The Blue Knights Athletic Department is excited to announce that Hawken Hanna has been named the new Head Coach for the Blue Knights Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams! Hanna brings a wealth of coaching experience to DCTC, and was most recently the Men’s Soccer Assistant Coach at the NCAA Division II level for Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. He also worked as a sport performance coach with youth athletes.
The DCTC Blue Knights hosted the annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser at Emerald Greens Golf Course on August 26th. The fundraiser helps support current and future Blue Knight student-athletes, and had a great turnout that included many Blue Knights athletes, staff, friends, family, partners, and supporters.
The women’s and Men’s Soccer Teams finished their seasons over the weekend of October 22-23, 2022 with play-off games.
Front row – Left to Right, Jessy Declid, Molly Miller. Naydelin Villegas-Mendoza, Laurna Arends, January La. Dun Lwe Htoo, Sydnie Downs
Back Row – Left to Right, Sydney Swanson, Maria Rodriguez-Martinez, Preslie Annala, Nicole Logsdon, Evie Wegner, Molly Erickson – Not Pictured – Allison Boroz
The Women’s team traveled to Southeast Community College in Burlington, Iowa for the play-offs. The conditions for the game were hot and a strong wind that ran up and down the field. The Blue Knights had the wind at their back to start the game. Early in the game, Jessy Declid hit the crossbar with a shot, followed by another shot off the crossbar by Evie Wegner. Moments later Sydney Swanson just fired a shot over the goal. While the Blue Knights were creating chances to score, they could not find the net, until Sydnie Downs opened the scoring with an assist from Allison Boroz. Southeast, which had pressure on the Blue Knights eventually scored two goals to lead at the half.
The second half went scoreless. The Blue Knights, had several good scoring chances but were unable to tie the game. The game finished 2-1 in favor of Southeast Iowa. The Blue Knights played a good game and just came up short in the end.
The Women finished the season with a record of 4-10-1
DCTC 14 Anoka Ramsey 2
DCTC 0 Central Nebraska 10
DCTC 0 Rochester 1
DCTC 0 Southeast, Nebraska 7
DCTC 4 Aleandria 0
DCTC 1 Rochester 6
DCTC 2 UMD Club 3
DCTC 3 Anoka Ramsey 0
DCTC 3 Lake Superior 4
DCTC 3 Marshalltown 3
DCTC 3 Alexandria 1
DCTC 0 St. Scholastica JV 4
DCTC 0 UW-Stout JV 4
DCTC 1 Scott County 2
DCTC 1 Southeast, Iowa 2
The Women’s team end of season awards:
All-tournament Team for play-offs: Sydnie Downs: Freshman – Eastview High School
Team awards – voted on by the players
Offensive Player of the Year:
Sydnie Downs: Freshman – Eastview High School
Jessy Declid: Freshman – Park High School
Defensive Player of the Year:
Naydelin Villegas-Mendoza: Sopomore – Bloomington Kennedy High School
Rookie of the Year:
Maria Rodriguez – Martinez: Freshman – Apple Valley High School
Practice Player of the Year:
Sydney Swanson: Sophomore – Hastings High School
Blue Knight Award:
Naydelin Villegas-Mendoza: Sophomore – Bloomington Kennedy High School
Most Improved Player – start to finish of the year:
Preslie Annala: Freshman – Proctor High School
Most Valuable Player of the Year:
Evie Wegner: Freshman – Lakeville North High School
The Men’s team traveled to Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa for the play-offs. The Men’s team lost to Hawkeye 2-0 in a hard - fought game that saw the blue Knights create several good chances to score. With the score still tied at 0-0, 30 minutes through the first half, Helios Alvarado Garcia, a freshman from Apple Valley High School, hit a 40 - yard rocket of a shot off the bottom of the crossbar, but the ball failed to cross the goal line. The Redtails of Hawkeye scored with about five minutes left in the first half.
The second half brought scoring chances by both teams. Hawkeye was awarded a penalty kick for a hand ball in the box with 20 minutes left in the game. The penalty kick was converted and made it 2-0, which remained the score of the game. Charles Odell, a freshman from Rochester Century High School played in goal for DCTC and had an excellent game.
The Men’s team finished the season with a record of 8-9-0.
DCTC 0 Rock Valley College 5
DCTC 3 Lake Superior 1
DCTC 2 Anoka Ramsey 1
DCTC 2 Central Nebraska 8
DCTC 1 Vlora Club 0
DCTC 0 Southeast Nebraska 5
DCTC 2 Riverland 3
DCTC 6 Alexandria 4
DCTC 0 Bethel JV 1
DCTC 5 St. Olaf Club 2
DCTC 2 Anoka Ramsey 3 OT
DCTC 2 Lake Superior 0
DCTC 1 Riverland 3
DCTC 0 Alexandria 3
DCTC 6 St. Olaf Club 3
DCTC 0 University of MN 1
DCTC 3 Scott County 2
DCTC 0 Hawkeye 2
The Men’s team end of season awards:
All-Tournament Team for Play-offs:
Cole Ayres: Sophomore – Zumbrota – Mazeppa High School
Team awards – voted on by the players
Offensive Player of the Year:
David Ajayi: Freshman – Burnsville High School
Defensive Player of the Year:
Cristian Navarro: Freshman - Farmington High School
Rookie of the Year:
Cristian Navarro: Freshman – Farmington High School
Practice Player of the Year:
Aidan Upton: - Freshman – Chanhassen High School
Blue Knight Award:
Charles Odell: Freshman – Rochester Century High School
Hoang Vo: Freshman – Chanhassen High School
Cole Ayres:
Most Improved Player – start to finish of the year:
Helios Alvarado Garcia: Freshman – Apple Valley High School
Jarrod Van Horn: Sophomore – Farmington High School
Most Valuable Player of the Year:
Cristian Navarro: Freshman – Farmington High School
Jakob Popkin, a former Dakota County Technical College Men’s Soccer player, has made the transition to playing at the professional level in the United States. Jakob is now playing for the AC Syracuse Pulse in Syracuse, New York. The Pulse is a member of the NISA Professional Soccer League. While playing for the Blue Knights during 2019/2020, Jakob scored 4 goals and had 7 assists. He led the team in scoring and had two game-winning goals. Coach Mark Obarski said, “Jakob was a leader of the team on the field and was able to control the midfield while playing at DCTC.” Obarski noted that “Jakob had tremendous ball skills and excellent field vision.”
Congratulations to Jakob!
Women’s soccer team nominated • 14 individual athletes nominated
Dakota County Technical College has submitted nominations for 2020–2021 NJCAA All-Academic Awards for teams and individual players. The DCTC Blue Knights women’s soccer team (average GPA: 3.11) has been nominated for the NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Award.
Fourteen Blue Knights softball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, baseball and basketball players have been nominated for NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards.
Marki Struensee serves as the college’s athletic coordinator. Marki oversaw the nomination process for all six NJCAA teams at DCTC.
“I am proud of each and every Blue Knight athlete,” she said. “In the past year, COVID has forced us to make some big changes to athletics as well as academics. These student-athletes worked hard to balance it all—at times with things changing daily. Congrats to the individual and team nominations, as well as those who didn’t make the nomination criteria. Thank you for all of your hard work!”
DCTC Team Nominated
Blue Knights Women’s Soccer
Average GPA: 3.11
Bella Ciccarelli (4) • 3.81 GPA • Team and Student-Athlete [team photo unavailable]
DCTC Individual Players Nominated
Ben Goelz
Baseball
Freshman
GPA: 4.00 • NJCAA All-Academic First Team
Zach Gunderson
Baseball
Freshman
GPA: 4.00 • NJCAA All-Academic First Team
Ariyontai Hatcher
Basketball
Freshman
GPA: 4.00 • NJCAA All-Academic First Team
Jordi Herrera
Men’s Soccer
Sophomore
GPA: 4.00 • NJCAA All-Academic First Team
Alissa Merrick
Women’s Soccer
Freshman
GPA: 4.00 • NJCAA All-Academic First Team
Caitlin Springer
Women’s Soccer
Freshman
GPA: 4.00 • NJCAA All-Academic First Team
Kirby Pieri
Baseball
Freshman
GPA: 3.97 • NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
Riley Pederson
Baseball
Freshman
GPA: 3.95 • NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
Maria Gutzmann
Softball
Freshman
GPA: 3.94 • NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
Benjamin Simonsen
Baseball
Freshman
GPA: 3.91 • NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
Lilly Hernandez
Women’s Soccer
Sophomore
GPA: 3.88 • NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
Elizabeth Lehrer
Softball
Freshman
GPA: 3.82 • NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
Isabella Ciccarelli
Softball, Women’s Soccer
Freshman
GPA: 3.81 • NJCAA All-Academic Second Team
Dalton Burns
Baseball
Freshman
GPA: 3.75 • NJCAA All-Academic Third Team
The Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) Women’s Soccer Team excelled in the classroom this past Spring semester as they placed nine players on the All-Region Academic Team. The Men’s team also added four players. The region consists of Dakota County Technical College and teams from the Iowa Junior College Conference. To be given these honors, first team players must have a cumulative or semester grade point average of 3.5 – 4.0 and second team players must have a cumulative or semester grade point average of 3.0 – 3.49.
These athletes truly represent the meaning of student-athletes. Many see college athletics as just that, just athletics, but the athletes not only compete on the field but must work hard in the classroom as well. Coach Mark Obarski, said of these players, “I am very proud of these student-athletes, as they exemplify what is asked of the young adults we are working with, these athletes are asked to put in many hours of practice, travel and playing games, along with maintaining their academics."
Players on the first team:
Women’s Team:
Isabella Ciccarelli
Lily Hernandez
Alissa Merrick
Ashlyn Nystuen
Caitlin Springer
Brenda Vargas
Men’s Team:
Jordi Herrera
Kalid Omer
Players on the second team:
Women’s Team:
Abigail Gotham
Sierra Rudolph
Men’s Team:
Miguel Dominguez
Dresden Gascho
Dakota County Technical College Men’s Soccer End of Season Awards:
The Dakota County Technical College Men’s Soccer team played in the Spring this year due to Covid, instead of the normal Fall season. The team played in the Iowa Conference this spring for games, as no non-conference were able to be played as DCTC was the only junior college in Minnesota that played soccer this year.
The following awards were given for the Spring season, congratulations to all players for earning these awards.
All-Conference First Team: Cristian Fuentes-Rivera, Sophomore, Goalkeeper
All-Conference Second Team: Dresden Gascho, Freshman, Defender
All-Conference Honorable Mention: Miguel Dominguez, Sophomore, Midfielder
All-Conference Honorable Mention: Sail Moo, Freshman, Forward
Team Awards:
Offensive Player of the Year: Sail Moo, Freshman, Forward
Defensive Player of the Year: Dresden Gascho, Freshman, Defender
Freshman of the Year: Dresden Gascho, Freshman, Defender
Doh Junior, Freshman, Midfielder
Practice player of the Year: Alejandro Rumpca, Freshman, Midfielder
Most Improved Player of the Year: Jaden Martinez, Freshman, Midfielder
Blue Knight Award: Cristian Fuentes-Rivera, Sophomore, Goalkeeper
Most Valuable Player: Cristian Fuentes-Rivera, Sophomore, Goalkeeper
21 DCTC athletes continuing their education at colleges and universities in 10 states
Twenty-one student-athletes in five NJCAA sports at Dakota County Technical College are transferring to four-year colleges and universities to continue their education. Many will be going on to compete in their respective sports.
Baseball
Parker Savard
Hometown: Sudbury, Ontario
Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School
Position: IF
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota
Major: Education
Learn more about Parker by reading The Sudbury Star news story:
“Savard ready for next step: Sudbury native to continue collegiate career at St. Cloud State”
Jonah Lewis
Hometown: Minnetrista, Minnesota
Minnetonka High School
Position: IF/P
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: Concordia University, St. Paul, St. Paul, Minnesota
Major: Biology
Learn more about Jonah by reading the CSP Athletics article:
“Baseball announces three additions to 2021 signing class”
Henry Laue
Hometown: Mahtomedi, Minnesota
Mahtomedi High School
Position: 1B
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: Northern State University, Aberdeen, South Dakota
Major: Environmental Studies
Caleb Ditmarson*
Hometown: Willmar, Minnesota
Willmar High School
Position: P/UT
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Major: Pre-Law
Shane Brown
Hometown: Mahtomedi, Minnesota
Mahtomedi High School
Position: OF
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: University of Minnesota Morris, Morris Minnesota
Major: Undecided
Connor Merton
Hometown: Perth, Australia
Trinity College
Position: P
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minnesota
Major: Sports Management
John McCaustlin
Hometown: Prior Lake, Minnesota
Prior Lake High School
Position: P
DCTC major: Business Administration
Transfer school: Saint Mary’s University, Winona Campus, Winona, Minnesota
Major: Business Management
Garrett Hoffman
Hometown: Anoka, Minnesota
Anoka High School
Position: C
DCTC major: Small Business Entrepreneur Certificate & Individualized Studies
Transfer school: Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minnesota
Major: Business
Ethan Cernohous
Hometown: Bulverde, Texas
Smithson Valley High School
Position: UT/P
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: University of Pikeville, Pikeville, Kentucky
Major: Criminal Justice
Teddy Tauer*
Hometown: Red Wing, Minnesota
Red Wing High School
Position: P
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: Keiser University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Major: Psychology
Basketball
Harlyn Owens II
Harlyn Owens II
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
St. Vincent Palotti High School
Position: G
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: Minnesota State University Mankato, Mankato, Minnesota
Major: Sports Management
Learn more about Harlyn by reading the Minnesota State Mavericks article:
“Owens II Joins Minnesota State Men’s Basketball Team”
…and the DCTC News story:
“Student-Athlete Spotlight: Harlyn Owens II”
Daevonte Munson
Daevmonte Munson
Hometown: Roseville, Minnesota
Roseville High School
Position: G
DCTC major: Sports Management
Transfer school: Valley City State University, Valley City, North Dakota
Major: Sports Management
Learn more about Daevonte by reading the DCTC News story:
“DCTC Basketball Update”
Lorenzo Smith
Lorenzo Smith
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Minnehaha Academy
Position: P
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: Waldorf University, Forest City, Iowa
Major: Sports Management
Learn more about Lorenzo by reading the Waldorf U Warriors article:
“Waldorf men’s basketball adds All-American, MVP and other star players in 2020 recruiting class”
…and the DCTC News story:
“DCTC Basketball Update”
Dashawn Walker
Dashawn Walker
Hometown: Harkers Heights, Texas
Harkers Heights High School
Position: F
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: Hastings College, Hastings, Nebraska
Major: Undecided
Learn more about Dashawn by reading the DCTC News story:
“DCTC Basketball Update”
Amitri Collins-Westlund
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Highland Park High School
Position: G
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: Goal: Southern University System, Louisiana
Major: Undecided
Learn more about Amitri by reading the DCTC News story:
“DCTC Basketball Update”
Volleyball
Abigail Shaffer
Hometown: Merritt Island, Florida
Merritt Island High School
Position: L/DS
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: King University, Bristol, Tennessee
Major: Business
Anika Weber*
Hometown: Lakeville, Minnesota
Lakeville North High School
Position: S/OPP
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: University of Wisconsin–River Falls, River Falls, Wisconsin
Major: Business Administration Management
MacKenna Johnson*
Hometown: Grantsburg, Wisconsin
Grantsburg High School
Position: OPP
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: Dickinson State University, Dickinson, North Dakota
Major: Business Administration
Softball
Bailey Larkin
Hometown: Shoreview, Minnesota
High School
Position: OF/SS
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: Mayville State University, Mayville, North Dakota
Major: Business Administration
Learn more about Bailey by reading “Bailey Larkin Signs with Mayville State” on GoBlueKnights.com
Kalley Partyka
Hometown: West St. Paul, Minnesota
Henry Sibley High School
Position: C
DCTC major: Business Administration
Transfer school: College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Major: Business Marketing
Men’s Soccer
Erick Fuentes
Hometown: Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington Kennedy High School
Position: M
DCTC major: Individualized Studies
Transfer school: Upper Iowa University, Fayette, Iowa
Major: Undecided
Learn more about Blue Knights NJCAA athletics at DCTC by contacting:
Marki Struensee
Athletic Coordinator
651-423-8641
* NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Award nominee
2020-21 NJCAA Updated Plan of Action
Charlotte, NC – Following the recommendations from the NJCAA Presidential Advisory Council and the NJCAA Board of Regents, the NJCAA has announced its adjusted plan of action for the upcoming 2020-21 academic year. Following the Board of Regents' vote on Monday, a majority of competition will be moved to the spring semester.
"Our greatest focus is and always has been providing the best opportunities for our student-athletes," stated Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President & CEO. "Through a unified effort from our Presidential Advisory Council, the Board of Regents, and leadership staff, our most recent plan of action provides a path that keeps our student-athletes competing at the highest level with proper safety measures in place. As we move forward as an association, we will continue to provide opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches, and all those involved with the NJCAA to be safe and successful."
The most recent plan of action shifts all close-contact fall sports to the spring semester. These sports include football, men's and women's soccer, and court volleyball. The NJCAA cross country championships for all three divisions and half marathon championships will remain as their originally scheduled dates in the fall as well as Division III women's tennis.
All winter sports competition will begin in January with a majority of championship seasons moved from March to April. These sports include men's and women's basketball, wrestling, and swimming and diving. Men's and women's bowling and men's and women's indoor track and field will be held at the beginning of March.
Spring sports competition remains intact with minor adjustments to dates. These sports include baseball, softball, beach volleyball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, track and field, and men's and women's tennis.
Along with the adjustments to competition season and championship dates, the NJCAA has provided information as it relates to scrimmage and practice dates and allowances in the fall.
Championship dates are subject to change based on championship facility availability.
For all NJCAA COVID-19 updates, visit: NJCAA COVID-19 Homepage
The 2020 soccer season at DCTC will see a few changes from previous years. The first change is that the both the Men’s and Women’s soccer programs will be moving from a division 1 NJCAA classification to a division 2 NJCAA classification. The change is happening for two reasons, one is to put the soccer programs at the same NJCAA classification as all of the other sports at DCTC and the second reason is that this is the first year the NJCAA is offering division two in soccer. DCTC will be joining many other schools around the country who are making this move. The soccer programs will still be able to offer athletic scholarships to athletes.
A second change to the DCTC soccer programs is that they have moved from being an independent team, meaning not a member of a conference to being a member of the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference for soccer. This change will be good for both programs, as it will provide a stable schedule and provide DCTC with some of the best competition in the country, as the Iowa Conference has a history of competing for national championships. Coach Mark Obarski, said, “he is excited to compete against in what many views as the top conference in the country for soccer, he noted that DCTC will need to be better prepared for games, work harder than ever before and be ready for players to step up their level of play to that which they have never seen before.” Obarski, added, “each and every player in the DCTC program will need to take responsibility for how they compete, just showing up to practice and games will not be enough, players will need to commit to excellence like many of them have never had to do before.” DCTC will continue to recruit locally from in and around the Minneapolis area, with an occasional recruit from outside the Twin Cities metro area.
The third change for 2020 will be the schedule for both the Men’s and Women’s team. The schedule will now include ten games with DCTC new conference opponents. The Blueknights will play a home and home match within their new conference. Teams in the conference are:
Hawkeye Community College: Waterloo, Iowa
Northeast Community College: Norfolk, Nebraska
North Iowa Area Community College: Mason City, Iowa
Scott Community College: Bettendorf, Iowa
Southeastern Community College: Burlington, Iowa
Also, on the schedule for the Blueknights are St. Olaf College club team for the Men’s team, home and away games, Rochester Community College for the Women’s team, home and away games and both teams will travel to Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota. Both teams will play home and away with Lake Superior Community College from Duluth, Minnesota, St. Scholastic JV from Duluth, Minnesota. Both teams will open the season at home facing Allen Community College from Iola, Kansas.
Both the Men’s and Women’s soccer teams have many key players returning for 2020 season, along with the addition of many exciting recruits that will join the teams in the fall of 2020.
Obarski is excited about the challenges that are ahead in 2020. You can follow the blueknights soccer teams at www.goblueknights.com and follow the teams at www.iccac.org for conference play and regional information.
Hawken Hanna named Head Soccer Coach
December 15, 2023The Blue Knights Athletic Department is excited to announce that Hawken Hanna has been named the new Head Coach for the Blue Knights Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams! Hanna brings a wealth of coaching experience to DCTC, and was most recently the Men’s Soccer Assistant Coach at the NCAA Division II level for Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. He also worked as a sport performance coach with youth athletes.
