FOREST CITY, Iowa — Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa may be one of the Midwest’s’ best kept secrets for sports enthusiasts and young athletes alike.

Waldorf was established in 1903 and it looked nothing like it does now, especially when it comes to its sports offerings.

Waldorf offers six men’s intercollegiate sports as well as five women’s.

In the spring the diamonds are loaded — baseball for the men and softball for the women.

Golf is played on the local links as well as venturing to links across the state.

When fall rolls around the football team plays five home games on the beautiful field that sets to the south of Waldorf’s Hanson Fieldhouse. Soccer teams for both men and women proudly wear the school colors as they play in the Midwest Collegiate Conference.

If that isn’t enough for the fall sports fan, or if being inside is what they would prefer, then the hardwood with the women’s volleyball team may be just what the fan is looking for.

And finally, the winter season is fully loaded with the Warriors men’s and women’s basketball teams and the men’s wrestling team.

“We have come through some obstacles these past few years, especially in our football program,” athletic director Denny Jerome said. “We have only been a four year school now since 2003 and it takes time to build an identity.”

Jerome has been on staff at Waldorf for 37 years and he has had to wear a lot of hats through-out the years. For the past 28 years Jerome has been the school’s Athletic Director and is also the women’s basketball coach.

“I believe we have a lot to offer our fans but like most schools the students come from quite a distance away, which makes it very hard for their family and friends to attend their competitions regularly,” Jerome said.

Waldorf also has the Warriors Booster Club.

“We have a tremendous booster club here at Waldorf,” Jerome said. “They raise a lot of money for the program and I can’t say enough good about them.”

As one takes a quick walk around the athletic facilities at Waldorf it doesn’t take long before you see the work of the boosters and their efforts to encourage more and better support from the fans.

“The quality of athletics and the level they play at in the NAIA is very impressive,” Jerome said. “Our fans really see some great play here and they respond with good attendance.”

Waldorf draws in the student-athletes from California, Texas, Georgia and even as far away as the continent of Africa. Important as it is to the school to bring those in from far away, it is of equal importance that the local athlete is also brought in.

The fan base for the college comes primarily from the students themselves as they support their friends and classmates. With many of the athletes being from the North Iowa area, the second tier of the fan base is the family and friends that attend so many of the games, matches and meets.