Cedar Rapids Jefferson Coach Virg Cerveny is the 2015 bowling recipient of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s Golden Plaque of Distinction Award.

The IGHSAU Golden Plaque of Distinction Award honors the Iowa coach who has demonstrated a successful career while making notable contributions toward school, community and the coaching profession. Cerveny is the third bowling coach to receive this award.

This is Cerveny’s 25th year coaching the boys and girls bowling teams at Jefferson. In that span, he helped three boys and three J-Hawk girls teams to state team titles (all prior to IGHSAU & IHSAA sanctioning).

Two of his bowlers have been state runners-up. In all, he has had a total of 41 teams (20 boys and 21 girls) qualify for the state tournament.

Cerveny’s teams have earned several Mississippi Valley Conference crowns and 12 of his bowlers have received scholarships to bowl at the collegiate level. Cerveny is also active with Saturday bowling leagues in Cedar Rapids and organizes summer clinics for high school and younger bowlers.

In addition to coaching at Jefferson, Cerveny in his fourth season as an assistant coach for the Mount Mercy University men’s and women’s bowling teams. An accomplished bowler himself, he is a member of the Cedar Rapids and Iowa Bowling Hall of Fame.

Cerveny and his wife of 43 years, Arlene, are the parents of two sons, Brian and Dan. He also has two grandchildren.