Central football squad journeys to Italy

Central College

PELLA—Some 40 players are traveling with the Central College football team to Italy this month.

The team will make stops in Rome, Florence, Venice and Trieste May 16-24. The nine-day itinerary includes two practices and a game against an Italian football team.

International travel is a Central football tradition, started in 1990 by the late Ron Schipper, Central’s hall of fame coach and a longtime ambassador for American football. The Dutch also traveled to Italy in 2007 and the current squad opted for a return trip.

“We let the players vote,” coach Jeff McMartin said. “Our last trip to Italy was so successful that I think word filtered down to the current players and that’s where they decided they wanted to go.”

McMartin said the trip has multiple benefits.

“We try to go on a trip every three or four years so that we can allow every player the opportunity to travel during their Central career,” he said. “It’s a chance to see a different country, to compete against a European team and it’s a great bonding opportunity for the team. They have a lot of fun and it’s very educational as well. We try to make sure they get as much out of it as they can.

“They’ll create some life-long memories.”

The Dutch, who have captured a record 30 Iowa Conference championships and made 20 NCAA Division III playoff appearances, are coming off an 8-2 season last fall.