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Iowa State student remembered as a ‘gentle giant’ and positive uplifter

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Iowa State student remembered as a ‘gentle giant’ and positive uplifter


Jeremy Onyango receives his Triangle fraternity pin. Courtesy of Quinn Moran.

With a big construct and outlined muscle groups from head-to-toe, Jeremy Onyango would typically intimidate individuals who noticed him for the primary time. However anybody who spoke to him would at all times instantly understand his welcoming nature and uplifting perspective.

Jacob DeVito, a senior learning actuarial science and president of the ISU weightlifting membership, characterised him as a “light large.”

Jeremy Onyango was a senior learning physics from Evergreen, Illinois. He handed away unexpectedly Oct. 25.

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Onyango was a member of Triangle fraternity and the weightlifting membership. He additionally labored at Cy’s Roost.

Jeremy Onyango as a groomsman for Triangle Brother Alex Faucz. Courtesy of Quinn Moran.

“At first, [Onyango] was very scary as a result of he was a really muscular man with a durag,” stated Piotr Starzec, a sophomore learning civil engineering and Onyango’s co-worker. “However then the extra I talked to him he was very simple to speak to, very good.”

When DeVito met Onyango by way of the weightlifting membership, the very first thing he seen was Onyango’s constructive perspective.

“He had a approach of lighting up a room when he walked into it and uplifting different folks,” DeVito stated. “He had that constructive, contagious perspective that simply sort of modified the environment.”

Onyango always had a smile on his face and had amusing that might be heard throughout the room.

“He wasn’t very shy together with his chuckle,” DeVito stated. “He was very loud and proud with it, and it was simply a type of contagious laughs the place you heard him chuckle and also you needed to begin laughing too.”

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Onyango spent a lot of his time within the health club. In 2020, in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, DeVito noticed Onyango within the health club each day, and they’d smile at one another by way of their masks.

“It was very evident [weightlifting] was sort of one thing he simply had a ardour for,” DeVito stated. “He had a physique that, to begin with, didn’t come in a single day, and, second of all, didn’t come simply. It was very evident that he was extraordinarily devoted to what he was doing.”

Onyango loved sharing his love for weightlifting with others. He mentioned lifting methods together with his co-workers at Cy’s Roost and took teams of his Triangle brothers to the health club and taught them the way to raise.

Jeremy Onyango lifts weights on the health club in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Courtesy of Quinn Moran.

The dedication Onyango confirmed within the health club additionally utilized to different areas of his life. Starzec recollects that Onyango at all times deliberate every little thing forward of time and located a approach for his plans to return collectively.

“He would set a aim, and he would do regardless of the hell he needed to do to get there,” DeVito stated. “I’ve nearly by no means seen him complain about something. He’d present up and get it achieved.”

Regardless of Onyango’s ongoing successes with weightlifting, he was frequently humble and susceptible with these round him. He by no means shied away from asking others for recommendation with a squat even when they have been much less skilled.

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“Regardless that he had this huge body on him and a lot to indicate for the work he put in, he by no means demonstrated that he thought he was higher than anyone else,” DeVito stated.

In his free time, Onyango loved watching anime and enjoying board video games. He and different members of Triangle continuously performed Dungeons & Dragons collectively.

“The sort of stuff he was into simply utterly blows you out of the water if you discover out,” DeVito stated. “Most large, muscled up guys aren’t enjoying Dungeons & Dragons with their associates after the health club.”

Onyango additionally cherished to satisfy new folks and construct his private relationships. He loved social environments and needed to be everybody’s good friend.

“Even when he didn’t know you, he’d greet you as if he did with that large smile,” DeVito stated. “He was at all times type to you and would speak to you such as you have been a human being.”

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Onyango at all times requested DeVito about his private life and would genuinely hearken to the conversations they shared. If DeVito talked about one thing in a earlier dialog, Onyango would ask about it the subsequent time they crossed paths.

Onyango would additionally ask Starzec how he was doing at work and would supply to assist him together with his classwork.

“He had the identical affect on everyone he met of simply being a job mannequin for the way we must always act in the direction of one another and the sort of perspective that we must always have,” DeVito stated.

ISU’s Triangle chapter held a memorial service for Onyango of their residence Oct. 29. The road to signal the visitor guide went out the again door, and there weren’t sufficient seats for everybody in attendance, in accordance with their Instagram.

“Jeremy was a real good friend to each member of Triangle, whether or not you knew him for years or met him for just a few minutes,” ISU Triangle wrote in an electronic mail. “Whereas we mourn his loss, we’re dedicated to honoring his reminiscence as a chapter by exuding the kindness he shared every day.”

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A number of folks have left recollections and pictures on Onyango’s on-line obituary and greater than 70 folks have electronically lit a candle in his reminiscence.

Donations to help the Onyango household could be made on the Triangle fraternity web site.





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Iowa

Keys to Victory: Nebraska at Iowa

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Keys to Victory: Nebraska at Iowa


Nebraska heads to Iowa City on Friday for the annual Black Friday matchup against the Hawkeyes. At 6-5, the Huskers are bowl eligible for the first time since 2016. Iowa comes into the game at 7-4, having won three out of their last four. Of the two teams’ mutual opponents, Iowa lost to Ohio State 35-7, beat Wisconsin 42-10, and lost to UCLA 20-17. 

On behalf of the Common Fan podcast, here are three keys to victory for the Huskers, and two keys to victory for all the fellow Common Fans. 

NEBRASKA’S KEYS TO VICTORY

Stop (or Slow Down) Kaleb Johnson. After having an atrocious offense last season, Iowa is back to being respectable on the offensive side of the ball, especially when it comes to the run game. The Hawkeyes boast the #13 rushing offense in the nation. Starter Kaleb Johnson has rushed for 1,492 yards and 21 touchdowns this season, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. He is legitimately one of the best backs in the country. What’s more, Iowa is on their fourth starting quarterback of the season. While there have been some rumblings this week that Cade McNamara and/or Brendan Sullivan–both of whom have started games under center this year–would play on Friday, it sounds like Jackson Stratton will be the guy. Stratton attempted a total of 14 passes last weekend against Maryland, completing 10 for 76 yards. Considering the strength of Nebraska’s defense has been stopping the run all season long, this matchup should favor the Huskers. But it’s Iowa, so who knows. If the Big Red can contain Iowa’s run game, I like their chances to win the game. 

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More of That Offense, Please. Iowa teams of recent years have been known for great defense. Not just great defense – they have had some elite defensive units. This year’s Hawkeye defense is perhaps not quite as dominant as what we’ve seen in recent years, but they’re still very good. They come into the game ranked #17 nationally in total defense, #12 in scoring defense, and #26 in rushing defense. They have been susceptible to giving up the big play, and currently rank #41 in opponent yards per play, after finishing the 2023 season at #1 in that category. 

What will we see out of Nebraska’s offensive unit this week? Are we going to see the squad that had its way with Wisconsin? Or will we see the unit that struggled to move the ball for most of the year? If new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen can sprinkle a little more magic on the Nebraska offense, perhaps they can get out to a lead and take Iowa out of their comfort zone. 

Make Special Teams Special. Another defining characteristic of Iowa teams in recent years has been outstanding special teams play. On the other side of the equation, all Common Fans know that Nebraska’s special teams play has struggled for most of this season. That said, against Wisconsin, Jacorey Barney had a 45 yard kickoff return to set up Nebraska’s first scoring drive, and place kicker John Hohl was 3-for-3 on field goals. Progress. 

Can someone make a game changing play against the Hawkeyes? Can the Huskers at least make sure special teams doesn’t hurt them on Friday? 

COMMON FAN KEYS

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Soak It In. This is painful to say, but it’s the first time in eight years that Nebraska will be playing Iowa with bowl eligibility already secured. Husker fans don’t have to hold our breath, stressing that the team’s postseason fate rides on this game. I’d love nothing more than to see the Big Red pick up where they left off against Wisconsin, come out and pummel the Hawkeyes. But whatever happens, this isn’t the end of the road for the Huskers. 

At least for me, the Iowa game has emerged as a great Thanksgiving weekend tradition. Iowa is the closest thing we have to a rival since joining the Big Ten. Embrace it. Enjoy it. We’re going bowling this year, no matter what happens against Iowa. So load up with some leftover turkey and mashed potatoes, maybe an extra piece of pie, and enjoy the ride, Husker fans.

Going to Kinnick? Common Fan Podcast co-host Matty O was in the house for the Wisconsin game, and after the win, pulled the trigger on tickets for the Black Friday battle against Iowa. He and his son will be making the trek to Iowa City on Friday. That’s the impact of beating the Badgers, getting to bowl eligibility, and starting to believe in this program again.

Are any other Common Fans out there going to be in the house? Hats off to anyone representing the Big Red in enemy territory. And, if you are going to be there on Friday, we’d love to hear from you. Send us an email to commonfangbr@gmail.com or hit us up on social media (@commonfangbr on X) to share your experience. Send pictures, stories, smart remarks…whatever you’ve got! Let’s go 1-0 this week and beat those Hawkeyes!

As always, GBR for LIFE.

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MORE: Nick Handley Show: Iowa Football Preview with the Des Moines Register’s Chad Leistikow

MORE: Nebraska Football Commit Christian Jones Makes Final Visit Before Signing

MORE: Nebraska Football Recruiting: Lamarcus Barber Recaps Visit, Names Huskers Top Choice

MORE: 2026 Wide Receiver Blaise LaVista Details Nebraska Football Recruiting Visit

MORE: 2027 OT Reece Mallinger Details Nebraska Football Visit

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.



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Urquhart Sets Iowa’s Single-Season Aces Record at UCLA

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LOS ANGELES – Senior Michelle Urquhart set Iowa’s single-season service aces record in the Hawkeyes’ 3-1 loss to UCLA on Wednesday night at Pauley Pavilion. Iowa drops to 10-21 overall and 4-15 in the Big Ten.

Urquhart needed two aces to surpass the single-season rally scoring era record set by Becky Walters in 2010. With the third set tied at 10-10, Urquhart dropped in a soft serve to secure her 42nd ace on the season.

The senior from Virginia Beach, Virginia, also recorded a double-double, registering 13 kills and 12 digs. Freshman Dominique Phills and sophomore Hannah Whittingstall were in double-figures with 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Phills was a spark off the bench, drilling five kills in the opening set.

Senior libero Joy Galles notched a career high in digs, finishing with 24. She neared a double-double, tallying eight assists.

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MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (UCLA, 25-23)
After trading points early on, the Hawkeyes strung together three consecutive points to take a 5-3 lead, courtesy of a kill and ace from Urquhart. UCLA answered with a run, pushing ahead 13-8. Phills was a spark off the bench, helping Iowa pull within two on several occasions. The Hawkeyes rallied all the way back in the opener, tying the set at 23-23 before the Bruins capitalized on back-to-back kills to win the set. UCLA had only one attacking error in the first set, while Iowa had seven.

SET TWO (UCLA, 25-11)
Despite gaining momentum at the end of the first set, Iowa fell behind 9-1 to begin the second. A timeout slowed the Bruins’ progress, but they gained early control of the set. Iowa chipped away in the middle of the set on terminations from Phills and UCLA errors. UCLA ended the set on a 5-0 run.

SET THREE (IOWA, 25-23)
Iowa quickly regrouped for a competitive set in the third. A kill from Whittingstall and ace from freshman Jenna Meitzler kept the pressure on UCLA early. Urquhart notched her record-setting ace, breaking a 10-10 tie in the third set. The teams headed into the media timeout with UCLA leading, 15-14. It wasn’t until late in the set before Iowa pulled away, using a 3-0 run to go up by two at 20-18, courtesy of kills from freshman Malu Garcia and Phills. After a UCLA timeout fueled back-to-back points for the Bruins, Iowa sealed the set with a kill from Whittingstall and error from UCLA.

SET FOUR (UCLA, 25-15)
UCLA recovered and regained momentum, leading 6-2 to begin set four. A pair of kills from Urquhart and a termination from Garcia brought Iowa back within one at 7-6. The Hawkeyes stayed within striking distance but could not take the lead in the set. The Bruins used a run in the middle of the set to take control. A block from senior Anna Davis and Garcia stopped the run at 19-13. UCLA finished the set on a 5-1 run to win the match.

UP NEXT: Iowa heads across town for its season finale, battling No. 20 USC on Friday evening. First serve is set for 9 p.m. (CT) from the Galen Center. The match will be broadcast on B1G+ and the Hawkeye Radio Network.





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Iowa Legend Sends Strong Message In Midst of Brutal Season

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Iowa Legend Sends Strong Message In Midst of Brutal Season


Former Iowa Hawkeyes star George Kittle is in the midst of what has to be the most trying season of his NFL career.

Kittle’s San Francisco 49ers—who were Super Bowl contenders heading into 2024—fell to just 5-6 with their loss to the Green Bay Packer this past Sunday, further hindering their playoff chances.

However, the tight end is not giving up hope in the midst of severe adversity.

“My optimism is not broken by any means,” Kittle told reporters. “We still have a lot of very talented players. We will get some guys back. And I still have full trust in the coaching staff to put our guys in position to make plays, and I got no worry about that. But definitely an uphill grind, and going to see what we’re made of, which I’m looking forward to.”

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You have to love Kittle’s fighting spirit, but it seems hard to imagine the 49ers righting the ship in their current predicament.

San Francisco is dealing with a plethora of injury issues up and down the roster, which includes quarterback Brock Purdy, who missed the Packers game with a shoulder problem.

Kittle himself had a strong performance in Week 12, logging six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. He has also been his usual impressive self overall this season, totaling 49 receptions for 642 yards and eight scores in nine appearances.

But not even Kittle can save the Niners from all of their current troubles.

The 49ers will face the Buffalo Bills in a matchup that could ultimately decide their playoff fate this Sunday.

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