By Mark Simon
D3football.com

The Sanger family in front of the entrance to West Hancock High School's Sanger Field. Center, Linda and Bob Sanger. Back, left to right, Mark, Kevin, Jeff and Rick.

The three brothers that have preceded current Central linebacker Mark Sanger have established a strong football tradition. You come to school. You practice and play hard. You lead by example. You finish your collegiate career with a league championship. Kevin did it in 1992. Rick followed in 1995. Jeff made it 3-for-3 in 2000.So now, naturally, it’s Mark’s turn.

Mark has heard about it, time and again, so he’s used to the pressure that comes with the name, and there is some, especially considering that Kevin and Jeff are on staff as coaches (Kevin also coaches Mark on the track team).

“I don’t like when people compare you to your brothers,” said Mark Sanger, who has a chance, like Rick and Jeff, to be an All-American at linebacker this season. “That can get old. The best part of following them is drawing on their experience. There are numerous things I picked up from watching each of them play for four years.”

Central, located in a suburb of Iowa’s capital, Des Moines, has been one of the strongest programs west of the Mississippi, winning the 1974 national championship and averaging nearly 10 wins a season from 1999-2002. The brothers have a saying — “Central is the reason for our success, but we’re not the reason for Central’s success,” which is pretty modest, considering that all four have been great defensive players.

Mark Sanger Also set a school and Iowa Conference record in the hammer throw last spring (177-11) and was an NCAA qualifier.

A .500 mark in 2003, snapping a streak of 42 consecutive winning seasons, was considered a significant stumble for the program, so this season is being closely scrutinized. Enter new coach Jeff McMartin, a 1990 Central alumnus who was away from the program for 14 years in a variety of other football jobs. The product is not yet finished, but the indications from the last two weeks — wins over a ranked Bethel squad and at league rival Simpson — are significantly more positive than an opening week loss to Augustana. Central has begun to remake its offense, going from its usual I-formation power game to a pro set that spreads the field and provides more opportunities to pass.

“We’ve played hard and we’ve played with passion,” said McMartin, who talked of the importance of the Central tradition of being a football family. “In doing that, we’ve been able to compete with outstanding opponents. Our defense has given our offense a chance to win in both of our victories.”

The Sangers have epitomized that, most recently Mark with a 21-tackle performance in the Bethel victory, his best game as a collegian.

“He was all over the field,” defensive coordinator Don De Waard said, having seen the entire family come through in his 22 years. “Whether it was in the backfield or 15 yards downfield defending the pass. He can go sideline to sideline, or take on a 300-pound guard and win that battle.”

Together, the four brothers have combined for 1,112 tackles, have won 127 games and have been a part of eight Iowa Conference football championships. Mark had 106 tackles, two interceptions and two sacks last season This season he leads the team with 36 tackles

Jeff Sanger Class of 2001. Two-time All-American linebacker. Coaches Central’s “stinger” position (DE/OLB/SS).

Kevin Sanger Class of 1993. All-Conference defensive end. Defensive line and head track coach.

They are the sons of Bob and Linda Sanger. Bob is at West Hancock High, in his 37th year as a high school football coach, while Linda is a longtime teacher. They raised their family on a farm in Britt, a small town in northern Iowa (population 2,000) that is best known as the home to the National Hobo Convention. Football interest came from being around their father. The work ethic came from both parents.

“The thing I most learned from my mom is perseverance,” said Mark Sanger. “To keep on keeping on.”

The Dutch will have to ‘keep on keeping on’ to have a chance at maintaining that finish-with-a-flourish Sanger legacy. Mark says it’s a goal for the season. McMartin is cautious with his words.

“We don’t want to come off like we’ve figured everything out already,” McMartin said. “Our guys play hard for all 60 minutes. I’d like to think that’s what we’re known for.”

It’s what the Sanger name has been known for most. There has been a Sanger at Central for 15 of the last 16 years. There won’t be any more, after this year though, at least not for awhile.

“None of them have any kids yet,” said De Waard with a laugh.

But he is rooting for some more Sangers to come to Central before his retirement.