Photo Courtesy of IAHSAA

Our fifth biggest story in Raven sports from last year takes us to the sidelines at Hillcrest Union.

Longtime Hillcrest Academy and Iowa Mennonite School head boys basketball coach Dwight Gingerich got the call to the Hall in 2024. Gingerich, who just finished his 41st season at the helm in Kalona, was recognized during this year’s boys state basketball championship games as a member of the Iowa High School Athletic Association 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame Class.

Gingerich has compiled a record of 738-235 during his time in charge of the maroon and black. That ties him with Cascade Hall of Fame Coach Al Marshall for fifth on the all-time Iowa high school boys basketball coach wins list. He has the second most wins of any active coach, trailing only Mitch Osborn of Harlan with 761. Retired coaches ahead of Gingerich include Dan Beck with 752, Fred Parsons with 784 and all-time leader Bob Hilmer with 917. Gingerich has the most wins in state history for a coach who has spent all of his tenure at one school. Of the six coaches in the 700-win club, Gingerich has gotten there in the second fewest number of years on the sidelines, and second fewest total games, trailing only Osborn. He holds a 75.8% winning percentage, second highest of the members of the 700 club.

His teams have averaged 18 wins per season. Only four times have his teams finished under .500, none since 1996, a string of 28 consecutive winning records. His squads have won at least 15 games in a season 30 times, and at least 20 games 20 times. Gingerich has led the Ravens to 12 state tournaments, finishing runner-up in Des Moines four times and winning the 1992 Class 1A State Championship. In 2015, he was honored by the IAHSAA for his 600th win during the boys State Tournament. Gingerich is a 1976 Iowa Mennonite School alum.

Tuesday, our fourth biggest story takes us through the pages of the Hillcrest Academy athletics record books to find athletes who have entered their names in the last year.