving the couple classes I have with Kate Nesbit this semester. She’s welcoming, kind, and super energetic! Her classes always fly by.

You’re majoring in English because? 

I’ve always loved reading and writing. My tentative plan at this point is to go on to law school, and English is a great major for pre-law.

Besides athletics, what else are you involved in on campus?

I’ve had the opportunity to become involved in campus ministries this semester, and I’ve loved everything about it. The community is amazing, and my faith has already grown so much. I think everyone should give it a chance!

Who are your go-to musical artists?

I’m a big country fan, but I can’t really choose just one favorite artist. Lately I’ve been obsessed with Tim McGraw and The Chicks.

How has attending Central and playing a sport impacted your life?

I absolutely love the community at Central—both sports-wise and in general. Being plugged into a sport right away gave me the opportunity to find likeminded people that I could easily connect with right away. But through classes, eating meals, and everything in between, Central’s size has also allowed me to make a wide variety of friends from all across the spectrum, which I’m grateful for.

What sports did you play in high school?

I was a swimmer, a track runner, and a softball player in high school.

What’s the hardest workout you’ve done training for triathlon?

One Saturday morning our team went on a 30-mile bike ride with some local bike riders. The rural areas around Pella are super hilly, so it felt like we were literally biking uphill for hours.

If you could live in one Disney movie which one would it be?

This is a tough choice…I think I’d have to go with Moana because I love the ocean.

The concert you’d pay the most money to see?

I would love to see the Chicks in concert.

Favorite TV Show

The Office, hands down.

What’s it like to play for Coach Hedrick-Rozenberg?

I’ve absolutely loved having Jennie as a coach. She genuinely cares about every one of her athletes and pushes us each to be the best we can be every day. We all consider her our second mom at this point, haha.

What’s your favorite part about being a member of Central triathlon?

Being part of the triathlon team has given me a unique experience because women’s collegiate triathlon is such a new sport. It’s exciting being part of a sport that’s experienced so much growth across the nation. We’re not very big yet, but the support from the Central community is real. Everyone on campus is supportive of what the program stands for, and the sport itself has given me a new way to grow both as an athlete and a person.

What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?

Ten years down the road, I hope I can say I’m doing a good job at living a purposeful life that’s focused on others. I also hope I’m still doing triathlons :).

Favorite food from Central Market

My favorite meal from Central Market is definitely the popcorn chicken sundae bar. But the pizza never fails, either.

Bucket list

My bucket list includes a lot of concerts, traveling, and time with friends and family.