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Hiawatha first grader with rare genetic disorder named Hawkeyes kid captain for Sept. 13 game
Summary
Gwendolyn Kloss, a first grader at Hiawatha Elementary who was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder as an infant, was selected as an Iowa Hawkeyes kid captain and will lead the team onto the field at Kinnick Stadium before the Sept. 13 game, the podcast said.
On Sept. 11, 2025, the Future Ready Today podcast reported that Gwendolyn Kloss, a first grader at Hiawatha Elementary School, has been chosen as a kid captain for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes game against UMass on Sept. 13 and will lead the team onto the field at Kinnick Stadium. Hosts said Gwendolyn was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder as an infant and that doctors were uncertain she would live past her first birthday; the podcast described her as now 7 years old and preparing for the kid captain honor. The hosts also said the school planned a pep rally before the game with students lining halls, and that the Hawkeyes mascot Herky would accompany Gwendolyn in a wheelchair through the school. The hosts urged fans at Kinnick Stadium to cheer loudly after the first quarter when she takes the field. Discussion only: the episode shared a human-interest announcement; no district decision or policy action was reported. Direction/next steps: fans attending the Sept. 13 game were asked to cheer; the school planned pregame activities described by hosts. Outcome: informational; no official district action was taken during the podcast.
