Daric Whipple (left) and Noah Juergensen (right) sit with Ram head football coach Dean Lansman inside the Greene County High School auditorium on Jan. 27. Whipple and Juergensen recently signed to play football for Iowa State University next year as preferred walk-ons. SPECIAL TO THE JEFFERSON HERALD

Greene County’s Whipple, Juergesen to play at Iowa State

By MARTY BALL
sports@beeherald.com

Greene County senior Daric Whipple and Paton-Churdan senior Noah Juergensen have recently committed to Iowa State University to play football for the Cyclones during the 2016-17 season. Whipple and Juergensen, both standout athletes for the Greene County Rams this past Fall, will be considered preferred walk-ons for the cardinal and gold during their respective freshman campaigns.

Daric, a 2015 All-State player in Class 3A, spent the majority of his playing time behind center as the Ram’s starting quarterback this year. He was officially recruited to Iowa State as a running back, but believes he could transition into the slot receiver or defensive back positions.

“It is one of the greatest feelings I have ever experienced, just to know that all the hard work that I have put in since I was in second grade is actually paying off and my dreams are coming true,” Whipple said of going to Iowa State. “I am extremely excited and I feel as if becoming a Cyclone is the best scenario for me to find the field early and showcase my talents.”

Other universities and colleges that showed interest in Whipple — for football — included Iowa, Northern Iowa, Kansas State, Drake, Upper Iowa, Wartburg and Central, among many others. Schools such as Grand View, Minnesota State, Dubuque and Dordt took a look at Daric for baseball, as did Iowa and Central for track and field.

“Ever since I was a kid, all I ever dreamed of doing was playing football. It’s my number one sport,” Whipple extolled. “Baseball is an extremely amazing sport, but my senior year I sort of had a breakout season in football and that just kind of sealed the deal for me. Football is my first love and it is what I’d like to stick with for my whole life.”

Juergensen, also a 2015 All-State player in Class 3A, was one of the two starting defensive ends for Greene County this past season. He was recruited to Iowa State as a defensive end and plans to stick to that position throughout his college career.

“I honestly don’t think this whole situation has hit met yet,” Juergensen said of becoming a Cyclone. “Like I’ll be at home watching an ISU football game from earlier this season, or an ISU basketball game and then realize that in 3 for 4 years I could be playing at that same level with all those other great athletes. I’m just excited, you know. Excited to get in there and see what their strength and conditioning coaches can do for me physically so I can get a lot bigger, stronger and quicker than I am now. It’s a great feeling.”

Other universities and colleges that showed interest in Juergensen — for football — included Northwest Missouri State and South Dakota State. Schools such as Wartburg, Central, Buena Vista and many other Iowa Conference programs also took a look at Noah for basketball.

“Since about my sophomore year of high school, I knew I wanted to play a sport in college, but I wasn’t sure yet of which one I wanted to play,” Juergensen explained. “Then for about the last year or so, I’ve been wanting to play football more and more, just because I thought I had the potential to play for a Division-I school. I think I’d much rather go to a bigger school and be on the football team than go to a smaller school in Division-III and play basketball. Plus, Ames is a little closer to home and that really factored into helping me make my final decision.”

Whipple and Juergensen, two high school teammates for the past four years, also plan to become college roommates once classes begin in August. The duo expects to set foot on campus June 1, 2016 for the start of the Cyclone’s pre-season football workout regimen.

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