Deb Jeske
My mom chaperoned Fredericksburg girls to state in ‘67. Moved to Cresco that didn't get girls sports till my senior year. Was co- captain and head guard. Every game packed with spectators from the communities. Two-dribble and passing was the best. Everyone got to play and support from all made it a grand sport.
Carol Gunderson
Played on the 1968 Union Whitten team I was a guard. Every girl on the team gave their all. Our coach Mr. Paul Eckerman sometime was hard core and pushed each one of us to do our best. Was blessed to have him for my coach. Union Whitten fans absolutely the very best. Great memories!!!
Laura Harrison Carlson
I was a guard not a forward. One night the starter forward was out I'll and coach tagged me. I was so scared. As a guard I functioned well but making a basket? First period I got the ball under the net took my step and dribble, tossed the ball to the basket. The ball flew through the air. Perfect trajectory, only 20 feet HIGHER than needed. The ball sailed clear up into the rafters. And just like that I was back on the bench. 1975.
Shelly Eike Cox
One outstanding memory was during my senior year (76) when I played forward for Radcliffe HS. On Feb. 6, 1976, Radcliffe v. Union Whitten had a 4 over-time game. We scored 110 pts., but U-W won by scoring 114 points. Our offensive average for the season was 79.5 per game and I believe it was 10th best in the state that year. 6 on 6 was a fast moving, fun game to play and watch!
Sally Shaver DuBois
I was the head coach of the CAL Lady Cadets in Latimer in 1992-93, the last two years of 6 on 6. I was one of the few women who were head coaches back in the day. I have so many memories, but a couple are kind of fun. We made it to the regional finals (one game away from state) both years. It seemed like the entire town came out to those games. Some parents came up with the idea to create "Shaver Wavers" which was for my last name at the time. Everyone in the stands had these blue wavers as they cheered us on. It was magical as I looked up in the stands as we were being introduced and seeing a sea of blue wavers.
My other funny memory was at a home game when it was time for the national anthem. Because we were such a small 1A school, almost all the girls sang in the choir as well as played basketball. On this night, apparently there was some miscommunication between the music teacher and athletic director as the AD thought the choir was going to sing and had told the announcer this. As our team was standing there waiting for the anthem, I hear the announcer say, " And now the national anthem performed by the CAL choir". However, there was NO choir. Because I am also a singer and knew we had singers on the team, I quickly began singing and everyone on our team joined in to sing the national anthem. In a small school, I learned that I must be a Jackie of many trades as the well as the coach!
Molly Tideback
First Freshman to be named Captain of the All Tournament team , 1984. First to be named Captain of all four State Tournaments. 1984-1988.
Cynthia Knight
My idols were Carol Gunderson and Denise Long. I scored 62 points in one game!
LeAnn Renee Lamb
My dad (Don Lamb) coached and loved 6 on 6. If you ever gave him a chance he would tell you why 6 on 6 was better and how the crowds were so much better. Before he passed he had been working on a book.
Julie Larsen
Ask the girls about the crowds. From all over Iowa. Literally everything stopped for the tournament!
Myrna Cakerice
Finally got to switch from guard to forward in a close tournament game in LeGrand....and made a basket although I was supposed to be stealing the ball and/or passing to the other forwards 1959.
Janet Sayer Aswegan Ogden
You gotta love it!
Glad that time period in girls sports is in my memory box. I remember how exciting it was to watch Denise Long play. Being from New Providenc; the sound of rubber shoes squeaking on the wood floor, pep band, kids cheering from the wooden bleachers on the stage, hamburgers and pie between the varsity boys and girls games and always a bottle of coke with a Snickers at half times. Good times, good friends, good memories!
Jo Ann Carlson
I remember always having to guard the tallest girl in the world! Loved the game but never got to play forward. Can't wait for the movie. My mom played in the 1950's and scored many points for Nichols High School.
Andi Blake
I played in Jr. High in Grundy Center, IA circa 1990. One great memory I have is hearing my grandma yell at the bad calls. (Of course then I was embarrassed) She also played in Iowa when she was young so she enjoyed coming to the games!
Nancy Cobine
How I wish I had played in my high school in the 70's. I loved the Iowa six on six game and miss it so much. The tournaments were my favorite!
Gwen Brandt
My mom and aunt both played on the team that went to state. My aunt was one of the starters. Arlene Whitehead Brandt and Delores Whitehead.
Sue Green
I played 6 on 6 my whole life but didn’t make it to state. When I started teaching I became the cheerleading coach and my very first year my school went to state and we got 4th place. You can imagine my excitement. Two years later we went again. Then I moved to a different school and we won the championship although I wasn’t coaching the cheerleaders then. Later when I did have the cheerleaders we went to state and finished 2nd twice one of those was to Ventura with Lynn Lorenzen. I also never missed a state tournament final game at Veteran’s Auditorium from 1967 to 2003. Actually I had season tickets to all games and saw some amazing games during that time. I had a hard times adjusting to 5 on 5 and really don’t care much for it today but went to the games anyway because I loved the atmosphere and the caliber of play did get better.
Carol Fenton Ziel
Best memory: getting to attend basketball camp at Parsons College in Fairfield with Sandy Van Cleave from Montezuma there helping & signing our basketball shoes. 🏀 Probably 1972.
Jason Follett
I graduated from Eldora-New Providence in 1988. Six-on-Six was all I knew growing up. We would travel to away games even when I went to UNI for college. My best memory was when Ken Walker who was the girls varsity coach but also the MS principal (housed in New Providence) during an intense NICL game in Eldora with the gym packed yelling over the crowd from the bench over a bad call. The noise in the gym went from you could not hear the person next to you to so quiet you could hear a pin drop as Ken’s voice carried throughout the gym.
Another memory was as an elementary student walking into the high school new gym lobby to PE in the old gym. We could see the 1950s state championship tournament trophy promptly displayed with an photo of the team near it. I think it is still in that showcase even though the high school moved in 1993.
Jinx Larive (Lindaman)
I graduated from New Providence in 1963. Played for all four years. Don't remember the year, but got 63 points. Don't remember the final score but their final score was 63 and yes we did beat them.
Patty Thompson
True to small town spirit in New Providence where everyone pitched in, I helped keep the books at the scorer’s table, but the game couldn’t start until I was finished playing the National Anthem with the pep band! I played and then scurried across from the stage to the score bench! We all contribute in our own way! 1978