College Update: UNI's Steichen earns All-MVC honors

Austin Steichen, a Remsen St. Mary's alum, earned All-Missouri Valley Conference first team honors at center for the University of Northern Iowa for the second consecutive season. An honorable mention All-American selection by The Sports Network in 2008, Steichen anchored a Panthers team that ranked first in the the MVC in total offense, passing efficiency and sacks allowed.

The Panthers, who began the season ranked fourth among FCS Division I football teams, finished 7-4 overall, including a near upset of now-No. 9 Iowa in their season opener. UNI finished 5-3 in MVC play and was left out of the FCS playoffs after a semifinal appearance in 2008.

Women's volleyball

Northwestern College: Delainye (Hardersen) Woudstra, a Hinton alum, recorded four digs as the No. 3 Red Raiders opened NAIA Tournament play with a 3-0 win over Shawnee State at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena on December 1. Northwestern (34-2) was scheduled to play No. 17 Indiana Tech, a 3-0 winner over No. 10 Biola Tuesday, in pool play on Wednesday.

Morningside College: Jamie Vander Kooi, a Hinton alum, recorded nine kills and 10 digs as No. 24 Morningside dropped its NAIA Tournament opener 3-1 to No. 4 Concordia College on Tuesday at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena. The Mustangs (31-8) were set to face No. 9 University of Texas-Brownsville on Wednesday.

Women's basketball

Morningside College: Katie Sponder, a Le Mars alum, recorded six points, three rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists as the No. 15 Mustangs defeated Division III Milwaukee SOE on November 28 at the Colorado College Classic in Colorado Springs. She added 10 rebounds and seven assists in an 80-59 win over NCAA Division III Whitworth University on November 29.

Men's basketball

Morningside College: Tyler Schleis, a Le Mars alum, scored four points in an 81-78 loss to York College on November 27. He recorded an assist and a rebound in a 73-56 win over Peru State on November 28.

Wrestling

Morningside College: Chad Morehead, a freshman from Akron-Westfield, won the 174-pound silver division weight class at the Auggie Brute Adidas Open in Minneapolis on November 21.

Augustana College: Marcus Edgington, a Hinton alum, fell 4-3 in a 157-pound match to Division III top-ranked Jason Adams of D-III No. 2 Augsburg, which edged Division II No. 19 Augustana 21-12 in a dual meet on November 25.