By: Jarred DeHerrera and Emily Zadny
Senior defensive back Marty Haderlein has a love for the game of football. At Gordon Tech High School, Haderlein was a two-year captain and starter but embraced his role at North Central College and was a part of three College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championships.
“I was a two year captain on a less than average team in high school and I was a backup on a team that lost only two conference games in four years, so I have been in every position but my love for the game has always stayed strong,” said Haderlein.
Marty is known for his fiery competitive attitudes on the sidelines along with a colorful vocabulary. This Sociology-Criminal Justice major has set extremely high goals for himself in life and on the field.
“I would just focus on making the most out of any opportunity given. If I only got in for one play the whole game I would try my best to do everything I am supposed to do, as perfect as I can possibly do it,” said Haderlein.
His motivation and thought that it will soon come to an end is what pushed him through all of his toughest days at North Central. From when he began playing at eight years old until his final down as a Cardinal, Marty has loved every minute of it.
Jarred DeHerrera
Tess Godhardt Profile
Athlete Profile
Tess Godhardt of the North Central women’s basketball team was recently accepted into the John Marshall Law School to become a lawyer when she finishes. She began playing what she refers to as “bitty ball” when she was five years old and that was what lit the basketball fire.
Godhardt is a transfer student athlete from Elmhurst College who regained the love she had for the game when she became a Cardinal.
“Once I transferred, I made sure to just go out and play because I love the game. That it is just a game. I was able to get back the love and the fire I had my years in high school, the fire I lost at Elmhurst,” said Godhardt.
The senior from Hinckley, Illinois ha a love for the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre like no other. So much so that her inspiration to play came from the Super Bowl winning quarterback.
“He was such a great athlete, but not only did he have the talent but the desire and the passion to win,” said Godhardt about Favre.
Setting a single-season record for shooting percentage at .593, a single game scoring record with 40 points, and averaging 17.9 PPG, Godhardt earned herself a First Team All-CCIW and Second Team All-Central Region honors along with the prestigious Academic All-District title.
Jarred DeHerrera
Kayla Antle profile
Athlete Profile
Cardinal softball third baseman Kayla Antle out of Bettendorf, Iowa not only led the team in runs scored (44), hit by pitches (10), and total plate appearances (162) in her 2015 campaign, but she is also a multi-talented and extremely involved Biology and Spanish double major.
Antle is a member of the Distinguished Leaders, Blue Key, Pre-Health Organization, Tri-Beta, and is a Student Athlete Mentor. When she graduates, she plans on attending Rosalind Franklin University to pursue her master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies.
If that wasn’t enough, she also works at Sunrise Senior Living for the past three years, which she believes has helped her prepare for her career as a PA. She has balances all of this with being a full-time Cardinal softball player which she sees to be an extremely rewarding experience.
“I’ve learned so much about time management, stress management, and prioritizing. Being at a smaller school, I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in so many other things along with softball and that’s what has really prepared me for my future,” said Antle.
Throughout her time at North Central, she has had several memories that she will keep with her forever. One memory sticks out as a highlight from the past four years.
“The Regional Tournament last year in Pella, Iowa was my favorite because we were all so full of energy. We played s well there, had a long bus ride out there, a long four-hour rain out, and a championship!” said Antle.
The sweet-potato loving third baseman for the Cardinals wears the pride for her school on her sleeve all the time.
“Once a Card, always a Card, and I can’t wait to come back to campus as an alum,” said Antle.
Emily Zadny
Richie Ruske Profile
Athlete Profile
“I was always really fast in other sports like football and basketball so I assumed that I would run track when given the opportunity,” said senior track and field athlete Richie Ruske. “I wasn’t bad at the other sports, but running just made sense.”
Making the decision to study physics and engineering with a minor in mathematics as well as run track and field at North Central College was a good choice for the Plainfield, Ill. native.
“It’s stressful; it’s tough to manage time like that, especially being a physics major,” said Ruske, reflecting on what it’s like to be a student athlete. “But I wouldn’t want it any other way. I get to run track and go to school and do everything I want to do. It’s made me a better person.”
During his time as a Cardinal, Ruske has established a new North Central indoor record in the 1,000-meter run at the Grand Valley State University Mike Lints Alumni Open in 2015 as well as competing at the NCAA Division III Indoor National Championships and earning All-America honors as a member of the 4-by-400 meter relay for the second year at Nationals.
Aside from ever-entertaining Kaufman meals with the team, Ruske’s favorite memory from the last four years was at the 2015 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Outdoor Championships only weeks ago, where the Cardinals came back from behind and upset conference favorites Augustana College.
“That meet has to be my favorite,” he said. “Usually, we were picked as the favorites and for this one we weren’t. We were down going into it, but it was so amazing to see the team come together and come back against Augustana.”
As the end of the track and field season and graduation approaches, Ruske is trying to soak it all in and prepare himself to continue studying mechanical engineering at the same school where he set the North Central record: Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Mich.
“It sounds corny, all the liberal arts stuff and learning different things, but it’s so true,” said Ruske. “On top of that, I can’t say enough about how the track and field program gets you ready for life. The coaches are not just focused on making great athletes but making great people. I can’t imagine having spent the last four years anywhere else.”
