Northwest Iowa Community College (NCC) announced Wednesday, June 12, its 2024 inagural men’s and women’s soccer schedule for the 2024 season.
The soccer season will start on Saturday, August 24, with the Thunder women taking on Central Community College out of Columbus, Ohio, at 2 p.m. with the men to follow at 4 p.m. The season concludes Wednesday, October 23, with the women and men taking on Western Iowa Tech Community College out of Sioux City. The women will play at 3:30 p.m. with the men playing at 1 p.m.
Below is a full press release from NCC in regards to the first ever men’s and women’s soccer season:
For many, this moment seemed unlikely. When the idea of adding collegiate sports was first broached over a decade ago, it faced skepticism, appearing somewhat out of character for NCC. Founded as a technical school, NCC forged its path by offering high-quality skill training and has grown into a comprehensive community college offering the first two years of a bachelor’s degree. NCC is now continuing to evolve with the addition of college athletics.
Starting in Fall 2024, NCC is set to embrace a new chapter in its evolution by introducing sanctioned collegiate soccer. The timing for this move into collegiate sports aligns with a broader trend among community colleges, where athletic programs are becoming more prevalent. This shift not only provides students with increased extracurricular opportunities but also contributes to fostering a more collegiate atmosphere, potentially boosting enrollments.
The decision to adopt sanctioned collegiate sports gained momentum when the Sheldon Community School District proposed a collaborative effort, suggesting the sharing of a turf field. This partnership opportunity underscored the relevance and timeliness of expanding NCC’s extracurricular offerings. Plans to join an athletic conference and establish a sanctioned soccer team quickly gained traction.
What does this development mean for NCC? It involves hiring coaches, acquiring gear, adapting meal plans and housing to accommodate athletic needs, and, crucially, recruiting student-athletes. In a landscape where many colleges offer athletics, recruiting top talent requires coaches to build relationships, foster an appealing culture, maintain robust academic programs, and secure support and scholarship funding.
Currently, NCC awards scholarships annually to students based on their chosen program of study, academic achievements, or other distinctive qualifications that merit financial support. However, none of these scholarships were specifically designed to aid student-athletes. Recognizing the importance of attracting top players to bolster our sports programs and subsequently enhance NCC’s enrollment, there is a dedicated effort to expand our scholarship offerings.
One significant initiative was launched last August—the inaugural annual Shoot for Success fundraiser. This event marked the beginning of our commitment to generating additional scholarships tailored to support student-athletes. Looking ahead, there are more opportunities on the horizon to contribute to athletics through various means, including participating in events, attending games, purchasing apparel, or becoming a member of the Thunder Athletic Booster Club. Keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities, and let’s rally together to cheer on the Thunder! GO THUNDER!
