Two senior Grinnell football players, David Ternes ’15 and Richard Renteria ’15, traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina the week of finals in December to participate in the Division 3 Senior Classic. The Classic is an all-star game for chosen seniors in Division 3 football who have posted impressive seasons over their college career.

Ternes and Renteria, both linebackers who have recently completed their final season at Grinnell, were grateful for having been chosen to play. Their time with the Pioneers ended on a high note in their last game. They played at home, as the team beat Lawrence University 52-14 on Nov. 15.

The opportunity to play in one last football game during their college careers was greatly appreciated.

“Going out there one last time, I was really grateful for that,” Renteria said.

Head football coach Jeff Pedersen ’02 had nothing but praise for Renteria and Ternes, and will miss them in years to come. 

“Before Richard and David we’d only had two other players selected for this all-star game, so it is quite an honor they both deserved. It’s been a pleasure watching these two play and we’re certainly going to miss them next fall,” Pedersen said.

As starters for the past three seasons, both Renteria and Ternes have played an integral role on the team. Pedersen described Ternes as the team’s most consistent tackler, with the second most career tackles in Grinnell history. Renteria, who has accumulated the second most forced fumbles in Grinnell history, is someone who Pedersen says is always making big plays. Their achievements were clearly recognized.

“It was the best players from around the country so you know that in order to get a spot on that team you have to have done something throughout the season or throughout your career to earn a spot there, and it’s definitely humbling,” Renteria said.

Over the course of two practices in Myrtle Beach, Ternes and Renteria became part of a team with players they had just met.

“It was a different experience, one that I don’t think either of us was used to,” Renteria said.

“There were about 30 kids on each team, we had a couple days of practice and then game day,” Ternes said.

Ternes and Renteria were put on a team with unfamiliar coaches and were introduced to new plays they would use in the game. Playing alongside the best players in the country was intimidating, but Renteria described the experience as overwhelmingly positive and eye opening,

As respectively the third and fourth players in Pioneer history to participate in the event, Ternes, like Renteria, describes the event as humbling.

“A couple guys who graduated before us were also selected and we saw how good they were in their time on our team. To be chosen after them was an honor,” Ternes said.

Though their team lost, the experience was a valuable one that they appreciated for the chance to play football on the collegiate level again.

“The sport of football brought us together and we made some new friends,” Renteria said.