SOLON — There is a new Hay Bale Toss champion at the Solon Beef Days.
After winning back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025, Iowa football offensive lineman Kade Pieper did not participate in this year’s event.
That opened the door for a new victor to be crowned.
Enter Cael Winter.
On a hot July 17 evening, Winter cleared 13 feet and six inches, outduelling Iowa football teammate Lucas Allgeyer to win the event. Pieper’s winning mark last year was 13 feet.
Winter, an in-state product who attended Waukee Northwest High School, is entering his fourth season in the Hawkeyes’ program. He appeared sparingly on Iowa’s offensive line last season.
Credit to Iowa quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski for predicting this to happen two days before the event. After being asked if he had a favorite to win, Hecklinski said, “I think Cael Winter might win it this year.”
Hecklinski turned out to be correct.
It’s not just at the Solon Beef Days that Winter has been a standout. After Iowa’s spring open practice in April, head coach Kirk Ferentz was complimentary of Winter.
“Cael Winter has really done a good job,” Ferentz said. “He’s stayed on the field and he’s really taken advantage of his opportunity. He’s an interesting guy because he’s been a good player, a little bit inconsistent. But I think this block of 15 practices, he’s really shown the kind of consistency maybe that we felt he was capable of. So, he’s certainly in the mix, and he plays center, as well.”
The number of Iowa football contestants in this year’s Hay Bale Toss was in the double digits, most of whom were offensive linemen, including Winter, Allgeyer, Trevor Lauck, Michael Myslinski and Leighton Jones.
Three of the final four contestants remaining were Hawkeye football players: Winter, Allgeyer and defensive lineman Luke Gaffney. That was then sliced in half to just Winter and Allgeyer.
The finish was dramatic.
With the bar at 13 feet and six inches, Winter and Allgeyer each missed two throws, so it was lowered back down to 13 feet, a height that both had previously already cleared.
In a sudden-death scenario, both missed their first tosses of the round at 13 feet, but then cleared it on their second throws, extending the competition.
That sent the bar back to 13 feet and six inches.
This time, Winter heaved it over the bar as the crowd roared. With the contest on the line, Allgeyer then missed 13 feet and six inches again, meaning that Winter took home the title.
The Solon Beef Days Hay Bale Toss torch was officially handed from Pieper to Winter.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at TTachman@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Hawk Central: Another Iowa offensive lineman wins Hay Bale Toss at Solon Beef Days
Reporting by Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register / Hawk Central
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
