Last spring saw the Iowa Central golf program achieve unprecedented success on the national level.

Ivanna Becerra-Diaz claimed the school’s first-ever NJCAA Div. II women’s championship, helping the Tritons to a third place finish overall — highest for either team in school history.

While all of the qualifying members of that unit have moved on, veteran head coach Kris Graewin believes he has put together a girls squad ready to keep them in contention.

Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Braxtyn Dencklau leads a five-player freshman class that features athletes from four different countries outside of the U.S. Joining Dencklau are Azul Orantes Guzman from Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico; Okira Quintero of Livorno, Italy; Syeda Laiba Shah from Lahore, Pakistan; and Victoria Verstichel of Wahlhain, Belgium.

“Braxtyn has come in and competed early in practices,” Graewin said. “We’re looking forward to seeing how she continues to develop.

“We have a lot of talent on the women’s side; it’s now just a matter of helping them gain experience and learn how to play college golf.”

As for the Iowa Central men, they had a pair of individual qualifiers at nationals in 2024, but were kept out of the team meet last season. In 2021, the Tritons scored a fourth-place finish at nationals under Graewin, who has been at the helm since 2018.

“It’s always fun to get a new group of athletes in and see how they fit together,” Graewin said. “We lost a lot of experience after graduating our women’s lineup and three from our varsity men’s lineup.

“We are very excited for another year and progress from Eric Zuniga, Peyton Walker and Filip Jarheden. Francis Lockwood, Logan Fogarty, Austin Nord and Alex Falligant will challenge for playing time in the varsity lineup.”

The season will be split into two parts, with the fall portion concluding in October for the women at the Mustang Derby in Sioux City from Whispering Creek Country Club. They begin play in Creston at Crestmoor Golf Club for the War at the Moor on Friday, Aug. 29.

From there, tournaments in Mason City, Indianola and Nebraska City, Neb. will surround the Iowa Central Kickoff on Monday, Sept. 8, at the Fort Dodge Country Club.

As for the men, they have their first event on Monday at the Duane Chaney Invitational in Coal Valley, Ill. at Oakwood Country Club. The home kickoff is set for the same day as the women — Sept. 8 — while the men also have events in Council Bluffs and Sherrard, Ill.

In the spring, the NJCAA national tournaments will conclude the year for both teams.

Graewin will be assisted by Grayson Blunt, who competed at the NCAA Div. I level at both Sam Houston State and Kansas State.

2025-26 IOWA CENTRAL GOLF

Men’s Roster

Sophomores

Kollin Frederes, Alton; Filip Jarheden, Sweden; Ethan Kuper, Algona; Hunter Ramirez, Texas; Tucker Smith, Fort Dodge; Adan Staples, Missouri; Peyton Walker, Colorado; Eric Zuniga, Texas.

Freshmen

William Adams, United Kingdom; Will Comp, Dayton; Jaxon Dwyer, Australia; Alex Falligant, Wisconsin; Logan Fogarty, Minnesota; Sam Frederick, Kansas; Axel Haglund, Sweden; Chayse Hansen, Schaller; Abram Houtakker, Solon; Andrew Hunt, Johnston; Max Johnson, Sioux City; Caleb Juhl, Rockwell City; Francis Lockwood, New Zealand; Paul Natheepaht, Thailand; Cael Nixon, Webster City; August Nord, Sweden; Benjamin Slethei, Norway.

Men’s Schedule

Aug. 25 — at Duane Chanay Invitationa; 29 — at War of the Moor.

Sept. 8 — Iowa Central Kickoff; 9 — at NIACC Tournament; 22-23 — at Bent Tree Showcase; 29-30 — at The Battle for the Mississippi.

Oct. 1 — at Simpson Invitational; 6-7 — at Mustang Derby; 9 — at Quad Cup; 13-14 — at Eagle Classic.

Women’s Roster

Freshmen

Braxtyn Dencklau, Fort Dodge; Azul Orantes Gusman, Mexico; Okira Quintero, Italy; Syeda Laiba Shah, Pakistan; Victoria Verstichel, Belgium.

Women’s Schedule

Aug. 29 — at War of the Moor.

Sept. 8 — Iowa Central Kickoff; 9 — at NIACC Tournament; 17 — at Simpson Invitational; 26-27 — at Peru State College Invitational.

Oct. 6-7 — at Mustang Derby.