April 25, 2024

Raridon family in a state frame of mind

By Jocelyn Sheets

Dale Raridon of Newton stands in front of his family members who have earned all- state honors as Iowa high school athletes. They are (left to right) son Scott Raridon Sr., daughter-in-law Traci Raridon, son-in-law Aaron Beard, grandsons Scott Jr., Sam and John Raridon. (Submitted Photo)

NEWTON — Ask Dale Raridon about football and his son and grandsons. Watch him pop a button on his shirt with pride. And well, he should.

Dale, who lives in Newton, has pride in the fact his son Scott Raridon and Scott’s three sons have all been high school Class 4A all-state tackles in Iowa.

With the selection of sophomore John Raridon to the 2013 Des Moines Register’s Elite All-State Football Team in November, the Raridons quite possibly made Iowa state history.

“Scott said he did a little research and could not find another family that a father and three sons all were all-state selections,” Dale said. The Scott Raridon family lives in West Des Moines.

But the Raridon sons don’t just get the all-state status from their father. Mom, Traci, was an all-state softball and track star at Southeast Polk High School in 1986. Scott Raridon Sr. earned first-team all-state honors as an offensive tackle in 1981 at Mason City.

Scott Jr. earned all-state honors at offensive tackle in 2001 at Mason City. Sam Raridon was a first-team selection at defensive tackle in 2012 and John Raridon earned his honors this year. Both Sam and John played for West Des Moines Valley High School.

Scott Jr. was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Iowa for 2001 and was a three-year letterman at Notre Dame starting in 2002. Scott Jr. was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-America Bowl game his senior year. Sam, who was first-team Class 4A All-State as a junior and senior, signed to play for Wisconsin.

Traci Raridon threw the shot put for the Wisconsin women’s track and field team.  Scott Sr., played at Mason City High under Barry Alvarez, the current UW athletic director and the school’s former football coach.

Scott Sr. was an offensive lineman at Nebraska after winning a state title under Alvarez in 1978. He later played for the Philadelphia Eagles and also spent time as a strength and conditioning coach at Notre Dame, where his son, Scott Jr., played.

Dale’s son-in-law, Aaron Beard of Newton, was a first-team All-State selection as defensive back in 1983.

“We were all together for Thanksgiving. It’s quite an accomplishment for these young men,” Dale said with a smile. Dale’s late wife, Connie, passed away last year.