DES MOINES — Louden Huisenga’s high school athletic career officially will come to a close Friday afternoon when he competes in the Class 1A boys high jump at the coed state track meet at Drake Stadium.
But the WACO High School senior’s athletic career is far from finished.
In fact, Huisenga will compete in the high jump in the south end zone at Drake Stadium, the same place he will be playing football this fall.
Huisenga has signed to play football for Drake University, an NCAA Division I program which calls Drake Stadium its home.
Huisenga is looking forward to competing at Drake Stadium for the last time as a high school athlete.
It will hardly be a last at the stadium best known for its blue oval track.
“It’s awesome,” Huisenga said. “I’ll be getting a really good education and playing Division I football. It’s the best of both worlds.”
Huisenga helped WACO to an 8-2 record as a senior. He made 72 tackles — 51 solo — and has 5 1/2 tackles for loss, 1 1/2 sacks and intercepted a pass. He also rushed for 1,072 yards and scored 23 touchdowns.
Huisenga, who is projected as a defensive end for the Bulldogs, originally planned to attend Grand View University, an NAIA school across town, to play football.
But when Grand View coach Joe Woodley left to take the head coaching job at Drake, Huisenga was invited to follow.
“Coach Woodley originally offered me my junior year when he was at Grand View,” Huisenga said. “When he left for Drake, (defensive coordinator) Joe Evans reached out to me and offered me a spot at Drake. I was getting a lot of DII offers, but after I won a state wrestling title this year I figured maybe some FBS schools might jump in. It’s going to be awesome playing at Drake.”
Huisenga, who plans to major in finance with the goal of becoming a financial advisor, credits the coaches and players at WACO, as well as the new weight room facility, with helping him earn a chance to play at the Division I level.
“When I was in seventh grade they got the new facilities,” Huisenga said. “It was like a huge flip. Now everyone wants to be in the weight room. I’m in there all the time with my friends. We started winning a lot and that shows how much the weight room helps.”
Huisenga said it has been his dream to play college football since he was five.
Now, he gets to live his dream at a stadium he knows all too well.
“I remember when I was in junior high I made a speech and they taped it. I said my goal was to play Division I football. It’s so surreal that it’s really happening, thanks to my family, friends and coaches pushing me,
Huisenga said. “It’s going to be awesome going up to Drake Stadium knowing that is going to be my home for the next four or five years.”
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