Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is the governing body for girls' junior and senior high school sports in the U.S. state of Iowa. The association promotes and regulates interscholastic sports among its member schools. Though its counterpart for boys sports in Iowa, the Iowa High School Athletic Association, is a full-time member of the National Federation of State High School Associations, the IGHSAU is only an affiliate member. It is headquartered at 5000 Westown Parkway, Suite 150,West Des Moines, Iowa 50266.
Sports currently overseen by the IGHSAU are basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, track and field, tennis, and volleyball.
Sports previously overseen by the IGHSAU were gymnastics, synchronized swimming, and indoor track and field.
Basketball
Classification guidelines
For 2011-2012, the 48 largest schools are in 4A, the next 64 in 3A, the next 128 in 2A, and the rest in 1A.From 2012–present: 5 Classes: Top 40=5A, 2nd tier of 48=4A, 3rd tier of 64=3A, 4th tier of 96=2A, the rest=1A.
State Champions
From 1920 until 1984, there was one tournament for teams with 6 players.| Year | 6-Player |
| 1920 | Correctionville |
| 1921 | Audubon |
| 1922 | Audubon |
| 1923 | Audubon |
| 1924 | Audubon |
| 1925 | Aplington; Ida Grove |
| 1926 | Hampton |
| 1927 | Newhall |
| 1928 | Ida Grove |
| 1929 | Ida Grove |
| 1930 | Perry |
| 1931 | Avoca |
| 1932 | Parkersburg |
| 1933 | Hampton |
| 1934 | Wellsburg |
| 1935 | Centerville |
| 1936 | Centerville |
| 1937 | Guthrie Center |
| 1938 | West Bend |
| 1939 | West Bend |
| 1940 | Hansell |
| 1941 | Numa |
| 1942 | Clutier |
| 1943 | Steamboat Rock |
| 1944 | Wiota |
| 1945 | Wiota |
| 1946 | Coon Rapids |
| 1947 | Seymour |
| 1948 | Kamrar |
| 1949 | Wellsburg |
| 1950 | Slater |
| 1951 | Hansell |
| 1952 | Reinbeck |
| 1953 | Garnavillo |
| 1954 | Garnavillo |
| 1955 | Goldfield |
| 1956 | Maynard |
| 1957 | Garrison |
| 1958 | West Central |
| 1959 | Gladbrook |
| 1960 | Gladbrook |
| 1961 | Valley |
| 1962 | Van Horne |
| 1963 | Guthrie Center |
| 1964 | West Monona |
| 1965 | South Hamilton |
| 1966 | Everly |
| 1967 | Mediapolis |
| 1968 | Union-Whitten |
| 1969 | Montezuma |
| 1970 | Montezuma |
| 1971 | Farragut |
| 1972 | Roland-Story |
| 1973 | Mediapolis |
| 1974 | Manilla |
| 1975 | Lake View-Auburn |
| 1976 | Lake View-Auburn |
| 1977 | Southeast Polk |
| 1978 | Ankeny |
| 1979 | Des Moines East |
| 1980 | Ankeny |
| 1981 | Norwalk |
| 1982 | Estherville |
| 1983 | Fairfield |
| 1984 | Vinton |
From 1985-1993, there was a tournament for 5-player teams and one for 6-player teams.
| Year | 6-Player | 5-Player |
| 1985 | Fort Dodge | Linn-Mar |
| 1986 | Sibley-Ocheyedan | Marshalltown |
| 1987 | Ventura | Western Dubuque |
| 1988 | Dike | Cedar Rapids Washington |
| 1989 | Ankeny | Muscatine |
| 1990 | Atlantic | Waterloo Columbus |
| 1991 | Emmetsburg | Cedar Falls |
| 1992 | Osage | WDM Dowling |
| 1993 | Hubbard-Radcliffe | Cedar Rapids Jefferson |
From 1994-2012, there were 4 classes, all with 5 players
| Year | 1A | 2A | 3A | 4A |
| 1994 | Treynor | Solon | Central DeWitt | Bettendorf |
| 1995 | Winfield-Mt. Union | Center Point-Urbana | Vinton-Shellsburg | Cedar Rapids Washington |
| 1996 | Winfield-Mt. Union | Sibley-Ocheyedan | Carroll | WDM Dowling |
| 1997 | Lynnville-Sully | Solon | Carroll | Ankeny |
| 1998 | Lynnville-Sully | Solon | Carroll Kuemper | WDM Dowling |
| 1999 | Lynnville-Sully | Audubon | Washington | Ankeny |
| 2000 | Preston | North Cedar | Washington | WDM Dowling |
| 2001 | Preston | Rock Valley | Washington | Cedar Falls |
| 2002 | Rock Valley | Mid-Prairie | Perry | Ankeny |
| 2003 | Rock Valley | Underwood | Cedar Rapids Xavier | Ankeny |
| 2004 | Rockwell City-Lytton | Underwood | Waukon | Ankeny |
| 2005 | Charter Oak-Ute | Grundy Center | Cedar Rapids Xavier | Ankeny |
| 2006 | IKM | North Butler | Norwalk | Des Moines Roosevelt |
| 2007 | Graettinger-Terril | North Butler | Cedar Rapids Xavier | Sioux City North |
| 2008 | Springville | Davenport Assumption | Sioux City Bishop Heelan | Iowa City |
| 2009 | AGWSR | IKM-Manning | Ballard | Sioux City North |
| 2010 | Exira | Mount Vernon | Sioux City Bishop Heelan | Linn-Mar |
| 2011 | Martensdale-St. Mary's | OA-BCIG | Davenport Assumption | Des Moines East |
| 2012 | North Mahaska | Western Christian | Davenport Assumption | Iowa City West |
From 2013–present, there are 5 classes, all with 5 players
| Year | 1A | 2A | 3A | 4A | 5A |
| 2013 | Central Lyon | Western Christian | Davenport Assumption | Cedar Rapids Xavier | Southeast Polk |
| 2014 | Burlington Notre Dame | Western Christian | MOC–Floyd Valley | Harlan | Dowling Catholic |
| 2015 | Newell-Fonda | Unity Christian | Nevada | Harlan | Waukee |
| 2016 | Springville | Unity Christian | Pocahontas Area | Mason City | Ankeny Centennial |
| 2017 | Springville | Western Christian | Pocahontas Area | North Scott | West Des Moines Valley |
| 2018 | Springville | Cascade | Crestwood | Marion | Iowa City West |
| 2019 | Newell-Fonda | Treynor | Center Point-Urbana | North Scott | West Des Moines Valley |
| 2020 | Sioux City Bishop Heelan | Johnston |
Bowling
Classification guidelines
From 2007–2014, 2 classes:State Champions
From 2015–present, 3 classes:| Year | 1A | 2A | 3A |
| 2015 | Camanche | Keokuk | Johnston |
| 2016 | Camanche | Waterloo East | Johnston |
| 2017 | Louisa-Muscatine | Ottumwa | Johnston |
Soccer
Classification guidelines
State Champions
From 1998–2001, one class:| Year | Champion |
| 1998 | Bettendorf |
| 1999 | Wahlert |
| 2000 | Wahlert |
| 2001 | Urbandale |
From 2002–2010, 2 classes:
| Year | 1A | 2A |
| 2002 | Assumption, Davenport | Wahlert |
| 2003 | Assumption, Davenport | Valley, West Des Moines |
| 2004 | Xavier | Iowa City West |
| 2005 | Wahlert | Valley, West Des Moines |
| 2006 | Xavier | Valley, West Des Moines |
| 2007 | Xavier | Valley, West Des Moines |
| 2008 | Xavier | Valley, West Des Moines |
| 2009 | Xavier | Cedar Rapids Kennedy |
| 2010 | Xavier | Valley, West Des Moines |
From 2011–present, 3 classes:
| Year | 1A | 2A | 3A |
| 2011 | Assumption, Davenport | Xavier | Ankeny |
| 2012 | Assumption, Davenport | Xavier | Cedar Rapids Kennedy |
| 2013 | Assumption, Davenport | Xavier | Ankeny |
| 2014 | Assumption, Davenport | North Scott | Cedar Rapids Kennedy |
| 2015 | Bishop Heelan | Ankeny | Iowa City West |
| 2016 | Assumption, Davenport | Lewis Central | Ankeny Centennial |
| 2017 | Assumption, Davenport | Lewis Central | Ames |
Softball
Classification guidelines
State Champions
From 1957–1987, one class, summer and fall seasons:| Year | Summer champion | Fall champion |
| 1957 | Cedar Valley | Wheatland |
| 1958 | Argyle | Cedar Valley |
| 1959 | Roland | West Central, Maynard |
| 1960 | Battle Creek | Roland |
| 1961 | Southeast Warren | Roland |
| 1962 | Woden-Crystal Lake | Southeast Warren |
| 1963 | Woden-Crystal Lake | Southeast Warren |
| 1964 | Hubbard | North, West Union |
| 1965 | Hubbard | South Hamilton |
| 1966 | Benton Community | South Hamilton |
| 1967 | Kingsley-Pierson | Kingsley-Pierson |
| 1968 | Southeast Warren | Kingsley-Pierson |
| 1969 | Wapsie Valley | Wapsie Valley |
| 1970 | Roland-Story | Central, Elkader |
| 1971 | Roland-Story | Adel |
| 1972 | NESCO | Roland-Story |
| 1973 | Clear Creek | Clear Creek |
| 1974 | Dubuque Senior | Clear Creek |
| 1975 | Clear Creek | South Hamilton |
| 1976 | Ottumwa | North Polk |
| 1977 | Urbandale | Urbandale |
| 1978 | Ankeny | Ankeny |
| 1979 | Ankeny | Ankeny |
| 1980 | Ankeny | Charles City |
| 1981 | Des Moines East | Ankeny |
| 1982 | Des Moines Hoover | Roland-Story |
| 1983 | Cedar Rapids Jefferson | Turkey Valley |
| 1984 | Davenport West | Ankeny |
| 1985 | Dubuque Senior | Ankeny |
| 1986 | Davenport West | Ankeny |
| 1987 | North Scott | Urbandale |
From 1988–1993, one class:
| Year | Champion |
| 1988 | Webster City |
| 1989 | Muscatine |
| 1990 | Valley, West Des Moines |
| 1991 | Ankeny |
| 1992 | Dowling Catholic |
| 1993 | North Scott |
From 1994–2003, 3 classes:
| Year | 1A | 2A | 3A |
| 1994 | Lisbon | Carlisle | Ankeny |
| 1995 | Lisbon | Clarke | Ottumwa |
| 1996 | Lisbon | Carlisle | Ankeny |
| 1997 | Clear Creek-Amana | Carlisle | Cedar Rapids Jefferson |
| 1998 | Woodward-Granger | Benton Community | Cedar Rapids Jefferson |
| 1999 | Alburnett | Waukee | Des Moines Lincoln |
| 2000 | North Polk | Waukee | Muscatine |
| 2001 | Colfax-Mingo | Webster City | Des Moines Lincoln |
| 2002 | Woodbury Central | Clear Creek-Amana | North Scott |
| 2003 | Cardinal | Solon | Valley, West Des Moines |
From 2004–2011, 4 classes:
| Year | 1A | 2A | 3A | 4A |
| 2004 | Cardinal | Clear Creek-Amana | Spirit Lake | Dowling Catholic |
| 2005 | Alburnett | Akron-Westfield | Norwalk | Valley, West Des Moines |
| 2006 | Akron-Westfield | North Polk | Clear Creek-Amana | Des Moines East |
| 2007 | Highland | Solon | West Delaware | Valley, West Des Moines |
| 2008 | Newell-Fonda | North Polk | Winterset | Valley, West Des Moines |
| 2009 | Earlham | BCLUW | Clear Creek-Amana | Johnston |
| 2010 | Akron-Westfield | BCLUW | Carlisle | Valley, West Des Moines |
| 2011 | Akron-Westfield | Regina | Clear Creek-Amana | Des Moines East |
From 2012–present, 5 classes:
| Year | 1A | 2A | 3A | 4A | 5A |
| 2012 | Martensdale-St. Marys | Treynor | Ballard | Indianola | Ankeny |
| 2013 | Akron-Westfield | Durant | Bondurant-Farrar | Dallas Center-Grimes | Dowling Catholic |
| 2014 | Akron-Westfield | Earlham | Clarke | Dallas Center-Grimes | Johnston |
| 2015 | AGWSR | Iowa City Regina | Solon | Dallas Center-Grimes | Waukee |
| 2016 | Kee | Van Meter | Benton | Oskaloosa | Johnston |
Tennis
Classification guidelines
State Champions
Track and Field
Classification guidelines
State Champions
Volleyball
Classification guidelines
For 2011–2012, the 48 largest schools were in 4A, the next 64 in 3A, the next 128 in 2A, and the rest in 1A.From 2012–present: 5 Classes: Top 40=5A, 2nd tier of 48=4A, 3rd tier of 64=3A, 4th tier of 96=2A, the rest=1A.
State Champions
From 1970–1973, one class, winter season play only:| Year | Champion |
| 1970 | Davenport West |
| 1971 | Fort Dodge |
| 1972 | Carroll |
| 1973 | Mason City |
From 1973–1980, one class:
| Year | Champion |
| 1973 | Dubuque Senior |
| 1974 | Wahlert |
| 1975 | Dubuque Hempstead |
| 1976 | Wahlert |
| 1977 | Wahlert |
| 1978 | Wahlert |
| 1979 | Cedar Rapids Kennedy |
| 1980 | Dubuque Senior |
From 1981–1993, 2 classes:
| Year | 1A | 2A |
| 1981 | Mater Dei | Davenport Central |
| 1982 | Mater Dei | Sioux City North |
| 1983 | Mater Dei | Dubuque Senior |
| 1984 | Mount Vernon | Fort Dodge |
| 1985 | Dike | North Scott |
| 1986 | Dike | Wahlert |
| 1987 | Dike | Wahlert |
| 1988 | Dike | Davenport North |
| 1989 | Dike | Western Christian |
| 1990 | Unity Christian | Wahlert |
| 1991 | Marquette, West Point | Wahlert |
| 1992 | Lincoln, Stanwood | Wahlert |
| 1993 | Unity Christian | Western Christian |
From 1994–2002, 3 classes:
| Year | 1A | 2A | 3A |
| 1994 | Dike-New Hartford | Western Christian | Marshalltown |
| 1995 | Eldora-New Providence | Western Christian | Wahlert |
| 1996 | Marquette, West Point | Unity Christian | Wahlert |
| 1997 | Dike-New Hartford | Unity Christian | Davenport North |
| 1998 | Eldora-New Providence | Western Christian | Iowa City High |
| 1999 | Tripoli | Iowa Falls | Bishop Heelan Catholic |
| 2000 | Tripoli | Unity Christian | Wahlert |
| 2001 | Tripoli | Western Christian | Wahlert |
| 2002 | Grandview Park Baptist | Western Christian | Wahlert |
From 2003–2011, 4 classes:
| Year | 1A | 2A | 3A | 4A |
| 2003 | Tripoli | Western Christian | Wahlert | Dubuque Hempstead |
| 2004 | Tripoli | Western Christian | Wahlert | Ankeny |
| 2005 | Tripoli | Aplington-Parkersburg | Wahlert | Ankeny |
| 2006 | Wapsie Valley | Western Christian | Bishop Heelan Catholic | Iowa City High |
| 2007 | Wapsie Valley | Western Christian | Bishop Heelan Catholic | Johnston |
| 2008 | Tripoli | Western Christian | Marion | Ankeny |
| 2009 | Tripoli | Mount Vernon | Waverly-Shell Rock | Ankeny |
| 2010 | Tripoli | Western Christian | Mount Vernon | Iowa City West |
| 2011 | Tripoli | Dike-New Hartford | Waverly-Shell Rock | Iowa City West |
From 2012–present, 5 classes: Top 40=5A, 2nd tier of 48=4A, 3rd tier of 64=3A, 4th tier of 96=2A, the rest=1A.
| Year | 1A | 2A | 3A | 4A | 5A |
| 2012 | Tripoli | Dike-New Hartford | MOC-Floyd Valley | Charles City | Bettendorf |
| 2013 | Janesville | Dike-New Hartford | MOC-Floyd Valley | Harlan | Bettendorf |
| 2014 | Holy Trinity Catholic | Dike-New Hartford | Solon | Harlan | Ankeny Centennial |
| 2015 | Janesville | Western Christian | Nevada | West Delaware | Ankeny Centennial |
| 2016 | Janesville | Western Christian | Dike-New Hartford | Dubuque Wahlert | Ankeny Centennial |
| 2017 | Janesville | Dike-New Hartford | Columbus Catholic | Dubuque Wahlert | Cedar Falls |
Defunct sports
Three sports were previously overseen by the IGHSAU. These three sports were: gymnastics, synchronized swimming, and indoor track and field.Gymnastics
Classification guidelines
Gymnastics was an IGHSAU sponsored sport from 1968–1988.State Champions
From 1968–1988, one class:| Year | Champion |
| 1968 | Sioux City Central |
| 1969 | Cedar Rapids Washington |
| 1970 | Cedar Rapids Washington |
| 1971 | Ames; Des Moines Roosevelt |
| 1972 | Des Moines Roosevelt |
| 1973 | Des Moines Roosevelt |
| 1974 | Des Moines Roosevelt |
| 1975 | Des Moines Roosevelt |
| 1976 | Cedar Rapids Washington |
| 1977 | Cedar Rapids Washington |
| 1978 | Ames |
| 1979 | Cedar Rapids Washington |
| 1980 | Clinton |
| 1981 | Clinton |
| 1982 | Clinton |
| 1983 | Linn-Mar |
| 1984 | Clinton |
| 1985 | Linn-Mar |
| 1986 | Linn-Mar |
| 1987 | Clinton |
| 1988 | Linn-Mar |
Synchronized Swimming
Classification guidelines
Synchronized Swimming was an IGHSAU sponsored sport from 1970–1981.State Champions
From 1970–1981, one class:| Year | Champion |
| 1970 | Davenport West |
| 1971 | Davenport Central |
| 1972 | Davenport Central |
| 1973 | Davenport Central |
| 1974 | Davenport Central |
| 1975 | Davenport Central |
| 1976 | Davenport Central |
| 1977 | Davenport Central |
| 1978 | Davenport Central |
| 1979 | Valley, West Des Moines |
| 1980 | Valley, West Des Moines |
| 1981 | Valley, West Des Moines |
Indoor Track & Field
Classification guidelines
Indoor Track & Field was an IGHSAU sponsored sport from 1965–1997.State Champions
From 1965–1997, one class:| Year | Champion |
| 1965 | Belle Plaine |
| 1966 | Belle Plaine |
| 1967 | Rolfe |
| 1968 | Adel |
| 1969 | Manilla |
| 1970 | B-G-M |
| 1971 | Manilla |
| 1972 | Collins; Manilla |
| 1973 | Hampton |
| 1974 | Collins |
| 1975 | Woodbine |
| 1976 | Woodbine |
| 1977 | Indianola |
| 1978 | Tri-County |
| 1979 | Indianola |
| 1980 | Indianola |
| 1981 | Cedar Rapids Jefferson |
| 1982 | Davenport West |
| 1983 | Pleasant Valley |
| 1984 | Pleasant Valley |
| 1985 | Pleasant Valley |
| 1986 | Pleasant Valley |
| 1987 | Camanche |
| 1988 | Camanche |
| 1989 | Ames |
| 1990 | Ames |
| 1991 | Pleasant Valley |
| 1992 | Pleasant Valley |
| 1993 | Indianola |
| 1994 | Indianola |
| 1995 | Cedar Falls; Indianola |
| 1996 | Davenport North; CR Prairie; Ankeny |
| 1997 | Pleasant Valley |
IGHSAU Executive Directors
| Term span | Name |
| 1947–54 | R.H. Chisholm |
| 1954–2002 | Dr. E. Wayne Cooley |
| 2002–08 | Troy Dannen |
| 2008–16 | Mike Dick |
| 2016–present | Jean Berger |