Anyone who has paid attention to Wartburg College football over the last three years will recognize the name Owen Grover ’24.

During the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, the linebacker racked up a list of accolades that culminated with being a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy and a recipient of the 2024 NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award. But Wartburg, and life, have never been about just football for the Dyersville native. While making a name for himself on the field, Grover also was a Dance Marathon morale captain, a member of the Catholic Knights, and a volunteer at Waverly Health Center, all while maintaining a 3.99 GPA as a biology major.

Balancing those commitments at Wartburg, however, helped Grover succeed in his first year at the University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine.

“The med school curriculum is hard; I knew it would be. Time management is so important here because we have to spend so much time outside of the classroom studying and working on projects, but with everything that was on my plate as an undergrad, I’ve felt extremely prepared.”

In fact, Grover was so confident in his preparation for medical school he didn’t hesitate when the Iowa City Regina High School football coach reached out to him last fall with an offer to serve as an assistant coach; he immediately said yes. He also plans to be on the sidelines for all the Regals games again this year.

“It was great that what I learned at Wartburg meant that I could continue to do something I really love, like being involved with football,” Grover said. “Being able to coach and learn the other side of the game is a cool experience.”

This summer, Grover is participating in the university’s Medical Education Community Orientation program, which  placed him in a health care setting in Iowa.

Though he is still open to what his future will bring, he is seriously considering the Carver College of Medicine Rural Iowa Scholars Program, which would allow him to practice in a rural community and relieve some of his student loan debt at the same time.

“I already know that I want to settle down somewhere rural where I can be part of a school like Dyersville or Wartburg. I want to be involved in the community and really get to know the people I see in the office on a personal level,” he said, referencing his internship at Craig Hospital in Denver, Colo., as his motivator. “I worked with a lot of patients with paralysis and brain injuries during their recovery process. I really enjoyed spending time with each of them and building relationships during their therapy appointments. I know I want to practice medicine in a way that allows me to build those same kinds of relationships with my patients.”

On the field

Chris Winter ’04, Wartburg’s head football coach, said Grover is the definition of what it means to be a Knight.

“Owen is a servant-leader, an outstanding student, and an elite athlete. There is a direct correlation between the success of our team and the example that has been set by Owen and the rest of our senior class in 2023,” Winter said. “I am so proud of Owen, not only because he has been one of the best football players in Wartburg history, but because he has accomplished this while also being one of the brightest students and servant-leaders that Wartburg College has ever seen.”

Grover continues to follow the football team’s success, now from the stands, as he cheers on his former teammates and younger brother, Conner ’26, a defensive back.

“Our class is still really invested in the success of this team. When I go back, there are usually at least 10 of us there to cheer them on. Only now I’m more stressed than I was when I was on the field.”

Role model

In addition to serving as a role model for his younger brothers, Grover also has young fans in the community who look up to him.

“Owen came to church every week and participated in things that the church does, like when we did the Easter egg hunt,” said Henry Gleason, a young sports fan who attended Grover’s church. “I admire Owen’s athleticism and how he can make the plays when everybody thinks it’s impossible.”

Henry’s parents, Michael and Meg Ryan ’07 Gleason, were especially impressed when Grover took the time to sign a William V. Campbell trophy finalist photo for Henry’s sports-themed bedroom.

“Owen exemplifies the Division III student-athlete in the way we can watch him dominate on the field, know how strong he is academically, and still be humble enough to engage with a young fan,” Meg said. “Throughout the 2023 season, Henry would see his heroes on the field and would race to say congrats on Sundays at church or when he would see them in The W. Owen always has time to engage with Henry no matter the situation. When you’re the parent of a sports-enthused child, you talk about sportsmanship a lot and watching all of Wartburg’s football team give credit for the hard work they do on and off the field to their teammates and coaches is inspiring.”

In the classroom

Dr. Shawn Ellerbroek, the Ralph E. Otto Endowed Professor in Chemistry, has seen many successful students in his 20 years of teaching at Wartburg. His students have been accepted into Harvard’s medical school, received Davis Projects for Peace grants to implement humanitarian projects around the world, and participated in countless athletic, music, and student organizations.

“Rarely, though, have I had the privilege to teach and mentor a student who excelled in so many different arenas like Owen,” Ellerbroek said. “Among others, he was the top student in every one of my classes, tirelessly donated his time to help others, and well, we all know of his football accomplishments. When I see someone develop their God-given talents with discipline, humility, and positivity of spirit like Owen, how can I not be inspired and moved? Owen is going to be a positive difference maker in whatever he tackles, including medicine.”

For Grover, the support of professors like Ellerbroek had a profound impact on his Wartburg experience.

“I remember a football game we played against Monmouth in 2023. The game was supposed to start at like 7 but we had a storm delay, so it didn’t start until after 10 and went until like 1 a.m. The next morning, I had a message from Dr. Ellerbroek that said something along the lines of, ‘Hey, great game and great interception last night. I went to bed after that because it was too late for this old man,’” Grover said. “It’s incredible that professors like him not only care about how we are doing in their classes, but they are watching our games and care enough to reach out. That was consistent throughout all my time at Wartburg, and that was really special.”

Work ethic

Before Grover was known on the football field, Hailee Bossard, a maintenance worker in The W, knew him as the “student who came in to work on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 to 11:30 a.m.” Between fall 2019 and December 2023, Grover reported to Bossard as a student facilities and event worker responsible for setting up and tearing down any number of events inside the building.

“Owen may be most well-known for his impact on the football field, but he also had a great impact on many other student-athletes, prospective students, and community members during his time at Wartburg,” she said. “Whether he was vacuuming a classroom or sweeping up popcorn in the basketball arena, Owen was always eager to help with anything. He naturally evolved into a leader within the student staff as well and was the go-to person for ensuring event setups and tear downs went off without a hitch. He had that team player mentality.”

That included prepping Walston-Hoover Stadium before the biggest game of his college career.

“It was clear he understood the value of hard work, humility, and showing up for others, even when the spotlight was on him. There may be no greater memory of this than the nationally televised 2023 NCAA football semifinal game hosted at Walston-Hoover Stadium. I had students help prepare the stadium to ensure it was looking its best for the players and fans attending, as well as everyone that would see it on TV. Who other than Owen, the starting linebacker and Gagliardi Trophy finalist, would be the one to sweep the turf?” Bossard said.

“I think that says everything you need to know about Owen. It’s rare to find someone who’s not only exceptional at what they do but also grounded enough to do the behind-the-scenes work that contributes to the larger picture. The willingness to give his time and effort to ensure the stadium was perfect, even when he could have easily just focused on preparing for the game, is something I won’t soon forget. Watching someone like Owen grow from a student who showed up ready to work into a nationally recognized student-athlete was a very rewarding journey and an absolute privilege to have been a part of!”