Creston, IA

A year that left the world in a big question mark and college athletics was no different. Many of the young men and women below did not get the chance to end their Southwestern Spartan career as hoped, but the athletic department is proud of each and every one of them. These are the Spartans that are now competing at the four-year level after the 2019-20 academic year. Southwestern is represented at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Congratulations to each one of you!

Men's Basketball

Akeen Woods represented Southwestern in 27 games played. In those 27 games, he averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2 assists. The 6'4" Sophomore guard shot 45.8% from the floor. He scored 21 points on three different occasions for the Spartans, at Marshalltown Community College, at home against North Central Missouri College, and at home against Iowa Lakes Community College. Woods ended his career as an All-Conference selection. He is now representing Southwestern by playing in the NAIA at Baker University.

Sebastian Zehnder represented Southwestern in 27 games as an outside shooter. He averaged 40.6% from behind the arc on 133 attempts. Zehnder averaged 7.8 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game, and an assist per game. He scored 16 points on two occasions as a Spartan, on the road at Independence Community College, and at Iowa Central Community College. Zehnder now represents Southwestern at the NCAA Division II level at Chadron State.

Women's Basketball

Meghan Allen came to Southwestern for her Sophomore campaign from Kansas City, Missouri. The 6'2" center played in 14 games for the Spartans. She averaged 7 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game. Her highest-scoring game came against Little Priest Tribal College, where she scored 15 points in the dominating victory. Allen is continuing her playing career at Park University, a dominant NAIA program in Missouri.

Eden Billups-Campbell came to Southwestern Kansas City, Missouri. The sophomore guard transferred-in and competed at a high level for the Spartans. She averaged 8.8 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 1.9 assists per game. Her highest-scoring game came against the #1-ranked North Iowa Area Community College Trojans where she scored 18 points. Billups-Campbell will be representing Southwestern at the NCAA Division II level at Bluefield State College.

Samantha Hagedorn stayed close to home and attended Southwestern from Bancroft, Iowa. The sophomore, outside shooter averaged 7.3 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, and 1 assist per game. She scored 219 points in her sophomore campaign for the Spartans. Her highest-scoring game came against the Tritons of Iowa Central Community College, scoring 20 points and going 4-4 from behind the arc. Hagedorn will continue to represent Southwestern at the University of Dubuque and compete at the NCAA Division III level.

Simone Jordan joined Spartan Nation from Grandview, Missouri. The First-Team All-Conference forward led the Spartans with 14.2 points per game. She also averaged 9.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. The sophomore had many great games, but her highest-scoring game was in a tight-race against the Tritons of Iowa Central Community College, scoring 26 points. Jordan will continue her playing career and representation of Southwestern at Lincoln University, an NCAA Division II program.

Kayela Willis came to Southwestern from Whiteright, Texas. The sophomore guard, along with the rest of her team, led the Spartans to a fourth-place conference ranking and the right to host a playoff game. She averaged 7.1 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 2.2 assists per game. Willis will continue her playing career at Judson University at the NAIA level, and will represent the Spartans well.

Cross Country and Track & Field

Joshua Carstens came to Southwestern from Panora, Iowa. He represented the Spartans in both Cross Country and Track & Field, competing in distance events. Josh was a significant factor in the Spartans top-25 rankings and winning their first-ever home cross country meet. Josh will be representing Southwestern at the NCCAA level and competing for Faith Baptist College.

Danielle Costain came to Southwestern from Aransas Pass, Texas. She also represented Southwestern in Cross Country and Track & Field. Costain and the Spartans fell just short of winning their home meet, with her earning a top-10 medal. For the Spartans, Costain did everything asked of her. Whether it was a Triple Jump, 600, or any relay, she stepped up and gave her all. Costain will be a friendly face in many competitions over the next few years as she competes for Grand View University at the NAIA level.

Brianna Hoffman is another Spartan from Panora, Iowa. She, too, represented Southwestern in Cross Country and Track & Field. Hoffman was another "do it all" for Southwestern, competing in multiple relay events, 600, and some longer distance events. Hoffman is also attending Grand View University and will be a familiar face as the Spartans compete often against them at NAIA events.

Nicolae "Alex" Vandor competed at a high-level for the Spartans. More of a middle-distance competitor, the Romanian competed on the Cross Country and Track & Field teams as well. Vandor frequently was a part of some speedy relays, but excelled in the 800-meter run. Vandor was also a part of the Spartans defending their home cross country meet. He is competing at Indiana Tech at the NAIA level.

Dance

Kiersten Latham made a great decision and stay at home to attend Southwestern Community College. The Spartan Dance leader was featured on the University of Iowa website, and led the team to Division I rating Hip Hop and a second-place finish in Jazz at the State Championship. Latham is now a student-athlete representing Southwestern at Grand View University.

Micha Stephens, another graduate of Creston attended Southwestern to wrap up her Associate's Degree. The Spartans had a great season, finishing first, second, and third at regional competition as well as performing well at the State Championship. Stephens is now a student-athlete, representing the Spartans at the University of Northern Iowa.

Men's Golf

Tony Cebuhar came to Southwestern from Dunlap, Illinois. The Spartan averaged an 82.38 his freshman campaign on the links, and missed out on his entire spring season for his sophomore year. Cebuhar's best tournament was at the North Iowa Area Community College Invitational where he shot a 73(+1). He will continue his playing career at the NCAA Division III level at Webster University.

Women's Softball

Lindsay Rader came to Southwestern from Joplin, Missouri. The Spartan outfielder averaged .222 her sophomore year in a severely shortened schedule, but had a career average of .257. She also had an 81.8% fielding percentage. Rader is continuing her softball career representing Southwestern at the NAIA level at Tabor College.

Hannah Perez came to Southwestern from sunny Florida. The right-handed outfielder averaged .196 at the plate over her career. Perez will continue representing the Southwestern Spartans at perennial powerhouse, St. Thomas University at the NAIA level.

Ella Rutherford got it done in all aspects of being a Spartan, academically she was a Coca-Cola All-American. Rutherford did some pitching for the Spartans, but was primarily an in-fielder. She had a .281 career batting average for Southwestern and a 95.8% fielding percentage. She was also an All-Region performer her Freshman year. Rutherford will continue representing Southwestern at the NCAA Division II level at Drury University.

Women's Volleyball

Kelcie Gaines represented Southwestern from Watson, Missouri as a Defensive Specialist. She ended her volleyball career as an All-Conference performer. Gaines represented the Spartans in 36 matches, had a total of 422 digs and averaged 3.91 digs per set. Gaines will be representing the Spartans at the NAIA level at Peru State College.