Tamerius finds his niche at Central

PELLA — Alex Tamerius found what he was looking for in a sudden change of heart as a college freshman.

Now, with mid-year graduation just a few weeks away, the Creston native looks back with no regrets, despite his status as a backup at strong side linebacker, appearing in five of the Central College nine games this season.

The former Creston/O-M middle linebacker originally decided on playing at Simpson College. He was in Indianola only a short time during preseason drills when he had second thoughts.

“I wasn’t there very long,” Tamerius said Saturday after his final Central home game. “I hadn’t even started school yet. I didn’t realize until I was there, that football didn’t seem to be looked at in the same way as it is here. Originally I had it down to Simpson and Central, and (former Panther teammate) Cole Tanner was playing here. He said, ‘You know, exactly what you are looking for is here.’ Coach Casey Tanner (former Central offensive lineman) has also been helpful. It’s been great.”

Tamerius battled through two ACL surgeries on his right knee in high school, missing considerable time on the field. He said he lost “more than a step” in speed and agility since then, wearing a brace on the knee while playing. While suffering no new major injuries, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing.

“He’s battled through a little bit of the repercussions of those knee injuries while he’s been here,” said Nick Mulder, Central defensive coordinator. “Just some of the nagging stuff. He’s a tough kid.”

Tamerius, listed at 5-10 and 220 pounds on the depth chart behind starting strong side linebacker Drew Smith, said he learned to deal with the injury-related difficulties.

“It’s bothered me a little. I missed some preseason time with issues when it would get big and swollen,” Tamerius said. “I’d sit out for a little bit, then come back.”

Tamerius often worked out in the summers with another injury-plagued former Panther Colton Bolinger, who recently suffered a third knee injury on his right knee that has curtailed his career as a tight end at Grand View University.

Tamerius pressed on with his desire to play college football while pursuing a major in business management. The Dutch were chasing an American Rivers Conference championship until being upended 27-24 Saturday by Coe College in overtime, leaving the Dutch at 5-2 in league play and 7-2 overall.

“We’ve been close every single year that I’ve been here,” Tamerius said. “It’s always been like this, like one loss away.”

Tamerius is credited with two tackles in four appearances this season.

Mulder said having a veteran player on the team who accepts his role and helps teammates is invaluable.

“Alex has done a great job. He’s a great team guy,” Mulder said after Saturday’s game. “He’s asked sometimes to do a lot of things behind the scenes, and he’s done with a great attitude and a great heart. He loves Central, he loves his teammates. We couldn’t be happier to have a guy like that on our team.”

Tamerius said veteran players are expected to catch up newcomers with the mode of operation in the Dutch program headed by coach Jeff McMartin, who has guided Central to four Iowa Conference titles an four NCAA Division III playoff berths since taking over as head coach in 2004.

“A big part of my role is to help the young guys, especially in the early part of the year,” Tamerius said. “Show them what is expected. They look at me as a leader type role when it comes to that kind of stuff because I’ve done it for four years now.”

Tamerius has one more game with the Dutch on Nov. 10 at Loras College in Dubuque. On Saturday, parents Mike and Traci Tamerius were introduced at halftime with parents of other Central senior players.

“It went by too fast,” Tamerius said. “When you think about freshman year until now, and just how quick it goes. It feels like the time just flies by.”

Tamerius is engaged to Erica Abell of Creston, also a Central College student training to be a teacher, and has purchased a home in Creston. He will soon join his father at Precision Optical in Creston, a business founded by Mike Tamerius and Matt Somers in 1992. Somers sold his interest in the business in 2015.

“I want to work with dad at Precision Optical,” Tamerius said. “I’ve worked there since I was a freshman in high school. I’m hoping to do some coaching, too. I’ve taken a lot of coaching classes, and I’m right on the edge of having an exercise science minor. So, I’m going to take the coaching licensing stuff. That should be fun.”