(Atlantic, IA) – The Iowa State Cyclones Tailgate Tour visited Atlantic today with multiple head coaches across Cyclone athletics. Volleyball coach Christy Johnson-Lynch, football coach Matt Campbell, men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger, women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly, and wrestling coach Kevin Dresser were all in attendance to talk with Atlantic residents.
Coach Campbell discussed how this Cyclone Tailgate Tour is a very essential part of Iowa State athletics. The athletic programs are successful when they can get out to meet the fans and really get to know what being part of the Iowa State family is about.
Campbell also talked about the success of all the Iowa State programs. The men’s and women’s basketball programs both made the NCAA Tournament while having beyond-successful seasons and powerhouse players like Audi Crooks and Tamin Lipsey. The football program had a 6-3 conference record and the leadership of Rocco Becht helped to push the Cyclones to the Liberty Bowl. Iowa State’s volleyball program went 20-10 on the season and made a run at the NCAA Tournament with freshman superstar Nayeli Gonzalez to push another successful year. The wrestling program also featured Kevin Dresser as the Big XII Coach of the Year, National Champion David Carr, and a Big XII Wrestling Title. Iowa State athletics are moving in the right direction.
Men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger has seen the impact that the fans make in the stands firsthand. He discussed just how important it is to have fan support at every game and that it means the most to him as a coach to be able to meet the fans that support his team all season long.
The team next season for men’s basketball features four of the five returning starters and quite a few fresh faces who already understand what it means to be a Cyclone. This is essential in Otzelberger’s eyes in the development of the program and the success that his boys will see next season.
Volleyball coach Johnson-Lynch has seen her program continue to bring in more and more fans after having one of the top fan attendance numbers per game last season out of every team in the nation. She has women who constantly push forward to get better every season and has heavily recruited some of the top athletes in the country. That success comes from the fans continuing to come out to volleyball matches from every town, including Atlantic.
The Iowa State coaches thank the Atlantic community for coming out to the Community Center today to meet with them and discuss the future of Cyclone athletics.
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