PELLA--Commemorating the last year of Central College athletics, the Central Student-Athlete Advisory Council hosted the Dutchies Sunday, April 19 inside P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium.

For the 11th year in a row, SAAC hosted the Dutchies to honor the best in Dutch athletics from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. Coaches nominated their student-athletes before a six-member committee whittled it down to four finalists and eventually selected a winner.
           
The Dutchies handed out 12 awards ranging from Male and Female Athlete of the Year to the Moment of the Year.

Freshman Male Athlete of the Year — After finishing fifth to earn all-conference honors at the 2025 American Rivers Conference Men's Golf Championships, Maison Brandt (Byron, Ill.) was also named the league's Co-Rookie of the Year.

Freshman Female Athlete of the Year — Maddy Stevens (Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) was the top freshman finisher at the 2025 A-R-C Women's Cross Country Championships by placing fourth. She was the league's Runner of the Week four times during the season.

Coaching Staff of the Year — Coach Landon Williams led the Dutch men's wrestling team to a top-10 finish at the NCAA Division III Championships for the first time since 1992 and crowning its first individual champion since the same year.

Male Moment of the Year— In overtime at Coe, Kyle Cason (freshman, Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) stole the long in-bounds pass and hit a contested, fadeaway 3-pointer to beat the buzzer and secure an 88-85 victory for the men's basketball team.

Female Moment of the Year— Locked in a 60-60 game with seven seconds remaining, women's basketball guard Emily Naughton (junior, Indianola) took the ball and hit a turnaround jumper in the lane with 0.1 seconds remaining to beat Simpson College.

Record-Breaking Performance of the Year — Shortstop Haley Bach (Council Bluffs, Lewis Central HS) became the Central softball program's all-time leader in runs scored with 175, 22 more runs than the previous mark.

Male Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year— An Associated Press first team All-American as a cornerback with the football team, Gavin Smith (senior, Audubon) also earned second team All-American honors by finishing 13^th in the heptathlon at the 2026 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Female Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year— As a middle hitter with the volleyball team, Kaitlyn Mumm (junior, Waukee, Des Moines Christian HS) was once again a first team American Rivers All-Conference with 44 kills on 112 attempts. On the basketball court, she made nine starts and 20 appearances while contributing 107 points and 68 rebounds.

Student Impact — A four-year student manager with the Dutch women's basketball team, Taylor Sniezek (Gilbert) was honored for his dedication and contribution to the program as an unheralded member of the team.

Male Athlete of the Year — Cade Siebrecht (senior, 149 pounds, Lisbon) ended a 34-year drought in men's wrestling by becoming a national champion at 149 pounds. Seeded No. 6 entering the tournament, Siebrecht beat the No. 11, No. 3, No. 2 and No. 5 seeds en route to his title.

Female Athlete of the Year — At the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Peyton Steffen (senior, Marion) was fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She also earned MVP honors at the A-R-C Championships after winning three races.

Team of the Year — With six All-Americans and two national champions, the Dutch men's indoor track and field team finished sixth at the 2026 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships