Prominent Iowa track athlete Lisa Brinkmeyer VanDeventer has died after more than a year of battling brain cancer.
Brinkmeyer has been an Iowa State basketball legend and avid Drake fan for decades. Her stature in the state prompted an outpouring of support both during her struggle and after her death became public knowledge.
At Hubbard-Radcliffe High School, Brinkmeyer excelled in three sports, with basketball at the top. She played in the state’s last 6-on-6 championship game and was named Miss Iowa Basketball in 1993. Brinkmeyer finished her high school career with a score of 3,615.
At Drake, Brinkmeyer received honorable mentions from the All-Missouri Valley Conference as a junior and senior. She led the team to regular-season MVC titles in 1997 and 1998 and championship titles in 1995, 1997 and 1998. These Drake teams made it to the NCAA Tournament three times.
Brinkmeyer served as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Drake from 1998 to 2000 before starting her career at IGHSAU, where she served as assistant director for volleyball, golf and soccer.
Brinkmeyer has also been an influence in organizing various Drake events, whether it’s ex-team reunions, alumni games or other get-togethers. Their ability to connect pit bulls from the past to the present is one of the reasons the Brinkmeyer is so popular.
If you talk about Brinkmeyer with anyone, you will respond to her unselfish attitude and warm and welcoming personality. That’s why so many people are willing to help her fight cancer in any way possible.
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An example was Drake’s Nov. 13 game against Iowa State at the Knapp Center. Both coaching staff members wore “Brink’s Bench” T-shirts.