Fluent at no fewer than four positions, his football knowledge would seem to be first-string.
But as an incoming college freshman, John Riepel likely won’t be summoned to star … and he’s cool with that.
At least for now; the now-graduated Ignacio Bobcat, whose quarterback/running back/linebacker/special teams versatility helped IHS post back-to-back winning seasons in 2021 and ’22, said he’s willing – and ready – to begin on the lowest rung as he looks to reestablish himself as a Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolf.
“Going out on my own and seeing something new – it’s almost like restarting. From the bottom, again,” he said. “But it’ll be exciting to get somewhere fresh … explore a little bit, get away from home.”
Riepel’s new home – field, that is – will be NWU’s Abel Stadium in Lincoln, which the NCAA Div. III Prairie Wolves unfortunately struggled greatly to defend last fall. After a season-opening 31-6 road win at Eureka College in Illinois, Nebraska Wesleyan then lost nine straight. The stretch began with a 55-48 first-overtime shootout at Mayville State University in North Dakota and a 48-34 affair at home versus University of Dubuque to start American Rivers Conference play. They finished 1-9 overall, 0-8 ARC.
One defeat that had to particularly sting iconic figurehead Brian Keller – at the Wolves’ helm since 1996 – was a 58-0 Homecoming Week loss to Pella, Iowa-based Central College. Still, Riepel seemed swayed by the team’s leadership.
“I’ve gotten to meet all the coaches; they’re really nice, really outgoing … have the passion to win,” he said. “They’re good guys to be around. And when I actually, like, started deciding where to go – like January-ish, February–I was thinking about all the colleges that had communicated with me, and they’d showed more interest.”
Riepel certainly provided any interested party with plenty about which to be interested, most especially during Ignacio’s 2022 campaign. Were one to include his two rushing touchdowns, one passing, and two via interception return in the Bobcats’ season-opening 70-0 exhibition rout of Red Mesa, Arizona, Riepel would have totaled five TD tosses and personally scored 20 touchdowns (16 on the ground, two pick-sixes, two via kickoff return).
“I created, like, this NCSA account – it’s for athletes that, like, want to go to the next level – and they saw my information on there, my cell (number),” Riepel said. “So they just started texting me, getting to know me and everything. And I, like, bonded more with their coaches.”
Said coaches probably saw Riepel’s potential with ball in hand, but at present envision him taking it away.
“Rover or linebacker, that’s what they were talking to me about,” said Riepel, interested in studies pertaining to physical therapy. “I’m pumped … kind of familiar with their defense that they run. Wherever they put me, I’ll have an understanding about what that position’s about, which will be super nice.”
And any help will be welcome; NWU gave up 40 or more points seven times in ’22, including 74 in a 33-point loss at Simpson College. Coincidentally, the blowout would be Indianola, Iowa-based Simpson’s only victory. The SC Storm – who surrendered an incredible 81 in a 72-point loss at Wartburg College the very next Saturday – also ended up 1-9, but 1-7 in conference.
Wartburg (Waverly, Iowa), meanwhile, finished 8-0 in ARC play, 10-0 in all regular-season work and an outstanding 13-1 overall – powered by a school-record 551 points scored – after a last-minute 34-31 loss at University of Mount Union (Alliance, Ohio) in the D-III national semifinals.
Riepel said he’ll be leaving the Pine River Valley on Aug. 7 for his new digs, located about 3 hours, 45 minutes southwest of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and former Ignacio teammate Jeremy Roderick – now an Iowa Central Community College sophomore.
“Me and (Roderick) have had many conversations,” Riepel said. “He’s helped me out a lot with this whole recruiting process; playing for Ignacio … feels like family.”
“I’m going to miss the mountains we have here, and … Ponch (IHS head coach Garcia),” he continued, “but I visited Nebraska, liked Lincoln, and … it feels like I just belonged there.”
Nebraska Wesleyan will begin its season traveling to Sherman, Texas, for a Sept. 3 opener against an Austin College crew that also finished 1-9 last year. NWU will then host Mayville State on the ninth.
Roderick was able to see some first-team game time in 2022 as a true freshman lineman at ICCC, and was also a member of the Tritons’ “Sled Dawgs,” recipients of Iowa Central’s Offensive Scout Team MVP Award after helping the squad cap a 7-4 season with a 31-24 upset of Trinity Valley CC in the Game One Bowl (formerly the Graphic Edge Bowl).
ICCC was ranked No. 14 in the nation at kickoff and the Cardinals (8-3) checked in at No. 10, but couldn’t deny the Tritons a 12th consecutive bowl victory – earning Iowa Central the final NJCAA Div. I rankings’ No. 10 spot (TVCC dropped to No. 14).
When NWU hosts Austin College, expected to suit up for the visiting Kangaroos will be sophomore Ben Meraz, a 2016 graduate of and former quarterback for 5A Prairie View in Henderson.
Seeing action last fall in all 10 games as a true freshman – after a four-year stint in the U.S. Army – and believed to be AC’s only Colorado-reared player, Meraz ended up being Austin’s leading rusher (534 yards on 143 carries, 6 TD) in 2022 and second-leading passer (7-of-16, 147 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT).
