September 16, 2004
(Release courtesy of Larry Happel, Central College Sports Information Director)

PELLA, IOWA . . . Central College’s Raegan Schultz of Barnum been named Iowa’s NCAA Woman of the Year Award winner. The award honors female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics and community leadership, and have completed their collegiate athletics eligibility.

It’s the third time in four years and the fourth time since 1995 that the Iowa winner has come from Central College, and the fourth straight year the Iowa winner has come from an Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) school. Schultz is among just 11 state winners from Division III schools. Of the 52 winners (also representing Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia) 30 are from Division I institutions and 11 are from Division II.

Winner of the NCAA Division III heptathlon title in track and field and also a varsity performer in volleyball, Schultz graduated with a 3.87 grade point average and a business management major. She is a graduate of Northwest Webster High School.

Ten finalists for the national award will be announced later this month. The winner will be named at an awards dinner in Indianapolis, Ind. Oct. 31 where Schultz and the other state award winners will be recognized.

“It’s a great honor,” said Central’s track and field coach Kevin Sanger. “It’s a reflection of the things she’s done not only as an athlete but as a student and as a person. It’s quite a distinction, but Raegan is very deserving.”

Athletics honors--Schultz won the NCAA Div. III heptathlon championship with a Div. III record point total at the national outdoor track and field meet in May, after placing second in 2003 and third in 2002. She received all-America honors in the javelin in 2002 and in the 55 meter hurdles at the NCAA indoor meet in March. She also set Iowa Conference records in the 100 meter hurdles and the heptathlon.

A track and field team co-captain, Schultz was the squad’s MVP in 2002 and 2003, and a four-year letterwinner.

Schultz was also a three-time volleyball letterwinner, receiving the team’s most improved player award in 2003, and was a member of three NCAA Div. III playoff teams and four Iowa Conference championship teams.

Academic distinction—Graduating with a major in business management, Schultz posted a 3.87 grade point average. A first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American pick last spring, Schultz is a three-time selection for the U.S. Track Coaches Association’s all-academic team, was a member of Central’s honorary academic society, Alpha Zeta Mu, and received a college award in May for having the highest GPA of any Central female student-athlete.

Service activities—Schultz volunteered for Pella’s Literacy Army for four years, providing one-on-one reading assistance to area elementary school students. She was a volunteer for Central’s Relay for Life, as well as a canned food drive, a campus cleanup program, a charity fun run and for Pella’s Tulip Time parade. Schultz served for two years as a team representative on Central’s student-athlete advisory council, was a member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and was a campus Bible study leader for four years.

Sister act—Providing the stiffest competition for many of Schultz’s honors was her twin sister, Lindsay, who placed second behind Raegan in the NCAA heptathlon and was an all-America honoree for three years. Lindsay broke Raegan’s Iowa Conference record in the heptathlon in May, and was also a three-time USTCA academic team member. Lindsay was a three-time varsity letterwinner in volleyball as well.

Busy weekend—The Oct. 30 dinner in Indianapolis will conclude a memorable weekend for Schultz, who is marrying Peter Wagner the previous day in Fort Dodge. Wagner, a 2003 Central graduate is also a national champ. He won the Division III decathlon crown in 2001 and again in 2003. Wagner and Schultz are delaying their honeymoon for a day to attend the festivities in Indiana.

Previous Central winners—Three other Central graduates previously received the NCAA’s Iowa Woman of the Year Award. Division III women’s basketball player of the year Emilie Hanson was chosen in 1995, volleyball player of the year Candace Wilson was picked in 2001, and volleyball all-America honoree Angie Nielsen was selected in 2002.

Buena Vista University's Jessica Jensen was the 2003 NCAA Woman of the Year from Iowa.

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