Newton’s Beiner chooses Central College soccer

Derek Beiner had a few options. In the end, the school who was most interested in him got his signature.

After Beiner plays one final season on the pitch for Newton’s boys soccer team this spring, he will move on to Central College where he will once again play for a team coached by Zach Jensen.

Jensen is Newton’s head boys soccer coach and an assistant coach for the Dutch. He also played for Central during his four years in college.

“There were a few reasons I chose Central,” said Beiner, who had a signing ceremony at the school a few days before the holiday break. “The location was a big one. I wanted to be relatively close to home.

“The other schools didn’t reach out to me as much, and I felt like I fit in more at Central. The administration and coaches were much more personable with me.”

The “other schools” were St. Ambrose and the University of Dubuque.

Jensen said he tries not to influence his Newton guys too much when it comes to recruiting them to Central. Beiner will be the fourth Cardinal in six years to commit to the Dutch program.

“It’s important to our staff at Central that we have the right fit. I don’t put pressure on my guys at Newton to come to Central,” Jensen said. “I want them to take other visits and make sure they want to go there. If they like Central, great, and if they want to come there, we’d love to have you.

“Some of our other coaches watched Derek in Ankeny when he played for Iowa Rush. He came down and visited and went to a few of our games, too. He liked the style of play. I think he visited three or four times.”

Beiner scored one goal, dished out two assists and scored four points in 17 matches during his freshman season. There was no season during his sophomore year.

As a junior, Beiner tallied a team-best five assists, tied for second on the team with five goals and scored a team-best 15 points as a junior last spring. He made 17 starts in his 19 matches as he dual-sported with track and field.

Beiner said the coaching staff at Central is not sure where he will play on the pitch for the Dutch. Jensen said it’s hard to know for sure until the players get to campus and get acclimated with the collegiate game.

“I told them what position I played and they told me how many they had at each spot,” Beiner said. “They told me I would fit in, so that sounded good to me. That’s all I needed to know.”

Jensen said Beiner will have to play more physical for Central. Every team in the Dutch’s conference wants to bully opponents if they can.

“You have to prove yourself. He’s fast and quick so we could see him being a winger and working on the outside like he is for us here,” Jensen said. “He can run up and down the sideline, serve balls in and defend and attack at the same time.

“He’s got to get used to the college game. It’s a much quicker, much more physical game. That’s the biggest thing going into his freshman year.”

Aside from being a standout soccer player, Beiner also helped the Cardinals advance to their first state cross country meet at the 5K distance this past fall. And he’s a Drake Relays and state meet qualifier for Newton’s track and field team, too.

The choice to play soccer in college was an easy decision for Beiner though.

“I have been playing soccer for 15 out of my 18 years,” Beiner said. “It’s my passion sport. I grew up with it and grew up playing it with all my friends.”

Beiner said he hit the weight room more this offseason to get prepared for the college level. He knows he has to be more physical at the next level.

“I tried to get touches on the ball at least three times a week, too,” Beiner said. “I am hoping for a strong season with my friends.”

There’s a few connections to Central College that helped Beiner with his decision. His grandpa went there and Newton alum Anthony Bestell is on the Dutch wrestling team.

Beiner and Bestell played soccer together at Newton. Beiner said Bestell and a few others told him good things about the school.

“It’s a great fit. The head coach there is a second Dad to me,” Jensen said. “He’s true to his values. He does things the right way. I take pride in the program. It’s a great school. Derek fits into the mold of what we do there.”

Central College head men’s soccer coach Garry Laidlaw has been at the school since 1998. The Dutch’s last winning season was 2019 when the squad went 14-4-2. They also were .500 or better in 2016, 2017 and 2018.