Two state championships and two national awards. Could it get any better for head Iowa City West basketball coaches BJ Mayer and Steve Bergman?
A large crowd of school officials, parents and student-athletes were on hand at Iowa City West High School last Monday night, May 21st for the MaxPreps Basketball Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard to honor both the boys and girls basketball squads as one of the nation's top-ranked teams for the 2011-2012 seasons.
"It is just unbelievable," head boys coach Steve Bergman said. "To be ranked among the nation's best is a once in a lifetime deal. We are truly honored and thrilled."
Head women's coach Mayer echoed those sentiments.
"To have both teams honored this evening is just something you would only dream about," he said. "It was a great group of girls and a wonderful team to coach. It was truly a dream season."
The Trojans and Women of Troy were one of only 20 high schools recognized around the country by the MaxPreps Basketball Tour of Champions and the Army National Guard.
The boys were ranked No. 28 and the girl's No. 69 in the final MaxPreps Freeman rankings, the premier on-line high school sports stats and news source that ranks more than 40,000 boys and girls prep hoops teams in America each year. MaxPreps uses a sophisticated computer program to determine team rankings. Elite teams from around the nation have been honored since 2005. This year, some 50 football teams, 20 basketball squads, six volleyball and six girl's soccer teams were named.
"It is only the second time in the seven-year existence of the award that the boy's and girl's teams from the same school were honored on the same night," said MaxPreps representative Chris Magnuson. "What a great night."
West became only the fourth school in Iowa history to win both the boy's and girl's titles in the same season as the girls finished 25-1 and the boys 26-0.
Bergman and company beat Sioux City East, 67-52, in the championship game of the Iowa Boys State Tournament in March. Mayer and his crew defeated Ankeny, 61-52, to win their first title in school history. Both teams also won Mississippi Valley Conference championships and featured all-state performers, including First Team All-State selection Jeremy Morgan.
"This is a great honor and I want to thank MaxPreps and the Army National Guard for this wonderful award," Morgan said. "It was a great season and a great group of guys."
Two large blue Army National Guard "Congratulations on Being Named One of the Top Nationally Ranked Teams" rafter banners were displayed at the awards ceremony, courtesy of the Iowa Army National Guard. A podium and the "MaxPreps Tour of Champions" banner made a dramatic backdrop as each player received a commemorative Tour of Champions t-shirt and other giveaways from the Iowa Army National Guard (who also set up a table with numerous giveaways as they mingled with students, VIP guests and the media).
"This is a great honor for our school, our coaching staff and our student-athletes," Athletic Director Marv Reiland said. "We are proud of the accomplishments of this fine group of athletes, head coaches Bergman and Mayer and their respective staffs."
Colonel Steven Altman from the Iowa Army National Guard was on hand to present the Army National Guard national ranking trophies to Coach Bergman and Coach Mayer saying, "These teams represent everything that we stand for in the Army National Guard in terms of teamwork, hard work and dedication. It is with great pleasure that we recognize these two outstanding teams and two great coaches on this wonderful achievement."
Col. Altman, along with Sergeant Cindi Dammann and Sergeant Cunningham, greeted students, parents and fans before and after the trophy presentation and received a rousing ovation from the crowd at the special awards program.
Col. Altman added, "We were very pleased to be here to present this prestigious award. The Army National Guard salutes Iowa City West High School on being named one of the nation's best teams this season for both the boys and girls teams."
The presentation concluded with team pictures.
Congratulations to the Trojans and Women of Troy of Iowa City West High School!
