Steven Reynolds, ’77  •  Cross Country

4 year letterwinner in cross country, captain of the 1976 squad

Member of three-time Midwest Conference Championship cross country team (1974-76); powered team to three appearances at national championships, where Carleton placed sixth once and fourth twice

Two-time All-American; 1975 (cross country) and 1977 (outdoor track)

Fourth all-time in school history in outdoor 10000 meters (30:43.40)

 

Kathryn Damberg, ’81  •  Swimming and Diving

Four-year letterwinner, three-year captain of women’s swimming and diving team

Three –time AIAW Division III All-American (50 backstroke, 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke); three-time national qualifier

Carleton’s first female All-American

Held multiple school records

 

Dan Nienhuis, ’87  •  Football

A football team captain and leader, Dan Nienhuis became the first player in recorded Carleton football history to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark and Carleton’s first recipient of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Most Valuable Player Award after the 1986 season.

The two-time Carleton team MVP set the then-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and NCAA Division III all-purpose yard mark with a 402-yard performance (88 rushing, 94 receiving, 66 punt return, 154 kickoff return) against Hamline on Sept. 28, 1985, for which he was named National Division III Player of the Week. The 1984 Matt Zell Award winner as the team’s most impactful sophomore, he received MIAC league honors in 1985 and 1986. The second of those seasons, he led conference players in scoring, rushing yards, punt return yards, and all-purpose yards.

When he graduated, Nienhuis owned the top figures in recorded team history for single-season rushing yards (1,044), single-season all-purpose yards (1,786), career all-purpose yards (4,552), and season and career punt and kickoff return average and total return yards. He was also second all-time in total scoring for both a season (72 points) and a career (152 points).

He and his Class of 1987 teammates led the successful transition of the Carleton football program from the Midwest Conference to the MIAC, ultimately proving that Knights belonged in their new home. This includes a 39-11 thrashing of the undefeated, No. 5-ranked St. Thomas squad, during which Nienhuis ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns.