320-Pound Iowa Offensive Lineman Sets New Record With Massive Hay Bale Toss En Route To Dynasty Status
University of Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker is starting to build a dynasty. Not on the football field, but in the hay bale toss.
The former three-star sophomore defended his title in the legendary event last week.
Located about 20 minutes away from the University of Iowa is the small town of Solon, Iowa. The town of just under 3,000 is not much bigger than a square mile, but it is home to one of the most legendary events in the state — Solon Beef Days.
Solon Beef Days
It is an annual festival that is totally free and has been held every year since 1971. Its history is vast and more than 25,000 visitors meander down Main Street without having to spend a penny each July.
Of the many events that take place at the festival — which include a tractor pull, cornhole tournament, horseshoe tournament, big wheel race and parade — the most famous is the Hay Bale Toss. The concept is simple: toss a hay bale as high as you can.
To determine the winner, a pole vault rig is set up in the middle of Main Street. Each competitor then proceeds to throw a hay bale over the bar, with the bar moving up after each round until only one person is left in the competition.
Over the past decade or so, a new tradition has been born. Iowa Hawkeye athletes (mostly football players, and mostly offensive linemen) drive north to Solon for the Beef Days and takeover the Hay Bale Toss.
Past champions include Brandon Scherff, Tristan Wirfs and Tyler Linderbaum.
Iowa OL Gennings Dunker went back-to-back.
Dunker, who stands 6-foot-5, 320 pounds, won the Hay Bale Toss last summer with a toss of 12 feet, six inches. He was a freshman.
Gunker returned to Solon to defend his title in 2023 and pulled up like he meant business.
Sure enough, Gunker was not there for fun. He was there to win.
Competitors went back-and-forth for quite some time until only two were left.
Gunker was one. Junior center Logan Jones was the other.
It went to a tiebreaker.
In the end, it was the reigning champion who defended his title with a record toss of 14 feet, six inches.
Dunker has two years of college football eligibility remaining after this fall. He has two Solon Beef Days Hay Bale Toss titles under his belt, can he get two more and complete the dynasty?!