Julian Manson, West High

It is an exciting time for Julian Manson. The West High senior committed to play football at the University of Iowa in June and is currently leading the Trojan football team to its winningest start since 2020. 

Manson is rated the top recruit in Iowa and a four-star prospect by national college football outlets. He was an All-State player last season, earning scholarship offers from ACC, Big 12, and Big Ten Conference schools. 

His qualities outside of the arena are what West High Principal Mitch Gross finds most impressive. 

“Juju is a model student-athlete,” said Gross. “He is kind, generous, caring, and polite. He embodies the spirit of winning with honor.”

The Superintendent's Student Advisory Council brings together high school students from West, City, and Liberty to engage with school district leadership. When it was time to select student leaders, Manson was the first candidate that occurred to Gross. 

“I thought that said a lot,” says Gross. “We have 1,600 students in this building, and Juju embodies all that is good about West High. When I think about who is a true ambassador for our school, it is Juju Manson.” 

Manson is an excellent scholar. He cites high Advanced Placement (AP) test scores as his favorite high school memory outside of athletics. 

“I think at one point in his life, he could be called Doctor Manson if he wanted to,” says head football coach Garrett Hartwig. “His academic achievements and involvement outside of sports are second to none. He is a well-rounded person.” 

For Manson, being a leader at West High is about reciprocating the attention and support that he receives. 

“I want to be remembered as a student-athlete who cares about everyone in the school, not just the football team, because it’s greater than the football team,” said Manson. 

Manson can be found leading the West High student section in any big game when he is not a participant. He says attending show choir concerts and theatre productions has been just as important to his Trojan experience. 

A Homecoming royal and fixture at pep assemblies, Manson is always prepared to talk up West High. 

“I truly believe that excellence is a tradition here,” says Manson, drawing on the school’s motto. “Any club, any extracurricular, any sport is well represented. They all feel love. Go to a show choir event. We have good show choirs.” 

Hartwig says that Manson’s no-ego approach serves him well on the football field. 

“What separates him is his willingness to work,” said Hartwig. “His grind, focus, and intent to make himself and those around him better is what makes him special.”

Manson ranked top-five in Class 5A for both tackles and receptions last season, earning first-team All-State recognition. He integrated seamlessly into one of Iowa’s top offenses, concerning himself with wins over statistics. 

“This team is special because we are all selfless,” says Manson. “The only stat that matters to us is a win.”

The selfless approach is just part of Manson’s personality. 

“He is uplifting to those around him,” says Hartwig. “He is able to connect with people from all walks of life. That speaks to his personality and leadership. It is more than just on the field where he has success. It’s everywhere.”

Manson moved to Iowa City in eighth grade from the East Coast. Before long, he felt right at home. 

“Iowa City is a breath of fresh air,” says Manson. “It is a little more slow-paced and allows you to really enjoy your experience, whatever you are doing in life. I am grateful to live here.”

His school experience helped make that transition smooth, first at North Central Middle School and then at West High. 

“The Trojan community is second to none,” says Manson. “Everybody knows who you are, no matter what you do. Regardless of your sport or extracurricular activity, they look at you as family.”

Soon, Manson will be a Hawkeye. That means continuing a legacy of student-athletes from West High to don the black and gold. 

It also means experiences that will be familiar to countless ICCSD alumni who choose to attend the Big Ten institution in their backyard. 

“I can go home whenever I want,” said Manson. “I live 10 minutes from the dorms, so home isn’t a phone call away; it is a drive away. It didn’t factor into my decision very much, but I know I will feel it when I get to college.”

With numerous scholarship offers, Manson indeed had a big decision to make. His experiences as a football recruit inform the advice he would give to any student selecting a college.

“An important question I asked was whether I could see myself there if one of my coaches wasn’t there,” said Manson. “That really comes down to the community. Your football experience matters, but so does your college experience, as well as academic goals.”

Manson knew Iowa City would be a fit because he had experienced transitions here before. 

“Iowa City is a college town, but also a people town,” said Manosn. “It is pretty big, but everybody still knows each other and takes care of you.”

Manson says there is still much to achieve on the gridiron, first with his high school team and then in college. As far as the Trojans are concerned, he is already a hometown hero. 

“There are so many kids throughout the community,” says Gross, “who can look up to an individual like Juju and say ‘that is what I want to be like some day.’ If we have a whole lot of Juju Mansons in this world, we are going to be in a good spot.”