South Hamilton star honors late Drake legend and family friend at the Blue Oval

South Hamilton sophomore Kolby Hodnefield has been apart of quartet of Hawk athletes that have re-written the track and field record books for the school encompassing Jewell, Ellsworth, Stanhope and Randall. Hodnefield’s exploits have stood out thanks to his unique, flamboyant hair, which has varied in designs from spider webs to pink flames and a smiley face.

For the 2024 State Track Meet, he had an idea for his hair that struck close to home.

“At the beginning of the track season I texted my mom and asked “Can I please buzz and bleach my hair?’,” Hodnefield said. “It was going to be my last season with this specific group of guys and they’ve been so special to me, and I was thinking of idea I could do for state and with it being at Drake, I thought I could do a grey ribbon for Lisa.”

Lisa, is former Hubbard-Radcliffe and Drake Bulldog star and eventual IGHSAU administrator Lisa Brinkmeyer Vandeventer. Brinkmeyer passed away following a lengthy battle with brain cancer in June of 2023, a loss that was mourned by thousands in the community of Iowa High School Athletics.

Not many knew Brinkmeyer or her family better than Kolby’s mother Keri Hodnefield. Hodnefield was a graduate of South Hamilton in 1992, was friends with Brinkmeyer from her high school days, and the circle of girls from South Hamilton and Hubbard-Radcliffe, are still close to this day and remember her with love and admiration.

“All of us, the Barkema’s, the Balvanz’s, the Skartvedt’s, were whole crew of people that deeply loved Lisa,” the elder Hodnefield said. “She was one of the most amazing people, she was not only talented and smart but she was funny and charismatic, and she always lit up the room, it’s been a big hole without her.”

When Kolby told his mother of her plan regarding the buzzed and bleached hair, she was not on board until the high school sophomore suggested the tribute.

“When he first said he was going to buzz and bleach his hair, I also want to put a design in it too and I said ‘Kolby, no, you’re not doing that,” Keri said. “Then he said ‘mom, what if I did something for Lisa?’ and I said ‘Kolby, you better not be teasing me about this’ and he said ‘Why would I be teasing you about this?’, so he really reeled me in with that.”

Hodnefield, who placed 5th in the 2A 400m Dash on Thursday and opened the Hawks state-championship 4×200 relay, took a picture with his hair design with the widow of the late Brinkmeyer, Ted Vandeventer, who was on hand to watch his 400m Dash race on Thursday. Kolby said he got the chance to talk with Vandeventer following his race.

“Ted was just telling me he was super proud of me and all that I’ve done,” Hodnefield said. “He was proud that I was representing Lisa with the cancer ribbon and me and him got a picture with the back of my head.”

Kolby Hodnefield (right) with Lisa Brinkemeyer Vandeventer’s widow, Ted Vandeventer (left) at the 2024 State Track Meet (Photo/Brett Hodnefield)

Following South Hamilton’s win in the 4×200 on Friday morning, Hodnefield was overcome with emotions when asked about the design and his inspiration for it. Hodnefield said it was hard to convey those emotions.

“It was hard, but I just tried to push through it and know that we were representing Lisa today and that’s what I was doing my best for.”

Keri Hodnefield said she’s been moved by seeing kids honor Brinkmeyer’s memory.

“Just having the kids, who come up through life and they may not remember everyone that comes in and out, remember Lisa vividly and it melts my heart to see them.”

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