Gray finalist for conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award
Central Dutch Athletics
PELLA—Former Central College football player Riley Gray (West Des Moines, Waukee HS) was named a finalist for 2016-17 Duane Schroeder Iowa Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award.
Gray, now enrolled at the University of Iowa Dental School, graduated from Central in May with a 3.63 grade point average while majoring in physics. The conference honor recognizes student-athletes who have demonstrated high levels of accomplishment and achievement in athletics and academics while also serving the community. To qualify for nomination, student-athletes must have graduated or exhausted their athletic eligibility during the year the award is given, achieve a 3.5 or better cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale) and show evidence of service and leadership.
Each league institution may nominate a male and female candidate and a group of 18 conference faculty athletic representatives determine the six finalists and two award winners. Winners will be announced Wednesday, January 31.
The other two finalists are Luther College wrestler Justin Kreiter and Coe College quarterback Gavin Glenn. The only other nominee was Wartburg College football player Patrick Rooney.
A two-year captain and starting quarterback for the Dutch, Gray was a first team all-Iowa Conference quarterback in 2016. He holds school records for completion percentage in a season (64.3%) and a career (62.8%). He finished his career with a total of 3,987 passing yards and 42 touchdowns. His five passing touchdowns against Wartburg on October 22, 2016 is also program record.
Graduating cum laude from Central, Gray was a student representative to the Central board of trustees for two years and a member of the Central College Student Senate. He also received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Other campus awards for Gray include the Mentink Award, for leadership and inspiration on and off the football field; as well as the Ron Schipper Leadership Award.
Gray participated in a variety of community service activities while at Central, including the Children and Family Urban Youth Ministries in Des Moines. On Earth Day, he volunteered at the Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City. Other community services include the iExplore “STEM” event and the Fellowship of Christian Athlete summer camps, both hosted at Central College.
Central has had two student-athletes receive the Duane Schroeder Award in its 16-year history. Kyle Frieschlag (men’s tennis) was the most recipient in 2013-14 while Adam Duerfeldt (baseball) was the first in 2005-06. Central has also had two Johanna Olson Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winners, the women’s equivalent of the Duane Schroeder Award. Jill (Ziskovsy) Halcomb (track and field) won in in 2010-11. Raegan (Schultz) Wagner (volleyball, track and field) received the honor in 2003-04.
