Iowa

ISU graduate’s engineering expertise helps patients recover from brain injuries

Published

2 years ago

May 9, 2024

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ISU graduate’s engineering expertise helps patients recover from brain injuries

Fred Love
| Iowa State University/Special to the Register

For Cassandra Swacker, engineering is a way to help people.

Majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in biomedical engineering at Iowa State University equipped Swacker with the skills to design and manufacture personalized utensils and devices for people with traumatic brain injuries.

Her quest to help others through engineering began while she was in high school, when she saw how a prosthetic leg changed her father’s life. She’ll graduate at the end of this semester, which concluded this week, and her engineering quest will continue as she begins her career developing innovative solutions in technology and manufacturing.

“Biomedical engineers need to be involved in all those things to understand the biology and anatomy components of how machines interact with people,” Swacker said. “They also need to understand the design and manufacturing processes of those machines.”

Improving lives through engineering

Swacker, an Urbandale native, witnessed the power of biomedical engineering when her father was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis that can affect the spine, knees, ankles and hips. The condition caused severe wear on her father’s ankle bones. He had metal plates implanted but eventually elected to have his leg amputated below the knee and replaced with a prosthetic.

The prosthetic improved her father’s mobility dramatically. Around the same time, Swacker took an engineering design course in high school, and she started thinking about how engineering affects people, including her father, in countless ways.

“My brain had that little lightbulb moment of, ‘oh, the people who are making prosthetics are engineers,” she said.

She discovered biomedical engineering, a fast-growing field that utilizes innovations in materials and technology to develop devices and equipment to enhance human and animal health.

“When he finally got his prosthetic and I was able to see just how big of an improvement it made for him, it was really inspiring and I wanted to be able to have that direct of an impact on peoples’ quality of life, which got me interested in the biomedical field,” Swacker said.

She enrolled at Iowa State because of the university’s strong engineering programs and proximity to family. She decided to major in mechanical engineering and pick up a minor in biomedical engineering.

Made-to-order medical devices

Swacker began her first year at Iowa State during in the fall of 2020, at a time when the pandemic forced most classes to be held remotely. The challenges of the pandemic taught her to work independently on her courses. They also helped her appreciate the classroom experience when in-person instruction resumed.

She landed an internship with Iowa State’s Center for Industrial Research and Service, which partners with business and communities across Iowa to develop tailored strategies to grow and prosper. In just the last five years, CIRAS and its partners have helped more than 4,600 businesses in every Iowa county, creating an economic impact of more than $3.1 billion.

Among the organizations helped by CIRAS is On With Life, an Ankeny-based rehabilitation clinic that helps patients recover from traumatic brain injuries and other neurological conditions. Swacker saw an opportunity with On With Life to apply what she was learning in her biomedical engineering courses.

Because brain injuries manifest a wide range of symptoms, On With Life’s patients often require personalized equipment and devices. 3D printing technology offers a way to create unique devices to precise specifications, so Swacker got to work familiarizing herself with the technology.

She custom-built eating utensils, such as plate covers and silverware handles, for patients whose injuries affected their fine motor skills. The adaptive plate cover she developed clips onto the top of a plate with strategically placed gaps that expose only a portion of the food. This helped a patient whose brain injury caused a compulsion to eat too fast to slow down to a healthier pace.

On With Life CEO Jean Shelton praised Swacker’s work.

“Brain injury rehabilitation calls for an individualized approach to services,” Shelton said. “No one brain injury is like another due to the many functional areas of the brain. We are grateful for Cassie’s work as she was able to address a very specific need through technology that aids an individual and their family to manage impulse control related to food. The plate she created allowed for a balanced meal approach without the visual distraction of the other foods on the plate. The plate is still in use!”

Swacker even developed an eye for aesthetics in her 3D printing designs. She learned one particular patient, who was a fan of Harley Davidson motorcycles, didn’t like the way some of the specialized eating utensils looked. So she designed one to resemble the handlebar of a motorcycle, complete with a flame finish. Many of her designs got rave reviews from the end users, she said.

Her work with CIRAS and On With Life taught her numerous lessons about engineering design, utilizing cutting edge technology and problem solving.

In the months ahead, Swacker said she plans to move to the Iowa City area to pursue a career in manufacturing engineering. She said she’ll apply all the lessons she learned studying at Iowa State and working for On With Life as she begins her career, lessons like never hesitating to ask questions and forging relationships with the people she’s working with.

Perhaps most importantly, she’ll launch her career with firsthand knowledge that good engineering can help people and change lives.

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Iowa

FDU women relishing underdog role vs. Iowa in NCAA Tournament

Published

11 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

FDU women relishing underdog role vs. Iowa in NCAA Tournament

Fairleigh Dickinson coach Stephanie Gaitley is headed back to where it began.

Three years ago, Gaitley’s first game on the sidelines for FDU was at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Caitlin Clark’s team torched the Knights by nearly 60 points.

“Our kids, kind of their eyes were in the headlights, so to speak,” Gaitley told The Post. “And they just kind of weren’t sure what was going to hit them with that sellout crowd.”

Gaitley doesn’t anticipate the same lopsided outcome Saturday when 15th-seeded FDU takes on second-seeded Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Sportsbooks favor the Hawkeyes by more than 30 points. But Gaitley views Saturday’s game as an opportunity to measure FDU’s monstrous growth over the past three seasons.

“Three years ago … we were a completely different team,” Gaitley said. “We’re going in with a different type of mentality right now because of the fact that we built what we built this year and I think the kids are going in with a lot of confidence. They know the task at hand is a difficult one, but they’re welcoming the opportunity and they have, as always, played with that chip on the shoulder.”

FDU experienced a lot of turnover from last year’s team, which went dancing for the first time in program history. Three of the Knights’ starters were seniors; another, Lilly Parke, suffered a torn ACL over the summer.

Sophomore Ava Renninger is the lone starter to return this season.

The Knights stumbled out of the gates, suffering back-to-back losses to Purdue and Notre Dame. Those defeats, while disappointing in the moment, ultimately helped FDU grow together.

Once NEC play came around, the Knights seemingly picked up where they left off.

FDU is starting to build a reputation as the NEC’s undisputed heavyweight champ. They haven’t lost a conference game in more than two years. They joined UConn in being the only Division I program to go undefeated in league play in back-to-back seasons.

Sophomore Ava Renninger is the lone starter to return for FDU this season. Getty Images

Rennington, now a leader on the team, said this season “was even harder” than the last.

“Obviously, the 18-0 looks easy to everyone,” Rennington said. “It was a dogfight.”

There’s a mentality switch for teams such as FDU heading into March Madness. For the majority of the season, the Knights shouldered the pressure of being the team to beat in their conference. They were the vanquishers, the ones expected to win every game.

Come Saturday, FDU is freed of those expectations.

“It’s kind of a pressure cooker when you’re building up from winning 18-0 and then you got to win three more against three teams that you’ve already beaten twice,” Gaitley said. “And so I think this is kind of a relief, switching that role of being the Goliath to being the David.”

FDU head coach Stephanie Gaitley said her team is relishing its underdog role vs. No. 2 seed Iowa. Getty Images

This is the second consecutive season FDU is headed to the NCAA Tournament. Last year, the Knights, then a 15 seed, were blown out by second-seeded TCU in the Round of 64.

Rennington remembered being “shell-shocked” last year. FDU was just happy to be included in the NCAA Tournament.

The excitement is still there this time around, but there’s also an eagerness to surprise some people.

Iowa enters March Madness coming off a 51-point loss to UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament’s championship game.

The Hawkeyes’ size could be a problem for FDU.

Iowa boasts a dominant frontcourt, anchored by sophomore center Ava Heiden (17.4 points and 7.3 rebounds) and senior forward Hannah Stuelke (13.4 points and 8.5 rebounds). They’re surrounded by steady shooters, including Chazadi Wright, who’s converting on 45.2 percent of attempts from deep.

But FDU is scrappy, confident and playing freely — a dangerous combination in March.

“We want to show them how good we are,” Rennington said. “A lot of people obviously are going to see us as an underdog, as a 15 seed, and I prefer that perspective than a Goliath because they’re not expecting you to come out. They’re like, ‘Oh, you’re a good team,’ but, like, as an underdog, you can come out and shock a lot of people by coming out and playing Iowa really well.”

“Our kids, they’re fighters,” Gaitley said. “I don’t think these kids are afraid at all. I think they’re just excited about the opportunity.”

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March Madness is family affair for Iowa basketball’s Brendan Hausen

Published

23 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

March Madness is family affair for Iowa basketball’s Brendan Hausen

TAMPA, Fla. — Brendan Hausen wore a smile on his face as he held up his phone and nodded his head.

The Iowa men’s basketball team was gathered for the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on March 15, awaiting their fate in the March Madness bracket. Part of the pageantry of the Selection Show is seeing players’ reactions when their team is called. Hausen, who was in the front row, exuded joy.

Except, Iowa had not been called yet.

On the screen was … High Point.

A voice came from across the room.

It was Iowa head coach Ben McCollum.

“Is that your brother?” McCollum asked.

Hausen looked over and confirmed McCollum’s suspicion.

“That’s my brother,” Hausen said.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament is a family affair for the Hausens.

Braden Hausen, Brendan’s younger brother, made the NCAA Tournament at High Point. The Panthers were guaranteed a spot in this year’s field of 68 after winning the Big South Conference Tournament. High Point earned a 12-seed and was matched up with 5-seed Wisconsin.

“It’s special,” Hausen said. “Not many people from Amarillo (Texas) have got to do this … So seeing Amarillo get to March Madness is something special. And seeing my brother’s name be called was awesome.”

About 20 minutes after High Point was called, it was Brendan’s turn. Iowa was announced as a 9-seed and set to face 8-seed Clemson.

Fast forward a few days later to March 19, and the Hausen family has already done damage in the NCAA Tournament.

As Brendan Hausen was in Tampa with the Hawkeyes, High Point pulled off an upset win over Wisconsin. Braden scored six points in the Panthers’ 83-82 victory. Iowa’s media availability was earlier in the afternoon, so we were unable to get his thoughts on his brother’s win. But it’s clear how meaningful their relationship is.

“He’s my best friend,” Hausen said. “He’s been there from the start. We played together in high school. Seeing him do his thing is truly special.”

As kids, they used to compete on a stage much smaller than the NCAA Tournament.

“Honestly, the mini goal in the living room,” Hausen said. “My mom just screaming at us, that we were going to break through the glass and ripping the goal down. Those were probably my favorite memories.”

Video: Brendan Hausen on making NCAA Tournament for first time

Brendan Hausen meets with media ahead of Iowa basketball’s matchup with Clemson in the NCAA Tournament.

It hasn’t been a direct path for Hausen to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his college career. He played his first two seasons at Villanova, before playing at Kansas State last season. None of those teams made the Big Dance, meaning that when he transferred to Iowa ahead of the 2025-26 season, this was his last chance to reach March Madness.

“It’s exciting,” Hausen said of finally getting the Big Dance. “I don’t take it for granted because it’s been an up-and-down four years. This being my first one is truly special. So I won’t take it for granted.”

The Hausen brothers are playing on opposite ends of the country this week. High Point’s upset over Wisconsin came in Portland in the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, Hausen is about as far southeast as you can get. Iowa faces Clemson in Tampa on March 20 (5:50 p.m. CT, TNT).

The Hausen family is in Tampa, not Portland, for a couple of reasons. This is Braden’s second time in the NCAA Tournament, as opposed to Brendan’s first. Also, the weather.

“He (Braden) told them it was OK because it was my first time,” Hausen said. “He was cool with it. And obviously, the warm weather brought people. My brother was good with it, so I’m happy they’re all here.”

Hausen, a sharpshooter who arrived at Iowa having made 178 3-pointers in his college career, hasn’t been featured in as large a role as some once expected. Hausen has appeared sporadically for the Hawkeyes and is playing the fewest minutes per game since his freshman season at Villanova.

But it has now led him to the promised land of making the NCAA Tournament.

The Hausen brothers are a combined 1-0 in March Madness so far this year. That has a chance to become 2-0 when Iowa plays Clemson.

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com

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Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly names plays after former Cyclone greats and coaches

Published

1 day ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly names plays after former Cyclone greats and coaches

AMES — During the third quarter of the Iowa State women’s basketball team’s Jan. 7 game at Cincinnati, coach Bill Fennelly wanted to get his players a good look for a 3-pointer. So as Fennelly gathered his team on the sideline during a break, he called the play Lake Park.

“It’s a misdirection,” Fennelly said.

The play was devised by Fennelly in the 1990s and it’s designed to set up a shot from beyond the arc. It’s named after Tara Gunderson, a former 3-point shooting star for the Cyclones who hails from Lake Park in northwest Iowa.

Just as Fennelly hoped it would, the Cyclones freed up a shooter with the play.

“We got a 3,” Fennelly said.

Lake Park is one of more than 100 plays that Fennelly has on his call sheet. All of them have special names honoring people who have had a huge impact on his life. Coaches, family, friends and current and former players have plays named after them.

The Cyclones will be using those plays when 8-seed Iowa State takes on 9-seed Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at 4:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, March 21 in Storrs, Conn.

“I think it’s cool,” said Iowa State point guard Jada Williams. “It kind of helps us remember a little bit more because we’re familiar with all the names that we call.”

Fennelly, in his 49th season of coaching, has been naming plays like that for as long as he can remember. While most coaches use numbers or descriptions to call plays, Fennelly has gone this route, instead choosing names, locations and nicknames.

“I think it resonates with them a little bit better,” Fennelly said.

Some of the plays have a symbolic meaning. Like Lake Park being a 3-point shooting play. The Cyclones also run a 3-point shooting play for Iowa State center Audi Crooks called “Algona,” named after her hometown. They also have a play named after current Cyclones men’s basketball player Milan Momcilovic, a star shooter from beyond the arc.

One of the most unique plays the Cyclones run is named after former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy, who is now a star for the San Francisco 49ers. “Purdy” is an inbounds play where all five players line up under the hoop. When the whistle is blown, four players take off down the court like wide receivers. The inbounds passer acts as a quarterback, looking for an open target to pass to.

Former Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht also has a play named after him. It’s a deep pass in transition or late in the shot clock or game clock.

Last year, the Cyclones used a play named after former Iowa State star Ashley Joens, the team’s all-time leading scorer.

Former Iowa State men’s basketball coaches Fred Hoiberg and Greg McDermott, who both coached the Cyclones during Fennelly’s tenure, also have plays named after them. Fennelly admits they were the inspiration behind the plays.

“To be honest, most of them are people I stole the play from,” Fennelly said.

Fennelly’s grandchildren also have plays named after them. His 11-year-old grandson, Will, the son of assistant coach and general manager Billy Fennelly, hears it often while he’s sitting in the stands at games. When his grandpa calls the play, Will sometimes thinks he’s trying to get his attention.

“Sometimes I’ll get super confused,” Will Fennelly said. “He’ll scream out my name and I’ll be like, ‘What?’ It’s just cool to have a play named after me.”

Fennelly periodically gets input from his players on naming new plays. Everything is fair game. The Cyclones have a play named “Coconut” after their trip to the Coconut Hoops event in Florida this season. Williams said one of the team’s most popular plays is called “Tessa,” named after Tessa Boccumini, the team’s associate director of sports medicine.

The names help players understand what they’re doing and get a better understanding of Iowa State history. “Lake Park,” for example, gives Fennelly an opportunity to talk about Gunderson and the impact she had on the Cyclones.

Gunderson is now the varsity girls baseball coach at Cretin-Derham Hall, a prestigious high school in St. Paul, Minn. She was surprised to hear Fennelly still uses the same name for that play.

“I’m kind of in disbelief,” Gunderson said. “It was a good play. We got a lot of open looks from it.”

As long as Fennelly keeps coaching, he’ll keep coming up with special names for his plays. He’s always on the lookout for new ideas. The tradition has gotten so popular that when Fennelly adds a play, his team gets excited for what they’ll name it.

One way for a player to leave their mark at the school is to have a play named after them.

“It’s kind of just the legacy of that and being able to run that play is definitely cool,” said Iowa State forward Addy Brown. I’ve just seen what they’ve done here. You hope that one day you leave and you have a play named after you.”

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2025 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.

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