Iowa State University Athletics
Five Cyclones Inducted Into Athletics Hall Of Fame
10.22.2021 | Athletics
AMES, Iowa – Five Iowa State student-athletes, who all earned All-America accolades throughout their phenomenal careers, were bestowed the highest honor by the Iowa State Athletics Department Friday night at the Sukup End Zone Club. Janet Anson (women's gymnastics), Lisa Koll (Uhl) (women's track & field/cross country), Kaylee Manns (volleyball), Ward Meythaler (men's gymnastics) and Jake Varner (wrestling) received their Hall of Fame plaques as members of the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 ceremony was postponed to this year.
It was worth the wait for Manns, who spearheaded Iowa State's incredible resurgence in volleyball in the late 2000s.
"To be inducted into the Iowa State Hall of Fame says everything about the four years I was here," Manns said. "I had such great teammates and coaches, and we got so good so fast. To all my teammates, we did this. We did this together. I would not be here today without them."
Manns, who was a two-time All-American and ISU's career leader in assists (5,625), is one of several headliners of this outstanding class.
She was joined on the stage tonight with Uhl, who basically set the bar for success for the Iowa State women's track & field program.
The long-distance runner was a four-time national champion, and in 2010, she was the USTFCCA National Female Track Athlete of the Year and Big 12 Athlete of the Year.
Uhl was thrilled to be back in Ames to reminisce on her outstanding career.
"Iowa State has always felt like where I was supposed to be," Uhl said. "I had a core group of people with me at Iowa State who had the same goals as me. Although it was a big transition, it was so much fun. I loved every second of it and have so many great memories. This is truly special for me (on Hall of Fame induction). I can't put into words how much this means to me. Iowa State did so much for me."
Varner is, without a doubt, one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of the storied Iowa State wrestling program.
There have been six Olympic Gold Medalists in ISU wrestling history, and Varner is one of them, capturing the Gold Medal at the 2012 London Olympics (96 kg).
Varner was a four-time NCAA finalist, capturing a pair of national titles in 2009 and 2010 for the Cyclones.
"I still believe that Hilton Coliseum is one of the coolest places to wrestle in," Varner said. "It's always exciting to walk into Hilton. I still remember my last match on Senior Night. It was bittersweet. I knew when I came to Iowa State it was the best place to accomplish my goals. The tradition of Iowa State wrestling runs deep. Being a part of Cyclone wrestling has taught me a lot as I transitioned into my coaching career."
A total of 193 athletes have been enshrined into the Iowa State Letterwinners Club Athletics Hall of Fame, which was established in 1997.
2020 Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees
Janet Anson (2004-07) – Gymnastics
- Eight-time All-American (2004-07)
- AAI Award Winner (2007)
- Three-time Big 12 Champion (2005-07)
- Two-time Big 12 Gymnast of the Year (2006, 2007)
- Three-time NCAA Regional Champion (2005-07)
- Finished second on the vault at the NCAA Championship (2005)
- Big 12 Newcomer of the Year (2004)
- Owns one of four perfect 10s in ISU history (2004)
- Two-time Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year (2004, 2006)
Lisa Koll (2007-2010) – Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
- Four-time National Champion (2008, 2010)
- 11-time All-American (2007-10)
- USTFCCA National Female Track Athlete of the Year (2010)
- Three-time First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American (2008-10)
- CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year (2009)
- Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year (2010)
- Nine-time Big 12 Champion (2007-10)
- Two-time Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year (2008, 2010)
- Outstanding Performer at Big 12 Outdoor Championship (2009, 2010)
- Outstanding Performer at Big 12 Indoor Championship (2010)
- Collegiate record-holder in the 10,000-meter run at 31:18.07 (2010)
- U.S. Olympian in the 10,000-meter run (2012)
Kaylee Manns (2006-09) – Volleyball
- First Team All-American by Volleyball Magazine (2009)
- Two-time AVCA Second Team All-American (2008, 2009)
- Two-time First Team All-Big 12 (2008, 2009)
- Two-time AVCA All-Central Region First Team (2008, 2009)
- Led ISU to four NCAA Tournaments, advancing to two Sweet Sixteens and one Elite Eight
- Iowa State's Career Leader in Assists with 5,625
- Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year (2009)
- Two-time U.S. National A2 Participant (2006, 2009)
- Played professionally (2010-18)
Ward Meythaler (1966-69) – Men's Gymnastics
- Iowa State's first NCAA Champion- still rings (1969)
- All-American on the still rings (1969)
- Two-time Big Eight Champion on the still rings (1968, 1969)
- Led Iowa State to two Big Eight team titles (1967, 1969)
- Helped Iowa State finish third at the NCAA Championship (1969)
- Recipient of a prestigious NCAA post-graduate scholarship (1969)
Jake Varner (2007-10) – Wrestling
- Four-time All-American (2007-10)
- Two-time NCAA Champion (2009, 2010)
- Four-time NCAA Finalist (2007-10)
- Two-time Big 12 Champion (2008, 2010)
- Two-time Iowa State Male Athlete of the Year (2009, 2010)
- Fifth-best Winning Pct. (92.4%) in ISU history with a career mark of 121-10
- Olympic Gold Medalist (2012)
- Pan American Games Gold Medalist (2012)
- Bronze Medalist at World Championships (2011)
