History lesson: A look back at early days in athletics
NIACC/MCJC ATHLETICS
HISTORIC FIRSTS
First team: The first season of men's basketball at Mason City Junior College was the 1919-20 season. MCJC played in the Mason City city league. No record was available.
First football team: The first year of football at MCJC was in 1922. MCJC played one game and dropped a 6-0 decision to Waldorf College. MCJC did not a have a coach in its initial football season.
First coach: Avril "Judge" Grimsley was the first-ever coach at MCJC. He was the school's football coach starting in the 1923 season and also was the men's basketball coach starting in the 1923-24 season.
First trophy: The 1924-25 MCJC men's basketball team won the Mason City city tournament and received the school's first athletic trophy.
Nickname established: After a 26-0 win over Wartburg College in Waverly in October of the 1925 football season, MCJC was called the Trojans for the first-time in a story written about the game.
First conference title: An Iowa junior college conference of 12 teams was formed for the 1926-27 men's basketball season. MCJC was declared the conference champion with a record of 7-0 under first-year coach Volney Hansen.
First state title: The MCJC football team claimed the 1934 state title, the school's first, by completing a perfect 7-0 season.
First basketball state title: The MCJC men's basketball team topped Burlington 45-33 in the 1938 state championship game. The Trojans won the Iowa Northwest Junior College Conference with a record of 11-3. Henry Hert was the captain of the 1937-38 state title team.
First state golf title: The MCJC men's golf team won the 1960 state title under the guidance of coach Zeke Hogeland. MCJC golfer Denny Christensen was the meet medalist at the state tournament.
First baseball state title: The MCJC baseball team claimed the 1961 state championship with a 7-3 win over Ellsworth. Dan Ryan drove in four of the Trojans' seven runs with a pair of doubles and Don Devine gained the win on the mound.
First women's athletic team: Women's athletics started in the fall of 1973. The first women's team was the 1973 volleyball team, which was coached by Joyce Jefson.
First women's regional title: The 1974-75 NIACC women's basketball team topped Marshalltown CC 115-38 in the regional title game in the first-ever NJCAA Region XI women's basketball tournament. The Lady Trojans went on to place second at the national tournament.
First wrestling state title: The NIACC wrestling team claimed the 1968 state championship as the Trojans claimed seven individual state titles. Tony Stevens was selected as the tournament's most outstanding wrestler.