Index of Sports Press Releases

April 21, 2009

DWU football team announces second wave of recruits

Brad Pole

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University football team rolled out the majority of its recruiting class for the 2009 season on National Signing Day in February. However, head coach Brad Pole has landed several significant commitments since then as the Tigers work toward the completion of their recruiting process.

In addition to the 24 signees previously announced by DWU, Pole announced Tuesday that he has received 13 more commitments, bringing the 2009 class up to 37 players, which is extremely close to the team’s target of 40 newcomers. Pole said this second wave of singings produced some standout players up front, and it solidified the team’s depth at a few key areas heading into the 2009 season.

“I’m really happy with the class as a whole,” Pole said. “This class is really solid and we’ve solidified some key positions. We’ve picked up some pretty key skill people and we’ve filled a lot of holes. We definitely have signed some players who will immediately help with our depth.”

Headlining DWU’s latest crop of talent are a pair of transfers and a pair of standout lineman from Wyoming. Tight end Duran Zephier has committed to join the Tigers after leaving South Dakota State University. Offensive lineman Jon Rehfeldt is the other transfer who comes to DWU from the University of Sioux Falls.

Zephier (6-5, 260), a 2006 graduate of Tiospa Zina High School in Sisseton, was a Jim Thorpe All-American as a high school senior. Rehfeldt (6-5, 290) was a 2008 graduate of West Central High School in Hartford, where he earned All-State and Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45 honors while leading the Trojans to a state title. Rehfeldt will have to sit a season before he can compete at DWU because of transfer rules.

Pole is also excited about Wyoming standouts Qaros Hernandez and Sterling Dockweiler. Hernandez (6-5, 300) was an All-State lineman for Cheyenne East High School while Dockweieler (6-3, 240) was an All-State Second Team pick for Kelly Walsh High School in Casper. Both players were selected to play in the Wyoming Shrine Bowl, and both could help up front right away at DWU.

“We picked up some pretty key linemen in Rehfeldt, Hernandez and Dockweiler,” Pole said. “We’re happy to get Rehfeldt and are excited about his future here after his redshirt year. Hernandez is a big offensive lineman from a great program, and we’re looking forward to what he can give us. Dockweiler runs real good for a lineman and he was one of our top gets.”

The rest of Pole’s second group of signees features nine talented in-state recruits and three from outside South Dakota’s borders. Hurley (S.D.) standout Jeff Horton (5-11, 200) was a two-time All-Conference pick, and as a senior he earned All-State First Team and Elite 45 Honorable Mention honors while leading the Cobras to a State Championship. Running back Jimmy Olsen (6-3, 187) has also committed to DWU following an All-Conference career at nearby Canistota High School.

Jones County High School star Scott Nix (6-1, 170) was an All-Conference performer, and Pole is excited about his abilities at defensive back. Pole also landed another big-school recruit from South Dakota in Yankton High School star Brooklyn Tieszen (5-9, 210), who was a two-year starter for the Bucks, as well as a team captain and the winner of the Hawk and Most Inspirational Awards.

Pole also landed a pair of teammates from Tea Area High School. Taylor Fechner (6-0, 175) played both wideout and defensive back at Tea, where he was an All-Conference pick and the team’s Offensive and Defensive MVP as a senior. Quarterback Derek Jorgenson (5-10, 170) was the Titans Offensive MVP as a junior and a two-time All-Conference Honorable Mention selection.

Pole’s three other out-of-state recruits hail from Nevada, Minnesota and Idaho. Raymond Velarde (5-10, 170) was a standout high school player for Mountain View Christian High School in Las Vegas, where he earned All-Conference honors at quarterback, running back and linebacker during his career to go along with numerous team honors. Velarde was also one of the top 10 passers in Nevada as a senior.

Chane Amdahl committed to DWU from Pipestone Area High School in Pipestone, Minn. Amdahl (5-9, 195) projects to be a fullback with the Tigers, although he played all over the field as a captain for Pipestone, where he was named his team’s Most Dedicated Football Player. Boise High School’s Sam Troutt rounds out the class. Troutt (5-10, 180), a linebacker, was a varsity letter winner for the Braves as a senior.

Pole’s strong recruiting class comes on the heels of Dakota Wesleyan’s most successful football season in more than a decade. The Tigers finished the season tied for third in the Great Plains Athletic Conference with a 7-3 record and Pole was named the league’s Coach-of-the-Year. Monday, Dakota Wesleyan was included in the NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Spring Poll at No. 23.