Trio of incoming freshmen honored

Three future Upper Iowa University athletes were recently named finalists for the Cedar Rapids Gazette’s Male Athlete of the Year.

Maquoketa Valley graduate Ryan Parmely placed second in the final Gazette tally while receiving 33 votes, including a pair of first-place ballots. The future Peacock football player and wrestler finished runner-up to Drew Cook of Iowa City Regina, who tallied 48 votes.

Parmely led the state in rushing this past fall with 3,180 yards on 329 attempts. A three-time First Team All-State performer on the gridiron, he also won back-to-back state wrestling championships in 2014 and 2015. Parmely will major in ag business at UIU.

Gazette honorees Brent Lammers of West Delaware High School and Jordan Rommes of South Winn will also join Parmely as incoming freshmen on the UIU football team. Lammers tied for third in Gazette voting (11) with Spencer Haldeman of Western Dubuque, while Rommes followed in fifth (10).

“Congratulations to each of these young men for this outstanding achievement. We are proud to have them as members of the Peacock family,” said David Miller, UIU director of athletics.  “These three individuals are indicative of the type of student-athletes that we are attracting to represent our University. Our coaches and staffs do an outstanding job of recruiting student-athletes, who will represent us with integrity both on and off the field.”

As a high school senior, Lammers completed 86 of 193 passes for 1,569 yards and 12 touchdowns. A First Team All-State selection, he also rushed for 1,325 years and 16 touchdowns. Lammers is undecided on his Upper Iowa major.

Meanwhile, Rommes caught 45 passes for 1,073 yards and 14 touchdowns during a 2014 All-State season. A two-time All-State performer on the diamond, he also intends to play Peacock baseball. Rommes plans to major in business upon his arrival on the Fayette Campus.