The Gym Class airs from 3pm to 4pm weekdays on 1600 ESPN with co-hosts Scott Unash and Mark Dukes. Combined, Scott and Mark have been covering local and area sports for more than 45 years.
We talk everything from prep sports, college sports to the pros….big and small….covering the latest news and topics, while also remembering the past.
Scott Unash lives and breathes sports. Scott was born and reared in Cedar Rapids. He attended Kennedy High School, where he played baseball and golf, graduating in 1984. He moved on to the University of Iowa, receiving his degree in Broadcast Journalism in 1988. In 1989, he started work at KOUR Radio in Independence, Iowa, as a Disc Jockey and a member of the sports staff. After two years, he was recruited by KCRG Radio in Cedar Rapids and worked there as the Sports Director through 2006 when the station was purchased by KZIA, Inc., and became KGYM 1600 ESPN. Scott was named the Sports and Program Director of the new station.
Scott has been the voice of high school athletics in the Cedar Rapids metro area since 1991. In addition, he has called local college contests, Hawkeye Downs racing and Cedar Rapids Kernels games over the length of his career. Scott was the actual play-by-play radio announcer of the 1991 Norway High School baseball state finals featured in the movie “The Final Season.” (KZIA co-worker Ric Swann played him in the movie because Scott looked too “young”.) He has been honored many times over the years for his play-by-play abilities. The Iowa Broadcast News Association named Scott the state’s top play-by-play announcer in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015. Scott lives with wife Kristi and has two grown sons…Ryan, and his fiancé Jenna, along with Aaron. Scott enjoys playing golf, bowling, and all sports basically
1600 ESPN’s Mark Dukes brings tremendous sports experience and perspective.
Mark was born in Cedar Rapids. He received his diploma from Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School in 1974 where he had participated in basketball, baseball and golf, as well as being editor of the Outlook student newspaper.
He was a four-year letterman on the golf team of Coe College in Cedar Rapids, which won the 1976 Midwest Conference title and participated in the NCAA Division III tournament in Springfield, Ohio.
Mark spent three months in 1976 as an intern at the Washington, D.C, Bureau of the Des Moines Register.
He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Coe in 1978.
While still in high school, he worked at the Cedar Rapids Gazette as a part-time employee on the sports desk. He was named to a full-time sportswriter position in 1978, became assistant sports editor in 1983, and served as sports editor from 1984-1998. During his Gazette career, he covered a variety of high school events, University of Iowa and Iowa State University Football and Basketball, NCAA Basketball and Wrestling Tournaments, six bowl games, the 1983 All-Star Baseball Game and two Baseball World Series.
Mark co-authored “Greatest Moments in Iowa Hawkeye Football History” with former Gazette sports editor Gus Schrader.
He was an owner and manager in the restaurant-bar business for 15 years. In addition to his radio work, Dukes does free-lance writing, editing and consulting work.
Mark is the father of two grown children and grandfather of five.
Isaac Elzinga was born and raised in Iowa City, after Graduating from Iowa City HIgh School, in 2018, he attended Kirkwood Community College receiving an associates of arts degree in the fall of 2022. Isaac is planning on transferring to the University of Iowa in the fall of 2023 where he plans to get a degree in communications.
Isaac, like most people in Iowa City Isaac is a fan of the Hawkeyes. He is also a fan of the Packers, Utah Jazz, Dodgers, and is a big soccer fan with his favorite team being Manchester United. Apart from sports Isaac is also a fan of some nerdy things like The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.
Isaac is always excited to talk and learn about sports. He is looking forward to taking your phone calls and reading your texts to see what’s on your mind in the sports world.
Hear the latest episode of the show here!
The Gym Class
April 24
Bi-weekly “Caddysmack” golf show with Bryan Haas and a special guest Reggie Bush gets his Heisman back. What about the USC natty? Enter the station’s “Meat and Greet” contest Emil’s Hideaway Scoreboard
April 23
Bi-weekly baseball segment with Cal Eldred: teams, players, developments and more The transfer portal and its impact on Iowa football Chance to enter our Meat and Greet sweepstakes Emil’s Hideaway Scoreboard
April 22
What we, and you, learned from the spring practices Ed Podolak transitions away from Iowa color commentary RIP Bill Quinby New contest to win cash from us Emil’s Hideaway Scoreboard
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