Hedrick-Rozenberg to information Central swimming launch

PELLA— Jennie Hedrick-Rozenberg will spearhead the launch of Central College’s new males’s and girls’s swimming packages.
           
The groups will start competitors in 2027-28, giving Central 23 intercollegiate sports activities. Hedrick-Rozenberg, who’s in her sixth season as the school’s triathlon coach and was named the Collegiate Triathlon Coaches Association’s nationwide Division III coach of the 12 months in 2024, will function head coach. She will proceed as triathlon coach throughout 2026-27, whereas constructing swim squads to compete the next 12 months. Her recruiting efforts are already underway.
           
The launch ties into the anticipated June 2027 opening of Pella’s new $35.1-million recreation heart, situated northwest of Pella Sports Park on the east facet of the town. The 78,000-square foot facility will embrace an eight-lane, 25-yard competitors pool with spectator seating for 500, in addition to an adjoining recreation pool.
           
“This is yet another tremendous example of the college’s unique and mutually beneficial partnership with the city of Pella,” stated Vice President for Athletics Eric Van Kley. “We continue to see a growing interest in swimming both locally and nationally and have looked at adding intercollegiate teams for some time, but we simply haven’t had facilities to do so. The new recreation center will benefit the city and the college in so many ways and we’re grateful that the city is partnering with us to provide this opportunity for our student-athletes.”
           
Hedrick-Rozenberg has served as head swim coach for the town since 2002 and her triathlon squad has used the town’s smaller, current indoor pool for coaching.
           
“We’ve had a great partnership with the city because of triathlon,” she stated. “To have our athletes there when the club kids come in so that we can see all levels within the town, I think is exactly what the city needs to keep building our aquatics programs. I think it’s going to be really great for the community.”
           
Hedrick-Rozenberg has additionally served as coach for South East Aquatics since 2010. She has American Swim Coaches Association Level 2 certification. She’s a previous member of the Iowa Swimming board of administrators and former secretary for the Iowa Swim Coaches Association board of administrators.
           
While focusing on a mixed males’s-women’s squad of 15 swimmers for 2027-28, Hedrick-Rozenberg needs to rapidly develop every staff to round 18-20 athletes, with potential for 28-30.
           
Van Kley is assured that Hedrick-Rozenberg will rapidly develop a championship contender.
           
“With her swimming background, connections, coaching ability and work ethic, Jennie is a perfect fit for this job,” he stated. “She’ll set high expectations for herself and her athletes, and will work hard to help them reach their goals in the pool and in the classroom.”
           
He famous that beneath Hedrick-Rozenberg, the triathlon squad obtained NFCA Scholar All-American staff standing. Two triathletes got Scholar All-America distinction and 4 others obtained honorable point out. The squad had this 12 months’s highest staff grade level common on campus at 3.82.
           
In 2027, Central might be amongst 5 American Rivers Conference faculties with a swimming staff though is not going to initially compete in diving. The Dutch will be a part of Nebraska Wesleyan University, Coe College, Loras College and Simpson College. Meet schedules open in October, with the convention championship in late February. There are greater than 200 males’s and girls’s swimming and diving groups inside NCAA Division III, with its championship staged in March.
           
“Division III swimming is fast,” Hedrick-Rozenberg stated. “At the higher level, it’s almost as fast as Division I.”
           
That exhibits athletes can compete at an elite stage, whereas nonetheless benefiting from the alternatives a Central training can present, she stated.
           
“It helps bring in the athletes that are serious about swimming but also want to have a life outside of it,” she stated. “It is such a time-consuming sport at the Division I level. But anyone that also wants the opportunity to do multiple things, to be part of a music group or go abroad, they could still do all of that and swim at Central.”
             
Under Hedrick-Rozenberg, the Dutch positioned third in Division III on the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships in Tempe, Arizona Nov. 8, with three athletes receiving all-America honors. She’s guided the Dutch to 5 consecutive nationwide meet appearances. But she’s by no means misplaced her ardour for swimming.
           
“Swimming is at my heart,” she stated. “I’ve been swimming since I was six months old and competing since I was 8 years old. So it’s been part of who I am my whole life. To be able to coach it collegiately and hopefully grow a program at the Division III level is exciting.”