Frank Kinney Holbrook of Tipton, first Black athlete in what is now Division I FBS, led the Iowa Hawkeyes to their first conference football championship, in the 1890s. A running back, he was nearly mauled on the field in a game with Missouri but he and his white Hawkeye teammates fought off the assault.
Aundra Meeks was the first Black head coach to win an Iowa state football championship - in 2004 with Waterloo Columbus, when the Sailors topped Gilbert 41-0 for the Class 2A championship. Coach Meeks is now an assistant at Dowling. He also played at Columbus and was the school's athletics director.
Sasha Hyacinth, also competing for Waterloo Columbus, became the first Black individual state tennis champion in 2021, as a sophomore.
Great column John. May I add a few?
Frank Kinney Holbrook of Tipton, first Black athlete in what is now Division I FBS, led the Iowa Hawkeyes to their first conference football championship, in the 1890s. A running back, he was nearly mauled on the field in a game with Missouri but he and his white Hawkeye teammates fought off the assault.
Aundra Meeks was the first Black head coach to win an Iowa state football championship - in 2004 with Waterloo Columbus, when the Sailors topped Gilbert 41-0 for the Class 2A championship. Coach Meeks is now an assistant at Dowling. He also played at Columbus and was the school's athletics director.
Sasha Hyacinth, also competing for Waterloo Columbus, became the first Black individual state tennis champion in 2021, as a sophomore.
Great roundup, John. Thank you.