GRINNELL, Iowa – Athletes know the bumps, bruises and injuries that come with sports — it's part of the territory.
 
But none of that remotely compares to the challenges Oliver Northing '25 has faced.
 
The Grinnell College men's soccer player enjoyed a successful first season with the Pioneers before that joy was interrupted by the one word every person dreads:
 
Cancer.
 
But not only did Northing beat cancer, he has continued his journey as a successful student and athlete at Grinnell.
 
This season alone, he leads his team in both goals (five) and points (12) as the Pioneers chase a return trip to the Midwest Conference Tournament. Additionally, his career totals of 20 goals, 13 assists and 110 shots are all within striking range of the program's top 10 list.
 
Northing hails from Alamo, Calif., and wanted to attend a small, elite liberal arts college. Grinnell College seemed the perfect fit.
 
"I chose Grinnell purely because of the academics, and there were no core requirements," said Northing. "That allowed me to focus on the things that interested me."
 
Playing soccer at Grinnell was an added bonus, and meeting head coach Brian Jaworski and then-assistant coach Rockne Decoster sealed the deal.
 
"I had great conversations with them, and I also got to talk with a lot of the guys on the team," recalled Northing. "As soon as I chatted with them, I knew Grinnell was the place for me."
 
Northing made an immediate impact at Grinnell, tallying six goals and three assists in 2021 as the Pioneers reached the MWC Tournament.
 
But those good times came to a screeching halt in the weeks that followed.
 
"Toward the end of November and beginning of December, I started feeling ill," said Northing. "I had pain in my lower abdomen and struggled to fall asleep at night. There was discomfort when I did basic things, like playing indoor soccer. But I really wasn't worried. I've known a lot of people who complain about being sick to their stomach at one time or another."
 
Northing endured that until winter break, when he went to a doctor after returning home.

"I saw my primary physician and after she felt my abdomen, she knew there was something off," he explained. "I was told to go to the emergency room, and they did a CT scan. That's when they found two tumors in my abdomen — the one on the right-hand side was fist-sized, and the one on the left was the size of a golf ball."
 
Multiple tests followed, which also revealed a third tumor forming near Northing's neck. The eventual diagnosis came around Christmas: Stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer that affects the lymphatic system.
 
"I remember very clearly when the doctor came in to tell me I had cancer," said Northing. "But it didn't really hit me at first because things were moving so quickly. Then everything changed. I knew I'd miss some school while they were laying out my treatment."
 
The treatment consisted of five rounds of chemotherapy. "There is a standardized treatment for this type of cancer that has been around for decades," said Northing. "It's very effective, and the survival rate is high. So I was never worried I was going to die."
 
While effective, the treatment came with the usual side effects.
 
"I started losing my hair and got tingling in my fingers," he explained. "They were also giving me other medications that made my face swell up. If you look at the side effects, I pretty much had them all."
 
Besides having a port for chemotherapy, Northing also had medication injected via a spinal tap.
 
"They generally gave me anesthesia for the spinal taps, but one time they didn't," said Northing. "That's the most pain I've ever experienced. I've had all kinds of injuries and broken bones, but nothing as painful as that treatment.
 
"It was also hard being home at that time because my high school friends were away at college, and my college friends were in Grinnell," he added. "I felt pretty isolated. But Coach Jaws would write me cards, and so would my teammates, which was very helpful."
 
The long treatments and hospital stays proved effective. By summer, Northing was cancer-free. "Hearing I was cancer-free was maybe the best news I've ever had," said Northing. "I remember going out to dinner with my family to celebrate."
 
Northing returned to Grinnell College in the fall of 2022 — which, in hindsight, may have been rushing things.
 
"I think I should have waited another semester," he said. "I still didn't feel like I was back in the swing of things. Mentally, I wasn't in a good spot."
 
But Northing got through that time period and has been a Grinnell College student since. His return to the soccer team has proved fruitful. In his years with the Pioneers, Northing has earned All-Midwest Conference, Academic All-District and Academic All-Conference accolades.
 
An economics major with a concentration in statistics, Northing will graduate in December and already has a job lined up doing economic consulting at Charles River Associates in Washington, D.C. He may then return to school to pursue a Ph.D. in economics.
 
Northing will always remember the lessons learned at Grinnell College — particularly the fortitude gained from his battle with cancer.
 
"I've always been motivated academically, but I think (the cancer) made me appreciate my classes and professors even more," he said. "The same certainly goes for soccer. I've always loved playing soccer, but to me the main things I appreciate now are the community and being part of a team. Just laughing with your friends, sharing meals, and being in that environment — that's what love and will always remember."