Huge Field Celebrates Hershberger Gridiron Golf Classic
124 participants compete while strengthening the Hershberger Football Endowment
The largest field in years—perhaps ever—turned out for the Hershberger Gridiron Golf Classic on July 21 at the Buena Vista University Golf Course at Lake Creek. The event, which serves as a connector for Beaver football alumni and friends, raised in excess of $20,000 for the Jim and Floy Hershberger Football Endowment, a fund supporting BVU football.
“Your loyalty and excitement for the program serves as a great motivator for me, my staff, and every player who will proudly represent Buena Vista University in this program.”
Head Football Coach Austin Dickinson
“I can’t tell you how excited we are to have a huge crowd like this coming back and showing support for BVU football,” said Head Football Coach Austin Dickinson, a 2010 BVU graduate who played for the Beavers and served as an Assistant Coach from 2012 to 2016. “Your loyalty and excitement for the program serves as a great motivator for me, my staff, and every player who will proudly represent Buena Vista University in this program.”
Director of Athletics Scott Brown welcomed players from seven states and The Netherlands while praising Dickinson for assembling a staff and modeling a work ethic that promises to produce success for the Beavers. Special guests included former BV coaches Jay Anderson MSE ’00 and his father, Larry Anderson, both of whom coached Dickinson, his teammates, and several Beaver teams for more than a decade. Jay Anderson earned Iowa Conference Coach of the Year accolades in 2008.
“It was awesome to be around Coach Dickinson, his teammates, and so many of the guys who, through the years, have given of themselves for this program,” said Anderson, who serves as Storm Lake High School Director of Athletics. “My dad and I had a great time reconnecting with so many of the players we coached and the alumni who remain committed to the program. We’re all very excited for Austin as he begins to put his stamp on Beaver football.”
President Brian Lenzmeier displayed a framed newspaper metal plate from a picture page documenting the 1975 Boot Hill Bowl victory and gave the plate to Mike Hershberger ’91, the youngest son of the late Jim and Floy Hershberger. The page shows a photo of Mike, then age 7, jumping into his father’s arms at the conclusion of the 24-21 Beaver triumph. In his 21 seasons as BVU Head Football Coach, Jim Hershberger earned Conference Coach of the Year honors five times. His teams claimed three conference titles, a bowl victory, and earned postseason playoff berths in both the NAIA and NCAA Division III.
Keith Kerkhoff ’77, a BVU Athletics Hall-of-Famer and former All-American conducted an auction that culminated the celebration while raising thousands of dollars for the Jim and Floy Hershberger Endowment. Three custom-made BV helmets signifying different eras of Beaver football served as signature elements for Kerkhoff’s auction.
Mike Pertzborn ’74 started the proceedings by working with BVU Director of Alumni Engagement Sarah Johnson in organizing a free barbecue at the McCorkle House, the residence of President Lenzmeier and his family, on Thursday evening. Mike and Roxi Pertzborn then offered a pontoon ride on Storm Lake, a feat repeated on Friday morning for guests of participants in the Hershberger Gridiron Golf Classic.
“Having a special dinner the evening before the golf tournament and offering pontoon rides on Storm Lake were ways we thought we could heighten the Hershberger experience for our alumni and guests,” said Pertzborn.
BVU Head Golf Coach Joe Powell captained a team consisting of BVU Head Men’s Basketball Coach Trevor Johnson, Jeff De Haan, and Matt Adams in winning the best shot tournament with a score of 17 under par.
Redenbaugh & Mohr Law Offices of Storm Lake served as a premier hole sponsor for the event, leading a group of 30 businesses and individuals that supported the Hershberger Gridiron Golf Classic through sponsorships and prizes.
Alumnus Zach Mathers ’00 joined brothers Bart ’99 and Kurt Boustead ’01 in supporting a prize offered for the closest to the pin on the No. 15 hole, which played at 95 yards to honor the memory of the late Mike Peddicord ’00, who wore jersey No. 95 during his playing days. Brian Bode ’11 won that award with a shot that came within a foot of becoming a hole-in-one.
“We had a great time on Thursday and Friday, and we can’t wait to see many alumni returning this fall to see our student-athletes in action,” Dickinson said. “The people who took BVU football to great heights in the past are going to help us reach our goals as we move forward. We can’t wait to get started!”
The Beavers open the 2023 campaign at 1 p.m. on Sept. 2 at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, Minn. The home opener takes place at 6 p.m. on Sept. 9, as Lakeland University visits Peterson Field within J. Leslie Rollins Stadium.