(Orange City) The Northwestern College football program has gone 23-4 over the past two seasons. ACGC alum Ben Kingery is happy to have been a part of it.
The program was the NAIA runner-up in 2020 and advanced to the semifinals last year. “It’s been incredible. It’s just been super fun. Just enjoying every game, every win no matter if the score is 60-0 or you win by two points. Just being a part of a program that has been that good and for me being able to help the program get to that level has been incredible. I love it. It’s an amazing feeling to win and be good.”
The middle linebacker admits the winning culture is part of what attracted him to Northwestern. “Just the winning culture and the culture I could see they had when I visited. It was something I really enjoyed, because it reminded me of what Coach (Cody) Matthewson was building when he came in when I was a senior. That hard-nosed, put your hard hat on and go to work type of mentality. The coaches are great and I love all the coaches. They are amazing people outside of football and would do anything for you, but they are great coaches as well and I’ve learned so much from them.”
He lists several factors that have led to his improvement including the strength and conditioning facilities and coaches. “The facilities are incredible. Top tier in the NAIA I would say. We have some of the best. We have an indoor facility that is 50 yards by 50 yards. Any time in the winter you can go in there and run. The weight room is incredible. It’s big and has anything you can think of. The strength and conditioning coach, her name is Maria, and she’s done a great job of building up my strength, my explosiveness and my quickness, allowing me to be there on the football field, but also I’ve done a lot of studying of the game so I’m just learning the defense inside and out. When you are that prepared and you know the defense like the back of your hand it makes you that much quicker and allows you to make those plays and get those reps.”
Last season Kingery made 22 tackles and appeared in 13 games. He’ll look to lock up a starting spot on the defense. “It’s all about how hard I work and how bad I want it in the summer. That’s the goal is to start in that position and contribute to the team as much as I can. Honestly I don’t look at myself and think of individual goals, my goal is just to help the team as best I can to win a national championship.”
Kingery believes the team has what it takes to win it all. “I think so. I think so every year, but this year there is just a different buzz and atmosphere. This year when people come to lift or 7-on-7 it just feels like everyone knows that this is our year and we are going to bring one back to Northwestern.”
The Red Raiders start the season September 3rd against top ranked Morningside. Both of their losses last year were to the Mustangs.
ACGC grad Ben Kingery:
