(L to R)
Charlie Caris, Kim Carson, Laurie Keck Phillips, Kim Carson, Natasha Kaiser Brown, Todd Gordon
Kathy Keck Brewer, Kiel Uhl
Natasha Kaiser Brown
Natasha Kaiser Brown is a 1985 graduate of Roosevelt High School and a 1990 graduate of the University of Missouri. During her time at Roosevelt she won 11 state titles on the track at Drake Stadium including 4 straight 200 M titles. She was a two time winner of the 100 M her junior and senior years and added the 400 title to her accolades during her senior season giving her a sweep of the sprint events in 1985. In addition to the 7 individual titles she added championships in 3 different relay events in her four years competing for the Roughriders from 1981-1985.
After her graduation from Roosevelt she continued her career and education at the University of Missouri where she was a 6 time All American for the Tigers and was the Collegiate record holder in the indoor 400 Meters. Her indoor time of 51.92 seconds still stands as a Tiger record.
After a stellar career at Missouri Natasha competed in two Olympic Games in 1992 and 1996. In the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, she was a silver medalist as part of the USA’s 4 x 400 Meter Relay team. In 1993, while competing in the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany she was a World Champion and World Record Holder as a member of the 4 x 400 Meter Relay team and was also a silver medalist and ranked 2nd in the world in the 400 Meters.
All told in her competitive career, Natasha competed in 16 Drake Relays and was inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame in 1995. After coaching for 16 years at Drake University, she returned to her college alma mater in 2016 and enters her 25th year of coaching at the collegiate level entering the 2017-18 school year.
Charlie Caris
Charlie Caris graduated from Roosevelt High School in 2009 and from Georgetown University in 2013. At Roosevelt Mr. Caris was a three time state champion tennis player winning singles titles in 2007, 2008, and 2009 and is one of only four Iowa high school tennis players to win three state individual titles. In 2009 the Roughriders added the team state championship to their list of accomplishments. Charlie also teamed up with his sister Libby in 2009 and they won the state mixed doubles championship.
He continued his tennis and academic career at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. where he won over 100 matches in his four year career, was named to the 2013 All Big East Men’s Tennis Team his senior year and was also the team captain during the 2012-2013 season.
Mr. Caris graduated with a degree in Arabic and Government, is currently working in Washington D.C., and is the Director of Services for Praescient Analytics.
Kim Carson
Kim Carson graduated with the Roosevelt Class of 1992 and from Louisiana State University in 1998. During her time at Roosevelt, she had a stellar career on the track winning 15 total state indoor and outdoor titles during the 1990, 1991, and 1992 Iowa Girls State Track Meets. She joined elite company when she won three straight 100 M Hurdle state championship during those same years and owned the Iowa All Time Best Record in the event from 1990-1998 until it was broken by fellow Roughrider Lolo Jones.
After her graduation, she attended Louisiana State University where she was a seven time All-American and was a two time National Champion winning the 55M and 100 m hurdle events in 1996. The Tigers were also seven time National Team Champions in indoor and outdoor track and field during her career at LSU.
She has been inducted into the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Hall of Fame, the Iowa Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Drake Relays Hall of Fame and the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Miss Carson currently works for the State of Iowa Judicial Branch as an Education Specialist and is the Roosevelt Girls Track and Field Coach. She has a 13-year-old daughter, Bailey, and a six year old foster son, Brendan.
Kathy Keck Brewer
Kathy Keck graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1975, attended Southwest Missouri State University from 1975-1978 and graduated with a degree in General Business from Iowa State University in 1980. At Roosevelt Kathy won six state gymnastics championships including the all-around title in 1974. The Roughriders won the team championship in 1975 completing a run of five straight state titles.
Upon graduation, she attended Southwest Missouri State University and competed in gymnastics. During September of her first semester she fell during practice and broke her neck but thankfully made a full recovery and competed for the Bears for 2 ½ years lettering in 1977 and 1978.
Kathy now resides in Clive, is very focused on fitness and health and volunteers at the Waukee YMCA. She is married to her husband Kurt and they have a son and a daughter, Ted and Laura.
Laurie Keck Phillips
Laurie Keck is a 1977 graduate of Roosevelt High School, a 1981 graduate of Iowa State University, and earned her Masters in Art Education from Viterbo University in 2000. While competing for the Roughriders in gymnastics and won six state titles from 1974 to 1977 including being a part of the 1975 State Championship Team.
She competed for two years at Iowa State University before focusing on her academics and graduating with an education degree in 1981. She currently is currently working in her 26th year for the Des Moines Public Schools at Lincoln High School where she is the Head of the Art Department.
She is married to her husband Ward and they have two sons, Ward and Charlie, and four grandchildren.
Kiel Uhl
Kiel Uhl graduated from Roosevelt in 2005 and Iowa State University in 2009. Kiel was a standout distance runner in Cross Country and Track and Field for the Roughriders. In Cross Country, he was the individual champion in 2005 after runner-up finishes in 2003 and 2004. He was also a member of the 2003 State Championship Cross Country Team. On the track competing for the Roughriders he won three consecutive 3200 Meter titles in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
After his graduation from Roosevelt, he competed for the Iowa State Cyclones where was a six time All Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Performer along with being a three time All Big 12 performer in Cross Country.
He was a track team captain for the Cyclones during his senior season and capped off his career by being an NCAA Outdoor All American in the 10,000 Meters in 2009.
He graduated from Iowa State with an Architecture Degree and currently works as an architect for the Jensen Group. Kiel is married to his wife Lisa.