The year 2000 was the beginning of a revamped Marshalltown Community College Baseball program. That same year, Capt. Gabe Haugland (J.D.) enrolled at Marshalltown Community College, igniting a successful career path that has represented the United States of America for more than a decade.
After a three-year hiatus, the MCC Baseball program returned to action in the fall of 2000 under newly-appointed head coach Kevin Benzing. One of Benzing's first recruits was an outfielder from Mount Vernon, IA- Gabe Haugland. Haugland eventually moved on to play baseball at the University of Iowa. Following his playing career, Haugland became an Infantry Officer in the United States Army and was deployed to Afghanistan.
This Friday, May 6, Haugland, who earned his Associate in Arts degree with an emphasis in law from MCC, will return to campus as the 2016 commencement speaker to reflect on the beginning of his journey while at MCC.
"Marshalltown was where it all began" Haugland stated. "MCC is where I first truly learned the game of baseball under coach Benzing. Marhalltown gave me a true understanding and respect for the game."
An All-State selection at Mount Vernon High School, Haugland was looked over by college scouts despite setting the school's home run record. A mutual connection led to the bond that formed between Haugland and Benzing, a bond that still exists to this day.
"Gabe was one of the first guys we recruited to start our program back up," Benzing said. "Since his first day at MCC he has really distinguished himself as an outstanding person in this world. He's always had his priorities right."
A two-year member of the Tigers, Haugland moved on to St. Edward's University in Austin, TX where he batted .325 as a junior. Looking to find a way back to Iowa, Haugland's strong junior year led him to the University of Iowa where he walked on as a senior for the Hawkeyes.
"It was a lifelong dream of mine to be a Hawkeye," Haugland stated. "Coach Benzing looked out for me and got me in contact with the Iowa coaching staff, giving me the opportunity to join the program."
Following his tenure on the field, Haugland took a keen interest in the military and enlisted in the National Guard on Memorial Day in 2004. Haugland was one of the few soldiers who had obtained a four-year degree, allowing him to earn a higher ranking.
Haugland was deployed to Afghanistan as an Infantry Lieutenant in 2010. Serving with Bravo Company, 168th Infantry Battalion near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, Haugland was caught in a firefight with Taliban forces. Haugland was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge in April 2011 for leading his company.
Through all of the opportunities that Haugland has come across, he attributes his career path to where it all began- Marshalltown Community College.
"Had I not come to MCC, I would not have had the opportunity to get where I am today. I would not have had the chance to increase my grades to get into Drake Law School. I would not have had the opportunity to continue my passion for the game of baseball and reach my goal of becoming a Hawkeye."
"There's so many things that I carry with me today that I learned at MCC, especially on the ball field. Being able to start the baseball program back up was a very humbling experience, but it took a whole team effort to revive the sport. The entire community of Marshalltown really embraced us as a team and I couldn't be more grateful for that."
The 2001 team had 16 players move on to four-year schools and three players signed professional contracts in the MLB.
"The success we had in starting the program back up was truly a testament to the hard work of all the individuals, especially coach Benzing. Coach spent countless hours doing the little things to help the program. He built the ball field for us. A lot of our success, not just at MCC but in our careers, is because of coach Benzing. We had a hard working core of guys, we just needed someone to guide us, and that was coach Benzing."
"One thing that coach Benzing really instilled in me was pride. Having pride in what you do, how you're uniform looks. It was all about pride. He used to always say to us 'You can make 1,000 good decisions in a row but the next one could ruin your life.' That phrase stuck with me for a long time."
After finding out the 2016 MCC Baseball team recently received votes in the national poll for the first time in 11 years, Haugland reflected on how far the program has come. "It's special to look back on it and to see the program thriving today. It's humbling to know that MCC can give a boy from a small town in Iowa the chance to keep playing the game they love."
After earning his degree from Drake, Haugland has held multiple positions in the law field. Haugland spent four years as a JAG Officer in the Iowa National Guard and is currently the Iowa Deputy State Director at Concerned Veterans for America.
"There are so many people from Marshalltown that helped me get to this point in my life," Haugland added. "Professors such as Hashem Hashemi-Toroghi and even people in the community such as Todd Thimesch for giving me a job at Sports Page, they really helped me advance in my career."
"I highly recommend Marshalltown Community College, not only for student-athletes, but for any student who is looking to get a well-rounded education."
Benzing sees Haugland as a perfect selection for the commencement speaker. "Gabe is just an outstanding person and is a positive influence on society. The best thing about Gabe though is he chose to start his career at MCC."
With a busy weekend schedule, Haugland promised a rain check for his invitation to join the Tigers for a round of batting practice. The team takes on Indian Hills Community College for a four-game series at Shawn Williams Field on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.
The 88th annual MCC commencement ceremony is set for 7:00 PM on Friday, May 6 at the Student Activity Center and is open to the public.
