sports spotlight volume 2 issue 2
DESCRIPTION
Iowa High School Football setting records. Underclassmen making an impact as well as volleyball news and notes.TRANSCRIPT
FOOTBALL
MAKING HISTORY
BOONE XC
8-MAN PREPS
A DYNAMIC DUOUNDERCLASSMEN
MAKING AN IMPACT
Raising the barPG 10
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7 GRIDIRON YOUNG GUNSUnderclassmen made an impact this fall.
16 A CLASS OF HER OWN Maggie James overcomes back injury for second state championship win.
4 BEARS MAKE TURNAROUNDThe Bears finished their season 8-0.
19 TWO PEAS IN A PODBest friends and cross-country teammates strive for excellence.
Editor’s Note:Records are made to be broken and there were several players in 8-man who took that mantra to heart this season. A number of state and even national records fell this fall, thanks to a trio of outstanding players. Also read about a few underclassmen who made a big impact for their teams this season. Ames High features the state’s best diver; see why Maggie James quickly reached the top. And Boone is home to Class 3A’s top cross country runners, who find ways to push each other to greater heights. C
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4 SportsSpotlight.comVolume 2 Issue 2
STRONG TECHNIQUE LEADS TO STRONG SEASON FOR THE BEARSEmily Gregor | Contributor
The Greater Des Moines Catholic Football League prides itself on focusing on sportsmanship, teamwork, commitment, accountability, football fundamentals and lifelong physical fitness.
For the Bears of the seventh grade division, the program has done just that. This season has been a total turnaround for the team compared to last year. As 2012 came to an end, they were ranked 5th in their division.
But the Bears were an unbeatable force this fall as they went 8-0 and won the league championship on Oct. 19, 39-7, over the Colts.
“You know it goes back to the fundamentals of the game and just taking it back to the very beginning, proper technique, basic fundamentals of how to play the game of football, and the kids have responded very well to that,” said Pat Kueter, one of the team’s head coaches.
Alongside Kueter is coach Rick Peterson, and together these two make a dynamic duo that has crafted a dominant group of football players
this year. Coaching and training aside, these kids are skilled both on and off the field.
“We have an extremely talented group of kids, both on the field and in the classroom,” Kueter said.
Despite the team’s young talent, they still have a long way to go before they can don an NFL jersey and pads. According to Kueter, they improved significantly throughout the season in their blocking and passing techniques and with their defensive fundamentals.
“Overall, the focus has gotten better as the season has progressed,” Kueter said.
Every week, the Bears took their game to the next level, inching closer to winning the league championship. In the league semifinals on Oct. 12, they were able to get past the Packers and into the league title game, despite a slow start.
“[On Oct. 12] when we played the Packers, after not scoring for a while they responded and they were able to succeed by returning to those
fundamentals,” Kueter said. With a championship now
officially under their belts, the Bears and their turnaround are testaments to the difference a little hard work can make.
The Bears took home the title in the Greater Des Moines Catholic Youth Football League’s seventh grade division with a 39-7 win over the Colts on Oct. 19. The Bears finished the season with a perfect 8-0 record. (Photo courtesy of Pat Kueter)
Youth
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Photo courtesy of Tom Cooney
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Each month we publish youth action photos from around the state. We would love to get yours! Send us your photos at [email protected]
YOUNG GUNS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Volume 2 Issue 2 7SportsSpotlight.com
The bright lights of a fall Friday night are part of high school football’s alluring pageantry and stepping under those lights can be intimidating, as well as awe-inspiring. For many Iowa preps, it can take years of training to reach this limelight. But others are ready right away.
The RookieAt a time when most freshmen are
concerned with the transition from middle school to high school, Brady Brandsfield had to focus on Class 3A District 8 defenses.
“We had him playing catch with a few of the receivers this summer, and we thought he had a legitimate shot at being the starter,” Norwalk head coach Paul Patterson said. “It was at a summer 7-on-7 camp that we knew he was going to be our guy.”
It was the first time during his 17 years at Norwalk that Patterson had seen a freshman move under center and grab the reigns. Even though it was uncharted territory, the coach
was confident in his new quarterback, and Brandsfield was confident in his teammates.
“It’s definitely a big step from anything I did before, but my coaches and teammates have been helping me through the whole process,” Brandsfield said. “The other guys are always teaching me and I’ve got great play-makers around me. It’s been a great experience so far and I look forward to building on it.”
Brandsfield has shown glimpses of being more than just a tall pocket passer. In a shootout against division rival Oskaloosa, Brandsfield threw for 290 yards and rushed for 100 more.
But perhaps Brandsfield’s biggest asset rests between his ears.
“The thing you have to understand about Brady is he’s coachable,” Patterson said. “You talk to him about something and the next time, it’s fixed. He’s very much a student of the game.”
The Second ActLearning from upperclassmen’s
experiences has also been important for Fort Dodge’s Sam Cook.
“Growing up, it was a big deal, everybody wanted to play varsity football,” Cook said. “Last year, everyone was very welcoming and we’ve grown together a lot more this year.”
The sophomore tailback has ran roughshod over 4A, piling up 1,191 yards through seven games. Cook’s skills were never more on display than during an Oct. 4 showdown with Des Moines North. Cook erupted for 352 yards in a 43-15 Dodgers victory.
“I think my biggest strengths are running hard and reading blocks,” Cook said.
However, Cook’s skills don’t just flash on the offensive side of the ball. The 5-10, 185-pound sophomore
started as a linebacker during his freshman year.
“We knew Sam had some talent last year,” Dodgers head coach Matt Miller said. “We had a need at that position so we gave him a shot. We always tell the kids that no matter the grade level, if you have the ability to compete at this level, we’ll give you an opportunity.”
Changing with the timesWhen Dan Spooner took over
at Coon Rapids-Bayard, he wanted to change the offensive philosophy of the once pass-happy squad. In a stroke of luck, Zach Evans was ready to capitalize on the change; the sophomore tailback became the featured rusher in the new ground-and-pound Crusader attack.
“We want to run the football a lot, move the chains and limit the other team’s time of possession,” Spooner said. “Zach understands what’s expected of him and what we are trying to accomplish.”
While the notion of a sophomore starting for an 8-man squad is more
common than in larger classes, few players do it as well as Evans. He first had to prove himself on the practice field, though.
“Last year he played defense for us, but not much offense since we were so pass-focused,” Spooner said. “But you could see him getting better every week. He’s a workaholic and the older kids appreciate that about him. They never have to question his work ethic.”
It’s that work ethic — both physical and mental — that has made Evans the focal point for the team on both sides of the ball.
“I just try to do the job I have been given to the best of my ability,” Evans said. “I’m a little shorter, but I think I have strong legs and that helps me hit the seams that the line does a great job of creating for me; they are always helping me read and find the holes.”
Not only has he established himself as powerhouse rusher, but he was also a team leader in tackles, tackles for loss, and fumble recoveries. For Evans, it all begins with confidence and not being afraid of more seasoned opponents.
“At first it is a little scary going against guys who have been around longer,” Evans said. “But you just need to have the mindset that you’re as talented and you just need to give it your best shot.”
Darrin Cline | Contributor
high School
Fort Dodge’s Sam Cook. (Photo courtesy of Britt Kudla/Fort Dodge Messenger)
Norwalk’s Brady Brandsfield. (Photo courtesy of Michael Rolands/Indianola Record-Herald)
Coon Rapids-Bayard’s Zach Evans. (Photo courtesy of Charlie Nixon/Coon Rapids Enterprise)
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Brennan ReidemannRiver Valley (Correctionville), Class of 2014 - 3.5 GPA
SPORTS:Football and Basketball
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS/HONORS: 8-Man District 1 Offensive MVP and 3rd Team All-State.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS/HONORS: National Honor Society and A Honor Roll.
COLLEGE OR POST-HIGH SCHOOL PLANS: Attend college, succeed in football and become an engineer.
Achievements
Brennan’s Q & A
Photo courtesy of River Valley High School
Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY? WHY? A: Football, because this sport clicked more than basketball did for me. Once I knew I had the starting quarterback spot, I put a lot ofhard work into being a better player.
Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS MEMORY?
A: Bringing a team that was basically nothing at all to a team that people want to watch and change people’s views toward us.
Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY FUN PRE-GAME “RITUALS” THAT PREPARE YOU FOR AN EVENT?A: I put some music on and jump around while getting my uniform on. This makes me feel more loose and always makes me feel ready to go.
Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL AND WHY?A: Math, because the teacher at the time made the class a blast. Ever since then I kept succeeding in it and took as many classes as I could.
Q: WHO INSPIRES YOU? WHY?A: Adrian Peterson, because he showed me that hard work and effort can only make you better. Never give up if a flaw is in your life.
Q: WHAT WAS THE BEST MOVIE YOU SAW IN THE LAST YEAR?A: Fast and Furious 6.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR DREAM JOB?A: Surgeon, because it’d be a new experience to see the human body in a different perspective..
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For The Record8-man preps raise the bar
The 2013 season has already seen some records fall, and there are others still being pursued as the playoffs get underway. Iowa City Regina’s chase of the state’s winning streak record is the most notable of those, but the most noise is being made in the eight-player ranks this season.
Career records for rushing, scoring and total offense are just some of the marks that have fallen or could fall. IHSAA Information Director Bud Legg maintains the state’s record book, and he said while the information may not be complete, keeping track of all-time benchmarks as best as possible gives kids a target at which to aim.
“I don’t want to call them records, because there could have been something from 1939 that we don’t have,” Legg said. “But it gives people something to shoot for.”
Bombs Away
Adair-Casey running back Clayton Plowman wasted little time getting his career off to an impressive start. He took the ball on his first carry, ran over a defender and raced to the end zone for his first career touchdown.
That was all the way back in the fall of 2010. That was over 6,500 yards and 121 touchdowns ago. All that work has put Plowman at the top of the heap for career rushing yards in Iowa eight- player history and second on the national totem pole.
Reaching that milestone is something Plowman said was special to him, but he was also glad to put it behind him.
“It’s a real big load off my shoulders,” Plowman said. “Everybody was always hounding on me, wondering when I was going to get it. And all at once, all the newspapers, TV crews, they were coming to school and taking time out of practice.
“It was cool, but it was frustrating, also.”
Bomber head coach Wade Anderson said all the media attention surrounding the record did serve as a bit of a distraction, but one both he and his team were happy to deal with.
“It was a good distraction, because it was a well-deserved milestone for a man who’s worked his tail off for us for four years in the backfield,” Anderson said. “So we’re proud of Clayton for getting the record and now both he and the rest of the guys can focus on our team goals. He knows that and he’s more worried about the playoffs.”
Plowman, while a major cog in Adair-Casey’s offense, isn’t the only playmaker donning black and gold this season. Quarterback Traeton Jensen, wideout Emmitt Wheatley and utility man Charlie Terry have helped take the Bombers to another level this season and are leading the charge as they close in on the state’s season scoring record.
The trio has combined for 955 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, and Jensen has hooked up with Wheatley and Terry 25 times for 679 yards and 12 scores. The Bombers are well known for their powerful rushing attack, but their efficiency through the air this season has added a new dimension to the offense.
RecordsClayton Plowman-Career rushing yards: 6,612 (8-man state record; needs 530 to break all-class record)
-Career points scored: 842 (needs 25 points to break state record)
-Career touchdowns scored: 125 (needs 19 to break state record)
Adair-Casey-Single season scoring: 663 points as of Oct. 21 (needs 318 points to break state record)
Andrew Rider-Career punt return touchdowns: 11 as of Oct. 21(Ties national 8-man record)
-Most interception return touchdowns in a season: 4 as of Oct. 21 (Ties state record)
Brennan Riedemann-Career total offense: 9,052 yards (needs 292 yards to break state record)
-Second player in state history to pass for 5,000 yards and rush for 4,000
10 Volume 2 Issue 2
*Stats current as of Oct. 12, unless otherwise noted
Volume 2 Issue 2 11SportsSpotlight.com
8-man preps raise the bar
Anderson said he simply needed to spread the wealth among all his playmakers as much as he can.
“We know we have athletes and we know we needed to get the ball in their hands,” Anderson said.
Making Special Teams Special
Plowman isn’t the only eight-player athlete who’s rewriting the record books this fall. In fact, he’s not the only player in District 6 who’s doing so.
Murray’s Andrew Rider has long held a reputation for being lightning in a bottle. The senior has piled up 6,034 all-purpose yards and 81 touchdowns on 497 offensive and special teams touches. This season, he’s averaging just under 10 yards per carry and is among state leaders with 1,088 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns.
Rider has certainly been one of the core players in the Mustangs’ explosive offenses of recent years, but his performances on special teams are what have made waves. He has taken 11 punts back for touchdowns in his career, which ties a national record for eight-player football.
Undersized? No Problem
Small schools can sometimes be overlooked, and it seems as though small schools in the western part of the state go unnoticed more regularly. That doesn’t mean there aren’t players and teams that should command attention from the rest of the state.
Last season, it was Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn that came from out of nowhere to crush all comers and take the state title. This season, River Valley (Correctionville) — another District 1 team out of northwest Iowa — and quarterback Brennan Riedemann are the ones sneaking up on people.
“One that’s going to skate by everybody is Brennan Riedemann,” Legg said. “He can become the second player to have passed for 5,000 yards and run for 4,000. Nobody would have even thought of that.”
After putting up 366 yards of offense in a losing effort against M-M-C on Oct. 11, Riedemann accomplished that feat. With 292 more yards, he will pass Tim Olenjniczak for the most yards of total offense in a career.
Riedemann didn’t become a serious threat as a runner until last season, when the coaching staff decided to feature a more balanced attack than the Wolverines’ air-it-out offenses of the past. He’s since run for over 2,300 yards and 67 touchdowns, despite standing at just 5-8 and 145 pounds.
Riedemann said he compensates for his lack of size by relying on his speed and the guys in front of him.
“I’ve always been in the weight room and work on my legs a lot,” Riedemann said. “I’m pretty quick as it is, but I’m always trying to get my speed up. Our linemen have done a great job blocking for me, and whenever I find a hole, I just go right through it.”
There are only 13 states that sanction eight-player football, so the depth of talent isn’t necessarily as strong as it is at the 11-player level. But Legg said the exceptionally gifted players can put up extraordinary numbers and balance out the equation.
“It might be a little bit easier to rise up the national charts in that regard, but when you start looking at how big those national marks are, that kind of offsets it,” Legg said. “I wouldn’t be one to discount one of our eight-player athletes by saying he didn’t have the competition because these marks are hard to reach.”
Photo courtesy of Jolene Smith/Cherokee Chronicle Times
And dependability:Foecke tallied 1,104 total kills in her freshman and sophomore seasons and ranked fourth and first, respectively, among all players in that category. Her .419 kill efficiency as a freshman was third overall among players with at least 750 kill attempts,
and she topped the charts with a .519 mark as a sophomore. She also posted 233 blocks
in her first two seasons as she helped lead the Crusaders to a 90-8 record in that time.
Mikaela FoeckeHoly Trinity Catholic - Volleyball
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Unmatched performance:Foecke has been arguably the most dominant player in the state this season and led the Crusaders to a 37-4 record entering postseason play. The junior leads all classes with 540 total kills and her .604 kill efficiency is also an all-class-best. She averages 5.74 kills per set, which leads Class 1A and is third among all players.
Foecke is also part of a strong group of Crusader servers. She is tied for eighth in Class 1A, but third on the team, with 62 aces. She owns a .953 serve efficiency, which is fifth-best on the team.
Photo courtesy of Holy Trinity Catholic High School
Each month, Sports Spotlight recognizes a Kinetico Pure Performance High School Athlete of the Month from a list based on
their performances.
SpotlightIn the
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Photos were taken at various high school football and volleyball games across the state.
Each month we publish high school action photos from around the state. We would love to get yours! Send us your photos at [email protected]
Photo courtesy of Kathy Schick
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Phot
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Photo courtesy of Mike RueferPhoto courtesy of JScott Images
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Sophomore | Southeast Polk
Senior | Albia
Senior | Urbandale
Senior | Ankeny Centennial
Junior | Dike-N
ew H
artford
Senior | Rockford
Junior | CAM
(Anita)
Senior | West Fork
Briana WeberRyan Turner
Zach Hugen
Sam Sixta
Kyla Inderski Griffen Matthias
Photo courtesy of John Jensen/The Grundy Register Photo courtesy of the Atlantic News TelegraphPhoto courtesy of Rockford High SchoolPhoto courtesy of Southeast Polk High School
Photo courtesy of ConradSchmidt.com Photo courtesy of Ankeny Centennial High School
Trace Ticknor
Lindsey PetersonPhoto courtesy of Terry Simmons Photo courtesy of West Fork High School
Hugen caught 8 passes for 270 yards and 4 touchdowns in the Blue Demons’ 42-35 comeback win over Bondurant-Farrar on Sept. 27. He had 25 grabs for 700 yards and 10 scores as of Oct. 21.
Inderski is a big reason for the J-Hawks’ 31-5 regular season record. She was fourth in Class 5A with 379 kills, and sixth with in kills per set (4.21). She also led the team with 33 aces.
Matthias won medalist honors at the Class 4A state golf meet on Oct. 11-12 after firing a two-round score of 147 and winning a one-hole playoff. He lead the Jaguars to their first state title.
Peterson led Class 2A in kills per set (6.55) and total kills (439) as of Oct. 21. She was also fifth in digs per set (5.43), and led the Warhawks to a 15-11 record after starting the season 5-6.
Ticknor was a one-man wrecking crew in the Cougars’ 80-58 win over Lenox on Oct. 4. The junior passed for 390 yards and 8 touchdowns, and added 120 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground.
One of the top players in the state, Weber was a key compo-nent of the Wolverines’ drive to a 39-1 regular season record and a No. 1 ranking in Class 2A. She led the team in kills (415) and digs (226), and was second in aces (42) and blocks (54).
Turner set an all-time record for touchdown passes in a single game in a 72-66 victory over Riceville on Sept. 20. The senior connected on 10 scoring strikes and threw for 522 yards in the win.
Sixta may be young, but that hasn’t stopped her from being one of the top players in Class 5A this season. She led the state in aces (70), finished second in assists per set (9.7) and ninth in total assists (679) as of Oct. 21.
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16 SportsSpotlight.comVolume 2 Issue 2
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Maggie James didn’t take long to develop a love for diving, and took even less time for her to establish herself as the state’s premier competitor.
James has won the last two state diving championships, giving her the chance to become the third diver in Iowa history to win the state crown four times. Now she’s hunting a third title while helping Ames High track down its fourth-straight championship in swimming and diving.
She didn’t start out on a board, though. “I used to practice at Beyer Hall [on the Iowa State University campus] for gymnastics and there were these big windows that you passed every time you went to the gym,” James said. “I just watched the college divers dive and it looked fun. I was in love with it the first time I saw it.”
It took James a little time to adjust from gymnastics to diving, even though the sports required some very similar skills. They just change an athlete’s landing point.
“It was a little weird because instead of landing on my feet, I was landing on my head,” James said. “So it was kind of weird at first, but I caught on pretty quickly. It felt really cool twisting and flipping through the air, and hitting water instead of a mat.”
James took the Iowa diving scene by storm as a freshman in 2011 and entered the state finals as the top seed with a qualifying score of 478.10, just under 10 points better than her teammate, Sarah Kemp. She said she didn’t have many expectations when
she first started and wanted to focus on having fun and “doing my own thing.”
She called the meet a “nerve-wracking” experience, but the weight of anxiety lifted off her shoulders after her first dive and she went on to win the title with a score of 447.80.
Teammate Jess Misra said James’ freshman campaign wasn’t totally flawless, though. She recalled a meet during the regular season that highlighted one of James’ best attributes.
“She had done a reverse 1 1/2 and she just smacked it,” Misra said. “She was devastated, like ‘I’m not going
to win.’ [Coach Pyle] told her, ‘You can bring this back, you can do it.’ And she ended up winning the meet by a point. She just got in a zone and didn’t let that dive bother her.”
Ames diving coach Amy Pyle said James’ mental toughness is one of the biggest reasons for her success and said the experience of missing badly on a dive and coming back to win the meet was very beneficial for her.
“She’s learned from that situation that if you miss one dive, it’s not the end of the world,” Pyle said. “You’ve just got to plug along and do the best you can on the rest and try to make it up on the dives you have remaining.”
That mental fortitude was put to the test last season, when James was forced to sit out most of the season with a back injury. No one was sure what caused the injury, but Pyle said one of James’ back muscles was essentially pulling away from the bone. She said James tried to push through the soreness, but diving just wasn’t possible until the injury had time to heal.
James missed roughly 3/4 of the season, which she said was difficult to handle at times.
“It was really tough; some days got really hard,” James said. “I just did a lot of physical therapy and tried
IN A CLASS OF HER OWNMaggie James quickly became the state’s best diver, thanks to mental toughness and talentTork Mason | Editor-in-Chief
Ames’ Maggie James overcame a back injury last season to win her second state diving championship as a sophomore. (Photo courtesy of Amy Pyle)
Ames’ Maggie James has won the last two state championships and has a chance to become just the third diver in state history to win the title four times. (Photo courtesy of Amy Pyle)
Volume 2 Issue 2 17SportsSpotlight.com
high School
to think of the big picture, and just wait until my back got better, however long it took. I knew the little meets, the duel meets and even some of the invitationals weren’t that big of a deal when compared to conference, districts and state.”
Pyle said she knew it was tough for James to watch her teammates compete without her for so long, especially when it was easy to feel like she wasn’t really part of the team that was counting on her to help bring another team state championship to Ames.
“It’s frustrating; you want to be out there,” Pyle said. “You think people think you’re faking it, just lots of things. It’s mentally tough. There was a lot of indirect pressure on her to get better, and not really anything she had control over.”
James finally got back on the board just in time for critical meets at the end of the season. She announced her return with a statement victory in the CIC championship meet, where she posted a score of 481.59, over three points better than her state title-winning score of 2011.
She followed that up with a first place finish in the regional meet at Southeast Polk after tallying a score of 479.15, which gave her the highest qualifying score entering the 2012 state meet.
That’s where James put on a show. She took her second title after posting a score of 512.80 — nearly 50 points ahead of second place — and became just the third diver to ever tally a 500-plus-point score at the state championships.
Misra said the effort and determination James exhibited, both throughout her recovery and after she returned to action, is nothing new. James has a “demanding air” about her, which goes both for herself and her teammates, Misra said.
“It’s a motivated demanding,” Misra said. “When she’s there, her presence—it brings a fun air, but also it’s more like, ‘keep moving, be efficient’ kind of thing. It says something great about her character.”
James has already had a career’s worth of success and she said she wants to compete at the next level, but she wants to keep her focus on the here and now as she chases yet another championship.
“I really just want to have fun and live in the moment,” James said. “I really want to [dive in] college, but I want to make the most of these last two years first.”
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Volume 2 Issue 2 19SportsSpotlight.com
Best friends and cross-country teammates Chandler Austin and Albert Meier continue to strive for excellence
high School
Peanut butter and jelly. Tom and Jerry. Batman and Robin. When you get one, you almost always get the other.
The same is true for Boone cross-country runners Chandler Austin and Albert Meier. Whether it’s goofing around on the weekends or vying for the top spot at a cross-country meet, Austin and Meier stick together.
“They’re two peas in a pod,” Austin’s older brother Brogan said. “They do everything together.”
Last year, as juniors, Austin and Meier proved to the state just how tight they are, both as friends and as competitors. Austin walked away from the 3A state cross-country meet with the state title with a time of 15:25. Meier followed, only nine seconds behind, to take second place. Then they stole the spotlight at the Iowa High School State Track meet, where they finished the boys’ 1600-meter run, finishing first and second once again and setting state records in the process.
Finishing in first and second at state had been a goal of Austin and Meier’s since their freshman year, but their friendship and running experiences together began long before then.
“The story started in seventh grade and continued year after year,” Austin said.
When the boys were in seventh grade, after seeing Brogan Austin’s cross-country success, Austin and Meier decided to turn their attention away from football and pursued cross-country. As they ran in more races and gained more experience in practice and on the course, the two felt they found their niche.
“We found out that we had some
potential and that we were kind of good,” Meier said. “Now all that we do is run.”
Since they began cross-country, Austin and Meier have been side-by-side, pushing each other and encouraging each other along the way. From workouts in practice to the friendly competition on the course, the two feed off each other and have been successful as a result.
“They kind of create that level of energy between the two of them that moves them both up,” said Ben Tillis, a volunteer coach for Boone. “They have that connection - they both create energy for the other one and say if he can do it then I can do it.”
Last year, the road to state was not an easy one for Austin or for Meier. They both started out the season strong, with consistent top finishes and productive workouts in practice. Training alongside one another, they were able to help each other push through tough workouts and continue to climb to new levels of competition. But midway through the season, in early October, Austin came down with a case of mononucleosis, causing him to miss several practices and meets and throwing the team, especially Meier, for a loop.
“That hit me hard because that was the first time that I ever really ran without him, so I didn’t know what to do,” Meier said. “But, at the same time, I knew I had to step up. We’re a team and we had to do our job and I knew we had to prove that we were still good and still had a shot at it.”
During the time that Austin was out, Meier stepped up more than ever before as a team leader – a position that both he and Austin had previously shared. While his focus
was on the team and he took his role as a leader more seriously, Meier flourished even more as a competitor, preparing him for a standout state meet upon Austin’s return. Austin, in the meantime, despite his illness, was able to return to the team for the state-qualifying meet and continued on with the same success he had had earlier in the season.
With their one-two finish at state, following a trying few months, Austin and Meier were thrilled and were more confident than before. Now, midway through their senior season, the two are out to prove that they’ve got what it takes once again.
“It left them hungry,” Brogan Austin said, referring to the boys’ attitude following last year’s success. “They accomplished something, but not everything they wanted to do, and this year they came back out with vengeance and still have something to prove.”
Both Austin and Meier trained throughout the summer and devoted their free time to improving and getting faster. Even now, during the season, they have both continued to push for more. In September, Austin and Meier competed at the Roy Griak
Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn., at the University of Minnesota’s cross-country course. The race consisted of 494 of the nation’s top high school cross-country runners — a much higher level of competition than Austin or Meier had ever competed against. Despite the deep field of talent and competition, Austin finished the race in fourth place with Meier just a few spots behind in seventh.
“Now that we know that we can be up there with the faster guys it gives us more confidence and helps us to be able to set our goals higher and be able to accomplish bigger things,” Austin said. “It’s all about confidence and knowing what you’ve done in the past and knowing what to do in the future.”
With the goal of finishing in the top two spots at state again this year, and also being noticed by colleges, Austin and Meier continue to let their friendship grow and push them to even greater heights.
“I think it strengthens their relationship,” Brogan Austin said. “With running, they have that bond that no one else can understand. You don’t remember the days, you remember the moments, and the two of them have had a lot of moments together.”
Austin and Meier will undoubtedly have plenty more moments together, particularly this month, with the state qualifying meet right around the corner on Oct. 24. But, through wins and losses, personal bests and trying times, their friendship is what remains constant.
“We put our friendship first,” Meier said. “Once we step on the course we kind of put that aside, but at the end of the day it’s our friendship that we really make it about.”
Photo courtesy of Matt Oliver/Boone News-Republican
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FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL NEWS AND NOTESFootballThere have been a number of
running backs to put on some enter-taining shows this fall, but there are a few whose performances deserve a little extra recognition.
Ames tailback Clifford Kwaw-Mensah currently leads all Class 4A backs with 1,539 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. Those big numbers are impressive, but it’s a smaller number that’s really grabbing attention: 10.3. That’s Kwaw-Men-sah’s average yards per carry this season, which shows just how explo-sive the senior has been for the No. 3 Little Cyclones.
Kwaw-Mensah has been especially busy over his last three games. He rushed for 757 yards and 13 touch-downs on just 31 carries in Ames’ three wins over Fort Dodge, Ankeny and Des Moines North.
Sidney’s Chris Osborne stuffed the box score in the Cowboys’ 87-46 romp against Essex/South Page on Oct. 11. Osborne ran for 409 yards
and 7 scores on 28 carries in the victory. That brought his totals for the season up to 1,303 yards and 23 touchdowns, which place fourth and fifth, respectively, in the state.
Iowa City Regina’s Riley Dixon missed a couple games due to injury, but he was at 100 percent when the
Class 1A No. 1 Regals traveled to take on then-No. 6 Wilton. Dixon tallied 328 yards of total offense — including 280 yards on the ground — and scored three times in Regina’s 45-27 win to take total control of District 6.
VolleyballSeveral volleyball stars were pre-
paring for the postseason, and their respective teams will lean on them to lead the way.
Belle Plaine finished the regular season at 13-11, but sophomore Kameo Pope gives the Plainsmen a legitimate weapon at the net. Pope is among Class 1A leaders in a number of offensive categories, including third in kills per set (4.57), fifth in total kills (320) and kill efficiency (.428), and 10th in total blocks (77). She’s also tied for 13th with 61 service aces and leads her team with 260 digs.
Kelsey Redmond has been one of the best players in Class 3A and the 22-5 Cadets are among the top con-
tenders thanks, in part, to the junior. She is third in Class 3A with 310 kills and owns a .443 kill efficiency and 4.19 kills-per-set average, both of which rank Redmond fourth in the state. Her 81 blocks are good for 10th-best in Class 3A, and she also leads the team with 42 service aces in 74 sets of action.
Cedar Falls has only reached the state tournament once in the last three years, and senior Kaz Brown is trying to change that. Brown boasts 115 blocks and a 1.53 blocks per set average, both of which are tops in Class 5A by a wide margin. She’s also an elite offensive player, with marks in the top ten for total kills (289, 10th), kill efficiency (.411, fourth) and kills per set (3.85, ninth). Brown also claims a .936 serve success rate.
Top performances from around the stateTork Mason | Editor
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Iowa City Regina’s Riley Dixon (Photo courtesy of Impact Imagery)
REAL INJURIES. REAL ATHLETES.REAL RESULTS.
Off the Sidelines. Back in the Game.
General OrthopaedicsIan Lin, M.D.Thomas Dulaney, M.D.Barron Bremner, D.O.Wesley Smidt, M.D.
Spine SurgeryLynn Nelson, M.D.David Hatfield, M.D.
Foot and Ankle SurgeryJon Gehrke, M.D.Julie Grundberg, D.P.M.R.D. Lee Evans, D.P.M.
Hand, Elbow, andMicrovascular SurgeryJeffrey Rodgers, M.D.Patricia Kallemeier, M.D.Melissa Young, M.D.John Gaffey, M.D.
Hip and Knee SurgeryPatrick Sullivan, M.D. *also shoulder
Devon Goetz, M.D.David Vittetoe, M.D.Christopher Nelson, D.O.Matthew Weresh, M.D.
Sports Medicine, Kneeand Shoulder SurgeryStephen Taylor, M.D.Jeffrey Davick, M.D.Kary Schulte, M.D.Nicholas Honkamp, M.D.Matthew DeWall, M.D. *except shoulder
Jason Sullivan, M.D.
Pain Management CenterKenneth Pollack, M.D.
AdministratorKevin DeRonde
West: (515) 224-1414 ◆ East: (515) 263-9696 ◆ Carroll: (712) 792-2093 ◆ Urgent Injury: (515) 224-4210
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The Urgent Injury Clinic at DMOS-West is available for patients with acute orthopaedic injuries to receive timely, personalized care. Our goal is to help student athletes limit their time away from school and competition.
Urgent Injury Clinic Hours (No appointment necessary!)Mon-Thur: Noon-8 pm Fri: Noon-4 pm ◆ Sat: 8 am-Noon
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For more information, go to www.urgentinjury.com
Urgent Injury Clinic Now Open at
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22 SportsSpotlight.comVolume 2 Issue 2
ROTATOR CUFF TEAR TWISTED ANKLEQ: How do I know if I have a
rotator cuff tear in my shoulder?A: Certain signs such as night
pain, difficulty with overhead activities and functional weakness can indicate a rotator cuff tear. If the tears are painful or cause weakness, then they should be addressed. Typically early treatment is conservative with anti-inflammatories and physical therapy, assuming it is not an acute injury.
If these treatments don’t solve the problem, then an injection in the bursa around the rotator cuff can be very effective, and when coupled with physical therapy, may be all the patient needs. It’s now possible to not only look at the health of the rotator cuff with ultrasound in the office, but also to put an injection exactly where it needs to go under ultrasound guidance. There is no scientific proof a rotator cuff will heal without intervention. Unfortunately, most tears typically progress and get bigger with time, so it’s important they are treated.
If a patient still has persistent pain or weakness, arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery has proven to be just as
effective as open rotator cuff surgery and allows the surgeon to address the shoulder all inclusively with three to four very small incisions. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is an outpatient surgery and can reliably alleviate pain and help restore function to the shoulder.
Information provided by Dr. Jason Sullivan, Sports Medicine, Knee, Hip & Shoulder Surgeon. Des Moines Orthopedic Surgeons, 6001 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266 515-224-4250. Now accepting appointments.
Q: “I’ve twisted my ankle, now what?”
A: Ankle injuries are very common in the United States, with more than 25,000 occurring each day. Although most sprains are not serious, up to 40 percent may have residual symptoms which often leave the injured patient with questions regarding initial treatment and when to seek medical attention.
The most important aspect of initial therapy for a sprain is the RICE protocol (rest, ice, compress, and elevate).
Rest: The ankle should be adequately braced, usually with a stirrup splint. Crutches may also be needed if there is significant pain with walking.
Ice: The ankle should be iced for 20 minutes with at least 20 minutes away from ice to avoid frost nip.
Compress: Milking the swelling towards the heart (up the lower leg) followed by an ace wrap will help minimize stiffness and pain.
Elevate: Keep the injured ankle raised as much as possible to prevent excessive swelling. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) medication
may also be utilized in the initial weeks.
There is often the question when to seek medical attention. If the injured is unable to walk briefly following the injury; if the there is pain over boney structures; or if the pain is very significant, then medical attention should be sought with the possible need for x-rays.
Information provided by Dr. Yankey. Patients who need to seek immediate medical care for sprains can go to the Urgent Injury Clinic at DMOS – 6001 Westown Parkway, where physicians see patients six days a week. For more information on conditions treated and hours of operation, visit www.urgentinjury.com or www.dmos.com
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Contact us today! 515-276-8899
Brands we are authorized to service:
Westside Appliance Parts & Service is a rapidly growing service company. We are looking for an extremely well qualified technician to join our team!
Job Qualifications/Skills:•Candidate must have a minium of 5 years experience in home appliance repair.•Great customer service and communication skills.•Must have good driving record and a valid Drivers license.
Westside Appliance Parts & Service is a rapidly growing service company. We are looking for an extremely well qualified technician to join our team!
Job Qualifications/Skills:•Candidate must have a minium of 5 years experience in home