Wahlert's Roling reaches 1,000 career victories

Dubuque Wahlert head baseball coach Jerry Roling joined elite company on Wednesday night.

Roling earned his 1,000th career win with the Golden Eagles' 6-1 victory over Cedar Rapids Prairie in the opener of a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader at Petrakis Park in Dubuque. He became the fourth in Iowa high school baseball history to reach the win milestone.

Wahlert won the nightcap, 4-3. Roling improved to 1,001-500 in his 43rd season as a prep head coach at Wahlert (2006-present), Cascade (1977-2005) and Holy Cross Leo (1972-76). He joined Lansing Kee's Gene Schultz (1,746), Decorah's Dennis Olejniczak (1,334) and Bancroft St. John's retired coach Vincent Meyer (1,105) to win 1,000 games. Coaching colleague Tom Jenk Jr., of Dyersville Beckman, has 999 wins and will attempt to become the fifth today against Clear Creek Amana at Tiffin.

The majority of his wins came during 29 seasons at Cascade, guiding the Cougars to state tournaments in 1982, 1999 and 2004.

According to the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Roling is the 15th prep baseball coach nationally to claim 1,000 wins.

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