By Hawk Fanatic

IOWA CITY, Iowa – More than three decades have passed since Tim Dwight last dominated his competition in high school, but his accomplishments as an Iowa City High Little Hawk, and his legend, will live on forever.

The National Federation of State High School Associations will help to make sure that Dwight’s exploits as a two-sport phenom in high school will always get the respect it deserves as he is part of the organization’s 2025 Hall of Fame Class.

The induction ceremony was being held Monday in Chicago.

“First, I want to thank everybody for being here. This is a pretty amazing induction,” Dwight said Monday. “Everybody up here is pretty awesome, just reading their accolades and things that they’ve gone through with their life experiences. It’s pretty stellar in my opinion.”

A 1994 graduate of Iowa City High School, Dwight was one of the top all-around athletes in state history. In football, Dwight led City High to a 23-1 record in his final two seasons, which included helping City High win its first state football championship in 1993 by scoring four touchdowns in the state final. He also set state records with 40 touchdowns as a senior and 83 for his career. Dwight led Class 4A rushers with 2,113 yards and scored 488 points. And he played on the other side of the ball as well, grabbing 11 career interceptions.

In track, Dwight also remains the state’s only able-bodied 12-time champion in Iowa boys track and field history. He won the 200 meters at the state meet four times (1991-94), the long jump three times (1992-94), the 400 hurdles (1992) and four relay titles. Not surprisingly, Dwight’s feats helped City High to three consecutive Iowa High School Athletic Association team track and field championships.

Dwight would go on to participate in both football and track and field for the University of Iowa where as a senior in 1997 he earned consensus All-America honors as a return specialist. He also ranks third on Iowa’ all-time receiving list with 2,271 receiving yards, and he played nine seasons in the NFL.

But this latest honor was based solely on what Dwight accomplished as a Little Hawk.

His high school career started with a bang as Dwight was elevated to the Little Hawk varsity football team for the 1990 playoffs as a freshman running back who barely weighed 150 pounds.

On his first carry from scrimmage, Dwight took a pitch on a 39-sweep, cut to the outside and then bolted untouched for a touchdown, using his incredible speed to separate from the pack of defenders chasing after him.

“You’re a 15-year-old kid and you’re thrown into a varsity game and you’re thinking you’re going to get smeared on 39 sweep,” Dwight said. “And the next thing you know, you’re back up in the middle and you make a move and it’s wide open field.”

Dwight would also go on to win the 200-meters at the 1991 state track meet as a freshman.

A though he only grew to about 5-foot-8, Dwight overcame his lack of size with his speed, quickness, work ethic and focus.

He was also fortunate to have a strong supporting cast around in high school, including his father, Tim Dwight Sr., who also coached his son in track and field and in football in high school.

“My relationship with my father grew pretty strong,” Dwight said.

Dwight’s parents attended Monday’s induction ceremony in Chicago.

Dwight also singled out former Iowa football coach Hayden Fry and former City High track coach John Raffensperger, both of whom have passed away, as two coaches that greatly impacted his career.

Former City High football coach Larry Brown also played a key role in Dwight’s rise to stardom as a Little Hawk.

“Just really appreciate the coaches we had and the teammates that I had to make that special for me,” Dwight said. “Because when you’re like the top athlete everybody true to treat you a certain way. I neve really enjoyed being the top athlete. I just love to compete.

“And that’s what we kind of saw in each other at City High; that we’re all just competitors and we all want to win state championships.”