Sports Spotlight Vol. 3, Issue 9 by Sports Spotlight USA, Inc

P H O T O G A L L E RY ● F E AT U R E S T O R I E S

STATE TRACK REVIEW Jenks Running Free

Linn-Mar’s Stephanie Jenks continues her assualt on the record books

June 2015

Falcons Fly

igh West Burlin gton/Notr e Dame dominates state track record-bre in aking perf ormance By Tork Ma son | P. 20 ◀ Isaiah Tro

usil and Tim

my Williams

SPEED KILLS Plus

Replacing a legend

big shoes to fILl in Lansing | P. 29

Norwalk aims to defend its Class 2A title with a star-studded core | P. 26 Velocity is the name of the game in the Little Hawkeye Conference, where several fIreballers — including Dallas CenterGrimes’ Cole Baker — are turning up the heat.

Rundown The

June 2015

Volume 3, Iss. 9

RAISING THE BAR West Burlington/Notre Dame and Jeff Giannettino torched the record book at the state track meet, scoring 107 team points on its way to a Class 2A title

Departments Warming Up

STATE TRACK

4 8

20 Total Dominance

▶No one could touch West Burlington/Notre Dame at this year’s state track meet, as the Falcons set a new team scoring record on their way to a state championship

24 Running Free (and Alone)

▶When it came to distance running at the state track meet, Linn-Mar’s Stephanie Jenks found herself running all alone on her way to a trio of state titles

9 BASEBALL

26 It’s Hot in Here

▶The Little Hawkeye Conference has more than its fair share of fireballers, and it’s making life tough on hitters

Tork Mason/Sports Spotlight

Staff and Contacts President...........................Rush Nigut (rush@sportsspotlight.com) Business Ops.....................John Streets (john@sportsspotlight.com) Programming Director.....Tony Atzeni (tony@sportsspotlight.com) Editor-in-Chief.................Tork Mason (editor@sportsspotlight.com) Sales Director....................Peter Tarpey (peter@sportsspotlight.com)

Sports Spotlight, U.S.A. Inc. 1063 14th Pl Suite C Des Moines, IA 50314 515.244.1118

On the Cover

16 30

Through the Lens Be a Sport ▶ Don’t rely on athletic scholarships Mic’d Up ▶KP/WC thrower Kiana Phelps Spotlight Performers of the Month GTSB Student Athlete of the Month ▶Bella Berthel, Marquette Catholic The Bullpen ▶Injury advice from DMOS The Month Ahead Where are They Now? ▶Jeff Clement, former MLB catcher

Tork Mason/Sports Spotlight (3)

June 2015 | SPORTS SPOTLIGHT | 3

+ 1 of

Through the Lens Sweet Redemption

Kingsley-Pierson/Woodbury Centralâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nic Scheelhaase had a Class 2A 4x800 state title within his grasp at the state track meet, but the senior dropped the baton a fraction of a second before crossing the finish line (inset), which disqualified the team and wiped out what would have been a meet record time in the event. Scheelhaase responded the following day by anchoring the distance medley relay to victory, clutching the baton with both hands as he crossed the finish line.

PHOTGRAPH BY

TORK MASON

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

June 2015 | SPORTS SPOTLIGHT | 5

+ 2 of

Through the Lens No Shoe, No Problem

Ballard’s Abby Kohut-Jackson lost one of her shoes in the first 75 meters of her 800-meter anchor leg during the Class 3A girls distance medley relay, but that didn’t seem to hinder the Bombers’ distance ace. She finished the race to led Ballard to a seventh place finish in the event. PHOTGRAPH BY

TORK MASON

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

June 2015 | SPORTS SPOTLIGHT | 7

Warming Up

Be a Sport

Don’t rely on athletic scholarships | By Nancy Justis So your six-, ten-, or 12-year-old exhibits skills beyond his or her age and those of the other competitors. You dream of college scholarships. It’s difficult for parents not to dream those dreams. But like preparing for your retirement early, you should be preparing for paying those college bills also. Only a minority of athletes make it further in the world of competition past their high school years. There are a lot of reasons for a child to grow up playing competitive sports. Daron Anderson coaches U12 boys and U18 girls for Placer United Soccer Club. He also has a National D coaching license. He has three children. In a recent NorCal Premier Soccer League article, he listed 9.5 reasons, some of which are listed below, why his kids play competitive soccer. The reasons aren’t unique. *His kids love it. *Competition is an unavoidable aspect of society. *A team environment fosters problem-solving skills. *He gets to spend quality time with his kids. *They are exposed to various cultures. *Competitive sports help develop discipline and good habits. *Lasting friendships are made. *Sports provide a healthy outlet for anxiety and anger. And his 9.5 reason is youth sports provide opportunities for college scholarships and professional play. Why 9.5 and not the no. 10 reason? “Last and certainly least, competitive soccer provides the training, playing experience and exposure for a young player to play at the next level. “Statistics show that only a very small percentage of youth soccer players make it to higher levels of soccer after high school...My parents challenged me to become all I could become, but more as a person and less as a player. The level I had the fortune to play at was icing on the cake. Looking back, the things that really count are reasons one through nine.” He’s correct. The NCAA did a study on just this issue -- the probability of competing beyond high school. According to its data, there are more than 460,000 NCAA student-athletes (which doesn’t include other athletic associations, such as the NAIA), and “fewer than two percent will go pro in their sports.” The National Association for Sport and Physical Education published on education. com says “less than one in 35, or approximately three percent, of high school senior boys will go on to play men’s basketball at a NCAA member institution. Less than 1.2 percent of those will get drafted by a NBA team, while 0.03 percent of high school seniors will eventually be drafted.” In women’s basketball, about 3.3 percent or about three in 100 of high school senior girls

There is absolutely nothing wrong with dreaming and striving for higher levels of participation. But [...]There are many more important reasons for playing youth sports than getting college paid for.

8 | SPORTS SPOTLIGHT | June 2015

will go on to play for an NCAA school. About one percent will get drafted by the WNBA and about 0.02 percent of high school seniors will be drafted. Let’s take a few more examples. About 5.7 percent, or about one in 17 of all high school senior boys playing football, will go on to play for a NCAA program. About 1.8 percent, or about one in 50, will get drafted by a NFL team, and about eight in 10,000 high school seniors will be drafted. I could go on and on. There is absolutely nothing wrong with dreaming and striving for higher levels of participation. But you need to be realistic and plan ahead. There are many important reasons for playing youth sports, if not more important reasons, than getting college paid for. It’s been said before and bears repeating. Youth and prep athletics provide valuable life lessons and skills that help in the pursuit of careers in business, education, athletics administration, communications, law, medicine and any other field your child may take an interest in. Education is a vital part of athletics participation. And it has been shown that studentathletes graduate at higher rates than the remainder of the student body. So let your child play and revel in the lessons he or she is learning along the way. Let the chips fall where they may. Who knows? You might just have the next Heisman Trophy candidate. Let us know what you think by emailing njustis@cfu.net. Nancy Justis is a former competitive swimmer, collegiate sports information director and currently is a partner in Justis Creative Communications and a Champion for Positive Coaching Alliance in Iowa.

Mic’d Up With Tony Atzeni

See what some of the state’s top coaches and athletes have to say, though the filter of Hall of Fame broadcaster Tony Atzeni.

The Interview

KIANA PHELPS

K P / WC T H ROW E R Kingsley-Pierson junior Kiana Phelps is one of the top discus throwers in the country, and Tony Atzeni had a chance to catch up with her to discuss her success and pedigree. *This interview aired on the May 23 Sports Spotlight Radio show TONY ATZENI: Kiana Phelps, Kingsley-Pierson/ Woodbury Central. Shot put, second place; discus, the champion. She’s Iowa’s all-time discus leader, and she joins us this morning. Kiana, how are you? KIANA PHELPS: I’m doing great; I’m just

Sam Taylor/Impact Imagery (mug); Tork Mason/Sports Spotlight (Phelps)

Warming Up

completely enjoying the moment. I’m at the stadium right now, just soaking it all in. TA: So, are you competing in anything today, or is this one of those days where you sit back and reflect on everything you’ve been through this year? KP: Oh yeah, totally. I’ve worked all year round, and today I can finally just enjoy the moment. This is the time I can sit back and enjoy everything. TA: Just looking into the stands, the colors are something else. Iowa is, by far, the best when it comes to supporting state track and field. The association and union made the great call to put the boys and girls meets on the same track for a weekend, bringing all those fans together to enjoy the moment. It’s got to be the best in the country.

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KP: Absolutely. Iowa’s state track meet is the most-participated-in state meet in the country. So you have all those kids and they bring their families. It really is a symbol for Iowa track. It’s the highlight for a lot of people’s year. TA: So has your dad given in and said you’re the best thrower in the family? There’s quite a history in your family when it comes to throwing that disc. KP: Yeah, that’s true. My grandpa started throwing discus when he was in high school. His thing was more javelin, though. He narrowly missed the Olympic trials and then he started to have knee problems. Knee problems sort of run in my family, too. My dad threw for Iowa State, and he taught me and my brothers how to throw. I’ve been throwing for 11 years. It’s something that our family shares; it’s a special bond, using the sport to be close. TA: College is still a year away, but what are your hopes and expectations down the road as far as college? KP: I haven’t

gone on any official college visits yet, and I’m not allowed to contact college coaches until June 1, which is coming right up.

So far, college coaches have been corresponding through my dad because they can call him. But the most they can do right now is send me mail. I’m hoping to go on some official visits at the end of the summer and I’m hoping that [I’ll have made a decision] by September. I haven’t made any commitments or anything, I’m keeping my options open, but I’m leaning more towards the west coast. TA: Kiana, I’ve got to ask you, because I know you train a lot. How many times have you broken your all-time mark in practices? KP: Oh, if there’s a good wind, I can do it consistently over and over. A good wind can add 30 feet and a bad wind can take off 30 feet. I’m hoping I can get a good win at one of my summer meets, because if I can throw 172 with no wind, with a good win, I could throw 190, 195 feet. So I’m waiting for the right conditions. TA: Alright, well before we let you go, we always like to get away from the sports aspect. So what is it that you like to do with your down time, whether it’s with family or friends? KP: Oh, this entire summer, I think I’m going to be up at the lake. I’ve been working all year. Actually, the day after state track last year, I was in the weight room and I trained through Thanksgiving, Christmas. That’s just how bad I wanted it. Now, it’s time to relax and spend time with my friends. TA: Kiana, it’s great catching up but we’re running out of time here. Thanks to everybody who helped to get us in touch with you here, and we wish you the best in your future. KP: Thanks you! KP: Thanks!

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(515) 528-2319 www.agentkeithh.com

June 2015 | SPORTS SPOTLIGHT | 9

Ernie Miszewski | Clear Lake | Soccer Miszewski is one of Class 1A’s top scorers, ranking in the top 10 in goals (19) and points (45). The senior leads an 11-3 Clear Lake squad with its eyes on a state championship after being bounced in last year’s state semifinals.

Nicole Miller | North Linn | Track & Field Miller capped a stellar prep career by winning three state titles (4x800, 4x400, distance medley relays) and adding a fourth place finish in the 800-meter run. The senior, who will play basketball for Drake University next year, paced the Lynx to a second place finish in the Class 1A team standings.

Spotlight Performers of the Month Recognizing our athletes of the week from the past month.

Ryan Schweizer | Dowling Catholic | Track & Field Schweizer, who was named the Athlete of the Meet at the Drake Relays, followed up his stellar performance from last month with a clean sweep at the state track meet. Schweizer won gold in all four of his events (3,200-, 1,600- and 800-meter runs, distance medley relay) to lead the Maroons to a Class 4A third place finish.

Hale, a two-time Sports Spotlight first team AllState selection, opened her senior season in a big way. In the first week of the season, Hale went 18-for-20 at the plate with 6 doubles and 12 runs scored to help pace the Falcons to a 5-2 start. The Illinois State signee also broke the school’s record for career doubles, giving her seven school records.

Tork Mason/Sports Spotlight (3); Chad Christner (Hale)

Riley Hale | West Burlington/Notre Dame | Softball

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Bella’s Q & A What’s your favorite sport to play? Why? Softball, because it’s given me many opportunities to display my athletic ability as well as my character. The intensity of the sport always challenges me to set my goals high, which not only benefits myself, but my team, as well. What’s your favorite sports memory? Flying back from playing baseball in Cooperstown, NY, to play in substate finals in 2012. I was happy to make it back and be there for my team, and making it to state was an even more rewarding experience. Do you have any fun pre-game “rituals” that prepare you for an event? Before every game, Coach Michels always puts my intimidating eye black on for me. She’s a pro! What’s your favorite subject in school and why? Even though math isn’t my best subject, it challenges me to explore outside my comfort zone. Who inspires you? Why? From tee ball to the start of my college career, every coach and parent who has ever helped me along the way has inspired me in one aspect or another. Those ways may have been good or bad, but each individual has guided and shaped me into the player I am today. What is your dream job? Coaching college softball. I love helping and teaching others about this great game, as well as how to be an effective leader and how to implement passion into everything they do.

Achievements Sports: Softball Academic Achievements/Honors: National Honor Society, Citizen of the Year, Physics Olympics, High Honor Roll (4x), memor of Students Against Destructive Decisions, Spirit Club, President’s Education Award receipient College or post-high school plans: Play softball at Coe College Athletic Achievements/Honors: First team All-State (2014), second team All-State (2013), Marquette Catholic Record Holder-RBIs

Bella Berthel

Volume 3 Issue 4

SportsSpotlight.com Marquette

Catholic High School, Class of 2015, 3.98 GPA

Photo: Courtesy of Berthel family

SportsSpotlight.com

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Warming Up

The Bullpen

Sponsored content that offers fresh perspectives, from sports training to injury treatment and prevention.

What is Impingement Syndrome? By Dr. Jeffrey Davick, DMOS

Impingement syndrome is a condition where the rotator cuff and the surrounding bursa pinch and become inflamed in the shoulder. Overhead and rotational activities are usually the cause as they force the rotator cuff tendons to rub against the upper bone in the shoulder (the acromion). Repetitive pinching of the rotator cuff and bursa causes inflammation. The tissues thicken, pinch more, and the condition worsens, especially with continued overhead activities. A physical examination and X-rays help make the diagnosis. An MRI scan can be done to rule out a rotator cuff tear. Impingement syndrome is treated with ice, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy. Cortisone injections can also be

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ACL Tears in Female Athletes By Dr. Ian Lin, DMOS

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in proportion to bone size for females is less. Therefore, females tend to rely more on the strength of the ACL than the surrounding muscles for stability. Males tend to land and cut in more of a flexed position whereas females tend to land in a higher risk upright and knock kneed position. Fortunately, there are preventative exercise programs that can teach proper landing and jumping positions that also work on strengthening, endurance and balance that have been shown to reduce the relative risk of ACL injuries. Information provided by Dr. Ian Lin, Des Moines Orthopaedic Surgeons (DMOS), 1301 Penn Ave Suite 213, Des Moines, (515) 2996361.

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14 | SPORTS SPOTLIGHT | June 2015

Photos courtesy of Des Moines Orthopaedic Surgeons

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is the most important ligamentous stabilizer in the knee. An increased number of ACL tears has accompanied the recent increased female sports participation. Two-thirds of ACL tears are a result of non-contact injuries. A non-contact injury often is a result of landing from a jump or a cutting/ pivoting motion. It has been shown that female athletes are 4-10 times more likely to sustain an ACL tear than male athletes. Some theories center around differences in anatomy, muscle strength, and neuromuscular factors that regulate the way the muscles around the knee work to protect the knee. When males and females play similar sports, the twisting forces across the knee joint is nearly the same, but the muscular strength

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Warming Up

Month Ahead

What to watch and watch for this month Wednesday 6/3, Friday 6/5 Baseball: Week of the Pitcher It’s going to be a hot summer in the Little Hawkeye Conference, as several flamethrowers light up the radar gun (see Page 22). This week sets up the first potential matchups between Dallas Center-Grimes’ Cole Baker, Norwalk’s Chris Comito (right) and Pella’s Grant Judkins, as the Mustangs square off against both the Dutch and Warriors. Monday 6/4-6/6 2015 Boys state soccer tournament It’s time to crown a fresh batch of state champions as the state’s eight remaining teams in each class take the pitch at James W. Cownie Soccer Park. Defending champions Norwalk (Class 2A) and Iowa City Regina (Class 1A) are back. Can undefeated Johnston claim the crown in Class 3A?

16 | SPORTS SPOTLIGHT | June 2015

2015 Girls State Soccer Tournament

Gear up for a great weekend of high school soccer, as the final 24 teams still standing square off for the right to call themselves state champions. Monday 7/6 Softball: Regional Tournament Play Opens The field in Classes 1A, 2A and 3A will start getting trimmed as teams battle for a berth in the state softball tournament. Last season’s Class 1A regional tournament saw its share of upsets, as Kee (Lansing) and Bellevue Marquette took down Don Bosco and New London on the road to Fort Dodge. Will we see any similar surprises this year?

Tork Mason/Sports Spotlight (2); Des Moines Register (Comito)

Saturday 6/6 Softball: Valley Invitational It’s a who’s who at this year’s Valley Invitational, as many of the state’s top teams and players clash at the Greater Des Moines Softball Complex. A total of 12 teams ranked in the top 10 between Classes 5A and 4A will be in attendance, giving the event a legitimate state tournament atmosphere. Will Alyssa Olson (left) and Class 5A No. 3 Cedar Rapids Jefferson run through their three games, or will we see a few upsets?

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In the

Spotlight high school This page presented to you by:

Each month we publish youth and high school action photos from around the state. We would love to get yours! Send us your photos at support@sportsspotlight.com

Cedar Falls’ Hunter Lavallee reacts after holding off Waukee’s Pat Gray on the anchor leg of the Class 4A 4x400 relay. (Tork Mason/Sports Spotlight)

Western Dubuque’s Allison Tucker competes in the Class 4A shot put. (Tork Mason/Sports Spotlight)

Gilbert’s Thomas Pollard cracks a smile after winning the Class 3A 1,600-meter run. Pollard won the event in a state meet record 4:09.67 minutes, wrapping up his career with three gold medals in his final state meet. (Tork Mason/Sports Spotlight)

Johnston’s Jared Seay clears the bar in the Class 4A high jump competition during the state track meet at Drake Stadium on May 22. Seay won the event with a clearance of 6-feet-9. (Tork Mason/Sports Spotlight)

Sioux Central’s Kenzie Keune and Sidney’s Mackenzie Daffer race to the finish line of the girls 400-meter hudles. Keune and Daffer went 1-2 in the third heat and finished second and third overall, respectively. (Tork Mason/Sports Spotlight)

Cedar Rapids Jefforson’s Lucy Schneekloth celebrates after anchoring the J-Hawks’ 4x200 relay to a victory and an all-time state record in the event. The quartet ran the race in 1:39.24 minutes, breaking the previous record set in 2013. (Tork Mason/Sports Spotlight)

Des Moines Roosevelt’s Briyana Carter (left) reacts after winning the Class 4A 100-meter dash during the state track meet at Drake Stadium on May 23. Carter won the event with a time of 12.36 seconds. (Tork Mason/Sports Spotlight)

Carlisle’s Tyrell Erb crosses the finish line of the Class 3A 4x200 relay during the state track meet. Erb anchored the Wildcats to a second place finishe in the event. (Tork Mason/Sports Spotlight)

Williamsburg’s Blake Hughes reacts after anchoring the Raiders to a victory in the Class 3A 4x100 relay during the state track meet. (Tork Mason/Sports Spotlighht)

WEST BU RLIN G TO N /N OT RE DAM E

Total Dominance West Burlington/Notre Dame made a statement at the Drake Relays that it was one of the state’s elite teams this year, and etched that statement into stone at the state track meet with a record-setting performance

BY TORK MASON Ph o to g r a p h s b y Tork Mason

NYONE WHO SAW the West Burlington/Notre Dame boys track team this spring knows the Falcons love to open the throttle all the way, but star hurdler Jacob Smith said there was one thing he and his teammates didn’t want to rush: the time they had left together. The Falcons left the Class 2A field in their dust at the state track meet, scoring a meet record 107 team points on their way to a state title. That performance included seven championships, a pair of silver medals and three other top-four finishes. Smith said it’s easy for the team to take those performances for granted because they happened so frequently, but they tried to savor the moment as much as they could.

“It’s incredible; we really don’t realize it, because we’re so used to it,” Smith said. “Sometimes, Coach [Corey Lamm] tells us to take it slow and really enjoy what’s happening, what we’re doing out here. So we just try to take things slow and enjoy every minute. The hard work is paying off, and I’m loving it.” The Falcons finished second in the team standings at the 2014 state track meet and returned their core group of athletes: high DOUBLING UP Trousil and Timmy Williams finished first jumper Jeff Giannettino, who won his third state and third in the 100-meter dash, one of title in the event this season; jump specialist four events in which the Falcons placed and sprinter Xavior Williams, who was third two athletes and one of three with two in the high jump, second in the long jump and top-four finishes. Meanwhile, Xavier anchored the Falcons’ championship 4x100 Williams (inset) scored big in both jumping events and the 4x100 relay. relay; sprinters Timmy Williams (third in the June 2015 | SPORTS SPOTLIGHT | 21

WES T BU R LIN GTON/NOT RE DA ME

100-meter dash) and Isaiah Trousil (first in as motivation. at Drake Stadium, he took a run at a 100- and 200-meter dashes); and hurdlers “Nobody wants to lose,” Trousil said. personal record of 7-feet, 2 inches. With Smith (first in 110- and 400-hurdles, “Everybody wants to be the winner, races in progress, seemingly the entire second in 400-meter dash) and Brant and that’s how we push each other, that crowd of roughly 13,000 was focused on Wrede (fourth in 200-meter dash). mentality of just going out and winning.” Giannettino. The entire stadium offered up With such a deep group returning, it Senior Timmy Williams said finishing the support of the traditional clap as the wouldn’t have been a surprise to see the behind sophomore Trousil in the 100- and senior took his final jumps. team capture a state championship. But 200-meter dashes, despite being one of the Giannettino said at that point, he could the Falcons made a clear savor the moment a bit, statement a month before the SO CLOSE Giannettino (left) suffered his only bout of frustration when he just missed and he didn’t want to state meet, when they put on clearing the bar at 7-feet-2. The senior won the high jump for the third time with a let the crowd down as he an impressive show against clearance of 6-feet-11, while teammate Williams (right) finished third. prepared to jump. the state’s biggest schools at “Just trying not to the Drake Relays, that they disappoint and live up might deserve a seat at the to the clap, just compete table with the state’s best and do as well as I can,” ever. Giannettino said of his They went 1-2 in the high thoughts leading up to jump with Giannettino his final attempts. “All the and Xavior Williams, while support is just unreal here Trousil (100-meter dash) […] There are something and Smith (400-meter like 13,000 people, that’s hurdles) both brought ridiculous; you don’t find home gold. But it was the that anywhere. It’s great to 4x100 quartet of Timmy be able to jump here and Williams, Wrede, Trousil just feel all the energy those and Xavior Williams that people bring.” made the biggest statement While the athletes all of the weekend. That group give credit to Lamm, the

“THESE KIDS MAKE YOU LOOK PRETTY SMART,” Lamm said. “We had the right group of kids come together.” won the event in 42.87 seconds, becoming the first non-Class 4A team to win the 4x100 at the Drake Relays since Clarinda accomplished the feat in 1927. Head coach Corey Lamm said the fact his team was facing the biggest schools didn’t faze his confidence that the kids would perform well. “I was very calm and confident,” Lamm told The Burlington Hawkeye. “You’d think I’d be nervous, but I knew those guys had it. Those guys are professionals; they’ve done this enough times. Our handoffs were very good. We were very confident when we started off that we had it.” Such a wealth of riches is great for a team, but could easily be frustrating for an individual athlete who wants to win and loses to a teammate. But Trousil said he and his teammates use those experiences

22 | SPORTS SPOTLIGHT | June 2015

state’s best in his own right, doesn’t affect him and he instead works to perform at his best while helping Trousil push his own limits. “It doesn’t do anything for me, and everybody was kind of mad at me because I didn’t get first,” he said. “My main focus was to help get Isaiah to this point right here. That’s what I was trying to do, and I knew he would be good competition for me.” While the sprinters mesmerized spectators throughout the week on its way to a championship, it was the high jump competition on the meet’s second day that most felt like a coronation. Giannettino first cleared the 7-foot barrier in 2014 — making him the tenth Iowa prep to do so — and, after already sealing his third gold medal in his final competition

Falcons’ head coach said it’s easy to look great when he’s got such a special group to work with. “These kids make you look pretty smart,” Lamm told The Hawkeye. “We had the right group of kids come together. Great athletes. Hard workers. Great teammates. I’m proud of how they carried themselves through the whole process. I’m starting to lose track. They just keep rolling. They just keep coming. It’s amazing to score 107 points, the most ever by any team. “It was a pretty good weekend.” Add “Understatement of the Year” to the list of titles now residing in West ☐ Burlington. LIKE THE WIND Smith swept the hurdle

events, winning the 110-meter high hurdles and his second 400-meter hurdle crown on the Blue Oval in a month.

STEPH AN I E JE N K S

Running Free (and Alone) Linn-Mar’s Stephanie Jenks was often all alone at the state track meet, crushing the field on her way to a trio of state championships

BY TORK MASON P hotograph by Tork Mason hen it comes to Class 4A distance races at the state track meet, it’s Stephanie Jenks and everyone else. What’s more, everyone in the field knows it. “We have this joke, ‘we’re going to win,’” Urbandale’s Trina Moreno, who took second in the 1,500-meter run at the state track meet, told The Des Moines Register with a laugh. “That means getting second, obviously, because of Stephanie. That was my goal, to ‘win.’” That’s been the story for much of Jenks’ stellar prep career, which is still a year away from wrapping up. The junior owns eight Drake Relays flags and eight state championships, including clean sweeps of the 3,200-, 1,600- and 800-meter runs at the Drake Relays and state track meet this spring. She frequently outpaces the field by wide margins, which made her performance in the 1,500 at the state track meet all the more impressive. Jenks won the event with a time of 4:27.76 minutes, which broke the all-time state record previously held by former Dowling Catholic standout Katie Flood. Jenks, who said she idolized Flood and former Sioux City East star Shelby Houlihan, wasn’t sure she could pull off the feat as she entered the homestretch. “I saw the scoreboard and I was 13 seconds from the record, and I thought I was too far out,” she said. “But I kept digging.” That’s something Jenks has constantly had to do in order to push her limits, as it’s rare for in-state competition push her that hard. Running at an elite level while competing alone is something that Jenks has gotten quite a bit of practice at, but she said it’s still not an easy thing to do. “It is really difficult; I train by myself, so I’m kind of used to running by myself, but being able to continue pushing yourself when the races get hard — that’s something that no one can ever be amazing at,” she said. “You always run faster with someone else; if you have the right mentality, you always will. In the past, I’ve always been one of those UNTOUCHABLE racers that thinks, ‘I would Jenks cruised past the field with rather race by myself.’ But ease, even lapping some competitors. Running at an elite level with no this past year, I don’t actually competition is difficult, but it’s a skill show my full potential unless Jenks has seemingly all but mastered.

I’m racing with someone.” While she finds it easier to compete with others alongside her now, Jenks said there’s a process to learning how to compete when she’s not alone anymore. “You have to develop the mentality to be able to run against other people versus by yourself and vice versa,” she said. “It’s not something you can just research in a book; it takes experience.” Jenks is also a world-class triathlete, even though she’s putting that on hold until she’s accomplished her goals on the track. But Linn-Mar head coach Nathan Hopp said the training that goes into preparing for triathlon puts her ahead of the field. “She’s an aerobic beast,” Hopp told The Register. “She can do things from an endurance standpoint that other girls just can’t do, especially because of her triathlon training.” Jenks also hits the national circuit, competing against the country’s best at meets throughout the U.S. She won the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:40.76 at the Kansas Relays — just days before dominating the Drake Relays — which was the top prep mile in the country this year at the time. She also competed in the Prefontaine Classic, held at the University of Oregon, where she finished seventh among an elite field. Her time of 4:42.16 was just 2.32 seconds behind the winner. Taking her talents across the country gives her the chance to see new faces and new challenges, she said. “In-state competition is great, but there’s only so much you can do because you race the same people all of the time,” Jenks told The Register. “Out of state, you’re always racing against people you haven’t met, and it’s nice to mix it up with a different dynamic.” For Jenks, success is not measured in medals, trophies or flags. Sometimes, the gains might seem insignificant to outsiders, such as taking a first lap harder, but Jenks works to get something positive or that she can learn from each of her races. “Success for me is being able to take back something from a race that you had done differently,” she told The Register. “You may add seconds onto your time, but as long as you learn from the experience, I consider that a successful race. I don’t consider any of my races failures, by any means.” It’s doubtful anyone else does, either.

June 2015 | SPORTS SPOTLIGHT | 25

LI T TL E H A W KE Y E F IR E BAL L E RS

It’s Getting Hot in Here Hitters are having a difficult time in the Little Hawkeye Conference, thanks to a trio of fireballers — Dallas Center-Grimes’ Cole Baker, Norwalk’s Chris Comito and Pella’s Grant Judkins — who are turning up the heat

B Y LA R RY C OT LA R Photograph courtesy of

The Des Moines Register

he goal of any great athlete is to take his or her talents to the top level. That’s the case with three central Iowa high school standout pitchers who are hopeful of hearing their names called during the upcoming Major League Baseball draft, either this year or next. Coincidentally, all three stars compete in the Little Hawkeye Conference. Dallas Center-Grimes’ Cole Baker stands at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds; Chris Comito, a 6-foot-6, 220-pounder at Norwalk and Grant Judkins, a 6-foot-2, 190-pounder at Pella. All three are close friends who may be pitching together in college one day since Baker and Comito, both seniors, have signed with the University of Iowa and Judkins, a junior, has verbally committed to the Hawkeyes When you talk to their coaches, you learn they have very much in common. Each is described as a hard worker who lives and breathes the game. Norwalk coach Chad Wiedmann says “during our first week of practice this year, Chris finished a three-hour practice by taking a backup catcher and throwing some more. Sometimes I have to tell him to stop.” Wiedmann, DC-G’s Byron Peyton and Pella’s Jesse Jablonski say they could tell almost immediately that each kid was special. “Grant moved to Pella from Marshalltown when he was a freshman,” Jablonski said. “He moved up to the varsity quickly and into the starting lineup at shortstop midway through the season. The ball

26 | SPORTS SPOTLIGHT | June 2015

just jumped off his bat. He pitched as a reliever as a freshman and did well. You could see he had far above average stuff.” Peyton says he also realized early he had something special in Baker. “You could tell as a freshman he had the ability,” Peyton said. “He had great size and athleticism. MOVING UP Comito opened the 2015 season

with an 11-strikeout no-hitter against Perry on May 27. Comito signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox after being selected in the 15th round of the MLB draft.

LITT LE H A W K EY E F IR E BAL L E R S

What he has done is increase his us,” Heller said. “I like the makeup of both very good baseball player and my parents knowledge of how to pitch. He has learned young men. They want to be the best.” always loved the sport,” Judkins said. how to throw different types of fastballs ALL-ROUND FORCE Judkins has dominated opposing “My dad introduced me to baseball and developed a real good off-speed when I was two and has always been hitters, striking out 32 and giving up just 2 runs in 20 innings of work. He also leads the Little Dutch with a .469 batting pitch. His curveball needs work, but coaching me,” Comito said. Baker said overall, he has improved his repertoire average, 2 home runs and 13 RBI. his father also got him into baseball. and knows how to use his pitches “I really enjoy the team aspect of the while working hard to develop greater game,” Baker said. “But I also enjoy accuracy.” the one-on-one competitions between Comito also showed his stuff when pitcher and batter.” he was a freshman, quickly moving Baker and Comito plan to be up to junior varsity. He was 10-0 in roommates at the U of I. But all that non-conference play as a sophomore. could change should one or both be Wiedmann said Comito pitched just as drafted. “It would mean a whole lot to well last year as a junior, “but the record be drafted while in high school,” said wasn’t as good because the competition Comito, a Braves fan. “Quite honestly, if was tougher, battling teams such as I were offered something like $200,000 Johnston and Waukee. But he continued to sign, I would probably go pro.” to get better”. [Editor’s note: Comito was selected in Baker, Comito and Judkins are also the 15th round of the MLB draft by the lauded for their leadership skills. “Cole Chicago White Sox; Comito signed a has always had the talent but now I have contract with a $170,000 signing bonus seen him mature,” Peyton said. “He has on June 11.] developed into a really good leader. He Meanwhile, Baker, a Cubs fan, says has accepted all the responsibilities that he is still banking on going to Iowa, but go with [being] a veteran player. He he doesn’t rule out going pro if drafted. loves his teammates. He is patient with “It would be special knowing that some them and wants to help make them the team wants me out of high school and best they can be.” thinks I could make an impact for Wiedmann feels the same way about them,” he said. Comito. “He is a terrific leader who Baker and Comito have been friends

“Chris finished a three-hour practice by taking a backup catcher and throwing some more,” Wiedmann said. “SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TELL HIM TO STOP.”

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Heller is also impressed by their unselfishness. “A lot of kids are talented but think of themselves first. We have turned down kids with talent but who we thought would not buy into the team atmosphere. Baker and Comito are kids who want to win and who care about their team. That’s how we can continue to have the kind of season we had this year [The Hawkeyes made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 25 years this season], with guys who check their egos at the door and think team first.” All three say their love of baseball developed early. “My grandfather was a

since they started with and against each other in AAU ball at around 12. Later, they both met and developed a friendship with the younger Judkins. But all three said they most enjoy when their teams play one another and two of them are on the mound in head-to-head competition. Imagine how much fun they would have if that situation would occur in the major leagues someday. That would be quite an accomplishment for three kids from the ☐ Little Hawkeye Conference.

Bill Neibergall/The Des Moines Register (Baker); Pella High School (Judkins)

leads by example. He is a fierce competitor who wants to be in control of things.” Jablonski provided an example of Judkin’s leadership. “I saw Grant take a freshman [Avery Von Zee] aside when he was struggling and talk to him about hitting and his approach at the plate. Von Zee went two-for-three in his next game.” University of Iowa baseball coach Rick Heller is not allowed to talk about Judkins according to NCAA rules because he is only a junior. But he sees a lot of potential in both Baker and Comito. “I believe that both Baker and Comito have bright futures and can develop into frontline starters for

BIG GAME BAKER Baker pitched the Mustangs to the 2014 Class 3A state championship game, where they lost a 1-0 heartbreaker. The winning run was the only run Baker allowed in 15.1 innings of work during the tournament.

W HE R E A R E T H E Y NOW?

Clement: Putting Team First By Larry Cotlar

Marshalltown HS 2002 Graduate 75 Career Home Runs (National Record) 4-time Elite First Team All-State Player Career Batting Ave. .515 Cumulative GPA 4.0 National Honor Society Member, 00-01, 01-02 University of Southern California, 03-05 NCAA Freshman National Co-Player of the Year, 03 NCAA First Team All-American, 05 Seattle Mariners, 05 First Round Draft Pick (3rd overall pick)

MARSHALLTOWN

“I tell them that you have to be tough mentally. You can’t get too high or too low. Things are never as good or bad as they seem. Just believe in your ability.” Clement says he has no regrets even though his big league career didn’t pan out as planned. “There is a lot of failure in baseball, regardless of whether you do things right or you do things wrong,” he said. “Baseball prepared me for life. I am thankful for what baseball did for me. I am right where I am supposed to be.” Of course, this has been a special season as the Iowa baseball team earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1990. This season has provided another memorable thrill for Clement. “It’s different as a coach than as a player. This was my first experience as a coach and I couldn’t have picked a better time to come on the Iowa staff,” he said. “I have had an absolute blast coaching the catchers and the position players. Earning this NCAA berth is a huge credit to the players who have worked hard since day one. And now they are reaping the benefits of all that hard work.” Even though he still maintains the national career home run record, Jeff Clement will always be about team first.

Photo courtesy of Iowa High School Athletic Association

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Lincoln at home. A stiff wind from the south was blowing straight in. I was getting good swings. Number 71 came in a game at Mason City. There was a lefty on the mound. He threw a breaking ball and I hit it to right field. Everyone came flying off the bench to greet me. By the way, we won both games of a doubleheader that day.” Later that season came another moment which is just as indelibly ingrained in Clement’s brain as the home run record. “We played Cedar Rapids Kennedy in the Class 4-A state championship game,” he said. “We were down 6-2 but came back to win 9-6 and secure that state title.” After graduating from Marshalltown, Clement attended the University of Southern California. In three seasons at USC, Clement swatted 46 home runs with 150 RBI and 149 runs scored while batting .314. The 46 homeruns was second in USC history to none other than Mark McGwire. Following his senior season, in which he .348 with 15 home runs, 17 doubles, drive in 54 runs and had a .472 on-base percentage, Clement was named the recipient of the Johnny Bench Award as nation’s top collegiate catcher while securing All-American first-team honors by Baseball America and USA Today Sports Weekly. Now the pros awaited. Clement was third overall pick of the 2005 MLB Draft, taken by the Seattle Mariners. However, the stardom predicted for Clement never materialized, in large part because of injuries. Clement played for the Mariners from 2007-08 and then was traded to Pittsburgh in 2009. He moved to first base in the Pirates organization and competed for a spot on the parent club in 2010. He played in 54 games, batting .201 with seven home runs before left knee irritation shut him down on August 10, 2010. That signaled the end of his major league career. Clement signed with the Minnesota Twins in November 2012 but finally announced his retirement on March 31, 2014. Now Clement is happy to be back in Iowa with the Hawkeye program under the tutelage of Rick Heller. He relishes his role with the team. “I enjoy working with the players on a daily basis,” Clement said. “I have had success at every level and there’s a lot I can teach them.

Photo courtesy of the Des Moines Register

In the summer of 1998, St. Louis’ Mark McGwire and Chicago’s Sammy Sosa captured the nation’s imagination with their epic pursuit of Roger Maris’ long-standing single-season record of 61 home runs. Eventually, McGwire wound up with 70 home runs and Sosa 66. Iowa had its own version of a home run chase back in 2002 as both Marshalltown’s Jeff Clement and Winterset’s James Peterson took aim on the national high school home run record of 70 set by Drew Henson. Clement and Peterson battled back and forth before Clement emerged with a new national mark of 75 home runs when his career was over. Clement, now in his first year as a volunteer assistant with the University of Iowa baseball program, fondly remembers that year. “It was a neat thing to set that record,” Clement said. “I was happy about it, of course, but at the time I didn’t really think about it that much. I knew I was on pace to set the record. However, I focused mainly on what I could control. If it happened, great. I did nothing special but I knew I had the ability and that would take care of everything.” Not only did the Iowa media latch onto this story but the national media did as well. But that didn’t overwhelm the young Clement because he had a strong support system. “I was not really paying attention to all the hype. I was thankful that my head coach [Steve Hanson] kept me grounded. And my father [Brad], who had coached me early on, had taught me the right way to play. My focus was always on team success, not individual success.” In fact, Jeff had already experienced national media attention as a member of the Marshalltown team which went to the 1996 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn. “That experience prepared me quite a bit for all the media attention I received during my senior season at Marshalltown,” Clement said. “But my attitude always remained team first and then everything else falls right into place. In fact, I have always believed that if I had gotten caught up in chasing the record, I never would have accomplished it.” Clement vividly remembers the two home runs which tied and broke the record. “Number 70 came against Des Moines