PELLA— Eighteen Central College seniors were added to the school's state-leading number of National Football Foundation Hampshire Society members Wednesday.

The Hampshire Society, in its 19th year, recognizes senior football players who are starters or significant reserves and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher.

Cited for the Dutch are wide receiver Brendan Bogaard (senior, Phoenix, Ariz., Northwest Christian HS), safety Caylor Clark (senior, Pleasantville), linebacker Cael Fiderlein (senior, West Branch), offensive lineman Evan Fink (senior, Waterloo, Ill.), defensive back Gavin Hierseman (senior, West Branch), linebacker Joe Jansen (senior, Pella), offensive lineman Levi Janssen (senior, Sheffield, West Fork HS), wide receiver Jack Johnson (senior, Mount Pleasant), safety Reece Miller (5th-year, Center Point, Center Point-Urbana HS), wide receiver Logan Mont (5th-year, Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS), tight end Lane Mueller (senior, Griswold), tight end Grant Nelson (senior, Pella), linebacker Reid Pakkebier (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS), kicker Logan Sunvold (5th-year, Monroe, Southeast Polk HS), wide receiver Collin Swantz (senior, Mount Vernon), defensive lineman Jakie Uthe (senior, Dumont, Hampton-Dumont HS), defensive lineman Kyler Yarnell (senior, Lakewood, Colo., Green Mountain HS), offensive lineman Carson Zitlow (senior, De Soto, Kan.).

The Dutch have 160 honorees in the past 17 years, the most in Iowa. The previous program high of 17 were cited in 2011-12.

Nationwide, 2,532 players from 339 schools were recognized this year, which is the most since its inception.
           
"These players represent the kind of student-athlete we look for at Central," said coach Jeff McMartin, the AFCA Division III Coach of the Year. "We look for the complete person, someone with great character who is a leader, an outstanding student and a talented football player. The young men on this list definitely exhibit those qualities and I couldn't be happier about this honor. It speaks very highly of our program and our players.
           
"We talk about champions always being champions and that who we are on the football field needs to be reflected in who we are in the classroom and in our daily life."
           
The seniors selected helped lead Central to an 8-2 record last fall.
           
The Hampshire Honor Society is a component of the National Football Foundation's efforts to promote combined athletic and academic success. The NFF's National Scholar-Athlete Awards program, launched in 1959, was the first to credit a player for academic success, football performance and community leadership.

Central's 2024-25 honorees:

Name (hometown/high school)                                    Position           GPA    Major
Brendan Bogaard (Phoenix, Ariz/Northwest Christian)     WR                    3.69     Business management
Caylor Clark (Pleasantville)                                                S                      3.56     Kinesiology
Cael Fiderlein (West Branch)                                             LB                    3.59     Kinesiology/Biology                
Evan Fink (Waterloo, Ill.)                                                    OL                   3.40     Business management  
Gavin Hierseman (West Branch)                                        S                     3.83     Kinesiology/Biology
Joe Jansen (Pella)                                                              LB                   3.43     Elementary education  
Levi Janssen (Sheffield/West Fork)                                    OL                   3.26     Environmental and sustainable studies
Jack Johnson (Mount Pleasant)                                         WR                  3.91     Business management
Reece Miller (Center Point/Center Point-Urbana)              S                      3.58     Strength and conditioning
Logan Mont (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora)                                WR                  3.57    Business management/Accounting
Lane Mueller (Griswold)                                                      TE                   3.51    Strength and conditoning
Grant Nelson (Pella)                                                           TE                   3.78     Kinesiology                
Reid Pakkebier (Cedar Rapids/Kennedy)                           LB                   3.29     Business management              
Logan Sunvold (Monroe/Southeast Polk)                           K                     3.35     Business management  
Collin Swantz (Mount Vernon)                                            WR                  3.51     Business management              
Jakie Uthe (Dumont/Hampton-Dumont)                              DL                   3.91     Strength and conditioning
Kyler Yarnell (Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain)               DL                   3.56     Business management/Accounting
Carson Zitlow (De Soto, Kan.)                                            OL                   3.39     Accounting