Over the years I’ve been at The Iola Register — which is 261⁄2 years — there have been quite a few athletes from Iola High School and the surrounding area to go on to college-level competition. It’s always fun to catch up on what those athletes are doing at college or beyond.
Usually, the catching up comes from a telephone call from a proud parent or relative. Don’t hesitate to give me a call, e-mail me or come by to share about former area athletes. It’s fun to find out “where are they now.”
This week there are two former Iola High athletes — one I’ve kept an eye on because he has set college records since his freshman year and was one of those phone calls.
First, the phone call — Jeremy VanNice’s parents, Sheila and Jesse VanNice of Iola, are excited about the opportunity the former IHS football player has in playing professional football. They won’t get to see him play because he was signed in March by The Bergen Storm, an American Football team based in Bergen, Norway.
According to the Storm’s website (translated) VanNice was the Storm’s first import player “after a long selection process and subsequent negotiations. With head coach Peter Holmberg spearheaded a number of players considered and finally landed Jeremy VanNice.”
VanNice played for Friends University as a 6-3, 230-pound linebacker. His senior season for the Falcons was 2009.
VanNice arrived in Norway on March 28 and went right to a Storm workout, according to the website news. He participated in drills for linebackers “and made immediately clear that here we have a particularly skilled player.”
The Bergen Storm Senior team is of players 18 and older. It is a member of the Norway American Football Federation.
Now, Josh Honeycutt, son of Phil and Gina Honeycutt, continues his reign as Emporia State’s top triple jumper. He and a teammate were named MIAA Track and Field Athlete of the Week for their performances at last Saturday’s State Farm ESU Relays.
Honeycutt was the top collegiate finisher and second overall in the triple jump last week. With a slightly wind-aided mark of 52 feet, 83⁄4”, Honeycutt automatically qualified for the NCAA Division II national meet in May and moved to second in the nation in the triple jump.
Honeycutt had four marks of over 50 feet in his series of jumps. He also had a season-best long jump of 23’91⁄2” to rank 13th in the nation.
During the indoor track season, Honeycutt earned All-American honors for the third straight year in the triple jump. At the NCAA Division II national indoor meet, he was second at 51’5”, which was five inches away from breaking his own ESU record in the event.
Catching up with VanNice, Honeycutt
