Kenyon Murray Speaks to F&M/KMCH Standout Performers

Former Iowa Men’s Basketball star Kenyon Murray was in the Manchester area on Wednesday night, speaking to a select group of local high school athletes. 

Murray was the guest speaker at the Standout Performer Banquet hosted by F&M Bank and KMCH at Windmill Hill.

Murray played for Coach Tom Davis from 1992 to 1996 – becoming the first player in program history to accumulate over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 steals. Kenyon’s twin sons, Kris and Keegan, followed in their dad’s footsteps playing at Iowa – and then performing at the highest level, with Keegan the 2022 #4 draft pick and Kris the 2023 #23 draft pick. 

Murray, who lives in Cedar Rapids, is now a speaker who inspires and motivates people to embrace challenges, overcome obstacles and pursue their goals with passion and perseverance. He told KMCH News Director Janelle Tucker that he wanted to share two important messages with the student athletes at Wednesday night’s banquet.

The student athletes took Murray’s message to heart. West Delaware basketball standout Levi Wilson-Bries, who recently committed to Mount Mercy, says it was great to hear him speak after watching his sons play a couple years ago.

East Buchanan basketball star Laynee Hogan says she’ll remember Murray’s words of advice as she takes her game to the college level at Wartburg next year. 

Hannah Cantwell is a West Delaware volleyball player who was honored as a Standout Performer last fall. She says receiving the honor felt like her hard work had paid off and she hopes that will carry with her.

Maquoketa Valley basketball standout Bianka Ronnebaum says the Standout Performer honor meant a lot to her too.

A total of 18 area student athletes were honored this past year as F&M Bank/KMCH Standout Performers and invited to Wednesday night’s awards banquet. They include:

• Adam Cook – West Delaware Soccer
• Marin Gaul – Ed-Co Softball
• Emma Hogan – West Delaware Golf
• Maylin Coates – West Delaware Golf
• Bryce Vaske – Maquoketa Valley Baseball
• Rachel Eglseder – Ed-Co Softball
• Vedah Langel – West Delaware Softball
• Austin Scranton – Anamosa Football
• Cole Hirsch – Beckman Catholic Football
• Lili Bauers – Maquoketa Valley Volleyball
• Hannah Cantwell – West Delaware Volleyball
• Nathan Beitz – Maquoketa Valley Football
• Lauren Krogmann – Starmont Cross Country
• Laynee Hogan – East Buchanan Basketball
• Jeryn Funke – West Delaware Wrestling
• Levi Wilson-Bries – West Delaware Basketball
• Bianka Ronnebaum – Maquoketa Valley Basketball
• Josie McMahon – West Delaware Basketball 

Check back to our website soon – we’ll be posting a link with photos of all of our honorees!