By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Brent Piester didn’t catch many passes at Harmony High last season, but when he did grab one he went a long way.

Piester averaged nearly 24 yards per catch and scored a touchdown, but the numbers that really caught college coaches’ eyes were his height – 6-6.

Piester elected to play for his father Jerry’s alma mater, Central College of Pella, Iowa, and signed a letter of intent to the Division III school recently. Jerry Piester is an assistant coach at Harmony.

“I really liked the facilities there. They have nice turf,” Brent said. “Plus, my dad went there, so there’s some history, too.”

Piester will play under Coach Jerry McMartin. The Dutch play in the Iowa Conference.

Piester said he has one edict from the Dutch coaching staff: “They want me to get bigger,” the 198-pound receiver said. “I’m only 17, so there’s a chance I might get taller.”

Piester said he would split wide in the Central College offense, which he described as a “pistol,” McMartin’s term for a shotgun set.

“It is a little hard sometimes getting off the line when you’re my size,” he said. “I’m going to work on that.”

Piester will also punt at Central. He said he might have an opportunity to start as a freshman.

“They said it depends on what kind of shape I’m in when I get out there,” he said.

Piester plans to pursue a business degree.