30 – The Only Dance in Iowa: A History of Six-Player Girls’ Basketball
Instructor
Max McElwain
Max McElwain retired to Ames after he taught at Wayne State College for many years. He holds a PhD in American studies from the University of Kansas. He also worked for several Midwestern newspapers and has published six books, including The Only Dance in Iowa: A History of Six-Player Girls’ Basketball.
Two weeks: Thursday, Sept. 25 – Oct. 2, 2025
Cost: $40
9 – 10:30 a.m. CT
Class limit 25
Online with Zoom
Course Description
The first week, we will focus on how six-player basketball came to represent the state’s strong traditional beliefs and the public school system’s determination to maintain its identity in the face of national educational trends. The second week’s focus will be on how Iowa’s rich girls’ basketball culture has nurtured Caitlin Clark’s rise to international fame and the growth of the women’s game.