CHAMP - Kaeden Johnson, from Waseca, played in the Junior College National championship game with his team, the Iowa Western Reivers.
Johnson wins Junior College National Championship
Thu, 01/01/2026 - 1:30am
Former Waseca Bluejay running back, Kaeden Johnson, played in the Junior College National championship game Wednesday, December 17. Kaeden transferred to the Iowa Western Reivers from the Minnesota Gophers program earlier this year. The Reivers claimed the programs 4th national championship over previously unbeaten Hutchinson with a final score of 28-10 at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon Texas. The Reivers players dedicated the win to Coach Scott Strohmeier’s daughter Emily, who passed away in May of this year.
Iowa Western totaled 409 yards of offense and limited Hutchinson to just 159, nearly 240 yards below their season average. The Title win gives Iowa Western their third championship in the last 4 seasons, including 2 wins over Hutchinson. Coach Strohmeier has now posted 165 victories in 196 games in Council Bluffs. The Reivers will begin defense of their most recent title at home with the 2026 schedule set to kick off in Council Bluffs against Highland on August 29, 2026. Kaeden Johnson will plan on returning for his final season with the Reivers in 2026 in the hopes of helping them return back to the Championship game.