Positive Sports Stories in Iowa Garner National Attention to Highlight a Great 2011

By Mike Rickord, Iowa Sports Connection

With no room for any doubt, 2011 has been the best year in the history of our firm. We saw the launch of the, newly redesigned, state-of-the-art iowasportsconnection.com and a new partnership with 1350 KRNT of The Des Moines Radio Group as the flagship station for the Iowa Sports Connection Radio Network, which continues to be the most powerful radio network in Iowa.

Part of what has sparked such a great year for the Iowa Sports Connection were the many positive stories about sports that emerged from our state throughout 2011. With this issue of The Iowa Sports Connection magazine, we have captured all of 2011’s highlights, from Martensdale-St. Marys’ national record-setting baseball season, the Iowa Energy’s NBA D-League championship, Iowa State football’s whirlwind of a season, Jeremy Hellickson’s rookie of the year awards and so many more.

Inside, you’ll find what we believe to be the best stories from the past year. Every story promotes something positive in sports. You’ll find Iowans have a lot to be proud of as we reflect on the year’s events. Many Iowa communities spent time in the spotlight — sometimes in the national spotlight — and they’ve shown everyone the best in sports.

Just look what these stories can do for a community – for a state. The boys of the Martensdale-St. Marys baseball team did so much for their communities and the state of Iowa as a whole. Their story of determination and character was told across the country as they reached their goal and set a new record for consecutive wins. And the record is still alive! Maybe the best part of this story is that it isn’t even over yet.

And, oh, man! How about Paul Rhoads and his Iowa State Cyclones! What a tremendous year they’ve had. From beating in-state rivals Northern Iowa, and of course, the Iowa Hawkeyes, to stunning the nation with the defeat of Oklahoma State, the Cyclones have assured the Big 12 and the rest of the country that they are part of a program that can’t be taken for granted. CyclONE Nation has the most to be proud of after a terrific year.

At the Iowa Sports Connection, we are very excited to get 2012 off with a bang. If the stories of 2011 are any preview of what’s in store, then we had all better buckle in for quite a ride.

The Iowa Sports Connection, with its stable of multimedia products ranging from mobile, to web, to radio and television, will continue to be your best source for stories of positive participation in sports. We’ve made a New Year’s resolution to take the success of 2011 and transfer it to 2012 with even more energy and expertise in all Iowa sports, “from the Pee Wees, to the Preps, to the Pros.”

Thank you so much for picking up a copy of The Iowa Sports Connection magazine’s 2011 Year in Review. We’d like to thank our great partners, Casey’s General Stores and Scheels Sporting Goods, for helping us make our magazine available to all Iowans, “from the Missouri to the Mississippi,” by placing copies in every store across the great state.

Now that the winter sports season is in full swing, the award-winning Friday Night Live, On the Tee and The Iowa Sports Connection Show have made their transitions and we hope you’ll join us by tuning in on The Iowa Sports Connection Radio Network; on TV with WHO 13.2 or KCRG 9.2; or online at iowasportsconnection.com.

Once again, thanks for picking up a copy of The Iowa Sports Connection. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

God Bless You and God Bless America!