There are so many great memories that I have been able to share in during the first fifty years of Yourd Gym. I am in a very fortunate to be in a special position where I have been able spend many moments in Yourd Gym over the past 15 years. As a matter of fact I have spent so much time in our grand old gymnasium that I often refer to it as my winter home. A few years ago I was very fortunate to inherit the chair at the scorer’s table that once belonged to the dulcet tones of Mr. Dwight Royer, long time Yourd Gym public address announcer. I was also able to inherit the chair of long-time wrestling announcer, Ken Kromer. I remember the excitement that I experienced when I was able move into those public address positions. It has been a magical run when talking about my experiences in Yourd Gym.
My memories of Yourd Gym really started in that magical 1991-1992 basketball season in which Clinton High was home to the Kings of the State of Iowa. The large crowds, the excellent caliber of athleticism displayed, the devotion to team, and the excitement surrounding that team. I vividly remember the party that was the welcome home assembly for the ’92 Crew. What a joyous moment for the community, it’s school, CHS alums, and that fine gymnasium.
Soon after 1992 was time period when Yourd Gym became my home. As a 1997 graduate of Clinton High School I have many vivid high school memories. I made some of those memories. Those included the few times that I was able to share, briefly, in the athleticism that the grand gymnasium often displayed. I was able to claim to have made two jump shots in two games in two years from the same end of the floor (the stage end…. great shooting background). According to me, I drained (of course some may call it a miracle that it went in) a shot during Preview Night my eighth grade year as a member of Washington Middle School Blue. I also was fortunate enough to score during Preview Night my freshman year. It would be the last organized sporting event that I would ever participate in at CHS.
I did not let my lack of athletic prowess dissuade me. I was able to become what I lovingly refer to as a “super fan”. I prided myself on getting to Yourd early each game night for my favorite seat, which was the second row, center court, across from the scorer’s table. As I got older my fellow classmates began to turn to me as their vocal leader in the student section. It was a role I gladly accepted.
Some of the great athletic moments I experienced as a student at our grand gymnasium included: the run by the River Queens’ volleyball team all the way to the state final; a buzzer-beating shot by Curt Jess to win the River City Classic; a three-quarter court shot to end a period by Ryan Mullholland; the early budding career of future Division One basketball player Shauna Geronzin; and some of the great wrestling exhibited by the River Kings. There was also the one moment when I was able to even urge and officiating crew to overturn in incorrect call at a basketball game.
I also was able to share in other memories of Yourd Gym during my high school years of 1993-1997. I was lucky enough to be elected by my peers to the 1996 Homecoming Court. There was also the surreal moment when I was selected as “King of Pride” during Pride Week 1996. There were also the student-faculty games I was able to announce, which turned out to be a preview of what was to come for me. Yourd was also the place that my time as high school student ended and life as an adult began during the 1997 graduation ceremony.
Yourd Gym has been the site of more memories since I came on board as public address announcer. I was lucky enough to witness the buzzer-beating shot by Mark Misiewicz to beat Davenport North. Yourd was also the home to the skills exhibited by Bryan Petersen, Kelsey Crites, Cash Bimm, Byron Tate, Ben Boothby, and so many more great student-athletes during my time behind the Yourd Gym microphone. I was also fortunate to be able to share in the reunion of the ’92 Crew a few years ago.
Yourd has also been the site of many other special events and happenings that were not even Clinton High related. Two special ones come to mind. They include the performance by the traveling international performance group “Up With People” and very emotional welcome home ceremony for the Clinton National Guard Unit after it’s return from the conflict in Iraq. In particular the welcome home for the guard unit was poignant because it was held in a facility that many of those soldiers had once had their own memories in, Yourd Gym.
One of the truly great compliments that the fine facility known as Yourd Gym can receive is from people who have never been there before or are not regulars. I have heard so many opposing players and coaches talk about how much they enjoy playing or attending events in the grand gym. Examples are made every basketball season when teams from outside of the area visit Yourd Gym on their way to the state tournament. Recent tournament runs by schools such as Northeast, Bellevue Marquette, Prince of Peace, Central-DeWitt, Tipton, Dyersville Beckman, Dubuque Wahlert, and Burlington Notre Dame.
We in the River King and River Queen Nation would be smart to remember that our school, our teams, and our community, are fortunate to be able to be the residents of this fine multi-purpose facility. Thank you to the staff, coaches, fans, boosters, players, and other persons who have played a role in building, enhancing, and maintaining our wonderful facility. Yourd Gym, congratulations on 50 years and here is to at least 50 more years of continued excellence.
-Brad Seward
Class President, Clinton High School Class of 1997
Yourd Gymnasium Public Address Announcer
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