No Mark Ironside? - 2 x NCAA champ and Hodge winner (wrestling's Heisman).
Greatest Athlete - Iowa High School Edition
- Thread starter iahawks10
- Start date
No Mark Ironside? - 2 x NCAA champ and Hodge winner (wrestling's Heisman).
I don’t get the not even close or /thread stance.
I get Dan Gable was an amazing athlete and the best athlete from Waterloo West (which is the topic). He was an Olympic gold medalists and many, many other accolades going well beyond competitive years into his coaching dynasty.
I just don’t think it’s as plain and simple as that. I’d put Kinnick and Slater up to Gable any day of the week. Kinnick very well may have became a US president had he not been KIA and Slater, I don’t even know where to begin. First AA to be inducted to the college football HOF in its first year alongside Kinnick. He was inducted into the Iowa (state) sports HOF in its inaugural year along with Berwanger, Kinnick, and Devine. He played professional in an era where he was one two AA playing and the first to play the OLine. He wasn’t even allowed to play in the state of Missouri professionally. He never missed a game due to injury in the NFL, college, or HS. He couldn’t afford shoes and a helmet in HS, so he chose shoes and played his HS ball without a helmet. Slater came back to Iowa to receive his law degree while playing in the NFL and became the second AA judge in the city of Chicago. There is so much more.
I understand the argument, but I don’t think it’s as cut and dry as some are making it out to be.
I think to be in this debate you need to have played at least two sports. As far as I know many of the basketball players mentioned did not.
Valley High School (West Des Moines, Ia) - Shawn Johnson
I think it's that cut and dry. Gable is simple one of sports great competitor - up there with the legends.
I didn’t know that about Slater. It’s crazy to think about how much he had to overcome back then. Such a different world now.
Iowa Valley - Marengo produced Rick Wanamaker who went to Drake, played on the '69 final four Drake team. Though they lost by 3 points the 6'8" Wanamaker stuffed 7'2" Lew Alcindor's shot in the highlight of the game. Wanamaker was also the 1970 NCAA decathlon champion, the 1971 AAU decathlon champion and gold medal winner at the Pan Am games. He was injured and missed '72 Munich...
At one time it was suggested renaming Kinnick Stadium to Kinnick-Slater Stadium. Obviously, that was turned down and Slater Hall was named in Duke’s honor.
I can’t imagine it either, the obstacles Slater endured throughout his life. He had to go on a hunger strike before his dad eventually backed down and let him play football lol. To play on the Oline in those days as an AA was unheard of. He played both ways in many games. Played 10 seasons in the NFL and never missed a game due to injury when you know he was a target.
It’s almost criminal how little recognition this man receives as a pioneer to so many. As an Iowan, a Hawkeye fan, a Quad Citian, Eastern Iowan, American .... Slater was one of the greats, but evidently not up there with “the legends”. Unbelievable
Last edited:
Marion’s - “The Natural” - Ronnie Altenberg
Rare combination of speed, grace and power.
He excelled in all sports. Division One quality in Football. Basketball, Track and Baseball. Loved BB and took Cornell to National Championship, but best sport was track. Arguably the fastest man in the world in the spring of 1960.
Rare combination of speed, grace and power.
He excelled in all sports. Division One quality in Football. Basketball, Track and Baseball. Loved BB and took Cornell to National Championship, but best sport was track. Arguably the fastest man in the world in the spring of 1960.
Once introduced before a Drake home BB game as "The Flamingo from Marengo, Rick Wannamaker!"
Also, the guy (and his bride) have sold them some damn houses here in DSM....they are a couple of the most successful RealEstate agents/brokers in the Metro area...(Bill Knapp takes care of those drake alums!)
Troy Skinner (Iowa BB) and Brian Pearson (ISU BB) Palmer class of 1988 (17 in graduation class).
Ill be honest, i dont know much about Slater. But i will say, there is no one in the world that did or has since done what Gable accomplished in his athletic career. To go through the olympics and not give up 1 single point...absolutely incredible!
The answer is Bob Feller. He was the greatest pitcher in the world before he graduated from high school. Think about that.
I don't know about tooting his horn for basketball, but I have years of first-hand knowledge of his football prowess and really his prowess as one of the freakiest athletes in recent memory. 4.2 forty and equally freaky ability to cut/change direction. Shat upon Iowa high schoolers like a normal high schooler would shat upon 1st graders. For the true Iowans here, you don't really need much more than this clip, where Tim Dwight (#21 in the grainy AF high school video), future NFL WR and PR who returned one for a TD in the super bowl, whiffed because he didn't take a good enough angle to tackle him:Tavian Banks-Bettendorf.
3 time Iowa Gatorade Soccer player of the year
Lead Bettendorf to State in Basketball
Football
The Heater from Van Meter.
As a jr high kid I got Tavian’s autograph while he was sidelined with an injury at a basketball game. IIRC, he was one of the best high school soccer players in the country as well.
Next time I go to coach up there, I'll look. It was supposed to be this year. Would be cool to see.
Ryan Sweeny single handedly made me realize I was a bad basketball player. Him and his whole salvation army team.
And 4X Midlands Champ. When the Midlands tournament was as tough as the B1G Tourney.
Jack Mustapha was a hell of a pitcher for Boone. He threw multiple no hitters in the playoffs to a state championship in 1965. Got sidetracked by the Vietnam war or could of had a promising MLB career.
Was able to watch him win at UNI and also beat Kolat live at Carver!!
Jerry Moses.....football and track....a HUGE get for Iowa State Fb coach Johnny Majors....Moses was regarded as one of the best running back in the US at Waterloo East...
Going back to the early 1990’s I can only remember two offensive players that just flat out dominated the MAC conference. Tavian and David Johnson at Clinton. It’s amazing how David Johnson didn’t get more looks coming out of HS.
Last edited:
I played you then. Also Tim Dwight and eddie Gibson, and had solo tackles on both. Were you another Iowa great so can make it a triple crown (practice doesn’t count for tavian)?
