Add another mark on the championship belt of Iowa Central head rugby coach Brent Nelson.

Nelson announced that Fort Dodge Senior High football and rugby player Dalton Summers will join his program next year.

"This is a very special commitment," Nelson said. "Dalton has decided to forego a football offer to Waldorf and will be staying home and playing rugby for the defending D1AA national champions."

Summers was a standout on the gridiron for the Dodgers this past fall, helping the team reach the Class 4A playoffs. He recorded 15.5 tackles on defense with two stops for loss and recovered a fumble. 

"It was a really hard decision for me and my family because the game of football has done a lot of great things in my life - especially being a Dodger - but I felt like God had something different in store for me so I but all my trust in him," Summers said. "I also have such a great relationship with the rugby team and Coach Nelson so I felt like it was a fit.

"I chose rugby because sometimes you have a different route and I felt it could take me a lot of places in my life and I trust Coach Nelson to develop me as a young man not just a rugby player.

"I'm really excited to stay home for my career. I know Iowa Central already has a dynasty for there rugby team but I feel like we have more to accomplish so I wanted to join that and leave a legacy with them. My mom has always been my rock; she has done a lot of things for my life so I felt like staying home and having her and my family coming to watch my games is a blessing."

Summers is also a member of the Fort Dodge Rugby Club. He earned honorable mention all-district honors this past year for the Dodgers on the football field.