Messenger photo by Chris Johnson Fort Dodge businessman Larry Clement (center) talks to Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands and Hawkeye football coach Kirk Ferentz on Tuesday at the Best Western Starlite Village in Fort Dodge.

Iowa fans once again had the chance to rub shoulders with the school’s athletic headliners at the Hawkeye State Tour on Tuesday, held at the Best Western Starlite Village.

Gary Dolphin was emcee for the event, which featured football coach Kirk Ferentz and wrestling coach Tom Brands.

Also in attendance was assistant men’s basketball coach Kirk Speraw and numerous Hawkeye student-athletes.

Over 250 fans packed the Starlite to hear the coaches speak, take photos and sign autographs.

“Fort Dodge is a great place of support for the Hawkeyes,” Brands said. “It’s north of the interstate and closer to Ames than Iowa City, so it’s a much longer pilgrimage on game day and match day.

“But it’s nice to strengthen relationships and keep them charging down.”

Ferentz has used Fort Dodge and the surrounding area well throughout his tenure. Past Hawkeyes like Humboldt’s Tyler Nielsen and Cody Hundertmark, Emmetsburg’s Bruce Nelson, Sam Brownlee and Grant Steen, and Super Bowl champion All-Pro tight end Dallas Clark of Livermore — a Twin River Valley graduate — were among Ferentz’s former Messengerland stars.

Webster City graduate Gavin Dinsdale just transferred from Grand View University to Iowa this season, and Algona’s Cole Banwart is also on the squad. They join Webster City’s Boone Myers, Humboldt’s Brady Ross and Fort Dodge’s Sam Cook on the current roster.

Myers, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 310 pounds, made huge contributions last fall on the offensive line.

“Boone, has grown and matured into a great player,” Ferentz said. “He’s aggressive and tenacious.

“He physically fits the way we want to play, and works extremely hard.”

Ross, who started at the Outback Bowl for the Hawkeyes as a redshirt freshman, came to the forefront after starting fullback Drake Kulick broke his leg in the last game of the regular season.

“Brady made the unselfish move of going back to offense (from linebacker),” Ferentz said. “Brady and Drake make a great one-two punch. Brady is a good football player, outstanding on the field and even better off of it. A tremendous leader.”

Cook, a two-time state wrestling champion and the Dodgers’ career leader in rushing yards and touchdowns, red-shirted last season.

“Sam had great production in high school,” Ferentz said. “He’s been very impressive and I’m a big believer in that. He has a great future ahead (in the backfield).

“He’s a football player with a great mentality, and we’ve had success with players like that. We’re glad he’s on our team.”

Brands, who has been coaching at Iowa since 2006, recently saw four former Hawkeyes go south to coach in Ames and set up shop at Iowa State University. Fort Dodge born and Humboldt High School graduate Kevin Dresser took over for the Cyclones at the conclusion of the season. Dresser was a national champion at Iowa, and hired three former Hawkeyes to his coaching staff.

Joining Dresser was two-time champion Brent Metcalf, national champion Derek St. John, and Mike Zadick, who was on the Iowa coaching staff for 10 seasons.

“That’s a compliment for us,” Brands said. “They (the new Cyclone assistants) won three titles for the Iowa Hawkeyes (as competitors).”