Male Athlete of the Year: Drew Cook, Iowa City Regina

IOWA CITY — Four state football championship trophies fill part of Iowa City Regina's display case.

A state basketball trophy has been added to the school's hardware collection. The last four years have included plenty of individual plaques and awards as well.

Drew Cook can boast of helping accumulate those prizes, but he doesn't want his prep career to be defined by those items.

'I just want the competitors and teammates to see me as a guy who played his heart out and gave his all in whatever practice or game I was in,' Cook said. 'I hope people saw it. I just remember playing every game as if it was my last.'

The effort combined with a 6-foot-5, 220-pound athletic frame made him a undeniable force on the football field and basketball court, garnering him 2015 Gazette Male Athlete of the Year. He received eight of 10 first-place votes from a panel of Gazette staff members.

'He's a great athlete,' Regina offensive coordinator Ed Hinkel said. 'He could be successful in any sport he plays — football, basketball, soccer, tennis or whatever.

'I think the biggest thing is he's just such a good kid.'

The University of Iowa recruit stockpiled achievements and honors during his time at Regina, playing on four state championship football teams. The two-time first-team all-stater posted a 27-1 career record as a starting quarterback, leading the Regals to a fifth straight title and a state record 56-game win streak. He also helped Regina earn a runner-up finish at the 2015 Class 2A state basketball tournament.

'Although he's earned individual honors, he's very team-oriented,' First-year Regina boys' basketball coach Stu Ordman said. 'He wants the team to be successful. He works to do what he needs to do for that to happen.'

He displayed that attitude on the football field, doing it all on the offensive side of the ball. Cook was as equally effective with his arm and legs.

Cook passed for more than 5,400 yards during his career, including 5,067 and 54 touchdowns as a starter. He rushed for 1,146 yards and 21 TDs the last two seasons. The Regals even utilized his height and jumping ability, placing him at receiver resulting in three touchdown catches for 66 yards.

Like quarterbacks before him, Cook was extremely accurate. He completed almost 66 percent of his career passes. In 555 attempts, he threw only six interceptions.

In the 2014 postseason, Cook ran for 271 yards and threw for 1,122 yards over five games, including a 399-yard performance in a quarterfinal win over Central Decatur. The way he responded to adversity, rebounding from interception, and executing reads for key conversions made a bigger impression on Regina head coach and father Marv Cook.

'It seems like every time he was faced with a tough situation he came back, locked in, righted the ship and perform well,' Marv Cook said. 'That's all you hope for as a coach, and as a father. You want to see your student athletes handle those things.'

Both championship game wins meant more than celebrating at midfield and hoisting a trophy. They had sentimental reasons behind both as well. The seniors had played sports together since grade school and the 38-21 win over West Lyon allowed them to cap their final football season with each other with a title.

Drew Cook admitted he cherished the chance to reach the sidelines and hug his father, following a championship performance in his first year as a starter.

'Looking back, I wouldn't want it any other way,' Drew Cook said. 'I had so much fun and so many quality people around me. I worked hard to earn it. I'm not going to have any regrets.'

The mature, unselfish and humble approach has accompanied his athletics feats. He has appreciated each moment. Marv Cook credited his wife, Tracy, for keeping everything in perspective.

'He just stayed in the moment,' Marv Cook said. 'He wants to maximize all the moments that he had, trying to make everyone as good as possible.'

Final Voting:

1. Drew Cook, Iowa City Regina 48 (8)

2. Ryan Parmely, Maquoketa Valley 33 (2)

T3. Spencer Haldeman, Western Dubuque 11

T3. Brent Lammers, West Delaware 11

5. Jordan Rommes, South Winneshiek 10

Voting on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis (first-place votes in parentheses)

Others Receiving Votes (alphabetic order): Tanner Bandy (Clear Creek Amana), Zach Daniels (Cedar Rapids Kennedy), David DiLeo (Iowa City West), Connor Ham (Solon), Eric Lenz (Tipton), Max Thomsen (Union), Keegan Tritle (Lisbon), Josh Yeager (Center Point-Urbana)

Others Nominated (by schools, in alphabetic order): Cody Blake (Springville), Jake Brinkman (Iowa City Regina), Eric Gustafson (Cedar Valley Christian), Trevor Hulett (Springville), Jayden Johnson (North Cedar), Ryan Schmidt (Linn-Mar), Nolan Teubel (Mount Vernon), Matt Wempen (Linn-Mar)

Drew Cook carved his niche as one of the top football players in the state. A dual threat with a big time arm, he dissected defenses regularly.

Although Cook had plenty of natural ability, he worked hard to develop into an elite player in both sports.

'He would be on the field throwing all summer,' Hinkel said. 'He would take it upon himself to grab receivers and throw a little bit and be ready for when we started in the fall.

'Then he'd go play basketball when he was done doing that.'

Plenty of time was spent building strength and size as he became taller throughout high school. He started as a 6-2, 185-pound freshman, gaining an inch and five pounds by the following year. As a junior, he was 6-5 and 205, adding 15 more pounds for his final season without losing a step.

'Part of his maturation and growth was the fact that he was growing (physically) the whole time,' Marv Cook said. 'Every year he would add some height and then have to fill his frame with it.

'To watch him progress physically, as well as mentally as far as the game, has been fun to watch.'

Drew Cook recalled that he was not the biggest and fastest player as a youth. He had to work hard to make up the gap. As talent increased, he maintained the work ethic to reach high goals.

'From a young age, I've had crazy dreams,' Drew Cook said. 'Not being one of the best athletes and still having those big dreams made me the player I am.'

Drew Cook was just as successful in basketball. He was a first-team all-state selection, following second-team honors as a junior. He averaged 22.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a post player last season.

'Drew is very competitive,' Ordman said. 'The greater the challenge it seems the better he plays. He wants to make the plays on offense, defense and on the boards, which is hard to teach.'

Drew Cook had to adjust to Ordman's new style, especially the aggressive man-to-man defense. Ordman said Cook was coachable and praised his evolution as a player, calling out defenses in late-game situations by the end of the season.

'He has a great approach to taking care of business,' Ordman said. 'He is organized. He comes in to practice upbeat. He listens well and practices hard. I think those qualities make him an excellent leader.'

Ordman said Drew Cook accepted any task. He scored 40 points against West Branch, took on double and triple teams to set up teammates in a substate final against Burlington-Notre Dame and shut down opposing posts in a state quarterfinal against Cascade.

'He would do what the team needed,' Ordman said. 'He understands the big picture.'

For all the trips to the UNI-Dome during the championship streak in football, Drew Cook valued the state basketball experience just as much. Regina football had been a juggernaut with many all-state performers. Basketball was a tougher road to travel.

'One of my best memories is playing in Wells Fargo Arena for the first time,' Drew Cook said. 'To make it to Wells Fargo Arena was surreal to me.'

It also allowed Marv Cook to see a championship game strictly as a father. He wasn't disappointed as Drew Cook recorded a team-high 23 points. He also recorded a double-double in the semifinal and quarterfinal wins.

'You want to see him compete and give all they have,' Marv Cook said. 'When you do that, you can walk off the court with your head held high. It was a proud for me as a dad to watch that series of games at Wells Fargo.'

The Cooks balanced roles as father/son and coach/player as well as anyone. Moments occurred, outside of competition, where those titles blended together.

In 32 years, Drew and Marv Cook have become the first father/son duo to earn the award named after late sports editor Jack Ogden. Drew Cook became the 36th recipient of the award that began in 1983. Marv Cook, a multisport standout at West Branch, shared the honor with Cedar Rapids Kennedy basketball star Al Lorenzen in 1984.

'It's pretty cool,' the younger Cook said about joining his father on the list of AOY winners. 'It is definitely a great honor. It means a lot to me.'

Marv Cook recalled the thrill of being recognized three decades ago before a successful career as a Hawkeye and All-Pro tight end in the National Football League. He said he was excited to win it as a prep, but he might have to face some good-natured ribbing from his son, who noted the difference in their accomplishments.

'At least, I won it outright,' Drew Cook said with a laugh. 'I'll give him a hard time about that.'

The pair has spent many days and nights watching sports and countless hours of video over the years. Marv Cook has a good grasp on how they compare to each other.

'I'm going to be honest,' Marv Cook said. 'He is a way better kid than I ever was and he is an extremely better athlete than I ever was as well.'

PAST WINNERS

2014 — Elias Nissen, Springville

2013 — Jeremy Morgan, Iowa City West

2012 — Marcus Paige, Linn-Mar

2011 — Derrick Loveless, Solon

2010 — James Morris, Solon

2009 — Keenan Davis, Cedar Rapids Washington & Matt Morrison, Solon

2008 — B.J. Hermsen, West Delaware

2007 — Barney O'Donnell, Cedar Rapids Washington

2006 — Ben Lamaak, Cedar Rapids Kennedy

2005 — Jay Borschel, Linn-Mar

2004 — Jacob Craig, Mount Vernon

2003 — Eric Sanders, Oelwein

2002 — Calvin Davis, Iowa City High

2001 — Aaron Reasland, Mount Vernon

2000 — Ryan Kedley, North Cedar

1999 — Chris Richardson, Iowa City West

1998 — Michael Claeys, HLV

1997 — Casey O'Donnell, Cedar Rapids LaSalle

1996 — Casey Estling, Center Point-Urbana

1995 — Nate Frese, Benton Community

1994 — Tim Dwight, Iowa City High

1993 — Nick Gallery, East Buchanan

1992 — Ryan Driscoll, Linn-Mar

1991 — Mike Kleppe, Cedar Rapids Prairie

1990 — Bruce Wall, Maquoketa Valley

1989 — Jason Olejniczak, Decorah

1988 — Pat Williams, Decorah

1987 — Todd Fredrick, Washington (Iowa)

1986 — Cal Eldred, Urbana

1985 — Shawn Stolte, Clarence-Lowden & Matt Zuber, Iowa Valley

1984 — Marv Cook, West Branch & Al Lorenzen, Cedar Rapids Kennedy

1983 — Todd Twachtmann, Marion

The Iowa Gatorade basketball player of the year, and a first-team Class 4A all-state selection averaged 24.3 points per game.

That's one of nine school records he holds, including points in a game (44), career points (1,319), 3-pointers in a game (10) and consecutive free throws (44).

Haldeman will play basketball at the University of Northern Iowa.

"When we lost, it kind of got to us a little bit and it kind of pushed us a little more to get that next game. The big thing is just learning how to make adjustments.

- Spencer Haldeman

Western Dubuque

Lammers earned first-team all-state recognition in football, becoming West Delaware's first quarterback to throw for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons.

He was the Class 2A 182-pound state runner-up in wrestling, finishing 40-2 as a senior and 119-25 in his career.

Lammers was also a first-team all-conference performer in baseball and a state qualifier in track.

He will play football at Upper Iowa University.

"Wrestling) Finals night in Iowa is just incredible. The stands are as packed as they can get. You go out there for the grand march and you're just getting chills the whole time you're walking out there."

- Brent Lammers

West Delaware

Parmely finished his football career ranked second all time in rushing yards in a career (7,067) and in a season (3,180). He was a two-time state defensive player of the year.

He compiled a wrestling record of 203-6 in a career that included state championships in 2014 and 2015.

Parmely was also a three-time all-conference baseball player and a state qualifier in track and field.

He will play football and wrestle at Upper Iowa University.

"If you're working hard, good things will come. The kids that are not waking up in the morning to go to the weight room or are late to practice, lazy in practice, don't want to try hard because it's too hot out, I don't like that mindset because if you really care about the sports you want to try your hardest, you're gonna give 100 percent every time you're practicing or actually playing."

- Ryan Parmely

Maquoketa Valley

Rommes' 3,340 receiving yards rank No. 2 all-time in Iowa, and he caught 142 passes in his career — 43 for touchdowns. He was a two-time first-team all-stater.

A five-year stater in baseball, Rommes was a first-team all-stater last year, hitting 13 home runs and driving in 57.

He was an 11-time state qualifier in track and field, and went out for wrestling as a senior and posted a 36-12 record.

Rommes will play football — and probably baseball — at Upper Iowa University.

"Long bus rides, those stories come back. Even stories from freshman year football we're talking about on the baseball bus, or track stories from freshman year we're talking about on the football bus. The memories I've made here will never be forgotten and I'll always be close with those guys."

- Jordan Rommes

South Winneshiek