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Jim Miller encourages the Cedar Valley to ‘Do it Anyway’

Jim Miller with his ten national championship trophies at Wartburg College

After graduating from East High School in 1971, Jim Miller was inspired by his wrestling coach, Bill Dotson, to continue on, and pursue his education and wrestling ambitions at the University of Northern Iowa.

“He told me, ‘You’ve got to go to college, you’ve got more in you,” said Miller. “He inspired me. I probably wouldn’t have pursued college if it wasn’t for him.”

At UNI, Miller won an astonishing 128 matches while wrestling for head coach Chuck Patten. There he gained recognition as an All-Star wrestler and NCAA Division II champion.

“Sometimes someone else can believe in you more than you believe in yourself,” said Miller. “And that can make a world of difference.”

His experience on the UNI wrestling team sparked his passion for coaching, helping other young wrestlers find their own confidence and ability within the sport. After graduating, Miller began coaching wrestling at Riceville, then Charles City, and back at UNI before accepting the head coaching position at Warburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

At Wartburg, Miller cemented his success by leading the Knights wrestling team to ten national championships over his 22 years with the institution.

“It happened because you had a whole bunch of people willing to work hard and help each other,” said Miller. “Coaching and teaching are two of the most impactful professions in the world.”

According to Miller, his teachers and coaches were the people who helped him build the foundations needed for him to succeed later in life. His sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. Doris Tyler, wrote him decades after he left her class to let him know how proud she was of his success, having seen him grow all the way from her new home in Kansas. Miller says knowing that he still had the same mentors rooting for him even after having left the classroom meant the world and encouraged him to keep working toward new goals.

“I felt really blessed that she took the time to do that because she didn’t have to,” said Miller. “Encouragement is a powerful thing.”

Today, Miller continues offering inspiration to Iowa wrestlers as the Director of the Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. In his book, Do it Anyway, he encourages all readers to strive for success in all that they do. And, when times get hard, and doubt sinks in, to do it anyway.

An Alumni Story: My First Year at Stanford

Alzonia Quinn celebrates her first school year at Stanford University

It’s only one year after Alonzia Quinn was awarded a full-ride scholarship to Stanford, and she’s already making waves of impact in the California city. After graduating from East High as the class valedictorian in 2022, Quinn made the nearly 2,000-mile journey to begin her studies at the famed university.

Joining this prestigious university has allowed Quinn to walk the same halls as many world-renowned leaders. Iconic alumni such as Ellen Ochoa, Tiger Woods, Herbert Hoover, Issa Rae Diop, Yaa Gyasi, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver have all called this campus home. According to Quinn, her greatest lesson at Stanford so far is to keep her mind open to all the possibilities in front of her.

“I just took my first philosophy class, Education as Self Fashioning: The Transformation of the Self,” said Quinn. “I realized there are so many more opportunities available to me to pursue different majors and career paths. I was initially set on being a biology major, but I discovered political science and international relations, so my focus has switched to being more open to new majors.”

Quinn says that while many students are learning to acclimate to their first year of academia, thankfully she feels ahead of her class thanks to the prep she completed with Waterloo Schools. Most notably, she cites East High’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP), for teaching her how to communicate her own voice while utilizing academic resources for long-form essays and topic-specific research.

“We had to write a 4,000-word essay in the IBDP program, and at Stanford, there were a lot of people really struggling. But for me, it felt easy,” said Quinn. “I never had to use an extension for any class papers. My writing got significantly better because of the IBDP program.”

The IBDP program is an internationally accredited curriculum focused on leadership and problem-solving. Within Waterloo Schools, Sherice Ortman and Ellen Shay work to coordinate the program alongside teachers within each of the high schools. According to Ortman, each IB class should have an element of curiosity, encouraging students to question how and why things work.

Whether it is taking their first IB class or choosing a new major, Quinn says students shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help.

“It’s so helpful as you go through life with professors and outside individuals,” said Quinn. “Start practicing asking for help now.”

Quinn has helped us all remember the incredible things we each can accomplish when we have the support of a loving community around us – even from afar.

Girls wrestling gets underway with inaugural season

Logo for Iowa Girls Wrestling

Waterloo East and West high schools are primed and ready for their first official season of girls wrestling. Waterloo Schools hired coach Anthony Watson earlier this year, to coach the girls team at East, and long-time boys junior varsity coach Josef Kadlec, accepted the girls wrestling coach position at West. 

East and West each have close to a dozen students currently signed up, but both Watson and Kadlec hope to have a full roster soon, with girls competing in each of the fourteen weight classes for both junior varsity and varsity. According to the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, the teams will comprise  fourteen different weight classes: 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 155, 170, 190, 235. 

“We will be making history together and setting the standard for the next set of Lady Trojans to follow,” said Watson. “As hard as this sport can be, my goal is to try and make them have fun within the sport.”

Over the course of their first season, Watson hopes to see the girls’ best effort as they learn the basic forms of wrestling while building relationships with their teammates.

Christopher Tims, East high school boys wrestling coach, says along with a love of the sport, the girls team can expect a number of firsts in the coming years.

“The next several years there will be a lot of firsts; first conference champion, district champion, state qualifier, state champion etc. It’s exciting to imagine all of the opportunities our young women have before them,” said Tims. “I really believe women’s wrestling can be a premier program here at East high school and make some waves right away.”

Tim Moses, East High Athletic Director, is excited to see history be made in Waterloo once again, with students participating in this inaugural season. 

“This really means a lot for our female students and  athletes,” said Moses. “When you think of sports in Iowa, wrestling has to be at the top because of the famous Dan Gable. And, since Dan Gable is from Waterloo, it only adds to the popularity and history of the moment.”

According to West’s coach Kadlec, the wrestling programs at Waterloo Schools are in the perfect position for success. 

“Waterloo has a rich wrestling tradition, and now we have the opportunity to start up new programs and open the sport and our tradition to an entirely new generation of girls,” said Kadlec. “These girls are living the embodiment of ‘Be Bold’ by being part of state, school, and program history. There is a reason that women’s wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports for girls in the country, the girls get extremely excited to compete, and their excitement is contagious!” 

Kaldec encourages fans to come out and support the teams this winter. West’s team is planning to compete in the Vinton-Shellsburg tournament on December 10, 2022, the Central Elkader tournament on January 6, 2023, and the Prairie Tournament on January 21, 2023. Additionally, if they have enough team members, he hopes to see them compete at the iconic Battle of Waterloo. 

Girls wrestling season for both schools kicks off October 31, 2022, with matches starting in mid November. 

A Taste of East: Alumni Stories

Vendors from across the Cedar Valley came out to serve up some incredible food, and unforgettable swag for East High students for this year’s homecoming celebration. Chick-Fil-A and Jimmy John’s were in attendance, in addition to iconic cedar valley food trucks Big Head Burger and 1st Base Bar-B-Que, and delicious specialty foods brought to life by community leaders such as Rhounda Wise and Shenique Rembert. 

Across the campus Trojan alumni were leading the charge, serving students, and showcasing the impact of community-based entrepreneurship. Sausha Petroske, owner of Saucy Creations, and East High Homecoming Court alumna, was thrilled to be returning to her alma mater to join in the celebrations. 

“When I was at East, I loved helping Mr. Day put together this event!” said Petroske. While it’s been a few years since East last got to hold this fun and food-filled celebration, it holds a special place in Trojans’ hearts to see it coming back to life once again. While students and staff loved perusing all of her colorful creations on campus, Petroske says you can find her products at the Spark Lot in Waterloo, Iowa.    

In addition to showcasing her business at Taste of East, Petroske was also supporting Club Les Dames alongside East of High alumna Carolyn Sallis. The club works to support and encourage young women in Waterloo, highlighting them through the club’s annual cotillion event. 

On the other side of the yard, representing the East High class of 1980, is Rhounda Wise, serving up her mouth-watering wings alongside Ecstacy, Diaz, and Airrius. She says cooking for others is one of her passions, and she has been serving her community through her delicious recipes since age ten. 

“Wings are my favorite thing we make,” said Wise. 

Lunch goers soon learned just how good those recipes are, keeping Wise and her team busy with a line of hungry students and staff, eager for some of her iconic hot wings. 

East High alumna Shenique Rembert and her husband Kenny were excited to be serving students some of their homestyle southern favorites such as shrimp boils and decadent cheesecake. According to the two, they started their business, Rembert Enterprises, LLC,  in 2019, offering a variety of services including the culinary arts. 

“We needed a change, we wanted to do something meaningful together,” said Shenique Rembert. 

In addition to their food service capabilities, the Remberts have supported the Waterloo community by offering products such as face-shields, hand sanitizer, and freight dispatch training throughout the past two years. 

After so many incredible choices for lunch, the 2 Scoops team, including Sherman Anderson, East High Class of 1998, was ready with homemade ice cream for dessert. 

Overall the event kicked off an afternoon filled with school spirit, smiles, and overwhelming support from the Waterloo community. 

“It’s exciting to put something fun on for the kids to celebrate, we know that it’s an old tradition of East High,” said Nikky Herman, VP of East’s Booster Club. “After a few years without it, we’re glad to revitalize the event for alumni and students to continue to celebrate today.”

 

Learning about the Process of Progress with Larry Johnson

When walking around the halls with Larry Johnson, you quickly become surrounded by student smiles and their ongoing requests for pictures. His happiness is contagious after all, and whether it’s a lunch room chat, a classroom interview, or a quick hello in the parking lot, somehow, he always knows how to make your day just a little bit brighter. 

That’s the description heard time and time again, when speaking to the staff at Carver and East High about Mr. Johnson. This Waterloo alumnus has found his calling here at Waterloo Schools, but a few years ago, he might have never guessed his calling would be so close to home. 

During his time at East High School, Johnson was one of the school’s star student athletes. Often seen as a kind-hearted leader, he was awarded the Sports Leadership Award all four years of high school, in addition to two Student of the Month awards, and the coveted East High Heart Award. Throughout his years at East, Johnson was a multi-varsity athlete, shining both in football during the fall and in track & field throughout the spring. 

After graduation, he felt somewhat lost, and after a short while playing at Iowa Central College, he came home to Waterloo where he had his first son. At the time, it seemed logical to continue taking classes at Hawkeye Community College, and there he focused on Sports Science. After transitioning away from classwork, Johnson found himself working as a valet at Allen Hospital. He enjoyed interacting with people as they received care, and one of his co-workers noted how much heart he has for working with others. 

That bit of encouragement sparked an idea, reminding him of a place where he’d always loved to light up those around him: East High School. Sure enough, the Junior Trojans were in need of a coach, and Johnson was just the person to help them climb to the top. Nothing made him happier than coaching future Trojans and seeing them grow both on and off the field. Eventually, Johnson landed a staff position as a paraeducator with East High as well, working with students in the classroom. According to Johnson, it felt like he’d found his calling. 

His former teachers and co-workers took notice, and enjoyed seeing all the positivity Johnson brought to East. According to Christopher Tims, East High teacher, Johnson is a go-getter who leads by example in whatever he expects out of his students. “I always appreciate his positive energy,” said Tims. “You can’t help but be happy when he’s around.” 

His positive attitude was contagious, and soon George Washington Carver Academy wanted to share some of that positivity with their students as well. In the fall of 2022, Johnson accepted the position of behavior specialist alongside new principal, Joshua Payton. 

Payton had seen firsthand the impact Johnson has on his students at East, and was excited to work alongside him again. “Larry is an amazing, caring, and positive educator who continually works to build positive relationships with the students and staff at George Washington Carver Academy,” said Payton. “Through his million-dollar smile and tenacity, he sees the best in everyone. Larry is an amazing asset to our community.”

As a behavior specialist, Johnson gets to work with students one-on-one to help support them and their growth within the building. “I love helping kids integrate who they feel like they have to be and who they actually are,” said Johnson. As he often tells his students, “Progress is progress when you’re in the process.” Waterloo Schools is thankful that his process led him here. 

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