Sports Spotlight Vol. 1 Issue 10 by Sports Spotlight USA, Inc

Records Fall

At state track

I-Cubs uphold

HomeGrown values

Sindlinger Makes

iowa golf history

Joey Gase races

For life

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Contributors Rush Nigut President

rush@sportsspotlight.com

John Streets Operations Consultant

RAISING THE BAR

New records abounded at State Track.

john@sportsspotlight.com

Tony Atzeni Programming Director tony@sportsspotlight.com

Sam Taylor Art Director

sam@impactimagery.net

Tork Mason Editor

editor@sportsspotlight.com

Elizabeth robinson Editor editor@sportsspotlight.com

Ashton Weis Editor

editor@sportsspotlight.com

Brianna laubach Video Production support@sportsspotlight.com

Megan Zayic Sales & Marketing Director megan@sportsspotlight.com

ited *

FAMILIARITY A TREND

There weren’t many fresh faces at State Tennis.

CENTRAL RALLIES Dutch Softball returns to winning ways.

RACING FOR LIFE Gase spreads organ donation awareness through racing.

TRUE TO ROOTS

Nelson and Sweeney keep Iowan values in their careers.

President’s Note: We are very excited to bring you this issue of Sports Spotlight. As we get ready for the summer sports season, we first take a look back on how the track and field, soccer, tennis and golf state championships concluded. Congratulations to all of the individual and team champions. The Central and Kirkwood softball teams had success in their tournament runs, read about their accomplishments. Also read about how Laura Krull, a tennis player from Grinnell, made history for the Pioneers, and Joey Gase, a driver from Iowa, races for much more than 1st place trophies. And lastly we look at Iowan’s who are playing in the big leagues featuring Chicago Cub’s Ryan Sweeney. We thank you for your continued support of our magazine and mission. Look for exciting new products from the Sports Spotlight coming soon! If you have any story tips or submissions, please send them to us at support@sportsspotlight.com!

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e for ink® ge, or ng on tions overy axes, rvice. phone rence alling

PG 16

Youth

GRAND SLAM RIDERS BASEBALL TEAM Since the age of seven, most of the boys on the Grand Slam Riders USSSA baseball team have been teammates, and almost like family. The Riders team is an AAA baseball league for 13-year-olds who travel and compete around Iowa. “It’s kind of a fun team because they’re all good friends and have been going to school together and have been playing together for so long,” dad and team manager Rush Nigut said. Playing together for so long has benefitted the team and made them very successful in tournament play. As of the beginning of June, the team had a record of 19-4, won two tournaments and was silver division champions in its first AAA tournament. “I think that over the years they’ve learned what some of the strengths and weaknesses of the different players are and they’re getting a comfort level from playing together,” Nigut said. This season, the Riders became a club team with the Grand Slams and were matched up with Jared Norris, a 24-year-old Urbandale native, who played baseball at Oregon State and took over this year as the Riders’

Volume 1 Issue 10

head coach. This is the first season that the boys have been coached by someone other than a player’s dad. “I think Jared has definitely made a big impact with the kids,” he said. “He relates to them real well and he has a great handle on baseball fundamentals and they’ve really grown this year and have really embraced being coached by him.” Norris has been happy with the way the boys have responded to him as a coach. “I don’t know if I would have reacted the great way that they did. I was very happy with how they brought me in with open arms,” Norris said. With so much travel and such a time commitment overall, the players and their families spend a lot of time together and have become like one big family. Now, Norris is considered part of the team and the family. “It really is a close knit group and we’re all very supportive of one another,” Nigut said. “We’re really very fortunate to have a great group of parents who have been so supportive of the coaches and what we’re trying to do.”

Above Left: Eian O’Brien bats for the Riders. Above Right: Will Nigut guns out a baserunner from third base. Below: The Riders took the champion title at this year’s Slugfest NIT Photos courtesy of Joe Mahoney Championship.

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In the

Spotlight Youth This page presented to you by:

All youth photos were collected from around the state and include events from track and field, soccer, and baseball. Each month we publish youth action photos from around the state. We should love to get yours! Send us your photos at support@sportsspotlight.com

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

High School

race to State finish The Iowa state track competition brings out Iowa’s fastest prep runners

Girls

In every sport there are records. One of the oldest records in Iowa high school girls track history was erased by the Cedar Rapids Jefferson 4x200 relay team on the blue oval at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. The J-Hawks broke a record set by the 1975 Woodbine team by .06 seconds with their winning time of 1:40.94. Maliya Rattliffe, Lucy Schneekloth, Jasmime Blue and Rachel Broghammer made up the all-time best team. Waukee won its second straight Class 4A state team title and in the process also had a recordsetting relay team. The Warriors set a new state standard in the 4x100 shuttle hurdle relay with their state winning time of 1:01.87. Emma Drees, Mallory Smith, Emily Kamm and Maddie Rouw made up the championship team. Waukee had to use a strong final day to overcome Pleasant Valley for the team title by just two points. Erin Bramble was a big factor on the opening day claiming the discus title. Rouw was a big contributor as well; besides her efforts with the shuttle hurdle teamm, she finished third in the high jump and the 100-meter hurdles. There were a number of girls individual and state relay meet records also set this season including Mary Young (Urbandale) in the 100 hurdles and Des Moines Roosevelt in the 800 sprint medley with Tyanna Whitaker, Briyana Carter, Teanna Lewis and Agnes Sayeh in Class 4A. In Class 3A, Anna Holdiman (Waverly-Shell Rock) won the 800, 1500 and 3000-meter titles and set a new mark in the 1500 with her winning time of 4:41.35. Mount Pleasant with Leslie Taylor, Amy Buckert, Hannah Becker and Kelsi Phipps set a new state meet record in the 4x100 shuttle hurdle relay. Davenport Assumption won the 3A team title led by 100-meter dash winner Rose Ripslinger while Maddie Irmen finished second in the 200 and 400-meter dash. Emma Bassier, Claire Bird and Markel Mommsen joined Ripslinger to make up the 3A winning 4x100 relay team. Western Christian (Hull) won the 2A team title led by their 4x100 relay title team with Kenzie Vande Vegte, Jamie Gesink, Kelli Boer and Brooke Wolterstorff. Wolterstorff also finished second in the 100 and 200-meter dash.

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In Class 1A new state meet records were set in the 400 meter dash by Ellie Herzberg (Manson-NW Webster) and in the 3000-meter run by Leah Seivert (Sibley-Ocheyedan). Herzberg also won the 100 and 200 titles. The team title was won by Griswold behind a gutsy performance by Rebekah Topham who won the 800 and 1500-meter run titles despite not being 100 percent. Topham also finished second in the 3000-meter run and 400-meter hurdles. There were many notables running for the final time at the high school level. Agnes Sayeh (Des Moines Roosevelt) finished her outstanding high school career with the 100 meter dash title. Jessica Campbell is another in a long line of Dowling Catholic runners to leave her mark when she claimed the 200 meter dash title in Class 4A. Anne Leners (Pleasant Valley), Alisha Jones (Davenport North), McKennan Cronbaugh (Iowa City West) and Alexa Hunt (Des Moines Roosevelt) also went out champions. Some of the other top senior performers going out as individual champions were by Ali Meister (Spencer), Taylor Glover (Spencer) and Lauren Benzing (Solon) in Class 3A; Kaylee Jones (Monticello), Courtney Sowle (Camanche), Chaley Rath (Treynor), Courtney Bruns (West Branch) and Kara Misel (Solon) in Class 2A; and Cassie Kingery (Winfield-Mount Union), Kamille Kronemann (West Hancock, Britt) and Chelsea Berry (Starmont, Arlington) in Class 1A. Some youngsters also made an impression in this year’s track season led by freshman Stephanie Jenks (Linn-Mar, Marion), who won the 1500 title in Class 4A. Jasmine Staebler also was impressive with her win in the 200 and 800-meter titles in Class 2A. Kiana Phelps (Kingsley-Pierson) won the 2A discus title as a freshman. The state track and field meet was one of unknowns, due to the many weather issues and cancelations this spring, but the sun did shine on our outstanding qualifiers for the meet and the performances far exceeded the expectations. The three-day championship meet also brought huge crowds to witness our state’s best with the many colors and pageantry that it always seems to bring. Linn-Mar (Marion (4A)), Pella (3A), Monticello

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High School

Boys

(2A) and Manson-NW Webster (1A) all brought home Iowa high school track and field team titles this season. Only two new individual state meet marks were set this season beginning in Class 4A where Jason Thomas (Dowling Catholic) set a state meet mark in the 1600-meter run with a 4:10.14 posting. Chandler Austin (Boone) set a new meet mark in the 1600 in Class 3A. In the relay events, Waterloo West set a new 4A state meet record in the 4x100 with Jamie Medina, Dequayvious Martin, Jason Millett and Lance Dunn Jr. making up the quartet. Like the girls at Waukee, the boys also set a new record in the 4x110 shuttle hurdle relay with Noah Larrison, Josh Brdicko, Riley Gray and Jared Brdicko. Monticello was a runaway team winner in 2A, and one of the reasons was its 4x800 relay team that set a new meet record with Brian Turnis, JJ Frawley, Ben Ahlrichs and Dallas Lumpa. Devonte Merrill in the discus and Michael Melchert in the 3000-meter run also claimed titles for Monticello. Linn-Mar used strong relay teams to catapult themselves past the rest of the field. The Lions won the 4x200 relay with Austin Flieder, Tristan Freese, Tim Wolfe and Perrion Scott and the distance medley relay with Flieder, Wolfe, Chase Grabau and Josh Evans. Congratulations to all of the individual winners this past season. In Class 4A, those state champions include Anthony Dreeszen (Sioux City East), Jon Rus (North Scott, Eldridge), Tavian Smith (Iowa City West), Timauntay Jones (Cedar Rapids Jefferson), Sydne Davis (Des Moines Roosevelt), Deshond Robinson (Clinton) and Josh Evans (LinnMar, Marion) in the track events. Field event champions in 4A include Derek Jacobus (Cedar Rapids Kennedy), Shaquille Wells (Urbandale), Joseph Weiner (Dubuque Hempstead) and Justin Randall (Burlington). In Class 3A the track event champions include Brandon Norman (Iowa Falls-Alden), Connor

High School

Ham (Solon), Payton Busch (Centerville), Albert Meier (Boone) and Jared Ganschow (Clear CreekAmana), who won both the 200 and 400-meter dash titles. Raheem Black (Fort Madison) was a repeat winner in the 400-meter hurdles. Chandler Diercks (Clear Lake), Emmett Wester (Mount Pleasant), Ethan Kenkel (Storm Lake) and Daniel Schwartz (Fairfield) won titles in the 3A field events. In Class 2A, the individual track event champions are Triston Twedt (South Hamilton, Jewell), Marc Husman (Cherokee, Washington) and The field event champions include Jeff Giannettino (West Burlington/Notre Dame) and Connor Hainer (Colfax-Mingo). The Class 1A individual track champions include Beau Freeborn (North Mahaska, New Sharon) and Kevin Herrick (Fremont-Mills, Tabor), while Andrew McCune (Woodward-Granger) and Keegan Tritle (Lisbon) won titles in field events. Josh Markert was a key factor in leading Manson-NW Webster to the team title by winning both the 3000-meter run and the high jump. Brody Eischeid also contributed with his 400-meter dash. The Panthers won the 4x200 relay title with Lucas Dolder, Holden Fiedler, Markert and Eischeid.

The Iowa state track competition took place May 16-18 at Drake Stadium. Photos by Impact Imagery photography.

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Volume 1 Issue 10

In the

Spotlight High School This page presented to you by:

All high school photos were taken at the High School Boys and Girls Track and Field State Championship May 16th and 17th by Impact Imagery.

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

High School

EASTERN IOWA dominates state soccer Girls

Photo courtesy of the Des Moines Register

Girls from Ankeny celebrate together after winning the 3A soccer state championship.

The finals of the 2013 spring sports championships are in the books with the completion of the Iowa high school girls state soccer tournament in Des Moines. Repeat is the word of this tournament as Ankeny (3A), Cedar Rapids Xavier (2A) and Davenport Assumption (1A) — all of this year’s champs — were repeat winners and for the Saints, it is their eighth consecutive title.

Ankeny allowed just one goal in the regular season and gave up one in the semifinals as it took the title for the second-straight season. The Hawks defeated rival Dowling Catholic, 1-0 behind a Sarah Brandt goal at the 33:29 mark of the first half, and ended the season with a perfect 22-0 record. Sarah’s sister Meg was named the 3A All-Tournament Team Captain. The Maroons finished the season with an 18-3 record. The Saints rolled past Sioux City

East, 5-0 in the 2A title game, capping a 19-1 season. 2A All-Tournament Captain Kayla Armstrong scored four of the five goals, three in the first 25 minutes of the title game. The Black Raiders finished with an 18-3 campaign. The Lady Knights completed a great spring season with the track and field title and now their thirdstraight soccer championship, a 2-0 victory over Bishop Heelan (Sioux City). Class 1A All-Tournament Captain Rose Ripslinger scored the game’s first goal, assisted by Maddie Irmen. Irmen would later add a second first half goal for Assumption that would be good enough to stand. Listed below are those named to the All-Tournament team at Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines. Class 3A All-Tournament Team: Madie Avery (Dowling Catholic), Sarah Brandt (Ankeny), Bailey Bravard (Dowling Catholic), Marin Daniel (Dowling Catholic), Jayne Heinrich (Iowa City West), Kasey Hurt (Ankeny), Nikkie Inskeep (Ankeny), Anna Kollmorgen (Waukee), Rachel Muse (Waukee), Alli Peterson (Iowa City West) and Class 3A Cap-

tain, Meg Brandt (Ankeny). Class 2A All-Tournament Team: Elizabeth Bailey (Cedar Rapids Xavier), Bekah Allen (Pleasant Valley), Sarah Chicchelly (Cedar Rapids Xavier), Stephanie D’Cruz (Pleasant Valley), Caitlin Foley (Sioux City East), Mallory Lynch (Pella), Eliot Sayavong (Sioux City East), Bri Schroder (Pella) and Class 2A Captain, Kayla Armstrong (Cedar Rapids Xavier). Class 1A All-Tournament Team: Riley Behan (Davenport Assumption), Elli Cassabaum (Nevada), Maddie Irmen (Davenport Assumption), Amber Lingle (Bishop Heelan, Sioux City), Danielle Moore (Davenport Assumption), Haley Nelson (Bishop Heelan, Sioux City), Sam Tymkowicz (Bishop Heelan, Sioux City), Arika Wooldridge (Center Point-Urbana), Jessica Wooldridge (Center Point-Urbana) and Class 1A Captain, Rose Ripslinger (Davenport Assumption).

Boys The 2013 Iowa high school boys state soccer championships turned into an Eastern Iowa sweep as Iowa City West, Cedar Rapids Xavier and Iowa City Regina claimed crowns at Cownie Soccer complex in Des Moines. The Trojans won their fourth title in five years in Class 3A and their 7th school soccer championship since 2000. Justin Baker and Garrett Grimson scored the West goals, both assisted by Aaron Miller. The lone City High Hawks goal was scored by Fernando Pacheco. Iowa City West finished the season at 20-1 while City High closes out a 17-3 campaign. Johnston defeated Cedar Rapids Kennedy in the third place match, 2-1 in two overtimes with the game winning goal scored by Elvir Ibisevic. SportsSpotlight.com

Cedar Rapids Xavier won the Class 2A title, edging Storm Lake, 2-1 on a 77th-minute goal by Connor Ramlo. It was the Saints’ third title over the past four seasons. Xavier completed a 14-5 season while Storm Lake finished 15-2. The third place game was won by Waverly-Shell Rock, which defeated Pella, 1-0 on a goal by Tanner Hanks. Iowa City Regina won its fourth title in five years with a convincing 4-0 victory over Beckman (Dyersville) in Class 1A. The Regals followed up a 1-0 halftime lead with three second-half goals. A.J. Adam scored twice, leading Regina to a 15-1 season record. Beckman suffered its only loss of the season and finished 17-1-1. Nevada defeated West Liberty, 3-1 for the third place title.

Iowa City Regina won its fourth title in five years at this years 1A soccer state competition. They only suffered one loss all season, proving to be a successful team performance all season. Photo courtesy of Iowa City Regina

Volume 1 Issue 10

High School

players excel at state tennis Boys

There were several familiar faces in the 2013 boys state tennis tournaments on May 24-28, but some of them left playing different roles than they did a year ago. For St. Edmond’s (Fort Dodge) Aaron Chalstrom, the change was welcome. The senior had played in the previous three 1A singles championship matches, and walked away with runner-up honors each time. But Chalstrom cruised through the 2013 field and knocked off Columbus Catholic’s (Waterloo) Alex Bernt in three sets, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Chalstrom was also a key player in the Gaels’ dominating run to the 1A team title three days after winning the individual crown. St. Edmond rolled through its first round matchup against Red Oak, 5-0, and took down Wahlert (Dubuque), 5-2, in the championship. Iowa City West wasn’t after its first team championship when it went against Cedar Falls at Prairie Ridge Sports Complex in Ankeny. The Trojans were there to defend their title as 2A kings, and successfully retained the crown with a 5-3 victory over the Tigers. The 2A doubles championship

featured Ames’ Tommy Pitcher and Alex Qin, the defending champs, and Iowa City West’s Blake Oetting and Kyle Appel. The Trojan duo rebounded after a loss in the first set of the match and took home the title in three sets, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2. The 1A doubles and 2A singles title matches pitted some of the few fresh faces at this year’s tournament. The Davenport Assumption, tandem of Stephen Nicknish and Jimmy Huiskamp squared off against Michael Anderson and Brandon Hornback of Marion; neither pair made the 2012 tournament field. Nicknish and Huiskamp only

played as a team once before district tournaments, but that didn’t stop them from claiming the Knights’ first doubles state title since 1980. They knocked off Anderson and Hornback in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(1). And in the 2A singles final, LinnMar’s (Marion) Brady Anderson won the title as the no. 1 seed in his first appearance at the state tournament. There, he met Pleasant Valley’s freshman phenom Charlie Humes, and dominated the match. Anderson didn’t allow a point on his way to a 6-0, 6-0 victory and a state championship.

year sweep of Red Oak at the state tournament. Columbus took home its second 1A team championship in three years with a 5-2 victory over the Tigers, after knocking them out in the semifinals in 2012 and 2011, and in the consolation match in 2010. The Clinton girls claimed the 2A team crown in a 5-4 triumph over Urbandale, relegating the J-Hawks to bridesmaid duty for the second straight year. Columbus might not have taken all the titles this year, but it did win the 1A doubles title with the efforts of Lindsay McGonegle and Lindsay McManus. The duo defeated Camanche’s Kiley Vogel and Linsey Grams in a tight, two-set match. McManus and McGonegle won both sets by tiebreakers, 7-6(4), 7-6(11). Urbandale, despite coming up short for the team title for the second-straight year, didn’t leave the tournament season empty

handed. Michelle Van Roekel and Madeline Heer completed a sterling two-year run as doubles mates with an undefeated senior season (18-0) and a 2A doubles championship. The duo took down Cedar Rapids, Washington’s Rina Moore and Lilly Hartman in straight sets (6-2, 6-1) in the finals. Van Roekel and Heer finished their doubles career with a 32-1 mark, with the lone loss coming in last year’s semifinals against the eventual champions from Ames, Ann Ku and Sophia Smarendescu. Davenport Assumption’s Haley Resnick didn’t rattle when she lost the first set of the 1A singles final, 6-1, to LeMars’ Carolyn Ahlers. And after the icy nerves the junior displayed in the semifinal match leading up to the championship, that was hardly surprising. Resnick overcame a 5-2 second set deficit en route to a miraculous quarterfinal victory over Red Oak’s

Kate Walker, 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-4. She followed that up with another comeback in the semifinals. Resnick allowed Columbus’ Ashlee Sinnott to jump out to a 3-0 first set lead, but came back to grab a 7-5 win in the set. She went on to finish the match with a 6-4 second set victory. One day later, she closed out Ahlers with 6-3 and 6-2 wins in the final two sets of the championship match. And became the Assumption program’s first state champion in the process. Youth was served when Fort Dodge’s Jaci Cochrane and Iowa City High’s Eve Small squared off in the finals of the 2A singles tournament. Cochrane, a freshman, took down the Little Hawks’ sophomore in a 6-4, 7-5 bout that seems likely to see at least one rematch before the two finish their respective careers.

Girls

Photo courtesy of Fort Dodge High School

Jaci Cochrane, a freshman at Fort Dodge took the title in the 2A state singles tournament.

The Columbus Catholic (Waterloo) girls tennis team made it a clean sweep at the 1A team state tournament in Ankeny on May 30-June 1. Not a sweep of boys’ and girls’ titles, or even one of singles, doubles, and team titles. The Sailors completed a four-

Volume 1 Issue 10

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High School

Boys The 1A state golf tournament was the first for Sibley-Ocheyedan’s Ty Hanna. But that didn’t stop the junior from bringing home the individual crown with a two-round score of 158 at Lake Panorama on May 24-25. Hanna was tied for the lead with New London’s Tristan Kadel after firing an 83 in the opening round and took his game up a notch on the final day. He posted a 3-over 75 to pull away from the field and finished with a 6-stroke cushion over Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s Jacob Smolt. Sibley-Ocheyedan also collected its first team championship since winning back-to-back titles in 197778. The Generals’ combined score of 673 comfortably outpaced New London and West Lyon’s 706 and 723, respectively. In the 2A tournament at Spring Valley in Livermore, it was all Columbus Catholic (Waterloo). The Sailors placed four players — Jack Conway, Jace Holten, Sean Cavanaugh, and Zach Ward — in the top 13 to win their second-straight state title, and their combined score of 632 was 15 strokes better than runner-up Prairie City-Monroe. Conway, who entered the final round four strokes back of the lead but fired a scorching 1-under 71 to win medalist honors, paced the Sailors with a total score of 150. He edged out Des Moines Christian’s Ryan Minor for the individual championship by just two strokes, and PCM’s Hunter Van Veen was four shots back with a 154 final. The edges in both the team and individual 3A championship races were razor thin. First-place Creston Orient-Macksburg and fourth-place

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Centerville were separated by a mere nine shots. The Panthers put together a total score of 647, just three shots ahead of Decorah, and were led by junior Carson Whittingham’s medalist-winning score of 155. Whittingham faced very stiff competition for the individual title, including Centerville’s Alex Moorman, the 2012 medalist. But Moorman, along with Clear Lake’s Dane Waldron and Decorah’s Michael Peter, finished in a three-way tie for second place — just one stroke off Whittingham’s pace. All told, just six strokes separated the top 10.

Girls Charles City senior Jessie Sindlinger has made a habit of collecting state medalist honors, and she didn’t let a little rain throw off her routine at the Ames Golf & Country Club in the 4A state meet. Despite inclement weather that cancelled the final round of play, Sindlinger posted a blistering first round score of 65, eight strokes under par. That score held up to give her a fourth individual state championship — making her just the second girls’ player in Iowa history to accomplish the feat, after Dubuque’s Sharon Fladoos won four titles from 1958-61. Independence’s MacKenzie Black fired an impressive, even-par 73 to take second place. Sindlinger led the way for the Comets, who brought home their second state title in three years with a total score of 330, well ahead of runner-up Cedar Rapids Xavier’s score of 352. The 5A individual championship wasn’t nearly as lopsided as its 4A counterpart. Pleasant Valley’s Anna

Photos courtesy of Julie Sindlinger

Sindlinger Makes hS golf history

Jessie Sindlinger took home her fourth individual state championship.

Cullinan and Waukee’s Kelsy Shay were tied at 76 after the first round at Lake Panorama and, due to rain, were forced to call it a draw for medalist honors. Shay spearheaded the Warrior’s charge to their second team crown in as many years. Waukee finished with four players in the top 12 — Shay, Paige Seiser (80, tie for fourth place), Payton Minear (84, tie for tenth place), and Jasmine Wyzgowski (85, tie for 12th place). The team shot a combined 325, 15 shots ahead of runner-up Pleasant Valley. Kuemper Catholic (Carroll) has been a fixture on the team leaderboards, but the Knights grabbed their first championship since 2010 in the 2A state meet. A team score of 367, led by Morgan Naberhaus’ tenth-place 87, was enough to hold off Beckman (Dyersville) (374). South Tama’s Paige Van Dyk took fourth place as a sophomore at the 3A state meet last season. This year, in 2A, the junior took home medalist honors after shooting a first round score of 72, six strokes ahead of runner-up Kate Coyle of Cascade. Despite not placing a single player

in the top five, Alta-Aurelia ran away with the 2A team championship at the American Legion Memorial Golf Course in Marshalltown. The Warriors jumped out to a commanding 24-stroke lead over Nashua-Plainfield in the first round, and didn’t let up when play resumed the next day. They finished play with a final score of 684, a whopping 48 strokes ahead of runner-up Dike-New Hartford. Nashua-Plainfield sophomore Sarah McMichael held a one-stroke lead after the first round, but that was all she needed. She edged DikeNew Hartford’s Brianna Weber (161) for medalist honors with a final score of 160. The 1A state meet, also played at Marshalltown, saw a close battle for the team championship, but the individual field was playing for second. Bishop Garrigan (Algona) junior Alexa Capesius took fourth at the 2012 state meet, but she wasn’t coming up short in the medalist race again. Capesius built a 4-shot lead through the first 18 holes, but came out in the second round and buried the competition. She shot a scorching 71 — just one over par — and tacked on another 10 strokes to her lead to finish with a final score of 150. Behind Capesius, though, was a heated contest for runner-up. Valley of Elgin’s Jodi Schott posted a score of 164, which bested Grundy Center’s Hillary Samo (167) and Bellevue Marquette Catholic’s Carly Jacobs (167), who tied for third. Capesius’ medalist effort wasn’t enough for Garrigan to win the team title, though. Grundy Center, which held a 4-stroke lead through 18 holes, posted a team score of 711, just two strokes ahead of Garrigan’s pace (713).

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Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY? AND WHY? A: Tennis — it’s my best sport and the one I spend the most time on. Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS MEMORY? A: In the 2012 Iowa State Basketball semi-finals, I came off the bench and made two 3-point baskets to help the team win and make it to the finals. Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY FUN PRE-GAME “RITUALS” THAT PREPARE YOU FOR AN EVENT? A: I don’t let anyone touch my racquets other than me, and for important matches, I wear black socks. Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL? AND WHY? A: English — I enjoy reading and learning about British literature. Q: WHO INSPIRES YOU? WHY? A: My dad — he works hard at everything that he does to the best of his ability. He gives 100% of everything. Q: WHAT WAS THE BEST MOVIE YOU SAW IN THE LAST YEAR? A: The Warrior Q: WHAT IS YOUR DREAM JOB? A: Doing something that I look forward to doing each day.

Achievements Sports: Tennis, baseball and basketball Athletic Achievements/Honors: Tennis: State Singles Finalist (Runner Up), 2010, 2011, 2012; State Singles Champion, 2013; State Team Runner Up, 2012; State Team Champion, 2013 Baseball: State Tournament Qualifier - 2010; All Conference, 2012 Basketball:State Tournament Qualifier, 2011; State Tournament Finalist (Runner Up), 2012; All Conference, 2013

Aaron Chalstrom St. Edmond Catholic - Class of 2013

High School

Enrollment decideS classification Kenzie Kramer | Contributor

When talking about high school athletics, one of the first things that’s often mentioned is the class. Whether it’s the 4A powerhouse football team or the 1A volleyball team with as many players as the school’s graduating class, the classification system gives fans more background about the school. The purpose of the classification system in high school sports, which is based off of enrollment numbers at the schools, is to level the playing field. A school like Valley High in West Des Moines has over 2,000 students, while Stanton High in Stanton, Iowa has only 52. When it comes to the number of athletes, larger schools have an advantage of a larger pool to choose from, making it necessary to put them against more schools with similar opportunities. These classifications are decided by the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), which focuses on boys sports, and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU). Although they’re separate organizations, the decision process is almost identical. Todd Tharp, who has been the assistant executive director at the IHSAA for eight years, said the reclassification committee — made up of superintendents, principals, and athletic directors — meets every two years to discuss the classification system. The IHSAA is also required to do a survey of schools every five years. The reclassification committee is a new organization and was started in 2008 after the survey

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showed differing opinions. “There was some interest from our membership about looking into classifications,” said Tharp. Each class of Iowa high school sports has a certain number of teams assigned to that classification. Once the IHSAA gets the list of enrollment numbers at each school from the Department of Education, the classes are broken up by predetermined numbers. For example, as long as the system stays the same, there will always be the largest 48 schools in the 4A conference with the next 64 largest schools in 3A, the next 128 largest schools in the class 2A and the remaining schools in the class 1A. When schools get changed from a 3A to 4A conference, it’s not the classifications that are changing but the number of students who attend the school. Even though enrollment numbers at schools can change, the teams in each class stay the same for the most part. “There’s usually a handful of changes,” said Tharp, “In basketball there’s typically two.” Even though the process is relatively simple; there are special situations that can complicate it. Some football teams in smaller classes are required to play up to 4A because of their location-based conference. Also, teams that have combined schools for sports, or coops, have special situations as well. “With co-ops, they have to absorb their enrollment numbers as well,” said Tharp. Although the girls and boys

classification system is very similar, there is one major difference. The IGHSAU has recently made the switch to five classes instead of four for most of their sports. Jason Eslinger, the Assistant Director at IGHSAU, helped implement the change starting in 2012. “The 2012 girls softball tournament was our first 5A tournament,” said Eslinger. Even though many girls sports like softball, volleyball and basketball have switched over to five classes, some sports have stuck with fewer classifications. “Bowling is two classes, soccer is three classes, tennis is two,” said Eslinger. Track and field and cross country are also not up to five classifications as they’re combined with the boys team that are still in four. So why the change to 5A? Eslinger says that the biggest reason was to give more teams the opportunity to go to state and to play in a state tournament atmosphere. The change has given eight more high school teams the chance to make it to the state tournament. It has also offset some match ups that have prevented teams from making it there before. Unity Christian (Orange City) and Western Christian (Hull), two strong volleyball schools, have always had to face each other to make it to the state tournament in the past. Now that one is 2A and one is 3A it gives them a better chance at moving on. Another reason for the change is to lessen the gap between the largest and smallest schools in the classes. In the 4A system, a school with 2,000 students can play a school with 500 students. The IGSHAU is trying to cut the gap for more equal classes. Eslinger also said that one thing to point out is that there’s also a revenue boost for the IGHSAU with more teams going to state. Overall, Eslinger said that the feedback has been positive, as he expected. “I mean, who doesn’t want to go to state,” said Eslinger. While the girls sports in Iowa have made the jump to 5A, the boys do not plan on going to 5A anytime soon as they don’t see the need.

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Volume 1 Issue 10

Champions Across Across Iowa Iowa General Mills

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A League

of their own

It’s an exuberance all children desire. The joy of summer days spent at the ballpark, playing in front of a crowd as family and friends cheer from the bleachers. For the players in the Kiwanis Miracle League, these simple pleasures of youth take on a deeper meaning. The ball started rolling on the project in 2007. The Downtown Kiwanis Club in Des Moines was looking for a capital project that could make an impact in the community. A few members started exploring projects and came across the Miracle League baseball program. According to Jan Birch, Board President for the Miracle League in Des Moines, the group conducted a survey of Warren, Polk and Dallas counties to determine the number of children with disabilities in the metro area; they discovered that there were over 3,100 children between the ages of 5 and 15 that were faced with disabilities that prevented them from competing in any organized youth sport. After learning of the need for an activity like this in the Des Moines metro area and the capabilities that a Miracle League could offer, the group jumped at the opportunity. Play began in the fall of 2008 with roughly 60 kids participating. Over the last few years, that number has grown exponentially. For the 2013 season, over 240 kids signed up and were placed on 14 teams. Children from the ages of 5-18 who have disabilities are welcomed to play in the Miracle League. As Birch described it, “we never turn any kid away.” Games are held at the Kiwanis Miracle League field just across the street from Principal Park — home to the Iowa Cubs. Games consist of two innings with each player getting a chance to bat both innings and an opportunity to run the bases. The field is meant to model the neighboring stadium, complete with bleachers, dugouts, a scoreboard and an in-game announcer, but features a unique difference in the playing surface. Instead of the traditional ball diamond, the surface is rubberized, with lines and bases painted on; this allow players using wheelchairs or those who are visually impaired to navigate the field and the bases without worry.

we never turn “any kid away ”

Those interested in donating or participating can learn more at the Miracle League website, www.kiwanismiracleleague.com.

Kiwanis Miracle League For Birch and the rest of the Kiwanis Club, the volunteer efforts of individuals, businesses and schools have been the key to supporting the league. The program was started by the Downtown Club, but each Kiwanis Club in the metro has contributed a great deal of time and energy. Birch estimates that the Downtown Kiwanis Club alone donates over 3,000 hours a year. As interest and participation from players has burgeoned, so has the need for volunteers. The buddy program, known as Angels in the Outfield, partners volunteers with players for each game to assist them in game. According to Birch, with the sheer numbers of teams and players participating throughout the season, there are over 1,000 volunteer slots to fill each season. Groups ranging from business offices to high school cheerleaders have donated their time to the growth and experience of the Miracle League. “They really become an extended family. You become very close with them and watch them grow,” Birch said. For many of the players, the season recap is nearly as eagerly anticipated as each swing of the bat. A postseason pizza party takes place with each player invited; trophies are given out and a video slideshow is put together. It is a chance for them to be recognized and come together as teams. The popularity and love of the game has necessitated the development of a league in Ankeny that will be better able to serve youth in that area. The Kiwanis Miracle League contacted the Ankeny school district and discovered that approximately 700-800 children in the Ankeny schools have some form of disability. After learning of the need and desire, a plan was established and fundraising took place to build another diamond in central Iowa. Construction is underway for the Ankeny field with a chance that play will begin this fall. “It’s amazing the difference that we are able to see in the kids. It’s just fun for them and it’s fun for us,” Birch said.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson 4x200 Relay Team Pictured from left to right: Rachel Broghammer, Jasmine Blue, Lucy Schneekloth, and Maliya Rattliffe

Unmatched performance and dependability: One of the oldest records in Iowa high school girls track history was erased by the Cedar Rapids Jefferson 4x200 relay team on the blue oval at Drake Stadium in Des Moines for the State Track Meet. The J-Hawks broke a record set by the 1975 Woodbine team by .06 seconds with their winning time of 1:40.94. Rattliffe, Schneekloth, Blue and Broghammer made up the all-time best team. Each a

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College

Senior MEYER helps team succeed

Central’s softball team returned to the national tournament with help from Caitlyn Meyer Darrin Cline | Contributor

The term “ironman” may not necessarily apply, but rarely has it been more apt. Perhaps the suited alternative is “ironwoman.” No matter the nickname, Caitlyn Meyer can be described as tough. The Central College catcher’s fight to return to the diamond was just one story from the triumphant return to the NCAA Division III National Tournament for the Dutch softball team. After a decade-long absence, the four-time national champions capitalized on an at-large bid to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since their national title run in 2003. “It’s always exciting to reach that point. Seeing the reaction of the players to their accomplishments is the most rewarding part,” legendary head coach Wares said. The postseason run was especially gratifying for the seniors, including Caitlyn Meyer. The four-time letter winner was tasked with overcoming two surgeries in less than one year. Meyer tore her ACL in April 2012. The injury limited Meyer to only 27 games during her junior year. Not long after the initial treatment for the knee injury, Meyer then learned she would need surgery on her shoulder.

Throughout the summer and fall, Meyer was forced to slowly rehab and return to playing form. “I had great support and didn’t just do it on my own. The coaches pushed me, my teammates pushed me and my parents supported me through the whole thing,” the senior co-captain from Newton said. Meyer and the Dutch team were pegged to be a top-3 team in the Iowa Conference for 2013. However, a rocky season opening tournament dropped the women to 1-4. The team quickly turned things around, not losing consecutive games until the postseason. “We came out of the shoot playing a very tough schedule…I thought we actually played very well, even though our record wasn’t very good. We got a lot of things answered in those early games,” Wares said.

Central College senior outfielder Emily Te Brink was one of the five seniors on this season’s record-breaking team.

Volume 1 Issue 10

Throughout the remainder of the regular season, Central pitched 11 shut outs and allowed more than three runs in a game only twice. “Coming off the 1-4 start and the collective agreement of ‘This isn’t how we’re going to let our season go.’ We had so many excuses to just give up but we didn’t,” Meyer said of the team’s ability to rally and persevere. Heading into the IIAC tournament, the No. 16 Dutch drew the two seed and a first-round bye. In the second round, Central battled rival Luther—a team they had swept in the regular season—and fell 9-3 on their home diamond. Those nine runs were the most given up by the Dutch all season. With Luther proceeding to win the IIAC conference tournament and earning an automatic bid to the national tournament, Central was selected as an at-large squad to the regional tournament round. In the first round, Central squared off against Cornell College; the Dutch defeated the Rams, 1-0. Next up was Fontbonne (Mo.). Central squeaked by again with a 3-1 victory. The final hurdle came in the form of St. Thomas College out of Minnesota. In the first game, the women disposed of the visitors in five innings. However, in the second game, the bid to the national championship came down to the wire. Leading 1-0 heading into the seventh inning, Whitney Sowers crossed home plate on a fielder’s choice. St. Thomas would stifle the Dutch offense after that, but the Sowers run proved to be the difference. With their backs against the wall, St. Thomas came out swinging in the bottom of the inning. Brenna Walek blasted a solo home run to keep the team’s hopes alive. Two more quick outs set up the now indelible moment and image for Central College. “I still see the last pitch Mallory (Schulenberg) threw. That’s the moment from this season that will stick with me. You could see everyone saying ‘Catch it, catch it, catch it!’” Meyer said.

The captivating moment catapulted the Dutch into the national tournament and ended the decade-long drought. However, the magic would run out shortly after. In the quarterfinal round, Montclair State dropped Central, 4-1, behind the power of a three-run home run in the third that put them in an early hole. Texas-Tyler awaited Central in the consolation round. The Dutch scratched and clawed, pushing the game to eight innings before falling 5-4. Central jumped ahead early with a 2-0 lead, but Texas-Tyler moved ahead via a three-run home run in the fifth inning. Sowers and Alex Cessna tied the game at 4-4 with runs in the sixth inning, but the offense ended there. A lone run in the bottom of the extra inning propelled the Patriots on and ended the season for the Dutch. “We were sad the way it ended, but I think you have to be happy that we got as far as we did,” Meyer said. Despite not coming away with a fifth national championship, individual accolades befell the Central women. Mallory Schulenberg, a sophomore pitcher from Kansas City, was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American third team. Schulenberg tallied a 16-2 record with a 1.27 ERA. She earned a 4-0 record at the regional tournament and was named the tournament’s outstanding player. Schulenberg and Meyer were both named to the All-Conference First Team. Freshman pitcher Kelsey Stender, sophomore first baseman Katie Canney, sophomore third baseman Whitney Sowers and junior shortstop Annie Sarcone were all named to the All-Conference Second Team. Sowers earned All-Conference honors for the second time with Sarcone garnering recognition for the third time. “The players did a great job of committing to each other and getting to the point where they really care about each other and committing to the simple things,” Wares said of his squad’s growth. Caitlyn Meyer’s senior campaign proved to be worth the struggle.

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College Meyer was named the 2013 IIAC Position Player of the Year. As a catcher she led the conference in batting average, slugging and OBP with a .548/1.095/.600 line. She also claimed or tied for tops in hits, RBIs, doubles and home runs. Her eight home runs this season double her career total from the previous three seasons. “I was just one of 27. Our team has always been a team and every role is equally important. Everyone got us to where we ended up,” Meyer said. The trials and tribulations she faced also provided a new philosophy on the sport and approaching everything with passion. “Having all the surgery reminded me that this can be taken away at any second so why worry about the whatifs; instead I just went out and played softball again.” Meyer said. “Yesterday is yesterday and tomorrow is choice… You can’t worry about the what-ifs, just play with your heart.”

for breaks, sprains and other pains. It’s the human condition. Even though we may be strong, talented or graceful, we’re always just one power forward, bad vault or rogue linebacker away from an unexpected break, sprain or torn ligament. Photos courtesy of Central College Athletics Communications

Central College senior catcher Caitlyn Meyer battled back after serious injuries to win the Iowa Conference Position Player of the Year.

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Volume 1 Issue 10

College

tennis star paves the way to history

Tennis player, Laura Krull, leads Grinnell to the NCAA National Championships

TiCkeTs on sale now

my career, especially not my senior year. I just had a lot of support the whole time from my teammates and my coaches, and it was super exciting to have everything come together. I was never just playing for myself; I’m super proud to know that I ended in Grinnell history books and that I could present the school at Nationals,” Krull said about her experiences at the National Tournament. She competed with her fellow Grinnell teammates in the NCAA Regional Championships in Chicago prior to the meet in Michigan. Last fall, Krull had already preserved her name in the Pioneer record books by becoming the first Pioneer woman to win the USTA/ ITA Midwest Regional title, which also sent her to the national event. She then cemented her status by being the first to win a match at the national level and then placing sixth out of nine competitors. Both the Grinnell tennis team and Laura Krull have bright futures

ahead of them. We’ll be looking for Shirlene Luk on the courts for the Pioneers. Luk is an upcoming junior and Krull is excited to see what she can do in the fall tournament on the court. Krull is headed further into academia to continue her education: “I’m going to be starting a Ph.D. program in sociology at the University of North Carolina. My tennis-playing career is over, I don’t expect to leave it behind. I’ll be taking my rackets with me, but my focus is definitely shifting to advanced academic work and hopefully becoming a professor one day.” But Grinnell and Iowa will always hold a special place for Krull. She said, “I don’t think I could ever emphasize enough how really unexpected and exiting the whole experience was for me, and I’m just so glad that I had my teammates and my coaches there in spirit and physically there the whole time.”

Photo courtesy of Grinnell College Athletics Communications

Recent Grinnell graduate from Texas, Laura Krull, has made Pioneer history. She is the first Pioneer female to qualify for the NCAA Division III National Tennis Championships. Iowa might seem like a strange choice for a Texan native, but Krull chose Grinnell for its focus on academia. “I wanted a small private liberal arts school, and I knew that Grinnell had a reputation for academics,” she said. She is going to miss the state, but especially the people. “I’ll miss the people there and the overall friendliness that I found in Iowa,” she said. The Championships were held May 23-25 in Michigan. Krull lost the event to Texas Lutheran’s Sofia Vega in first round 6-2, 6-2. She was ranked ninth in the Central Region with an 18-4 record and was one of 32 players to make the singles field. “It was just an incredible experience. My first couple years in college, I was playing by injuries, and I really wasn’t expecting a lot out of

Laura Krull plays strong for the Grinnell Pioneers. She was the first female player from Grinnell to compete in the NCAA national championships.

2013 IowaState Fair

presenTed by

Grandstand line-up

Thursday, augusT 8

sunday, augusT 11

wednesday, augusT 14

saTurday, augusT 17

Casting Crowns

Dierks Bentley

Grand Outlaw National Tractor and Truck Pull

Demolition Derby and Figure Eight

with special guest Jeremy Camp, 8 p.m., $30

with special guest JusTin moore, 8 p.m., $39

Friday, augusT 9

monday, augusT 12

Happy Together Tour 2013

Deery Brothers Summer Series

starring The TurTles FeaTuring Flo &

laTe models, sporT mods, sToCk Cars, hobby sToCks and dirT TruCks, 5:30 p.m. hoT laps, 6 p.m. raCes, $17 adulTs, $5 Children ages 6-11 free for ages 5 and under

eddie, gary puCkeTT & The union gap, ChuCk negron Formerly oF Three dog nighT, mark lindsay Former lead singer oF paul revere & The raiders and gary lewis & The playboys,

8 p.m., $25

Tuesday, augusT 13

saTurday, augusT 10

Victoria Justice

Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller and Kevin Nealon From SNL

with special guest penTaTonix, 8 p.m., $29

sponsored by iowa Farmer Today, 2 p.m., $20 adulTs, $10 Children ages 6-11 free for ages 5 and under

Thursday, augusT 15

Toby Keith Hammer Down Tour presenTed

by Ford F-series with special guest kip moore, 8 p.m., $49

saTurday, augusT 17

Carly raE JEPSEN and THE WaNTED

with special guest Tba, 8 p.m., $35

sunday, augusT 18

alan Jackson and Gary allan

Friday, augusT 16

Train

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8 p.m., $39

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augusT 8-18 800.745.3000 | iowasTaTeFair.org

Volume 1 Issue 10

Tickets for all concerts and events on sale now through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800.745.3000. All concert seats are reserved. All track events are general admission. Convenience charges apply to all tickets. The Iowa State Fair Ticket Office will open July 8. Grandstand tickets do not include admission to the Fair. Gate admission must be purchased separately.

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A Policy of Working Together

College

Record-breaking season for Kirkwood Darrin Cline | Contributor

In the past six years, the Kirkwood Community College softball team has steadily climbed toward the top of the NJCAA Division II mountain. Under the direction of head coach Joe Yegge, the Eagles have become the class of the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference, and for the second consecutive year, the

Photo courtesy of Krikwood Marketing.

The Kirkwood Eagles advanced to the Sports Connection national tournament for the 11th time in schol history. 3.5 x 4.75

women qualified for the national tournament. Despite what turned out to be one of the greatest seasons in school history, early challenges arose and dropped the squad to 7-3; for the next few months, only the number in the win column would change. “I just think that the first few games we didn’t have it all together. We didn’t start the way we should have. We had a reality check and were determined to turn things around,” sophomore Shelby Crist said. After overcoming the early season trials, the team completed a stellar regular season that saw both individual and team records shattered, and the Eagle women (57-5 overall, 28-0 in the ICCAC) breezed through the early rounds of the postseason. In the Region 11 tournament, the women stayed true to form as the top seed. Kirkwood beat Iowa Central in the first round, 6-0, and NIACC, 8-0 in the second round. In the regional championship game, the Eagles faced a familiar foe in DMAAC.

at Grand View

The squads owned the top two spots in the conference throughout the season, with Kirkwood holding a decided advantage in the headto-head matchup. The Eagles edged DMAAC in two games, squeaking out a 1-0 win before rolling to a 9-2 win in the championship game. “I still think they have one of the best pitchers in the country that we faced. I think that’s what helped us prepare and get through the postseason and make a little run in the national tournament is playing those tough games late in the season,” Yegge said. Kirkwood’s next task came in the form of Dakota County Technical College. The first-round opponent fell to the Eagles, 8-1. Dawson Community College was the final obstacle on the quest to reach the national tournament. In two games, the women pummeled their foes, 13-2 and 12-0, to punch their ticket to a second-consecutive national tournament. The second victory marked a milestone for the Eagles. The win secured a perfect 19-0 home season and was victory number

48 in a record-breaking streak for the women. In seven regional and district games, the team outscored their opponents 57-5, including four shutouts. From there, it was on to Clinton, Miss. for the national tournament. Upon earning the No. 3 seed, the Eagles drew CCBC-Cantonsville from Maryland. Kirkwood’s hot bats kept at work, driving in 10 runs on the way to a rousing victory. Illinois Central College awaited the women; in an unusual nail-biter for the squad, Kirkwood slid past the Cougars, 3-2. Unfortunately, the Eagle women came up on the wrong side of a onerun difference in the quarterfinal round. Second-seeded Phoenix College, the dominant softball program of the past decade with six of the last ten titles, surpassed the Eagles, 2-1. The Bears would eventually fall in the championship game to LSUEunice, 8-0. A consolation-round loss to the third place finishers Cowley County Community College ended the historic season for Kirkwood.

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Volume 1 Issue 10

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College Despite coming up short in their championship bid, there was no shortage of accomplishments and accolades for the team this season. “The whole tournament in general, we should’ve have had a little more confidenece in our team. We should have played like the No. 3 seed and we should have executed in some situations,” sophomore slugger Haylee Krack said. A 50-game winning streak is something Yegge could barely fathom. The undefeated conference regular season put Kirkwood in scarce company among ICCAC schools. “I don’t know if that’s ever happened. I talked to some people who have been around our league for 20-plus years and they cannot remember any team going undefeated in the conference. Even the really good teams get knocked down a few times in conference,” head coach Joe Yegge said. As a unit, the Eagles outpaced every other team in the country by a wide margin. The team led Division II in runs and home runs; the 104 home runs were nearly 30 more than the nation’s next best offense. “There’s always support. We pat each other on the back, we get up for each other; it’s always a team effort,” Krack said.

The lauded pitching staff stymied nearly all opposing hitters, compiling 509 strikeouts. The rotation’s .91 collective ERA and 72 runs allowed also stood atop the divisional rankings. On the individual front, three women were named to the Division II All-American First Team. Sophomore hitters Kayla Tatge and Haylee Krack, and freshman pitcher Amber Logemann were each honored for their accomplishments on the diamond. Logemann was the ace for the Eagles as she led the nation in strikeouts with 356 and ERA with a mark of .58. According to NJCAA records, Logemann’s single-season strikeout number is fifth in Divison II since 2000. “When a pitcher has a good team around them they don’t have to pitch with pressure. She was able to just go out and do her thing and be relaxed,” Yegge said of the freshman pitcher. “Amber never went out thinking she had to strike everybody out; she just went out there and pitched and relied on us to hit and play defense behind her.” Krack, a Southeast Missouri State recruit, was fourth in the nation in home runs with 19 and RBI’s with 72. Tatge trailed Krack in RBI’s with

71, but her pure power as a home run hitter was unparalleled. Tatge’s 25 round-trippers were not only the best in the country, but they contributed to her school record mark of 45 career home runs. The two-time All American also managed to hit above .400 for the 2013 season. Krack and Tatge — who will be continuing her career at St. Ambrose University — are among a handful of Kirkwood players who will be moving on to the next level. Crist will be playing at Upper Iowa University while infielder Kristen Winter will be heading to Luther

College. Logemann’s outstanding campaign has drew the attention of a number of NCAA Division I programs, and she utlimately signed with Miami University (Ohio). 2013 was a banner season for the Kirkwood softball program. Even with the 13th Region 11 title, 11th national tournament appearance and unprecedented 50-game winning streak, Yegge succinctly defined it as “an amazing run.”

Photo courtesy of Krikwood Marketing.

The Eagles finished their season with a 50-game win streak, ending their record-breaking run with a loss to second-seeded Phoenix College in the quarterfinal round of the national championship series.

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Volume 1 Issue 10

Pros

driver honors mother in every race

The revving of the engines wasn’t too loud. The men with faces hidden behind their helmets weren’t intimidating. The cars speeding by weren’t too fast. Even at a very young age, NASCAR Nationwide driver Joey Gase belonged at a speedway, down with the cars and close to the action. “He would just sit up in stands and watch drivers and cars when he was young,” Joey’s father, Bob Gase said. “He would even come down to the fence and tell his good old dad what he was doing wrong.” Joey’s father raced at a local speedway even before Joey was born. The more time Joey spent at this dad’s races, helping fix cars and watching the other drivers, the more

Volume 1 Issue 10

interested he became. “I learned a lot from him, that’s for sure,” Joey said regarding his father. “He’s one of the first teachers I ever had.” Joey took the wheel for the first time at the age of eight. As his dad ended his racing career, Joey began his behind the wheel of a simple go-cart. “I tried to teach him what I could, but he watched and paid attention and learned a lot on his own,” Joey’s father said. “He’d learn from my mistakes and he just learned from watching and working on cars alongside us.” Joey was determined to start out strong. In 2001, he made his racing debut at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids. Despite the fact that Joey was a rookie, he came out on top and got his first win. From then on, Joey continued to race and to improve. At the age of 14, he moved away from racing go-carts and advanced to cars. A year later he began racing late-models, which he still races on occasion. With Joey consistently winning

and finishing at the top, he started getting noticed and his popularity rose. In 2009, at the age of 16, Joey became the youngest person to win the Late-Model Track Championship at Hawkeye Downs Speedway. His career took off with the big win. “You just have to prove yourself and be successful on the racetrack like I did,” Joey said. “When you get to that point and start getting track records, even if you’re not winning, staying up front and being consistent is what matters.” The following year, Joey signed as a development driver with SS Greenlight Racing, based in North Carolina. He began racing across the country at more than 13 different tracks and in several racing tours and series. Once again, Joey’s consistency and success got him noticed, and he continued to work his way up the professional ladder. In 2011, Joey signed with Go Green Racing, a NASCAR Nationwide Series team. “They approached us and wanted Joey to test cars, so he went down to Daytona when he was 18,” Joey’s

father said. “For his first step for Nationwide, he raced at Iowa Speedway and since he finished 20th he upgraded to larger tracks. They thought it was a good match, so he was approved and then he was upgraded.” With every race, Joey was one step, or one lap, closer to reaching his dream of competing in the Sprint Cup Series. He was consistently participating in races, signed with Jimmy Means Racing — a second NASCAR Nationwide Series team — and was regularly finishing in the front half of the races. Things were looking up for Joey and his racing career until the unthinkable happened. On April 3, 2011, Joey’s mother Mary passed away due to a sudden brain aneurysm at the age of 44. The loss was completely unexpected and left Joey and his then twelve-year-old sister to make some decisions. “When she passed away, a little after my 18th birthday, my mom wasn’t married, so I had to sign all the paperwork,” he said. Eventually, Joey and his family

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Pros made the decision to donate his mother’s organs. This decision, and the grief suffered from losing a parent, propelled Joey’s career into a different direction. The racing continued, and Joey continued to have success. But this time, it wasn’t all about going for the win and coming out on top — it was about honoring his mother. “After my mom passed away, I won my first two races and that was really special to me,” Joey said. “I had ‘I love you Mom’ on the side of the car and I had a logo made that said ‘In memory of Mary Gase’ and that was really special.” Joey has honored the memory of his mother in a very special way, through his racing sponsorship. Sponsorship is a huge part of racing that often goes unnoticed by fans, but is essential to a driver’s success. “You can’t do anything, no matter how good you are, if you don’t have people behind you supporting you,” Joey said. “You have to have that funding or your can’t do anything.” Last year, Joey contacted the Iowa Donor Network and asked if it would be willing to partner with him; Joey would promote organ donation and the Iowa Donor Network would sponsor Joey and his racing career. The partnership took off and in a few months, Donate

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Life America (DLA), the national foundation, became Joey’s main sponsor. “When his mother passed away and he and his sister were part of the decision to donate organs, one of the recipients was in Iowa, and they were able to organize a meeting between Joey and the recipient,” Karen Headley, the National Development Director for DLA said. “It was so successful all around that the people at the Iowa Donor Network put him in contact with us.” As a partner with DLA, Joey is always on the go, encouraging communities to register as organ donors. Each time Joey travels for

a race, he visits the local organ procurement organization, known as an OPO, and works to motivate, educate and engage people in DLA’s mission. Joey has committed his heart and soul to this organization. He speaks about the importance of organ donation with drivers’ education classes. He meets with people who are waiting, or are recovering from transplants — as well as donor families with similar experiences as his own. “He’s really motivating oneon-one with people as he tells the story about his mom and what is important to him and what he

believes,” Headley said. “He’s such a great role model, and it’s been a remarkable experience having him do this with us.” Going forward, Joey’s career continues to accelerate. While his dream is still to make his way to the Sprint Cup Series and eventually win a championship, DLA is now part of Joey’s long-term goals as well. “I’d love to have Donate Life America on board as a sponsor for my whole career,” Joey said. “To me, it’s not just any sponsor, it means something to me. Just knowing that my mom was able to live on and help people makes it very special.”

Photos courtesy of Joey Gase

NASCAR Nationwide driver Joey Gase partners with Donate Life America to honor his mother who was an organ donor and to encourage organ donor registration. His car is sponsored by Donate Life America.

Volume 1 Issue 10

Pros

Iowa values contribute to success

Iowa natives Brad Nelson and Ryan Sweeney return to Iowa, where careers began When people think about Iowa, images of small, farm towns, filled with cornfields and farmers come to mind. For some, this perception is a reality, but for others life in the city is more fitting. Regardless of urban or rural upbringings, Iowans are known for their hard work, dedication, perseverance and community spirit. Brad Nelson and Ryan Sweeney, both professional baseball players affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, are prime examples of the success that can come from the traditional Iowa character. Born and raised in Algona, Iowa, Nelson had the opportunity to become involved with baseball at a young age. “Living in Algona, I had an opportunity to play early on in high school ball and things like that,” Nelson said. “As an eighth grader I played for the freshman team, and you don’t get to do that at bigger places. They needed people to go out rather than cutting people. That’s definitely what small schools bring to athletes.” Nelson was soon discovered by Gene Meister, the head baseball coach of Bishop Garrigan High School. His ability to switch hit was impeccable and his young talent was something that could be fostered with more play and advanced competition. “I still remember we put him in to pinch hit, and he hit one off the

fence and I was like ‘Yep, he’s ready for varsity,’ and that’s just the way it was,” Meister said. “From that point forward he played every game with us.” In 2001, Nelson was drafted in the fourth round of the MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. “He had such a pure concept of the game and he was so mature for the game, both physically and mentally,” Meister said. “You would have some things that you think are important, that any coach would think was important, and Brad came with most of that.” From then on, Nelson was fully immersed in life as a minor league baseball player. A plane ticket to Phoenix, a hotel room at a Red Roof Inn and an early morning start at the field kicked off his career. Over the years, the first-baseman moved up through the various levels of the Brewers-affiliated minor league teams. Traveling from city to city, playing the game he loved, Nelson was able to experience life outside of small-town Iowa and discover what the United States had to offer. “I knew there was more out there than in central Iowa, but at the same time it is different,” he said. “The amount of people, the big cities. That’s one thing I’ve really enjoyed. I’ve seen the whole country while playing baseball.”

In September of 2008, Nelson made his major league debut with the Brewers. His major league stint was short-lived and in May of 2009 he was demoted back to the Nashville Sounds. After eight years in the Brewers feeder teams, Nelson opted for free agency and eventually signed with the Seattle Mariners. After leaving the Brewers, Nelson went on to play AAA ball with the Mariners, Texas Rangers and at the end of 2012, Nelson signed with the Chicago Cubs and returned to Iowa to play for the Iowa Cubs in Des Moines. In his thirteenth season as a professional baseball player, Nelson has grown as a player and as a person. His positive attitude, sense of humor and his inherent Iowa values have allowed him to be a successful team player and team leader. “He just goes about working hard,

prep for the game, has a good work ethic,” Iowa Cubs hitting coach Brian Harper said. “Baseball is a tough, long season and Brad has a good sense of humor so all those qualities that he has make him successful.” Nelson has learned a lot about himself and has learned to just enjoy the game and the opportunities he’s been given. “My goal is to keep on going and just keep enjoying it everyday because you never know when it’s going to end,” Nelson said. “When you get drafted, when you’re around other good players, being humbled, it happens. Then you just have to

BRAD NELSON | 1B | IOWA CUBS | ALGONA, IA

Volume 1 Issue 10

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Pros start enjoying the game.” On the opposite end of the spectrum is city boy Ryan Sweeney. The Cedar Rapids Xavier graduate had all the makings for a successful professional baseball player at a young age. Xavier Saints head baseball coach Dave Schemmel recalls Sweeney’s astounding natural ability. “You walk on the field and he’s the first one you would notice,” he said. “The way he threw, the way he ran; he had all the tools. It was almost like you got out of his way to let him to his thing. He didn’t really have to make a difference or change very much. It was one of those things where he just fit right in to baseball.” Sweeney was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the second round of the 2003 MLB draft. For three seasons, he made his way up through the various minor league White Sox affiliate teams, and in 2006 Sweeney made his major league debut. From there, Sweeney continued to switch between the Charlotte Knights, the White Sox AAA team, and the White Sox for the next year. In 2008, Sweeney continued on to the Oakland Athletics where he primarily played in the majors until 2011. He later went on to play for the Boston Red Sox

and in April of 2013 Sweeney signed with the Chicago Cubs, starting out at AAA ball with the Iowa Cubs and eventually moving up to Chicago. “I didn’t know him at all going into the season and I knew he had success in the majors so I was kind of wondering how he’d handle AAA ball after being in the majors,” Brian Harper said. “But he was very professional, he came to practice, he had a routine. He’s just a good guy, he didn’t have a bad attitude, he worked hard. He’s a pro hitter.” Like Nelson, Sweeney’s Iowa born-and-bred qualities have contributed to his professional accomplishments. His work ethic, dedication and friendly mannerisms keep Sweeney grounded and successful. “If you’re looking at a major league player, he had the speed, the accuracy, size, strength, power. He had all the things you look for in someone to play major league baseball beyond high school and college,” Dave Schemmel said. “But he’s still a human being, still very personable, still friendly, still says hello. He hasn’t gotten wrapped up in any of the glamour, and when you don’t get wrapped up in outside things you can focus on your baseball career and he does that.”

Iowans on the field Iowa natives have continued to pursue their dreams of professional baseball throughout the country, playing for minor league and major league teams. Jeff Clement, a Marshalltown native, initially showed off his baseball talent at the age of 12, when he led his team to the Little League World Series. Clement continued to pursue his love for baseball later life at University of Southern California following his graduation from Marshalltown High School in 2002. He was later drafted in the first round (third overall) by the Seattle Mariners in the 2005 FirstYear Player Draft. In 2007, Clement made his major league debut at first base as a Mariner. In 2009, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates and later opted for free agency in 2012. Clement is now a member of the Rochester Red Wings, the AAA farm team affiliated with the Minnesota Twins.

In the last five years, Knoxville native Brandon Douglas has been climbing steadily through the various levels of minor league baseball. In 2007, the Cincinnati Reds selected Douglas in the 32nd round of the Draft, but he declined and continued to play second base for the University of Northern Iowa. Following his junior season, Douglas was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 11th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. From there, Douglas started with the Tigers’ rookie league and has since moved up through the ranks to play for the Toledo Mud Hens, the Tigers’ AAA team.

Photos courtesy of players’ respective teams

RYAN SWEENEY | RF | CHICAGO CUBS | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA

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Volume 1 Issue 10

Pros

Iowa natives pursue big league dreams Red Sox relief pitcher Joel Hanrahan, originally from Des Moines, graduated from Norwalk High School and went on to pursue a career in baseball. He was drafted in the second round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the LA Dodgers and later went on to make his major league debut in 2009 for the Washington Nationals. During his time as a professional player, Hanrahan has played for the Dodgers, Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates and currently the Boston Red Sox. Hanrahan will be out for the remainder of this season due to recent Tommy John surgery and an operation to repair damage done to his flexor tendon in his right elbow.

Following two back-to-back state championships as a pitcher for Valley High School in West Des Moines, Dan Jennings opted to further his education and his baseball career by attending the University of Nebraska. Jennings was drafted in the 9th round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins. He worked his way up through the various levels of minor leagues and landed with the New Orleans Zephers. On April 30, 2012 Jennings made his major league debut, pitching a scoreless inning for the Marlins. After returning to the Zephers for brief stint, Jennings was recalled to the Marlins this May.

After a standout prep career and playing for PerfectGameUSA, third baseman Kellen Sweeney was ready to take his talents to a professional field. Following his graduation from Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, Sweeney was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round of the MLB June Amateur Draft. In the past few seasons, Sweeney has advanced from the rookie league to A league ball. Following the 2012 season, Sweeney was rated Best Strike Zone Discipline in Toronto. This is his first season with the Lansing Lugnuts, the Blue Jays’ A affiliate team.

Former West Deleware prep, B.J. Hermsen has continued to pursue his baseball passion as a member of the Minnesota Twins organization. Following the Masonville native’s high school graduation in 2008, he was selected in the sixth round of the MLB June Amateur Draft. Hermsen, a pitcher, attended his first major league spring training this spring, but was reassigned to AA and now plays for the New Britain Rock Cats in Connecticut. In the last year, Hermsen was recognized as an MiLB.com Organization AllStar and an EAS Mid-Season All-Star.

Jeremy Hellickson, of Des Moines, has spent the last eight years as a pitcher affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays. Following his graduation from Hoover High School, Hellickson was selected in the fourth round by Tampa Bay, where he has remained ever since. He made his major league debut in 2010 and pitched his first full game in 2011. Hellickson was awarded Rookie of the Year in 2011 and received the Golden Glove award in 2012. This season, Hellickson is ranked 10th in the American League in innings pitched.

Tony Watson, relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, took his time getting to the major leagues. Following his graduation from Dallas Center Grimes High School, Watson was drafted in the 23rd round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins. Instead, Watson chose to attend University of Nebraska where he pitched for three years. Watson was drafted again in 2006, this time by the Baltimore Orioles, and once again didn’t sign. Finally in 2007, Watson was drafted ninth by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He signed, made his major league debut in 2011 and has pitched in 131 games in his major league career. Photos courtesy of players’ respective teams

Volume 1 Issue 10

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