Three more members of last fall’s Class 2A state runner-up Spirit Lake football team will be taking their talents to the next level. Defensive tackle Andrew Broocks has agreed to play football at Morningside College in Sioux City this coming fall. A two-time All-District lineman, Broocks led the Indians in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks in his senior season, which resulted in a spot on the Des Moines Register’s All-State team. He established new school records with 28 tackles for loss in a season, five fumble recoveries in a single season, and equaled the mark set by current assistant coach Brad Travis for career fumble recoveries with seven. The Mustangs are a NAIA school that competes in the GPAC conference for football.
Fellow senior Kevin Martinson has also inked his name on the dotted line today, committing to play football and run track for Northwestern College in Orange City. The defensive back was an Academic All-State honoree and finished the season in the top six on the team in tackles and was second in interceptions with six. On the track, Martinson was a key member of a Spirit Lake Park team that finished fifth in the overall standings last spring in Class 3A. As a junior he qualified for the state meet in the 400-meter hurdles and won a gold medal as a member of the first-place Distance Medley Relay team. The Red Raiders also compete in the NAIA’s Great Plains Athletic Conference.
Joining Martinson at Northwestern for both football and track will be Aric Waltz. The two-time All-District linebacker inked his name to a letter of intent to compete for the Red Raiders starting next fall. Waltz finished fourth in tackles this season, while also scoring eight touchdowns as a versatile wing back. On the track, Waltz was a state qualifier as a junior in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing twelfth.
Wide received Zach Herrig has made his decision on where to play collegiately in the fall. The senior has committed to Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. Herrig led Spirit Lake in receiving yards and was tied for the top spot in touchdown receptions this past fall. In the title game against Iowa City Regina, Herrig reeled in six catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. Iowa Western competes in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference as part of the NJCAA.
Earlier in the week, Sawyer Harms signed his hame to a commitment letter to play football at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. Harms, an All-State and two-time All-District left tackle, finished third on the team in tackles, and second in tackles for loss and sacks. The Vikings compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference at the NCAA Division II level.
This summer will mark the 40th playing of the Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Classic, an annual event to help raise money for the Shriners Hospital for Children. This game features two all-star teams comprised of soon-to-be college freshman, and those rosters were announced today. The North squad will consist of Spirit Lake lineman Andrew Broocks and Emmetsburg lineman Andrew Garrelts, along with Dakota Odermann of Armstrong-Ringsted, Matt Nagel from Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley’s Alexander Nathan, and Adam Teunissen from West Lyon. The North All-Stars will be coached by Don Anderson from North Iowa. The Iowa Shrine Bowl will be played at Jack Trice Stadium on the Iowa State campus in Ames on July 21.
