Dual-sport athletes have twice the experience at Central College

While athletes around the country are being told to focus on one sport at a young age, Central College has maintained its reputation as a dual-sport athlete’s haven.

In 2019-20 alone, Central had 47 student-athletes who rostered with two different teams, covering 11 of Central’s 17 programs. On Central’s All-American wall, 12 former student-athletes were recognized with multiple teams. An additional 38 have been All-Americans in both indoor and outdoor track and field.

Geneseo, Illinois native Andrew Benhart (junior) was intent on participating in both soccer and track and field collegiately but found there was only one school who would give him such an opportunity.

“Central was the only school that made it very clear they would support me and even encouraged me to do both sports,” he said. “No other school liked the idea of me playing multiple sports.”

Krissa Larson (sophomore, Waverly, Shell Rock HS) received honorable mention American Rivers all-conference volleyball distinction in both seasons at Central. During the track and field season, she’s placed in the top eight at the conference meet three times in either the pentathlon (indoor) or heptathlon (outdoor).

“I love both sports and I am grateful Central gave me the opportunity to experience both,” she said. “(Competing in two sports) keeps me in a routine the whole school year and I like that. I just focus on whatever sport is in season You need to be in a different type of shape for each sport. But the coaches are very accommodating.”

The Dutch volleyball program had four varsity players in multiple sports last season. In addition to Larson, setter Alyssa Lewton (sophomore, Ankeny, Centennial HS) started 21 matches in the fall before playing No. 2 doubles and No. 4 singles with the women’s tennis team. Fellow setter Amanda Smith (freshman, Tipton) led the volleyball team with 522 assists and came off the bench for the women’s basketball team 12 times. Starting libero Landry Luhring (sophomore, Grundy Center HS) was also a long jumper and sprinter for the indoor track team.

“Both coaching staffs work hand-in-hand with the athletes to make sure we are helping to create the most meaningful experience possible while still keeping their body and safety in mind as well,” volleyball coach Jeanne Czipri said. 

Coach Ryun Ferrell leads the men’s and women’s tennis teams and had four athletes double up with other sports last season. 

 “I love having dual-sport athletes on my team,” Ferrell said. “They are usually the ones I never have to worry about because they are so focused and determined in everything they do.”

Hartley plays the fall tennis season, basketball in the winter and then rejoins the tennis team for the spring campaign. She acknowledges while there is benefit in having to time to rest, she enjoys the process of playing for both teams and the benefits it has for her as an athlete. 

“Jumping from tennis to basketball and then back to tennis keeps my body always going and in shape,” she said. “The two sports really complement each other well. The coaches work great with each other and with you about making sure you do get what you need to prepare for the transition between sports.”

Danny Anderson (senior, Boone) was honorable mention all-conference for Ferrell in tennis as a freshman and a junior thanks to stellar doubles play. A starting cornerback for much of his four-year football career, he finished with 147 tackles and six interceptions for the Dutch, who captured a share of the program’s 31st conference title last fall and reached the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

“You have to have the determination and ability to take each day as it comes when you play multiple sports,” Anderson said. “Doing that with one sport is hard enough, but when you have two teams and two coaching staffs affected by your actions and decisions, you have to be able to deal with things as they come.”

The benefits of being a dual-sport athlete aren’t just felt on the field according to Mitchell Williamson (freshman, Wiota, CAM HS), a linebacker for the football squad, and a thrower with men’s track and field program.

“It’s given me a chance to work with a much large group of athletes,” he said. “Being a part of two different teams has allowed me to meet more people and make Central feel more like home. I know that everywhere I go on campus there will be a familiar face, either from football or the track teams.”

The most common dual-sport combination is between the cross country and track and field programs, which 29 men and women chose in 2019-20. Recent graduate Mason Muur (Morrison, Ill), who will start working as fifth grade teacher at Regents School of Charlottesville, Virginia this fall, acknowledges the difficultly of that combination but also the importance of it.

“There was only about a total of one month all year we weren’t training,” Muur said. “It’s not only hard physically, but also mentally. But I developed closer relationships with my teammates because we spent every single week together, and for that I am grateful.”

Sometimes, a student-athlete will decide to attend Central for one sport and then add a second sport later. Sam Beatty (freshman, Mount Pleasant) was an all-conference high jumper for the Dutch men this year during the indoor track and field season after spending the winter on the basketball court.

“I was originally recruited to play basketball,” he said. “But then I was also recruited by (associate head track and field coach Jim) Fuller when he saw me jump at one of the high school meets Central hosts. The coaches have been extremely supportive of me doing what I want to do. If that means participating in two sports, they are all for it.”

Quinn Deahl (freshman, Cedar Rapids, Prairie HS) followed a similar path.

“I was recruited primarily by Coach Steinkamp to play women’s basketball during high school,” Deahl said. “I decided pretty last minute I wanted to play for the women’s soccer team as well. Both Coach Steinkamp and (women’s soccer coach Mike) Kobylinski were extremely flexible in accommodating the change and were supportive throughout the process.”

Senior men’s tennis player, Ben Turnley (senior, Mahattan, Kan.), was also a part of Central’s 2019 men’s soccer conference title-winning season and had advice for any potential dual-sport athletes.