Sports Spotlight Volume 1 Issue 4 by Sports Spotlight USA, Inc

Cait

lin Ingle (SE Po

lk)

preview Peter Jok (WDM V

ALL

)

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wrestle

season Preview inside

College Basketball

hits the court

THIS GUY CAN JUMP. LUCKILY, YOUR PRICE WON’T. HIGH-SPEED INTERNET. 5 YEARS. 1 PRICE.* monthly price when bundled

CenturyLink High-Speed Internet ®

.95 a month for 5 years when you bundle with Unlimited Nationwide Calling*

5 years. 1 price. 0 contract.

Speeds up to 12 Mbps!

Need more download sp eed? Ask about availability of up to 40 Mbps.

Click centurylink.com Visit your CenturyLink Store: Coral Ridge Mall – 1451 Coral Ridge Ave., 319.351.2242 Jordan Creek Town Center – 101 Jordan Creek Pkwy., 515.267.0634 Lindale Mall – 4444 1st Ave. NE, 319.378.3140 Merle Hay – 3800 Merle Hay Rd., 515.276.5639 Valley West Mall – 1551 Valley West Dr., 515.440.2519

For radio and TV programming details, go to our website.

Sports Spotlight U.S.A. Inc. 338 SW 6th Street Des Moines, Ia 515.244.1118

WWW .SPORTSSPOTLIGHT.COM

Contributors

04 YOUTH T.O.M. TRENT VERWERS 07

Rush Nigut President

rush@sportsspotlight.com

The Gold Warriors are more than just a team

John Streets Business Operations john@sportsspotlight.com

Tony Atzeni Programming Director tony@sportsspotlight.com

Sam Taylor Art Director

sam@impactimagery.net

Ashton Weis Editor

editor@sportsspotlight.com

Kelly Hendricks Web Editor editor@sportsspotlight.com

Emily gadient Graphic Designer art@sportsspotlight.com

sarah laughlin Graphic Designer art@sportsspotlight.com

brianna laubach Video Production support@sportsspotlight.com

Nicole Mittelbrun Marketing & Promotions support@sportsspotlight.com

Student Athlete of the Month from Martensdale-St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WRESTLE

Preview of the upcoming 20122013 wrestling season

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Drake, ISU, Iowa, UNI & other Iowa programs get ready to take the court

DMOS

Get the expert opinion on stingers and burners

Presidents Note:

We hope you enjoy the Basketball Preview issue! We are excited to have two outstanding high school players on our cover, Caitlin Ingle and Peter Jok. This magazine is all you need to get up-to-date on the Iowa basketball for the 2012-2013. We encourage you to visit sportsspotlight.com to stay in touch with all the basketball and wrestling action throughout the winter months. We will also expand our coverage of youth sports on the website including articles on positive youth coaching and parenting of young athletes. We extend a big thank you to all of those that made our coverage of Iowa high school football such a big success this past season. Our Friday Night Live radio hosts, Tony Atzeni and Geoff Conn, deserve major applause. We could not have done it without an army of volunteers that roam the sidelines and deliver the scores. Lastly, but certainly not least, we wish to thank all our tremendous sponsors throughout the fall season. Their generous sponsorships make all the coverage possible.

HIGH SCHOOL

PG 11 Basketball PREVIEW

Youth

T.O.M: MORE THAN JUST A TEAM The Gold Warriors attain excellence on and off the field Ashton Weis | Editor

The Waukee Gold Warriors might best sportsmanship team we’ve ever not be the biggest or the strongest seen, ever, in all the years we’ve been team, but they are the heartiest. reffing.’ Not only do they play good The Gold Warriors boys work hard football, but they’re good kids,” said and stay strong. This is their second Coach Burns. year going undefeated in Waukee Coaches Burns and Holmes view Youth Football League and then going fundamentals as one of the most on to win the championship; but even important pieces of the game and diswith the exceptional record, that’s not play that in practice. Once the season the focus for this youth team. With starts, they practice four times a week every game and practice, the coaches and when the games begin, they cut stress the importance of leadership, practice down to three times a week. sportsmanship and fun. Coaches Prior to their in-season practices, they Kevin Holmes and Frank Burns have offer a camp twice a week during the been coaching together for the last summer. five years. Coach Burns and Coach Holmes “They’re good ballplayers and we also place a great weight in underdon’t want to downplay that, but that’s standing the complete game of footPhoto courtesy of Jennifer Quam not really what it’s about,” said Coach ball and not just specific plays. They The Gold Warriors’ team and their coaches. Frank Burns. Coach Burns has been help the boys understand that without coaching since his children, the youngeach other, the game would be imposBurns. With their attachment to develis: if you knock somebody down, you est now at UNI, have been involved with sible. Teamwork makes the plays and the oping a community, they also focus on help them up, pat them on the head and middle school sports. Coach Holmes game possible. building bright, upright young men. tell them good job,” said Coach Holmes. began coaching when his now ninth “We’re not teaching the kids to run They do this through an emphasis on They were even commended by some grade son started playing youth football football plays, we’re teaching them to using football to teach important lessons referees after a tournament. in third grade. play football and there’s a big difference,” of trust, communication, work ethic, “We just recently played in a tournaThey have built their coaching said Burns. sportsmanship and commitment. ment up in Ankeny, just our league team philosophy around the idea of creating Throughout their dedication to “Our saying on every warm-up is: ‘I against select teams, and we did very a community among the players and creating a lasting community, is their trust you. You trust me. We trust us.’” well. We ended up taking second place, their families. The families get involved dedication to having fun. Coach Burns said. Not only do the boys but really the best comment that we got, with the team and they get together on “If it wasn’t fun, the coaches wouldn’t treat each other with extreme respect, from the referees, was they actually went a regular basis, for tailgating, cook-outs, do it,” said Holmes. Winning games is but they also show respect for their opover to the parents in the stands and and team-building. just an added bonus for the Gold Warponents and their sportsmanship. said: ‘We just had to come over here and “They’re truly family,” said Coach riors. “One of our biggest lessons on the field tell you that this is the nicest team, the

Volume 1 Issue 4

SportsSpotlight.com

photo courtesy of Charlie McCardle photo courtesy of Charlie McCardle

photo courtesy of Charlie McCardle

Cedar Valley Youth Soccer Association in Independence

photo courtesy of Charlie McCardle

The 7th grade Roosevelt team takes on the 7th grade Lincoln team

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

Dallas Center-Grimes takes on West Des Moines in Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; U9 soccer

photo courtesy of Charlie McCardle

Independence Parks and Recreation Flag Football Program

photo courtesy of Charlie McCardle

YOUTH PHOTO GALLERY

Champions Across Across Iowa Iowa General Mills

% 100

CH A OW

ION P M A

IO F CHAMP O T S A F K T H E BR E A Football

Volleyball

Hough H

Monique

Harrison

School: Atlantic Class: 3A

3A in Hough leads Class top-five in passing yards and Hough touchdown passes. high 374 passed for a season er A-D-M yards in a victory ov (Adel).

Football

arris

School: Clinton Class: 4A

Jr. Mincenhport

is in the Monique Harris Jr. assists per in , 4A ass Cl in top-5 s. ace g set and servin .

Zach

School: Dav Central Class: 4A

4A in Minch leads Class shing ru d an ds rushing yar son. touchdowns this sea ool record Minch ran for a sch victory a high 371 yards in North rt po ven Da over rival earlier this season.

Golf

Matthew

alker

School: Ottumwa Class: 4A

2012 State Matt Walker is the ampion. He Ch al Golf Individu d 72 at the an 69 of s nd rou shot Iowa to of ub Cl Tournament nors by ho list da me the claim is just a s ew tth five strokes. Ma re. mo ho sop

HIGH SCHOOL PHOTO GALLERY

Gabe Brown of Des Moines Valley stretches into the end zone for a touchdown on a 60-yard interception return photo courtesy of Roy Tucker

Skylar Cudmore of Harris Lake Park tries to take down Clint Donaldson of Kingsley-Pierson

photo courtesy of Roy Tucker

Tanner Hillbrands of Remsen Union catches a pass over Remsen St. Marys Elliot Conover

photo courtesy of Roy Tucker

Kasey Reuter of Hinton

W. Sioux QB Jesus Rivera Blocks for Dereck Kaskie

photo courtesy of Roy Tucker

photo courtesy of Preston Underwood

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

Des Moines Christian and ColfaxMingo set up at the line

Josh De Waard of Pella sets up to pass the ball in their 27-0 shutout of Norwalk

Colfax-Mingo battles with Des Moines Christian

Des Moines Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stine getting ready to throw

Waukee and Des Moines East face off

photo courtesy of Preston Underwood

Bailey Scott of Norwalk throws a long pass against Pella

Kolby Greenslade of Norwalk runs the ball vs Pella

High School

LET’S WRESTLE

The 2012-2013 wrestling season looks to be an exciting one Tony Atzeni | Programming Director

The 2012-13 Iowa high school wrestling season is set to hit the mats across the state in all three classes. Hoping to defend as traditional meet team champions are Betten- Brandon Sodorf (3A); rensen (DenverDenverTripoli (2A) Tripoli) looks to and Don have his hand Bosco (Gilraised a fourth bertville) (1A). The time this season. defending dual team champions were Bettendorf (3A); Davenport Assumption (2A) and Nashua-Plainfield (1A). Brandon Sorensen (Denver-Tripoli) is looking to add his name to an elite list as four-time champions this season. The University of Iowa recruit won the 119 pound title in 2009 and the 130 pound titles in 2010 and 2011. In Class 3A, only Matt Wempen (LinnMar, Marion) returns as a state champion, winning the 106 title last season. 55 return with top-eight finishes in the 3A field. It is a different story in Class 2A, with eight returning champions and 54 returning place winners. In Class 1A, a handful of state champions return with 53 returning place winners. Returning with the tag of champions in Class 2A this season include Doug Minor (Spirit Lake Park), Max Thomsen (Union, LaPorte City), Colton McCrystal (Sergeant Bluff-Luton), Brandon Sorensen (Denver-Tripoli), Jake Marlin (Creston/Orient-Macksburg), Nick Georgean (Davenport Assumption), Erik Lux (South Tama) and Adam Reth (Waverly-Shell Rock). In Class 1A, the returning champions include Hunter Washburn (Alburnett), Charlie Jones (Columbus Catholic (Waterloo), Loren Williams (Tri-Center, Neola), Brendan Schott (North Linn, Troy Mills) and Cade Jones (West Branch). Listed below are the individual champions and place winners returning from last season championships in each class. State champs are in bold. Individual classes listed are for this season. Iowa High School Wrestling Top Returning Champions and Place Winners

SportsSpotlight.com

Class 3A 106 – Matt Wempen (So., Linn-Mar, Marion, Champion); Travis Willers (Jr., Pleasant Valley, 2nd); Jake Koethe (Jr., West Des Moines Valley, 3rd); Kaz Onoo (Jr., Mason City, 4th); Tanner Rohweder (So., Dowling Catholic, 5th); Bryce Meyer (Jr., Fort Madison, 6th); Chase Lyn (Jr., Dubuque Senior, 7th) 113 – Fredy Stroker (So., Bettendorf, 2nd); Alijah Jeffrey (Jr., Linn-Mar, Marion, 3rd); Josh Wenger (So., Cedar Rapids Prairie, 4th); Joe McGinnis (Jr., Indianola, 5th); Hunter Genco (Jr., Clinton, 6th); Bryce Steiert (So., Waverly-Shell Rock, 7th) 120 – Chris Walter (Jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie, 2nd); Andres Gonzalez (Jr., Mason City, 3rd); Colby Knight (Sr., Urbandale, 4th); John Gioffredi (Jr., Indianola, 6th); Andrew Steiert (Sr., Waverly-Shell Rock, 7th); Damon Griffin, Jr., Linn-Mar, Marion, 8th) 126 – John Christopherson (Sr., Spencer, 5th); Trey Blaha (Jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie, 6th); Jacob Woodard (So., Bettendorf) 132 – Joel Northrup (Sr., Linn-Mar, Marion, 4th); Logan Ryan (Jr., Bettendorf, 5th); Randy McPhee (Sr., Davenport West, 6th) 138 – Alex Caldwell (Jr., Clinton, 6th); Kegan Wakefield (Sr., Iowa City West, 7th); Spencer Derifield (Jr., Waverly-Shell Rock, 8th) 145 – Ross Lembeck (Jr., Linn-Mar, Marion, 2nd); Bubba Hernandez (Sr., Bettendorf, 3rd); Austin Boyd (Sr., Burlington, 6th) 152 – Dylan Blackford (Sr., Southeast Polk, 2nd); Dalton White (Jr., Burlington, 5th); Tanner Schaefer (Sr., Spencer, 6th); Dustin Fuller (Sr., Sioux City North, 8th) 160 – Brady Letney (Jr., Pleasant Valley, 3rd); Nick Hagedorn (Sr., Cedar Falls, 4th); Isaiah Patton (So., Dowling Catholic, 7th); Duke Egli (Sr., Fort Dodge, 8th) 170 – Cameron Rathje (Sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie, 6th); Justin Kreiter (Sr., North Scott, Eldridge, 8th) 182 – Matt Seabold (Sr., Burlington, 4th); Adam Walther (Sr., Waverly-Shell Rock, 6th) 195 – Dane Jones (Sr., Oskaloosa, 4th); Cegan Long (Sr., North Scott, Eldridge, 6th); Austin Lear (Sr., Lewis Central, Council Bluffs, 8th) 220 – Zach Renshaw (Sr., Lewis Central, Council Bluffs, 2nd); Andrew Netolicky (Sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie, 5th); Colton Aplara (Sr., Mount Pleasant, 8th) 285 – Bryce Fisher (Sr., Southeast Polk, 3rd); Jake Scanlan (Jr., Johnston, 4th); Shaquille Wells (Sr., Urbandale, 6th); Colin Foerstner (Sr., Iowa City West, 8th)

Class 2A 106 – Doug Miner (Sr., Spirit Lake Park, Champion); Mason Miller (Jr., Winterset, 2nd); Patrick Woods (Jr., West Delaware, Manchester, 3rd); Trevor Murano (Jr., Dallas Center-Grimes, 4th); Brady Ruden (Jr., Wilton, 6th); Brendan Gould (Jr., Davenport Assumption, 7th); Darrian Schwenke (Jr., Atlantic, 8th) 113 – Max Thomsen (So., Union, LaPorte City, Champion); Shadow Leshen (Jr., Albia, 2nd); Leighton Gaul (Sr., New Hampton, 3rd); Zach Less (Jr., West Delaware, Manchester, 5th); Brady Jennings (So., Osage, 6th); Jared Eischeid (Jr., Kuemper Catholic, Carroll, 7th); Keagan Witbeck (Sr., Louisa-Muscatine, Letts, 8th) 120 – Tony DeVriese (Sr., Davenport Assumption, 2nd); Cole Erickson (So., Mediapolis, 4th); Oscar Ramirez (Jr., Estherville-Lincoln Central, 6th); Chase Goodman (Sr., South Central Calhoun, 7th); Blake Luna (Jr., Clarinda, 8th) 126 – Colton McCrystal (Sr., Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Champion); Kyle Springer (Sr., Davenport Assumption, 2nd); Drew Foster (Jr., Mediapolis, 3rd); Douglas Perrin (Jr., Osage, 6th); Dillon Hansen (Sr., Ballard, Huxley, 8th) 132 – Brandon Sorensen (Sr., DenverTripoli, Champion); Zach Mueller (Sr., West Delaware, Manchester, 4th); Alan Perry (Sr., Bondurant-Farrar, 7th); Seth Stetzel (Jr., Perry, 8th) 138 – Jake Marlin (Sr., Creston/OrientMacksburg, Champion); Logan Thomsen (Sr., Union, LaPorte City, 2nd); Eric Clarke (Jr., Davenport Assumption, 5th); Drew Buster (Jr., Mediapolis, 6th) 145 – Jesse Etherington (Sr., Charles City, 3rd); Trey Ryan (Jr., Mount Vernon, 6th) 152 – Nick Georgean (Sr., Davenport Assumption, Champion); Jake Voss (Jr., West Delaware, Manchester, 5th) 160 – Erik Lux (Sr., South Tama, Champion); Chase Shedenehlm (Sr., Denver-Tripoli, 2nd); Adam Drain (Jr., Mediapolis, 3rd); Tony Park (Sr., Davenport Assumption, 5th) 170 – Cash Wilcke (So., Odebolt-Arthur/ Battle Creek-Ida Grove, 4th) 182 – Jacyn Goebel (Sr., West Delaware, Manchester, 4th); Dylan Fielder (Jr., Webster City, 6th); Lance Evans (Jr., Solon, 7th); Jared Keenan (Jr., Grinnell, 8th) 195 – Adam Reth (Sr., West Delaware, Manchester, Champion); Keaton Hulett (Sr., Creston/Orient-Macksburg, 2nd); Riley Denny (Sr., Centerville, 8th) 220 – Corbin Blythe (Sr., Williamsburg, 4th); Tyler Dolieslager (Sr., Boyden-Hull/ Rock Valley, 7th); Skyler Hulshizer (Sr., Riceville/Saint Ansgar, 8th) 285 – Dean Broghammer (Sr., West Delaware, Manchester, 3rd); Josh Clark (Sr., Union, LaPorte City, 4th)

Class 1A 106 – Hunter Washburn (So., Alburnett, Champion); Blake Dietz (Jr., NashuaPlainfield, 2nd); Taylor Curtis (Sr., Underwood, 3rd); Gable Verschoor (So., Woodbury Central, Moville, 4th); Zach Ulve (So., Westwood, Sloan, 6th); Isiah Brandt (So., Sumner-Fredericksburg, 7th); Megan Black (Sr., Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, 8th) 113 – Kyler Kiner (Jr., Ogden, 2nd); Blake Marolf (So., Eddyville-BlakesburgFremont, 3rd); Travis Cole (Jr., Highland, Riverside, 5th); JD Rader (So., South Hamilton, Jewell, 6th); Sawyer Amling (So., Edgewood-Colesburg, 7th) 120 – Charlie Jones (Sr., Columbus Catholic, Waterloo, Champion); Andrew Foutch (Sr., Underwood, 3rd); Collin Kolars (Sr., B-G-M, Brooklyn, 5th) 126 – Kyle White (Sr., Central Springs, Manly, 2nd); Dylon Rhoads (Sr., Don Bosco, Gilbertville, 5th); Kyle Pegorick (Sr., Midland, Wyoming, 6th) 132 – Brady Meyer (Sr., SumnerFredericksburg, 6th); Ty Gibson (Jr., Graettinger-Terril, 7th); Bryce Jacobs (Sr., Don Bosco, Gilbertville, 8th) 138 – Payton Rice (Jr., Manson-NW Webster, 2nd); Lance Hinschberger (Sr., Belle Plaine, 6th); Carter Funke (Sr., Maquoketa Valley, Dehli, 7th); Logan Loftus (Sr., Iowa Valley, Marengo, 8th) 145 – Tyler Foubert (Jr., Tri-CountyMontezuma, 3rd); Teddie Harvey (Sr., St. Edmond, Fort Dodge, 5th); Grant Henderson (Sr., Alburnett, 6th) 152 – Loren Williams (Sr., Tri-Center, Neola, Champion); Jake Hogan (Jr., Don Bosco, Gilbertville, 3rd); Brady Bailey (Sr., Emmetsburg, 5th); Colton Stoddard (Sr., East Buchanan, Winthrop, 7th); John Pint (Sr., North Linn, Troy Mills, 8th) 160 – Jacob Meehan (Sr., Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn, 4th); Dylan Winfield (Jr., Alburnett, 5th) 170 – Brendan Schott (Sr., North Linn, Troy Mills, Champion); Andrew Wellik (Sr., Emmetsburg, 3rd); Jake Lewis (Sr., St. Albert, Council Bluffs, 6th); Dalton Ciavarelli (Sr., Clarksville, 7th) 182 – Austin McCartan (Sr., Emmetsburg, 3rd); Ryan Leonard (Sr., Midland, Wyoming, 7th); Gunnar Clark (Sr., West Hancock, Britt, 8th) 195 – Cade Jones (Sr., West Branch, Champion); Ryan Parmely (So., Maquoketa Valley, Dehli, 4th); John Waters (Sr., Newman Catholic, Mason City, 5th); Chet Willer (Sr., Akron-Westfield, 6th) 220 – Logan Melby (Sr., Logan-Magnolia, 5th); Mitch Gambrill (Jr., Clarion-Goldfield, 7th) 285 – Brandon McCracken (Sr., Aplington-Parkersburg, 2nd); Chris Schleuger (Sr., West Hancock, Britt, 4th); Dillon Suhr (Sr., Guthrie Center, 6th)

Volume 1 Issue 4

Student

Athlete

of the

MONTH

Presented by the Governor’S Traffic Safety Bureau- IowaGTSB.org

Click it or ticket

Trent’S Q & A

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY WHY?

Football-- because it gives me an opportunity to participate in a sport that most of my friends do.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS MEMORY?

Breaking the school record in the 800m at the 2012 State Track Meet.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FUN PRE-GAME “RITUALS” THAT PREPARE YOU FOR AN EVENT? Thursday night meals with the football team and coaches.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL? WHY?

Physical Education--because I like physical activity, as well as the socialization it allows me to do.

WHO INSPIRES YOU? Why?

My family, teachers and coaches--because of all the support and time they give, which allows me to take part in all of my extra curricular activities.

WHAT WAS THE BEST MOVIE YOU SAW IN THE LAST YEAR? “Act of Valor”

COLLEGE OR POST-HIGH SCHOOL PLANS:

Undecided on a school right now, but planning on majoring in Sports Management and play football and track.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM JOB? Sports Agent or Head Football Coach

Trent Verwers Martensdale-St. Marys High School - Class of 2013 / GPA 3.67

Achievements Sports

Football, Basketball, Track and Baseball

Academic Achievements/Honors

National Honor Society. A Honor Roll, Academic AllDistrict Football, Academic All-Conference Basketball/ Track/Baseball

Athletic Achievements/Honors 2011 State Football Play-Off Qualifier 2010, 2011, 2012 Class 1A State Track Meet Qualifier 2010, 2011, 2012 Class 1A State Baseball Champions 2012 ITCA 1st Team All-State 800m 2011 ISC Class A 2nd Team All-State Quarterback School Record Holder: 800m (1:57.01) 1600 (4:34.94)

preview The 2012-2013 Iowa high school basketball season is set to hit the courts with a change in the girl’s ranks as they move to the new five-class format. Iowa City West (4A), Mount Pleasant (3A), Mount Vernon (2A) and Boyden-Hull (1A) won the boy’s state team titles last season. Iowa City West (4A), Davenport Assumption (3A), Western Christian (Hull) (2A) and North Mahaska (New Sharon) (1A) won the girls team titles last season. Individually, many players look to help lead their teams drive to Des Moines and a chance to play for a title at the Wells Fargo Arena. University of Iowa recruit, Peter Jok of West Des Moines Valley is one of them. Jok, who began at Des Moines Roosevelt before his transfer to WDM Valley last season has overcame knee issues in his career and may be at his healthiest beginning this season. His Valley Tigers will be one of the best of the big schools this season. TJ Lake (Western Dubuque) and Klinton Carlson (Waverly-Shell Rock) look to lead their teams back to Des Moines as will Clayton Plagge (West Fork) who have all won or just missed in recent state championships. Iowa City West will be the huge favorite to repeat in 4A with the return of Dondre Alexander, Jeremy Morgan and Wyatt Lohaus, all D-I recruits. Seems like Shane Graves (Bishop Heelan) has been around forever as he begins his senior season as one of the top scoring point guards in the state. Also back is the one-two twin brother combo of Steven and Michael Soukup (Danville) who have had outstanding high school basketball careers but are missing one piece to making it all matter, a state championship. Other key boy’s returning this season is Josh Weeber (Dubuque Senior), Jay Knuth (Johnston), Jesse Ertz (Mediapolis), Rylan Murry (West Branch), Chance Miller (Iowa Mennonite, Kalona), Luke Lenhart (St. Mary’s, Storm Lake), Ricky Williams (Riverside, Oakland) and Austin Halls (Murray) to name a few. One of the top players returning in girls’ basketball is Caitlin Ingle (Southeast Polk) with her allaround game, leading the Rams in scoring (15.0), assists (5.5) and steals (2.8) per game. Another dynamite player is Ally Disterhoft (Iowa City West) who will be counted on more because of graduation from their state championship team. Alexis Conaway (MOC-Floyd Valley) is another multi-sport standout that will be a key factor in hopes of another shot of a state title and speaking of opportunities, that is what Madison Weekly (Benton Community) is hoping for after breaking her wrist in the regional finals last season and not able to play on the court in their state tournament appearance. Brooke Wolterstorff (Western Christian, Hull) hopes for a back-to-back title opportunity as will Mallory Boyle (North Mahaska, New Sharon). Other key players back include Blaire Thomas (Waterloo West), Jadda Buckley (Mason City), Katie and Kristie Sommer (Dubuque Senior), Mickey Hansche (Iowa City High), Brittney Boland (Waukee), Danielle Moore (Davenport Assumption), KJ Veldman (Spirit Lake), Miranda Murphy (North Polk), Ellie Herzberg (Manson-NW Webster) and Kelsey Ernst (Bellevue) to name just a handful. SportsSpotlight.com Good Luck to all the players, coaches and fans

Volume 1 Issue 4

Big East Conference Outlook Lisbon won the Big East title last season but will have to reload to challenge this season. Marquette Catholic (Bellevue) returns Isaac Sturm and Danny Schroeder who combined for 21 points per game as they look to battle for the top spot along with Preston, who returns Colton Bormann and his 16 points per game, tops of all returners in the conference. With a ton of graduation from last season’s group, look for many new faces to make a big difference on the conference race. Some of the top returners in the Big East include Jake Janssen (Calamus-Wheatland); Peyton Wolter (Bellevue); Isaah Jackson (Camanche); Chase Zaruba and Logan Wilhelm (Preston) and Bo Lingle (Northeast, Goose Lake). Big East Conference Prediction: 1. Preston; 2. Marquette Catholic (Bellevue) Big East Conference Teams: Bellevue, CalamusWheatland, Camanche, Lisbon, Marquette Catholic (Bellevue), Midland (Wyoming), Northeast (Goose Lake), Preston, Prince of Peace (Clinton)

PREVIEW

Bluegrass Conference Outlook: Murray won the Bluegrass title last season and will once again be the favorite with the return of 25 points per game scorer, Austin Halls along with Cody Scroggie (16.5 ppg) and Eddie Otto. Lamoni will depend on the conference’s leading scorer and rebounder, Jeremy Austin Halls of Murray Deemer (27.9 ppg and 17.2 rpg). Moulton-Udell will be a year older and that experience will make them a challenger as well, led by Kalen Martsching and Kyle Neher who combined for 28 points per game last season. Other top returners in the Bluegrass include Kenneth Waddle, Troy Lee and Ross Dawson (Melcher-Dallas); Otis Roby, Dylan Springer, Derek Springer and Hunter Embray (Twin Cedars, Bussey); Jackson Carr and Tim Brunner (Lamoni), Luke Groff (Moravia); Quentin Fowler, Grey McCoy and Trey Stansberry (MoultonUdell); Shad Haidsiak and Lane Ruby (Diagonal) Bluegrass Conference Prediction: 1. Murray; 2. Moulton-Udell; 3. Lamoni

Cedar Valley Conference Outlook:

photo courtesy of Chris Robins

Basketball

North Cedar (Stanwood) has put together a good run but will have to fill some big shows for that to happen this season. West Branch looks poised to make a top of the Cedar Valley league run with the return of the league’s leading scorer, Rylan Murry (23.7 ppg) and Cody Brandt (12.5 ppg). The Cedar Valley was a senior dominated conference last season so the new faces will impact the hopes and dreams of many of the team’s conference and hopes of a state tournament run. Wilton may be in the best position to challenge with Cole Crawford (12.5 ppg) leading the way. Some of the top returning players in the Cedar Valley include Von Glaser (Durant-Bennett); Seth Kaufmann and Tyler Hetzler (Wilton) and Tyler Newson (West Liberty). Cedar Valley Conference Prediction: 1. West Branch; 2. Wilton Cedar Valley Conference Teams: DurantBennett, Iowa City Regina, Mid-Prairie (Wellman), North Cedar (Stanwood), Tipton, West Branch, West Liberty, Wilton

Bluegrass Conference Teams: Diagonal, Lamoni, Melcher-Dallas, Moravia, Mormon Trail (Garden Grove), Moulton-Udell, Murray, Seymour, Twin Cedars (Bussey)

Available on Multiple Platforms

LIVE

Sports Ticker!

MOBILE

LIVE

Real-Time Scoring!

VOTED

Best Sports Coverage in Iowa.

Broadcasting Live From The Hy-Vee High School Headquarters

WATCH

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE ON T.V.

CHANNELS WHO 13.2 - MEDIACOM 113 & 246 Streaming Live on sportsspotlight.com and LiveStream.com

COMPUTER TELEVISION

EVERY FRIDAY FROM 7:00PM - 11:00PM 12

Volume 1 Issue 4

SportsSpotlight.com

Boys

Basketball

CIML CIC Western Division Outlook:

CIML CIC Northern Division Outlook:

Ankeny had the perfect regular season last season but fell one game short of the 4A state title game. Back to lead the charge for the Hawks this season are Ted Friedman and Bryan Summer who combined for nearly 20 points per game while Friedman pulled down 6-plus boards per game. Southeast Polk lost the services of Kyle Starcevich last season due to a knee injury and if he plays will boost the Rams hopes with the return of Nick Jeffries and Tucker Kamman who combined for 21 points per game.

The new CIC Western Division looks much like the old CIML Central with all four teams with basketball tradition. West Des Moines Valley returns Peter Jok (10.2 ppg), who for maybe the first time in his high school career is healthy. The Iowa Jay Knuth of Johnston recruit will be joined by Clint Boffeli (11.8 ppg) to lead the Tigers charge. Urbandale returns the 1-2 punch of Denny Agic and Austin Shappell who combined for 28 points per game. Johnston returns Jay Knuth with his 15 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Other top returners in the CIC Western Division include Peter Odia and Jon Wisnieski (Dowling Catholic), Luke Jorgensen and Nathan Joens (Johnston) and Saheim Razor (Urbandale).

All four teams in the CIC Northern Division look to improve on last season. Ames may be in the best position with the return of Justin Sloter and Sam Straub who combined for nearly 25 points per game. Fort Dodge was young last year so look for their experience to improve the outlook led by JC Hatcher (13.0 ppg). Blake Gimbel (11.8 ppg) leads Marshalltown. Other top returners in the CIC Northern Division include Tyler Vaughn and Zach Martinson (Fort Dodge) and Nate Munn (Ames).

CIC Eastern Division Prediction: 1. Ankeny; 2. Southeast Polk CIC Eastern Division Teams: Ankeny, Southeast Polk, Waukee (Ankeny Centennial joins in 20132014)

photo courtesy of Gary Ross

CIML CIC Eastern Division Outlook:

CIC Northern Division Prediction: 1. Ames; 2. Fort Dodge CIC Northern Division Teams: Ames, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City

CC Western Division Prediction: 1. West Des Moines Valley; 2. Urbandale CIC Western Division Teams: Dowling Catholic, Johnston, Urbandale, West Des Moines Valley

Corn Bowl Conference Outlook:

Cornbelt Conference Outlook:

Des Moines Hoover has been the leader here over the years but need to reload a bit this season. Des Moines Roosevelt will count on Chris Bennett and his 16.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Ottumwa returns the Metroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading scorer Dwight Sistrunk of DSM Hoover in Faith Pope (16.6 ppg). Other top returners in the CIML Metro include Teyontae Jenkins, Samuel Williams Jr. and Terrance Busch (Des Moines North); Ted Kofoed and Malique Ziegler (Des Moines East); Trevon Young (Des Moines Lincoln); Trey Burkhall and Tate Larsen (Des Moines Roosevelt) and Gatlat Toang and Chris King (Des Moines Hoover).

West Fork has been dominate over the past few season which includes a Class 2A state title last season. Double-Double machine, Payton Plagge is back with his 17.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. The rest of the teams look to improve on last season with North Butler (Greene) the most likely with the return of Dylan Edeker and Rob Rottler who combined for nearly 24 points per game. Central Springs (Manly) also could make the jump above the break even mark behind Matt Logeman and Charlie Weiner who combined for 23-plus points per game. Other top returners in the Corn Bowl include Justin Anderlik (Riceville); Brady Cotter (Northwood-Kensett) Ryan Turner and John Jones (Rockford); Tyler Laube (Nashua-Plainfield) and Spencer Halloran (West Fork).

Harris-Lake Park was nearly unbeatable last season. With Eli Ihnen and his league leading 19.4 points per game back, they could be again. Also back are Tanner Hiveley and Collin Brons who combined for 17 points per game. The remainder of the Cornbelt teams is looking to get better with West Bend-Mallard the most likely led by Jason Zinnel, Jesse Zinnel and Jordan Buhs who all averaged nine points per game. Other top returners in the Cornbelt include Joel Toppin (Ventura); Josh Hilbert (C-W-L, Corwith) and Austin Dyer (Graettinger-Terril/ Ruthven-Ayrshire).

photo courtesy of Mark Clark

CIML Metro Conference Outlook:

CIML Metro Conference Prediction: 1. Des Moines Roosevelt; 2. Ottumwa; 3. Des Moines Hoover

Corn Bowl Prediction: 1. West Fork; 2. North Butler (Greene); 3. Central Springs (Manly) Corn Bowl Teams: Central Springs (Manly), Nashua-Plainfield, North Butler (Greene), Northwood-Kensett, Riceville, Rockford, St. Ansgar, West Fork

Cornbelt Prediction: 1. Harris-Lake Park; 2. West Bend-Mallard Cornbelt Teams: Clay Central-Everly, C-W-L (Corwith), Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire, Harris-Lake Park, North Union, West BendMallard

CIML Metro Conference Teams: Des Moines East, Des Moines Hoover, Des Moines Lincoln, Des Moines North, Des Moines Roosevelt, Indianola, Ottumwa

SportsSpotlight.com

Volume 1 Issue 4

Basketball

Heart of Iowa Conference Outlook:

The Corner looks again to be a wide-open conference with Villisca maybe ready to make a jump into the title chase with the return of Damon Sunderman (15.6 ppg) and Travis Herzberg (13.7 ppg). Sunderman also led the league in rebounding, pulling down 10.1 per game. Colden Hilyer will be counted on for East Mills to make another run at the top. How those returning with experience improve will determine the outcome of the Corner Conference. Other top returning players in the Corner include Zackery Neihart, Zachary Peterman and Jacob Peterman (South Page, College Springs); Damani Matthews, Jesse Patterson and Adrien Hines Jr. (Clarinda Academy); Max Mauderly (Villisca); Jeff Marshall (Stanton); Seth Owens and Zach Nichols (Heartland Christian, Council Bluffs); Chris Osborn and Schuyler Brennan (Nishnabotna); Nick Williams (Essex); Clayton Wilson (Fremont-Mills, Tabor) and Jacob Cain (Sidney).

It was a five-team battle for the Hawkeye Ten last season with Atlantic and Lewis Central (Council Bluffs) getting the edge last season. The Trojans return Dalton Franken (18.6 ppg and 7.9 rpg) along with Sam Markham to lead the charge back to the top. Lewis Central may have lost their leader in Alex Reed (13.8 ppg) Dalton Franken of Atlantic due to a football injury, putting a damper on a title chase. Creston may be a team to watch with the experience they return led by Colby Taylor and Luke Neitzel who combined for 22 points per game. Graduation hit the Hawkeye hard so look for newcomers to make a difference for those like Harlan and Kuemper Catholic (Carroll) this season. Other top returners in the Hawkeye include leagueleading scorer Derek Hall (Denison-Schleswig) and his 21.4 points per game. Also back are Tanner Johnson and Pete Walker (Red Oak); Trey Lansman (Harlan); Grant May and Tyler Jensen J. J. Hahn and Derek Jones (Glenwood); Trey Thomsen (Creston); Cole Neary and Chris Halbur (Kuemper Catholic, Carroll); Chad Christiansen and Harrison Hoegh (Atlantic) and Zac Johnson (Denison-Schleswig).

Jefferson-Scranton is now Greene County with the merge with East Greene (Grand Junction). PCM-Monroe has history, but lost their two best players to graduation. The Mustangs will look for that leadership from Nathan Vande Wall. Roland-Story had a ton of Jacob Hadaway of N. Polk success last season and will turn to Ryan Skaar (12.7 ppg) for leadership. North Polk will turn to Jacob Hadaway and his 17.5 points per game average. South Hamilton (Jewell) looks to improve with John Hegland and Josh Doering who combined for 21 points per game last season. Nevada had a break-even season and should improve behind Tate Handsaker and Brook Thompson who combined for 25 points per game. Greene County should be tough with the return of Luke Ostrander and Wyatt Beaman who combined for 33 points per game. Other top returners in the Heart of Iowa include Jordan Knock and Michael Austin (Gilbert); Bryce Kemp, Austin Moorman and Tommy Galloway (CollinsMaxwell-Baxter); Tory Berger and Alex Gordon (Green County); Colynn Black (Nevada); Vaughn Wilson (Colfax-Mingo); Zack Hovick (Roland-Story); Trevor Ullestad and Matt Hislop (South Hamilton, Jewell).

Hawkeye Ten Conference Prediction: 1. Atlantic; 2. Creston; 3. Kuemper Catholic (Carroll)

Heart of Iowa Conference Prediction: 1. South Hamilton (Jewell); 2. Nevada; 3. North Polk

Hawkeye Ten Conference Teams: Atlantic, Clarinda, Creston, Denison-Schleswig, Glenwood, Harlan, Kuemper Catholic (Carroll), Lewis Central (Council Bluffs), Red Oak, Shenandoah

Heart of Iowa Conference Teams: Colfax-Mingo, Collins-Maxwell-Baxter, Gilbert, Greene County, Nevada, North Polk, PCM-Monroe, Roland-Story, Saydel, South Hamilton (Jewell)

Corner Conference Teams: Clarinda Academy, East Mills, Essex, Fremont-Mills (Tabor), Heartland Christian (Council Bluffs), Nishnabotna, Sidney, South Page (College Springs), Stanton, Villisca

Volume 1 Issue 4

photo courtesy of Tron Scott

Hawkeye Ten Conference Outlook: photo courtesy of Josh Rasmussen

Corner Conference Outlook:

Corner Conference Prediction: 1. Villisca; 2. Clarinda Academy

PREVIEW

SportsSpotlight.com

Boys

Basketball

Iowa Star North Conference Outlook:

Iowa Star South Conference Outlook:

Lakes Conference Outlook:

Northeast Hamilton (Blairsburg) was nearly perfect during the regular season last year but gone are 55 points per game from the roster. Logan Seiser (7.6 ppg) will be asked to help lead the new faces to challenge this season. Dunkerton is primed for a top of the conference run with the return of Kory Kuenstling and Trevor Jacobsen who combined for 21 points per game. Hunter Meyer (12.8 ppg) will lead Janesville hopes. Other top returners in the Iowa Star North include Ben Fahrmann (CAL, Latimer) and Dillon Anderson and Robby Gibson (Dunkerton).

North Tama (Traer) looks to repeat in the Iowa Star South with the return of Mitchell Boerm (16.1 ppg), Dalton Hulme (11.7 ppg) and Jacob Wrage (11.2 ppg). Vincent Lasely (Meskwaki Settlement, Tama) returns as the conference’s leading scorer at 19 point per game in 2011-12. The battle for second in the conference is an open affair. Some of the top returners in the Iowa Star South include Brandon Niemeyer (Colo-Nesco); Royce Timberwolf and Cordell Bear (Meskwaki Settlement, Tama); Nolan Hefty (North Tama, Traer) and Tyler Backes (Don Bosco, Gilbertville).

LeMars won the Lakes title last year where Western Christian (Hull) usually has control. Look for the Wolfpack to get back to the top again this season with a solid core back led by Taylor Feenstra and Michael DenHerder who combined for 22 points per game. Jake Jackson (Emmetsburg) hopes to lead the E-Hawks to an upper conference finish with his 15.4 ppg from last season. Some of the top returners in the Lake include Eric Wilkie, Zac Smith and Jake Spindler (Cherokee); Matthew Klemme (Spencer); Ethan Kenkel and Aaron Krier (Storm Lake); Matt Burrell (Estherville-Lincoln Central); Paul Brown (Spirit Lake); Jake Irwin and Brenden Collins (LeMars) and Kyle Fopma (Western Christian, Hull).

Iowa Star South Conference Teams: Don Bosco (Gilbertville), Colo-Nesco, GMG (Garwin), Meskwaki settlement (Tama), North Tama (Traer), Waterloo Christian

Lakes Conference Prediction: 1. Western Christian (Hull); 2. Storm Lake Lakes Conference Teams: Cherokee, Emmetsburg, Estherville-Lincoln Central, LeMars, Spencer, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, Western Christian (Hull)

Iowa Star North Conference Teams: CAL (Latimer), Clarksville, Dunkerton, Janesville, Northeast Hamilton (Blairsburg), Tripoli

Mississippi Valley--Mississippi Conference Outlook:

Mississippi Athletic Conference Outlook:

Grinnell won the Little Hawkeye title last season and return Eli Dunne (10.6 ppg) and Joe Nowasell (7.6 ppg) from the starting five. The league looks to be balanced, with no real standout so look for Pella Christian to once again battle for the title led by Austin Ver Meer and Caleb Morgan who combined for 19 points per game last season. Other top returners in the Little Hawkeye include Tyce Sarver and Austin Redlich (Oskaloosa); Carson Miller (Norwalk) and Gerritt Davis (Knoxville).

Davenport Assumption was the best last season in the MAC which also included at Class 3A state tournament appearance. Billy Daniel returns for the Knights with his 15-plus points per game average but also lost three key starters to that group. Cole Clearmann will lead the Bettendorf charge with his league-leading top returning Cole Clearmann of scoring average of 16.7 points Bettendorf per game. North Scott (Eldridge) was young last season and returns a solid group, now with experience led by Cortez Seales and Grant Graham who combined for 20-plus points per game as freshman. Kain Arthofer (11.0 ppg) hopes to lead Pleasant Valley to an upper conference spot. Some of the top returners in the MAC include Justin Randall and Brandon Mosena (Burlington); Jalen Jones and Brady Ernst (Clinton); Geo Butler (Davenport West); Matt Vonderhaar (Davenport Assumption) and Conor Bryant (Pleasant Valley).

Little Hawkeye Conference Prediction: 1. Grinnell; 2. Pella Christian Little Hawkeye Conference Teams: Grinnell, Knoxville, Newton, Norwalk, Oskaloosa, Pella, Pella Christian

photo courtesy of Curtis Clark

Little Hawkeye Conference Outlook:

Mississippi Athletic Conference Prediction: 1. North Scott (Eldridge); 2. Davenport Assumption; 3. Pleasant Valley Mississippi Athletic Conference Teams: Davenport Assumption, Bettendorf, Burlington, Clinton, Davenport Central, Davenport North, Davenport West, Muscatine, North Scott (Eldridge), Pleasant Valley

SportsSpotlight.com

The Mississippi Valley Conference will have a different look with team’s changes from the Mississippi Iowa City West, State Champions and Valley divisions. Watch for Dubuque Senior to be a big factor with the return of Josh Weber and his 15 points and nearly 8 rebounds per game average in 2011-12. Add Kyle Haber (11.7 ppg) and Domen Zevnik (9.1 ppg) and you can see why. The problem however is that the defending state champions, Iowa City West plays here as well and will be the team to beat in Class 4A once again. Back for the Trojans are Dondre Alexander (16.0 ppg), Jeremy Morgan (14.8 ppg) and Wyatt Lohaus (11.7 ppg), all three all-state caliber players. Other top players in the Valley Conference include Kyle Kramer (Cedar Rapids Jefferson); Jake Weber (Dubuque Hempstead); Myzeah Batie-Gaddy (Iowa City West) and Desmond VanArsdale (Waterloo East).

photo courtesy of Sports Spotlight

Iowa Star North Prediction: 1. Dunkerton; 2. Janesville

Iowa Star South Prediction: 1. North Tama (Traer); 2. Don Bosco (Gilbertville)

Mississippi Valley – Mississippi Conference Prediction: 1. Iowa City West; 2. Dubuque Senior Mississippi Valley – Mississippi Conference Teams: Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Dubuque Hempstead, Dubuque Senior, Iowa City High, Iowa City West, Waterloo East

Volume 1 Issue 4

Mississippi Valley--Valley Conference Outlook: The Valley looks to be an open battle with many of the teams here counting on underclassmen this season. Linn-Mar usually reloads and this season will look for leadership from Matt Lassen (10.3 ppg) and Jimmy Roth (9.0 ppg). For the others to challenge they will depend on these top returners which include Isaac Boettger and Kalehl Brown (Cedar Falls); Malik Green (Waterloo West); Jace Hanna (Cedar Rapids Prairie) and Matt Nelson (Cedar Rapids Xavier). Mississippi Valley – Valley Conference Prediction: 1. Linn-Mar (Marion); 2. Cedar Falls Mississippi Valley – Valley Conference Teams: Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Cedar Rapids Washington, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Dubuque Wahlert, Linn-Mar (Marion), Waterloo West

PREVIEW

Missouri River Conference Outlook:

North Central Conference Outlook:

Sioux City East and Bishop Heelan (Sioux City) have been the main factors in the Missouri River lately but while the Crusaders return the straw, the Black Raiders will have to reload in order to repeat as league champs and make a run at the 4A state tournament floor. Shane Graves (19.2 ppg) and Kyle Heaton (13.8 ppg) are back for the Crusaders who Shane Graves of Bishop reached the 3A state semifinals Heelan last season. Marcel Dunson will carry the load for East. Sioux City West should improve with a group of experienced underclassmen returning while Sioux City North will look for Daniel Tillo (15.7 ppg) as a freshman to show improvement. Some of the top returners in the Missouri River include Brian Collinson (Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson); Colby Hill, Gerald Heiskell and Kaleb Kennedy (Sioux City West); Nate Glisar and Thomas Wisecup (Sergeant Bluff-Luton); Seam Smith (Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln) and Carlos Elizalde (Sioux City North).

Iowa Falls-Alden, Webster City and St. Edmond (Fort Dodge) battled in the North Central Conference last season with the Gaels to lone team to reach the David Flattery of St. Edmond floor at Wells Fargo in March. All three will have to replace key losses but the Cadets can count on the return of Casey Schlatter and his 17 points per game average. David Flattery (11.1 ppg and 6.5 rpg) will have to take a bigger role for the Gaels. John Burns (Bishop Garrigan, Algona) is the league’s top returning scorer with his 18.7 ppg. The top returning players in the North Central include Jaxon Heinz and Michael Orness (Humboldt); Sawyer Frideres (Algona); Spencer Davidson (Clear Lake); Stephen McAtee and Adam Stevens (Clarion-Goldfield) and Boone Meyers (Webster City).

photo courtesy of Andrew Foster

Basketball

North Central Conference Prediction: 1. St. Edmond (Fort Dodge); 2. Iowa Falls-Alden

Missouri River Conference Prediction: 1. Bishop Heelan (Sioux City); 2. Sioux City North and Sergeant Bluff-Luton

North Central Conference Teams: Algona, Bishop Garrigan (Algona), Clarion-Goldfield, Clear Lake, Eagle Grove, Hampton-Dumont, Humboldt, Iowa Falls-Alden, St. Edmond (Fort Dodge), Webster City

Missouri River Conference Teams: Bishop Heelan (Sioux City), Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln, Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson, Sergeant Bluffs-Luton, Sioux City East, Sioux City North, Sioux City West

iversity

Un at Grand View TM

you could qualify for an

athletic scholarship

Baseball - Men

Golf - Men & Women

Basketball - Men & Women

Soccer - Men & Women

Bowling - Men & Women

Softball - Women

Cheerleading - Women

Tennis - Men & Women

Competitive Dance - Women

Track & Field - Men & Women

Cross Country - Men & Women Football - Men

Volleyball - Men & Women Wrestling - Men

Schedule a campus visit to learn more. Just call or go online!

515-263-2810 E 800-444-6083 www.admissions.grandview.edu

Volume 1 Issue 4

SportsSpotlight.com

NUTRITION

HEALTH WELLNESS

The best a man can get.

SportsSpotlight.com

Volume 1 Issue 4

Basketball North Iowa Conference Outlook: North Iowa (Buffalo Center) not only won the North Iowa Conference but a spot in the Class 1A state tournament field. The core of that team is back led by Troy Kettwick (13.9 ppg and 5.2 rpg), Kory Hobbs (11.7 ppg) and Eric Krull (11.5 ppg). Newman Catholic (Mason City) looks to improve behind AJ Kehm and Casey Hall who combined for nearly 25 points per game. Osage is in a similar position with Trevor Haaland and Tyler Havel who combined for nearly 23 points per game. Other top returners in the North Iowa include Elijah Kinseth (Belmond-Klemme); Hunter Kingland, Nathan Banwart and Paul Pins (Lake Mills); Matt Snyder and Erich Erdman (Forest City); Kaden Wadle (Newman Catholic, Mason City) and Josiah Eckles (West Hancock, Britt). North Iowa Conference Prediction: 1. North Iowa (Buffalo Center); 2. Newman Catholic (Mason City) and Forest City

North Iowa Cedar--East Conference Outlook:

North Iowa Cedar--West Conference Outlook:

Gone is NUH-Cedar Falls with their basketball success. Denver won the Cedar Valley East title last season but graduation hits them hard. DikeNew Hartford looks to be a contender again with the return of Sean Morgan and Carson Parker who combined for 24-plus points per game. Add Hudson to the list as well with Isaiah Rusted and Antwain Strong who combined for nearly 27 points per game. Other top returners in the North Iowa Cedar-East include Jay Scheel (Union, LaPorte City); Trevor Larson and Conner Andrews (Jesup); Nick Gaul and Mitchell Boevers (Wapsie Valley, Fairbank); Connor Wrage and Trey Uden(Hudson) and Kollin Cuvelier and Jake Paulding (Aplington-Parkersburg).

West Marshall (State Center) was once beaten in NIC-West action last season. Duncan Ferch (10.7 ppg) is back to lead the charge this season but lost a solid group to graduation. AGWSR (Ackley) will count on the league’s leading scorer in Josh Bagley with his 17.0 points per game to make the move to the top of the NIC-West. Austin Heitland added 9 points and 7 boards per game. Other top returning players in the North Iowa Cedar-West include Dylan Lyman (Grundy Center); Sam Kuhter and Joe Fonseca (South Tama); Jacob Smoldt (Gladbrook-Reinbeck); Walker Steward (East Marshall, LeGrand) and Braden Bonewitz (AGWSR, Ackley).

North Iowa Cedar Conference Prediction: 1. Hudson; 2. Dike-New Hartford North Iowa Cedar-East Conference Teams: Aplington-Parkersburg, Denver, Dike-New Hartford, Hudson, Jesup, Union (LaPorte City), Wapsie Valley (Fairbank)

North Iowa Conference Teams: BelmondKlemme, Forest City, Garner-Hayfield/Ventura, Lake Mills, Newman Catholic (Mason City), North Iowa (Buffalo Center), Osage, West Hancock (Britt)

Pride of Iowa Conference Outlook:

Waverly-Shell Rock has built great tradition in all sports including basketball and last season was no different with a Class 3A state tournament Klinton Carlson of Waverly-Shell Rock appearance. Klinton Carlson (16.3 ppg) is back to lead the Go-Hawks hopes along with Jake Velky (8.6 ppg). New Hampton gained a ton of experience with a young squad and led by Kyle Smith (14.0 ppg), Noah Stochl (11.0 ppg) and Dakota Sweitzer (10.3 ppg) will be a factor this season. Other top returners to the Northeast Iowa include Jacob Mohlis (Oelwein); Parker Hesse (Waukon); Caleb Hageman (Charles City); Jake Drost and James Ostlie(Decorah); Tanner Rentschler (New Hampton) and Kolter Freidhof (Crestwood, Cresco).

It was a fight for the top of the POI last season with Mount Ayr, Nodaway Valley (Greenfield), Pleasantville and Wayne (Corydon) with the Wolverines ending up with a Class 1A state tournament semifinal round appearance. Nodaway Valley should once again be a factor with the return of TJ Bower (15.8 ppg), Alex Welsch (14.5 ppg) and Dan Ehrsam (12.4 ppg). Mount Ayr will also contend once again with the return of Braydee Poore and Jake Still who combined for 27 points per game last season. Other top returners in the Pride of Iowa include Kolten Sefrit and Noah Thornton (Bedford); Bryson Durrow and Trevor Greenland (Central Decatur, Leon); Dillon Lain (Wayne, Corydon); Dean Frank (Nodaway Valley, Greenfield); Caleb Lange and Mason Peterson (Lenox); Garrett Gehringer and Eddy Kraber (Martensdale-St. Marys); Jake Sobotka (Mount Ayr) and Zach Goering (Interstate 35, Truro).

Northeast Iowa Conference Prediction: 1. Waverly-Shell Rock; 2. New Hampton

Pride of Iowa Conference Teams: Bedford, Central Decatur (Leon), Corning, East Union (Afton), Interstate 35 (Truro), Lenox, Martensdale-St. Mary’s, Mount Ayr, Nodaway Valley (Greenfield), Pleasantville, Southeast Warren (Liberty Center), Wayne (Corydon)

photo courtesy of Lynda Mulder

Northeast Iowa Conference Outlook:

Northeast Iowa Conference Teams: Charles City, Crestwood (Cresco), Decorah, New Hampton, Oelwein, Waukon, Waverly-Shell Rock

PREVIEW

Volume 1 Issue 4

Pride of Iowa Conference Prediction: 1. Nodaway Valley (Greenfield); 2. Mount Ayr

North Iowa Cedar-West Conference Prediction: 1. AGWSR (Ackley); 2. West Marshall (State Center) North Iowa Cedar-West Conference Teams: AGWSR (Ackley), BCLUW (Conrad), East Marshall (LeGrand), Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Grundy Center, South Hardin (Eldora), South Tama, West Marshall (State Center

Raccoon River Conference Outlook: A-D-M (Adel) and Dallas Center-Grimes tied for the top of the Raccoon River last season. The conference overall lost a ton of the top talent and looks to be one that should be balanced as far as the team race. Alex Morris, Nick Drucker and Andrew Kramer combined for nearly 21 points per game for the Mustangs but will be asked for more this season. Boone looks to be part of this season battle with the return of Chris Kelly and Logan Losh who combined for 19 points per game. Ballard (Huxley) will count on the conference’s top returning scorer, Donell Crawford (14.0 ppg). Some of the top returners in the Raccoon River include Torry Brelsford and Will Whiton (Perry); Lucas Nolan and Trae Gilliliand (Winterset); Drake Fuller (Bondurant-Farrar); Jake Hagedorn (Carlisle) and Jacob Nethers (Ballard, Huxley). Raccoon River Conference Prediction: 1. Dallas Center-Grimes; 2. Boone; Ballard (Huxley) Raccoon River Conference Teams: A-D-M (Adel), Ballard (Huxley), Bondurant-Farrar, Boone, Carlisle, Carroll, Dallas Center-Grimes, Perry, Winterset

SportsSpotlight.com

Boys SEISC--North Conference Outlook:

Rolling Hills Conference Outlook:

Rolling Hills Conference Prediction: 1. Ankeny Christian Academy; 2. Adair-Casey Rolling Hills Conference Teams: Adair-Casey, Ankeny Christian Academy, CAM (Anita), Exira/ Elk Horn-Kimballton, Glidden-Ralston, Iowa Christian Academy, Orient-Macksburg, PatonChurdan, Walnut

SEISC--South Conference Outlook:

Mediapolis and Lone Tree shared the SEISC-North with Iowa Mennonite (Kalona) right behind with Iowa Mennonite reaching the Class 1A field at state. Lone Tree returns Bryan Forbes (19.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg) to lead their hopes of another league title. Iowa Chance Miller of Iowa Mennonite will contend as well with Chance Miller Mennonite (13.4 ppg), Cameron Gingerich (11.7 ppg) and Peyton Thompson (11.1 ppg) back in the fold. Mediapolis will counter with Jesse Ertz (16.5 ppg) and Jordan Wagenbach (11.3 ppg). I would not look for much of a difference at the top this season in yet another highly contested three team battle. Other top returners in the SEISC-North include Jake Hootman, Tanner McFarland and Josh Brase (Highland, Riverside); Max Fricke and Jake Edwards (WinfieldMount Union); Rafael Cardenas (Columbus, Columbus Junction); Tyler Ayers (WACO, Wayland); Jordan Schoonover and Gage Carpenter (Wapello) and Andy Dodson (Lone Tree).

photo courtesy of Kristen Brenneman

Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton won the Rolling Hills title last season but will look to new talent in order to repeat. Adair-Casey looks to improve with the return of the conferenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading scorer, Spencer Rochhloz and his 23.5 points per game. Out of the conference this season is East Greene due to consolidating with Jefferson-Scranton in all sports. Ben Taylor and Zach Cousins make a solid one-two punch for Ankeny Christian academy. The duo combined for nearly 30 points per game. Other top returners in the Rolling Hills include Jake Carey (Paton-Churdan); Damon Stubbs (Ankeny Christian Academy); Alex Umbaugh (Adair-Casey); Trevor McKee (CAM, Anita) and Jake Bruggeman (Glidden-Ralston).

SEISC-North Conference Prediction: 1. Iowa Mennonite (Kalona); 2. Mediapolis; 3. Lone Tree SEISC-North Conference Teams: Columbus (Columbus Junction), Highland (Riverside), Iowa Mennonite (Kalona), Lone Tree, Louisa-Muscatine (Letts), Mediapolis, Pekin, WACO (Wayland), Wapello, Winfield-Mount Union

Call - 515.327.1500

Basketball

Danville was a victory short from claiming the Class 1A state title last season and return twin brothers, Steven and Michael Soukup who combined for 36 points per game. The rest of the SEISC â&#x20AC;&#x201C;South is wide-open with new faces being counted on for success. Mitch Moeller (Holy Trinity Catholic, Fort Madison) hopes to lead the Crusaders with his 16.1 points per game average. Some of the top returners in the SEISC-South include Jonathan Pedersen (Cardinal, Eldon); Kullen Koelker and Cole Riniker (Notre DameBurlington); Dashon Johnson and Carter Reed (West Burlington) and Joe Caston (Harmony, Farmington). SEISC-South Conference Prediction: 1. Danville; 2. Notre Dame-Burlington and Holy Trinity Catholic (Fort Madison) SEISC-South Conference Teams: Cardinal (Eldon), Central Lee (Donnellson), Danville, Harmony (Farmington), Holy Trinity Catholic (Fort Madison), Maharishi (Fairfield), New London, Notre Dame (Burlington), Van Buren (Keosauqua), West Burlington

DISCOVER YOURSELF DEFINE YOUR WORLD DESIGN YOUR FUTURE

Drive Tek. The Drive in Driver Education. or visit us at:

www.drivetek.com Sioux City, Iowa (800) 831-0806 SportsSpotlight.com

Volume 1 Issue 4

Siouxland Conference Outlook: MOC-Floyd Valley played through a perfect regular season and Siouxland title before falling in the quarterfinal round in the Class Boyden-Hull, State Champions 3A state tournament. The task will be tougher this year with losses through graduation. MOC will count on the return of Justin Van Kalsbeeek (12.5 ppg). Boyden-Hull finished second in the conference but won the Class 1A title. The Comets will count on Brandt Van Roekel (11.7 ppg) for leadership this season. Sheldon returns the nucleus of their team led by Dallas Ennema and his league leading 17.1 points per game average. Sioux Center could be a factor with a young group back with experience led by Andrew O’Donnell and Steven Kraft who combined for 18 points per game. Other top returners in the Siouxland include Brandon Snyder, Kacey Myrlie and Cody Bauman (West Lyon, Inwood); Jarod Hansen (Rock Valley); Dalton Syverson (Okoboji, Milford); Chris Balster (Sheldon) and Tanner Ver Steg (George-Little Rock). Siouxland Conference Prediction: 1. Boyden-Hull/ Rock Valley; 2. Sioux Center; 3. Sheldon and West Lyon (Inwood)

PREVIEW

South Central Conference Outlook: Centerville won the SCC crown last season. Logan Dabney and Payton Busch return with their combined 27-plus points per game average for the Big Reds. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont will counter with double-figure scorers, Trevor Swartz (12.4 ppg) and Christian Bambrook (12.3 ppg). Park Mikels (Davis County, Bloomfield) is back as the SCC leading scorer with his 16.8 points per game. Albia should improve, led by Tanner Kellogg (16.0 ppg). Other top returners in the South Central Conference include Dylan Diveney and Colin Morris (Clarke, Osceola); Matt Baker (Albia); Trevor Lefler (Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont); Mike Starevich (Centerville) and Bryce Cunningham (Chariton). South Central Conference Prediction: 1. Centerville; 2. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont South Central Conference Teams: Albia, Centerville, Chariton, Clarke (Osceola), Davis County (Bloomfield), Eddyville-BlakesburgFremont

Siouxland Conference Teams: Boyden-Hull, Central Lyon (Rock Rapids), George-Little Rock, MOC-Floyd Valley, Okoboji (Milford), Rock Valley, Sheldon, SibleyOcheyedan, Sioux Center, West Lyon (Inwood)

Southeast Conference Outlook: Mount Pleasant not only won the conference title but the Class 3A state title last season but Mount Pleasant, State Champions the nucleus of that team has graduated. Keokuk looks to be the team that gets the favorite status this season with the return of Dan Williams and Jonny Dahl who combined for 23 points per game last season. Miles Wentzien, John Nagel and Collin Eaves return in hopes of improving last season for Fort Madison. The trio combined for 31 points per game. Some of the top returning players in the Southeast Conference include Kendall Clark (Keokuk); Kyle Roder (Washington); Jonathan Temenak (Fort Madison) and Dillon Fry (Fairfield). Southeast Conference Prediction: 1. Keokuk; 2. Mount Pleasant Southeast Conference Teams: Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Mount Pleasant, Washington

Volume 1 Issue 4

Tri--Rivers Conference Outlook: Monticello won the Tri-River last season with North Linn (Troy Mills) and Cascade (Western Dubuque) both 20 game winners. The Panthers will have to rebuild around Sawyer Herman (9.5 ppg) with the core of the team graduated. The fact that most of the top conference finishers last season look to reload, makes the conference a wide-open affair. Cascade may be in the best spot with Timmie Kleitsch and Haris takes back with their combined 22 points per game average. Starmont (Arlington) should improve with the return of David Lowry and Colton Janssen who combined for 17 points per game. Some of the top returners in the Tri-River include Elias Nissen and Jake Hulett (Springville); Alec Phillip (Alburnett); Jobe Ellison (Maquoketa Valley, Dehli); Jordan Carpenter (East Buchanan, Winthrop); Evan Deutmeyer (EdgewoodColesburg); Chad Griggs (Central City); Austin Gehl (Cascade, Western Dubuque) and Hunter Pflughaupt (North Linn, Troy Mills). Tri-Rivers Conference Prediction: 1. Cascade (Western Dubuque); 2. Starmont (Arlington) Tri-Rivers Conference Teams: Alburnett, Cascade, Central City, East Buchanan (Winthrop), Edgewood-Colesburg, Maquoketa Valley (Dehli), Monticello, North Linn (Troy Mills), Springville, Starmont (Arlington)

South Iowa Cedar Conference Outlook: Keota won the SCC title last season but will have to reload without the conference’s top scorer. The Eagles will count on the return of Luke Lyle and Kolton Greiner who both averaged 10 points per game as sophomores. Lynnville-sully once again looks to challenge for the top with TJ Cunningham (11.7 ppg), Nathan Russell (10.9 ppg) and Darin Hofer (10.2 ppg) returning. Vaclav Bujnoch is the league’s top returning scorer with his 17.2 points per game to lead Sigourney and their hopes of an upper league finish. Iowa Valley was young last year and could be a sleeper. Other top returners include Austin Roberts, Dakota Cooling and Austin Carney (Iowa Valley, Marengo); Cole Lahndorf (H-L-V, Victor); Nate Beck (B-G-M, Brooklyn); Spencer Steinke (TriCounty, Thornburg); Brandon Stuhr (Sigourney); Brady Van Wyk (Lynnville-Sully); Ryan Zumbach (Belle Plaine) and Syd George (English Valleys, North English). South Central Iowa Conference Prediction: 1. Lynnville-Sully; 2. Keota; 3. Sigourney South Central Iowa Conference Teams: Belle Plaine, B-G-M (Brooklyn), English Valleys (North English), H-L-V (Victor), Iowa Valley (Marengo), Keota, Lynnville-Sully, Montezuma, North Mahaska (New Sharon), Sigourney, Tri-County (Thornburg)

Twin Lakes Conference Outlook: St. Marys (Storm Lake) won the Twin Lakes on their way to a Class 1A state semifinal round appearance. The Panthers hopes of another state Reed Tellinghuisen of E. Sac County tournament bid looks really good with Luke Lenhart (18.4 ppg) and Kennedy Drey (17.6 ppg and 8.2 rpg) back in the fold. NewellFonda has a ton of basketball tradition and should once again be a formidable challenger with Dillon Anderson (11.4 ppg) and Dalton Anderson (10.3 ppg) back. Reed Tellinghuisen is back for East Sac County with his 17.8 points per game average. Manson-NW Webster returns the league’s top returning scorer in Brody Eischeid and his 18.5 points per game. Other top returners in the Twin Lakes include Aaron Youngberg (Pocahontas Area); Jake Petzenhauser and Nathan Christensen (South Central Calhoun); Austin Glawe (Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids); Cole Black and Nick Carlson (Prairie Valley, Gowrie); Seth Hermson and Tyler Stumbo (Laurens-Marathon); Jade Hennignsen (Alta/Aurelia) and Brady Bohe (Newell-Fonda).

photo courtesy of Larry Tellinghuisen

Basketball

Twin Lakes Conference Prediction: 1. St. Marys (Storm Lake); 2. Newell-Fonda; 3. Manson-NW Webster Twin Lakes Conference Teams: Alta/Aurelia, East Sac County, Laurens-Marathon, Manson-NW Webster, Newell-Fonda, Pocahontas Area/Pomeroy-Palmer, Prairie Valley (Gowrie), Saint Mary’s (Storm Lake), Sioux Central (Sioux Rapids), South Central Calhoun, Southeast Webster-Grand (Burnside)

SportsSpotlight.com

Boys

Upper Iowa Conference Outlook: MFL, Mar-Mac (Monona) won the Upper Iowa title last season and return the league’s top scorer in CJ Mason (16.0 ppg) and his 77 3-pointers made. SumnerFredericksburg will be in the mix this season with the return of Keegan Meier, Damon Nuss and Dylan Bergman who together combined for 33-plus points per game along with Bergman’s 8.5 boards per game. Dallas Imhoel and Riley Brockway could help Postville into the sleeper role this season with their combined 21 points per game. Some of the top returners in the Upper Iowa include Ethan Steinbronn and Michael Lincoln (West Central, Maynard); Billy Auer, Colin Connelly and Nick Hefel (Clayton Ridge, Guttenberg); Isaiah Hopp (Central, Elkader); Trevor Schweinefus (South Winneshiek, Calmar); Jack Janett and Blair Cooper (Kee, Lansing); Trace Heyer (North Fayette, West Union) and Cody mason (MFL, Mar-Mac, Monona). Upper Iowa Conference Prediction: 1. SumnerFredericksburg; 2. MFL, Mar-Mac (Monona) Upper Iowa Conference Teams: Central (Elkader), Clayton Ridge (Guttenberg), Kee (Lansing), MFL, MarMac (Monona), North Fayette (West Union), Postville, South Winneshiek (Calmar), Sumner-Fredericksburg, Turkey Valley (Jackson Junction), Valley Community (Elgin), West Central (Maynard)

SportsSpotlight.com

Basketball

WAMAC--East Conference Outlook:

WAMAC--West Conference Outlook:

Western Dubuque (Epworth) won the WAMAC-East title before falling in the 3A title game to Mount Pleasant in overtime. TJ Lake (17.7 ppg) is back as the conference’s leading scorer to lead the Bobcats hopes of repeating. Mount Vernon finished second in the conference but won the 2A title last season but lost most of the championship team to TJ Lake of Western graduation. The conference overall Dubuque lost most of the leaders on all the teams with the exception of Solon who return Turner Wentzien and Joe Weeks who combined for nearly 25 points per game. Some of the top returners in the WAMAC-East include Devin Brooks and Luke Palmer (West Delaware, Manchester); Travis Gudenkauf (Beckman, Dyersville); AJ Smith and Mitch Green (Central Clinton, DeWitt); Roy Siddell (Solon); Josh Schulte (Anamosa) and Blaise Waller (Maquoketa).

Vinton-Shellsburg won the WAMAC-West title last season and returns the nucleus of that team led by the conference’s leading scorer and rebounder, Grant Sagen with his 18.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Add Max Griffith and Maxton Kearns who combined for nearly 22 points per game and the Vikings will be the team to beat here. The battle will once again be for an upper league finish. Clear Creek-Amana will fight for one of those spots with Justin Keith (17.8 ppg) leading the way. Josh Jirak (14.8 ppg) will do the same for Center Point-Urbana. Some of the top returners in the WAMACWest include Tray Kraft, Mitch Eighme and Jacob Pratt (Columbus Catholic, Waterloo); Tyler Gunderson and Brenden Landuyt (Marion); Ryan Cooksley (Independence) and Jordan McMenomy (Williamsburg).

WAMAC-East Conference Prediction: 1. Solon; 2. Western Dubuque (Epworth) WAMAC-East Conference Teams: Anamosa, Beckman (Dyersville), Central Clinton (DeWitt), Mount Vernon, Maquoketa, Solon, West Delaware (Manchester), Western Dubuque (Epworth)

WAMAC-West Conference Prediction: 1. Vinton-Shellsburg; 2. Clear Creek-Amana and Marion WAMAC-West Conference Teams: Benton (Van Horne), Center Point-Urbana, Clear Creek-Amana, Columbus Catholic (Waterloo), Independence, Marion, Vinton-Shellsburg, Williamsburg

Volume 1 Issue 4

Basketball War Eagle Conference Outlook:

West Central Conference Outlook:

Gehlen Catholic (LeMars) won the War Eagle title last season and return Michael Whitehead (12.5 ppg) to build around this season. Remsen-Union will counter with Tanner Hilbrands (15.1 ppg and 7.8 rpg). It is tough to make a clear choice here as many of the teams will count on underclassmen to step up for a chance at a better finish than last season. Dylan Spieler (Marcus-MeridenCleghorn) is the War Eagle’s top returning scorer at 18.1 points per game last season. Some of those top returners in the War Eagle include Michael Grady and Ryan Stoll (Spalding Catholic, Granville); Jason Vander Kooi and Trevor Kauk (Unity Christian, Orange City); Blake Simons, Casey Dorhout and Cade Harvey (Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn); Matt Wesselman and Tyler Delperdang (St. Marys, Remsen).

Des Moines Christian edged Ogden for the West Central title last season. Jarod Jones 14.8 ppg) is back for the Lions while the Bulldogs will look for leadership from Cody Good (13.4 ppg). Look out for Guthrie Center, as the Tigers should improve with the return of Adam Courtney and his 17.3 points per game, tops of all returners. Other top returners in the West Central Conference include Mike Brown (WoodwardGranger); Garrett Mleynek, Luke Webner and Dante Copeland (Panorama, Panora); Brandon Brittain and Stepehn Folkerts (Van Meter); Gavin McGivney (Guthrie Center) and Ivan Johnson (Woodward Academy).

War Eagle Conference Prediction: 1. RemsenUnion; 2. Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn and Gehlen Catholic (LeMars)

West Central Conference Teams: Coon Rapids-Bayard, Des Moines Christian, Earlham, Grandview Park Baptist (Des Moines), Guthrie Center, Madrid, Panorama (Panora), Van Meter, West Central Valley (Stuart), Woodward Academy, Woodward-Granger

Western Valley--South Conference Outlook: IKM-Manning won the Western Valley-South last season and return the league leading scorer in TJ Sterk (19.9 ppg). Ar-We-Va (Westside) looks to improve behind Austin Stoelk and Brandon Koch who combined for 21-plus points per game last season along with West Harrison (Mondamin) who comeback with Jake Roden (19.8 ppg) and Tyler Birdsall (15.2 ppg) but not a lot of wins last season. Paul Hutson and Brennan Azinger (Logan-Magnolia) who combined for nearly 20 per game look to be a challenger as well. Woodbine might be the sleeper with the return of Jameson Delaney and Davis Hackman who combined for 25 points per game. Other top returners include Dylan Beeck (Charter Oak-Ute); Sam Powers (Woodbine); Wade Martian (Whiting); Cody Kahl (IKMManning); Mitchell Putman (Boyer Valley, Dunlap) Western Valley-South Conference Prediction: 1. IKM-Manning; 2. Woodbine and LoganMagnolia Western Valley-South Conference Teams: Ar-We-Va (Westside), Boyer Valley (Dunlap), Charter Oak-Ute, IKM-Manning, LoganMagnolia, West Harrison (Mondamin), West Monona (Onawa), Whiting, Woodbine

Volume 1 Issue 4

Western Iowa Conference Outlook:

West Central Conference Prediction: 1. Guthrie Center; 2. Des Moines Christian

Treynor won the Western Iowa title last season but will have to reload around Alec Sorensen (18.0 ppg) for that to happen this year. Ricky Williams (21.9 ppg and 12.2 rpg) is a doubledouble machine and will make Riverside (Oakland) a factor once Ricky Williams of Riverside again. Underwood looks to improve behind Andy Hoffman and Austin Konsor who combined for 24 points per game. Other top returners in the Western Iowa include Devin Bates (Griswold); Steven Humphrey and Cody Cunard (Missouri Valley); Ryan Spiegel (Underwood); Tyler Robinson (A-H-S-T, Avoca); Brady Ryan and Ean Patrick (Riverside, Oakland) and Christian Way (TriCenter, Neola). Western Iowa Conference Prediction: 1. Riverside (Oakland); 2. Treynor and Underwood Western Iowa Conference Teams: A-H-S-T (Avoca), Audubon, Griswold, Missouri Valley, Riverside (Oakland), Treynor, Tri-Center (Neola), Underwood

Western Valley--North Conference Outlook:

Independent Teams:

Lawton-Bronson and Kingsley-Pierson battled for the top of the WVCNorth last season. The Eagles return the league’s top scorer in Austin Lefler (22.7 ppg) along with Matt Smith (11.8 ppg) and Steve Adams (11.1 ppg). The Panthers will count on Colin Henrich (13.4 ppg) to match last season. Many lost to graduation in the WVC-North so new Austin Lefter of Lawton-Bronson faces will be counted on to improve on last season. Some of the top returners in the MVC-North include Korey Kuhlmann (Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto); Brennan Riedemann (River Valley, Correctionville); Paul Gallagher and William Dougherty (Woodbury Central, Moville); Austin Zobel (Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove) and Trevor Heck (Westwood, Sloan).

photo courtesy of Lawton-Bronson

War Eagle Conference Teams: Akron-Westfield, Gehlen Catholic (LeMars), Hartley-MelvinSanborn, Hinton, Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn, Remsen-Union, St. Mary’s (Remsen), South O’Brien (Paulina), Spalding Catholic (Granville), Unity Christian (Orange City), West Sioux (Hawarden)

PREVIEW

Cedar Valley Christian (Cedar Rapids) – Top returning player: Jeremy Sturtz Rivermont Collegiate Prep (Bettendorf) – Top returning player: K.V Gill St. Albert (Council Bluffs) – Top returning player: Tucker Culjat Trinity Christian (Hull) – Top returning player: Brad Gritters

Western Valley-North Conference Prediction: LawtonBronson; 2. Kingsley-Pierson Western Valley-North Conference Teams: KingsleyPierson, Lawton-Bronson, Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto, Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove, Ridge View, River Valley (Correctionville), Siouxland Christian (Sioux City), Westwood (Sloan), Woodbury Central (Moville)

SportsSpotlight.com

Volume 1 Issue 4

PRESEASON CLASS 1A

CLASS 2A

G-Austin Halls, Sr., Murray

G-Jacob Hadaway, Sr., North Polk

G-Chance Miller, Sr., Iowa Mennonite

G-Jesse Ertz, Sr., Mediapolis

G-Luke Lenhart, Sr., St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

F-Rylan Murry, Sr., West Branch

F-Michael Soukup, Sr., Danville

F-TJ Sterk, Sr., IKM-Manning

F-Steven Soukup, Sr., Danville

F-Reed Tellinghuisen, Jr., East Sac County

C-Ricky Williams, Sr., Riverside

C-Payton Plagge, Sr., West Fork

CLASS 4A

G-Shane Graves, Sr., Bishop Heelan

G-Dondre Alexander, Sr., Iowa City West

G-Derek Hall, Sr., Denison-Schleswig

F-Peter Jok, Sr., West Des Moines Valley

G-TJ Lake, Sr., Western Dubuque

F-Jeremy Morgan, Sr., Iowa City West

F-Billy Daniel, Sr., Davenport Assumption

F-Josh Weeber, Sr., Dubuque Senior

F-Klinton Carlson, Sr., Waverly-Shell Rock C-Casey Schlatter, Jr., Iowa Falls-Alden

Fridays 7-11pm

photo courtesy of Chris Morgan

photo courtesy of Andrew Foster

CLASS 3A

C-Ted Friedman, Sr., Ankeny C-Jay Knuth, Jr., Johnston

Thursdays 5-7pm

Saturdays 8-10am

ALL-STATE CLASS 2A

G-Paige Danner, Jr., Ar-We-Va

G-Anna Mallen, Sr., West Hancock

G-Ranee Maneman, Jr., Newell-Fonda

G-Mallory Boyle, Sr., North Mahaska

G-Steph Rohe, Sr., Gehlen Catholic

F-Kaylee Blake, Sr., IKM-Manning

G-Kayla Lindenmeyer, Sr., Bedford

F-Madi Drees, Sr., Kuemper Catholic

F-Lexi Ackerman, Sr., Central Lyon C-Jade Lynn Vlotho, Sr., West Sioux

photo courtesy of Brant Bollman

photo courtesy of Bedford Times-Press

CLASS 1A

C-Kelsey Ernst, Sr., Bellevue

CLASS 4A

G-Paige Greiner, Jr., Williamsburg

G-Katie Ahrenholtz, Sr., Ballard Huxley

G-Danielle Moore, Sr., Davenport Assumption

G-Madison Weekly, Sr., Benton Community

G-KJ Veldman, Sr., Spirit Lake

F-Brittany Holdsworth, Sr., Carroll

G-Miranda Murphy, Jr., North Polk

F-Daneshia Snitker, Sr., Waukon

F-Alexis Conaway, Sr., MOC-Floyd Valley F-Ashley Rosenstiel, Jr., Oelwein

photo courtesy of Laurie Donald

photo courtesy of Liz King

CLASS 3A

F-Brooke Wolterstorff, Sr., Western Christian

F-Madalyn Welty, Sr., Western Dubuque C-Aftin Phyfe, Sr., Waverly-Shell Rock

photo courtesy of Marcy Wardenburg

CLASS 5A G-Jadda Buckley, Sr., Mason City

F-Brittney Boland, Sr., Waukee

G-Ally Disterhoft, Sr., Iowa City West

F-Shaya Kellogg, Sr., Ames

G-Caitlin Ingle, Sr., Southeast Polk

C-Blair Thomas, Sr., Waterloo West

Basketball

PREVIEW

Cedar Valley Conference Outlook:

Bellevue won the Big East title last season and returns the conferenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading scorer, Katelyn Ernst (19.1 ppg) and second leading rebounder (9.7 rpg). Add Ali Reeg and her 14-plus points per game along Kelsey Ernst of Bellevue with Carly Rubel and her nearly 10 points per game and the Comets should once again be the team to beat this season. Camanche should also contend with Kylie Vogel, Julia Moore and Lindsay Grams back with their combined 32 points per game. Preston has Cassie Aldis and Brooke Krogman as a strong 1-2 punch all will also be a major factor. Marquette Catholic (Bellevue) is another team that usually puts a solid group on the floor and will look for leadership from Danielle Bender and Sarah Lampe. Other individual returners of note in the Big East are Julia Isenhour and Megan Mulholland (Prince of Peace, Clinton); Ryleigh Keeney and Emily Strait (Preston); Briana Schurbon (Midland, Wyoming); Leva Light (Lisbon); and Abbie Moellenbeck (Calamus-Wheatland).

Last season, three teams battled for the conference crown, Moulton-Udell, Murray and Twin Cedars (Bussey). This season Twin Cedars Alee Hugen of Twin Cedars and Murray should once again battle for the top of the Bluegrass. The Sabers will return the conferenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top scorer and third leading rebounder in Alee Hugen (17.3 ppg and 9.3 rpg) along with Brittney Roby and her 10 points per game. The Mustangs will count on Kate Patton and Megan Oswald, who combined for 21 points per game. The Eagles will count on Natalie Potter who averaged 15.3 ppg and 9.3 rpg. Katelyn Tracy (Moravia) is a double-double threat each night with her 15.5 ppg and 12.6 rpg average last season and if others add around her, could contend as well. Other top individual returners in the Bluegrass include Ayla Crosby (Twin Cedars, Bussey); Elly Brown (Diagonal); Cassie Moore (Mormon Trail, Garden Grove); Shayla Russell (Seymour) and Jenna Sheehan (Moravia).

Iowa City Regina won the Cedar Valley title last season, but will have to reload to do so again this season. Jenna Lehman (13.3 ppg) will be counted on to lead the Regals. Mid-Prairie (Wellman) might be the favorite with the return of Mallory McArtor, Mariah Swartzentruber and Erika Murphy, who combined for 27 points per game. Kristi Feldman (West Liberty) is the top returning scorer and rebounder with her 14.9 ppg and 11.0 rpg. West Branch will contend with the return Kelly Trimble and Heather Poula who combined for 23 points per game. Other top returners in the Cedar Valley include Marissa Kelly (West Liberty); Olivia Tuel and Alison Malaby (North Cedar, Stanwood) and Jill Kofron (Tipton).

Big East Conference Prediction: 1. Bellevue; 2. Camanche; 3. Preston and Marquette Catholic (Bellevue) Big East Conference Teams: Bellevue, CalamusWheatland, Camanche, Lisbon, Marquette Catholic (Bellevue), Midland (Wyoming), Northeast (Goose Lake), Preston, Prince of Peace (Clinton)

Volume 1 Issue 4

photo courtesy ofJustin Nolte

Bluegrass Conference Outlook:

photo courtesy of Dave Wright

Big East Conference Outlook:

Bluegrass Conference Prediction: 1. Twin Cedars (Bussey); 2. Murray; 3. Moulton-Udell and Moravia

Cedar Valley Conference Prediction: 1. MidPrairie (Wellman); 2. West Branch; 3. Iowa City Regina Cedar Valley Conference Teams: DurantBennett, Iowa City Regina, Mid-Prairie (Wellman), North Cedar (Stanwood), Tipton, West Branch, West Liberty, Wilton

Bluegrass Conference Teams: Diagonal, Lamoni, Melcher-Dallas, Moravia, Mormon Trail (Garden Grove), Moulton-Udell, Murray, Seymour, Twin Cedars (Bussey)

SportsSpotlight.com

girls

Basketball

CIML CIC Western Divison Outlook:

CIML CIC North Division Outlook:

It really does not matter which way you look at things here with Ankeny, Waukee and Southeast Polk strong girls’ basketball programs. The Hawkettes will have to depend on a younger group this year with a ton of senior losses off their 4A state runner-up team. The Rams Madi Drees of Ankeny return one of the state’s best players in Caitlin Ingle with her nearly 15 points and 6 assists per game. Waukee has a good duo returning Britney Boland and Megan Shryack who combined for 22 points per game with Boland grabbing 7.5 rebounds per game. Next season Ankeny Centennial will be added to the division. Other top players from this three team group include Annie Penquite, Jessica Gardner and Victoria Bricker (Southeast Polk); Amy Nestingen (Waukee) and Brittany Hedrick (Ankeny).

The CIC Western Division looks wide open. Dowling Catholic is a contestant program in girls’ basketball with state titles in their history. Johnston, Urbandale and West Des Moines Valley all have had their successes as well. New faces will be a huge factor on who wins the division. The Maroons will look for leadership from Alyssa Beck; the Dragons from Steph Wilkinson; the Jayettes from Renise Collier and the Tigers will count on Madi Agey. Other top individual returners in the CEC Western Division include Allie Mataloni (Urbandale); Taylor Jones (Johnston); Grace Vander Weide (West Des Moines Valley) and Aubrey Faber (Dowling Catholic).

Ames returns their top scorer and rebounder in Shaya Kellogg (12.1 ppg and 8.0 rpg). Fort Dodge was young last season and will look to continue to move forward led by Mallory Killian and Ashley Altman. Taylor Wagner and Eisha Oden will return for Marshalltown while Mason City looks to be a major factor with the return of Jadd Buckley and Myah Mellman who combined for 27 points per game with Buckley adding 5-plus assists per contest. Other top returners in the CIC North Division include Cortni Rude (Mason City); Lani Van Zyl and Lexi Astor (Fort Dodge); Ashley Ray and Jamie Steyer (Ames) and Lauren Mazour (Marshalltown).

CIC Eastern Division Prediction: 1. Southeast Polk; 2. Waukee

CIC Western Division Teams: Dowling Catholic, Johnston, Urbandale, West Des Moines Valley

photo courtesy of Carroll Daily Times Herald

CIML CIC Eastern Division Outlook:

CIC Western Division Prediction: 1. Dowling Catholic; 2. Urbandale

CIC Northern Division Prediction: 1. Mason City; 2. Ames CIC Northern Division Teams: Ames, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City

CIC Eastern Division Teams: Ankeny, Southeast Polk, Waukee (Ankeny Centennial joins in 20132014)

CIML Metro Conference Outlook: Des Moines East was a young group last season as they rebuilt on their 2011 state title. The Scarlets return a strong group led by Shareece Burrell and Tal Neilly who combined for 22 points per game with Burrell adding nearly 10 boards per game. Missing last season due to injury was Roichelle Marble and with her return they could make another state tournament run. Indianola joins the new Metro Conference this season and will also battle for the conference crown led by Ally Orwig, Rachel Kaale and Markayla Mahr, who combined for 26 points per game. Richelle Jimerson (Des Moines North) returns after leading with her 8 ppg and 10 rpg average. Other top returning players in the Metro include Erica Davidson (Indianola); Meredith Burkhall and Sierra Singleton (Des Moines Roosevelt); Arrica Daye (Des Moines East); Annie Hayes (Des Moines North) and Mikayla Larson (Des Moines Hoover) CIML Metro Conference Prediction: 1. Des Moines East; 2. Indianola CIML Metro Conference Teams: Des Moines East, Des Moines Hoover, Des Moines Lincoln, Des Moines North, Des Moines Roosevelt, Indianola, Ottumwa

SportsSpotlight.com SportsSpotlight.com

Corn Bowl Conference Outlook:

Cornbelt Conference Outlook:

North Butler won the league title last season and should be right back in the title chase led by Emily Dolan and Lisa Feldman, who combined for 16 points per game. Rockford looks to make progress with their top players back led by the league’s leading scorer, Sadie Syborny (14.9 ppg). Other top returning players to the Corn Bowl Conference include Grace Harkin (Riceville); Madison Wood (Rockford); Autumn Brigham, Lindy Mayer and Natalie Halfman (Saint Ansgar); Nicole Young (Central Springs, Manly); Maren Davidson (Northwood-Kensett); Mattie Siefken (West Fork); Miranda Wagner (NashuaPlainfield) and Nikki Boomgarden (North Butler, Greene).

North Sentral Kossuth/Armstrong-Ringsted won the league title last year, but is now known as North Union. To repeat they will have to depend on new faces to help Collete Haag with her nearly 10 points per game average. Clay CentralEverly looks ready to challenge for the title with the return of Emily Jobst, Blair Montgomery and Heather Busch who all scored in double figures and combined for 32 points per game. Montgomery (12.9 rpg) is also the top returning rebounder. Noreen Morrow (14.4 ppg) (HarrisLake Park) is the league’s top returning scorer. Other top returning players in the Cornbelt Conference include Mariah Gath and Macy Gunderson (Harris-Lake Park); Brooke Hoffman (Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire); Kayla Banwart and Kenzie Grimm (West bend-Mallard) and Stevie Scott (Clay Central-Everly).

Corn Bowl Prediction: 1. North Butler (Greene); 2. Rockford; 3. West Fork and Saint Ansgar

Cornbelt Teams: Clay Central-Everly, C-W-L (Corwith), Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire, Harris-Lake Park, North Union, West BendMallard

Corn Bowl Teams: Central Springs (Manly), Nashua-Plainfield, North Butler (Greene), Northwood-Kensett, Riceville, Rockford, St. Ansgar, West Fork

Cornbelt Prediction: 1. Clay Central-Everly; 2. North Union; 3. Harris-Lake Park

Volume 1 Issue 4 Volume 1 Issue 4

27 27

Basketball

PREVIEW

Corner Conference Outlook:

Hawkeye Ten Conference Outlook:

Heart of Iowa Conference Outlook:

Heartland Christian (Council Bluffs) is new to the league after playing as an independent last season. Villisca won the Corner Conference title last season and will be a major factor again with the return of Amanda Focht and Jill Vanderhoof, who combined for 26 points per game and 22 rebounds per game. Stanton will be in the mix as well with a solid 1-2 punch in Carmen Subbert and Ragen Anderson, who combined for 25 points per game. The league was young last year and that means the battle for the upper division of the league will be strong including FremontMills (Tabor) with league leading scorer, Macy Williams and her 17.5 ppg. Other top returners in the Corner Conference include Seana Perkins and Haley Fundermann (Essex); Molly Goltz (Nishnabotna); Devin Laughlin and Katie Sowers (East Mills); Keisha Grant, Tyler Bills and Trea Pledge (Clarinda Academy); Shelby Anderson (Sidney); Morganne Haer (Villisca); Taryn Williams (Fremont-Mills, Tabor) and Kara Allen (Stanton).

Glenwood won the league title with a strong challenge from Lewis Central (Council Bluffs) and Kuemper Catholic (Carroll). The Rams will need to reload behind Grace Newman (11.8 ppg) to repeat. The Lady Knights will build around Lexi Albrecht (12.4 ppg) while the Titans will count on Aubrey Norville (10.0 ppg). DenisonSchleswig looks to improve behind the retun of the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top returning scorer, Chelsey Van Ness (14.8 ppg). Other top returning players in the Hawkeye Conference include Serena Parker (Shenandoah); Mackenzie Holmes (Atlantic); Jenny Blair (Clarinda); Josie Esser (Harlan); Kate Walker and Grace Blomstedt (Red Oak) and Rachel Koch (Denison-Schleswig).

Many changes have been made across the state in conference realignment and the Heart of Iowa is one of them. No more large and small conference and new to the league is Saydel with Greene County the new name for JSPC. Jennifer Kennedy (16.5 ppg and 7.5 rpg) is back for the Rams. North Polk looks to build on a solid year with underclassman led by Miranda and Megan Murphy who combined for 32 points per game. Nicolette Husson (Colfax-Mingo) returns as the league leading rebounder after pulling down an average of 14.5 per game along with her 14.3 scoring average. PCM-Monroe took a step back last season, but was young and returns Kelsey Townsend and Courtney Van Houweling, who combined for 23 points per game. Gilbert won the league title last year and return Tiffany Stubbs to lead the way. Other top returning players in the Heart of Iowa Conference include Abbie Haupert and Shelby Berg (Collins-Maxwell-Baxter); Jessica Helton and Megan Pringnitz (Nevada); Abbi Gilson (PCM-Monroe); Natalie Vance (Roland-Story) and Kayla Mobley (Greene County). Add Hannah Onken and Chelsi Wilkens (East Greene, Grand Junction) who have consolidated with Jefferson-Scranton to make up Greene County.

Corner Conference Teams: Clarinda Academy, East Mills, Essex, Fremont-Mills (Tabor), Heartland Christian (Council Bluffs), Nishnabotna, Sidney, Stanton, Villisca

Hawkeye Ten Conference Prediction: 1. Kuemper Catholic (Carroll); 2. DenisonSchleswig; 3. Lewis Central (Council Bluffs) and Glenwood. Hawkeye Ten Conference Teams: Atlantic, Clarinda, Creston, Denison-Schleswig, Glenwood, Harlan, Kuemper Catholic (Carroll), Lewis Central (Council Bluffs), Red Oak, Shenandoah

Corner Conference Prediction: 1. Villisca; 2. Stanton; 3. Fremont-Mills (Tabor)

Iowa Star North Conference Outlook:

Iowa Star South Conference Outlook:

Tripoli was the best of the Iowa Star North last season. To repeat that performance the Panthers will count on Ashlen Damm and Bailey Kirchhoff who combined for 20 points per game. Clarksville will be a factor this season with the return of Megan Backer (14.8 ppg) and Hannah Pope (11.4 ppg). Janesville returns a good group that will look to improve on last season finish. Other top returning players in the Iowa Star North include Molly Greenfield (Northeast Hamilton, Blairsburg); Karter Miller (CAL, Latimer); Victoria Leyh, Mary Hovenga, Allison Hesse, and Brittney Hanson (Janesville); Jesse Rottinghaus (Dunkerton) and Kimberly Wedeking (Clarksville).

North Tama (Traer) won the Iowa Star and part of the Class 1A state tournament and return Allison Zobel (12.7 ppg) in hopes of defending their title. Madison Eley (Colo-Nesco) is back as the conference top returning scorer at 17 points per game. Other top returning players in the Iowa Star South include Tiana Thompson and Kadyn Clark (Meskwaki Settlement, Tama); Brittany Hickson and Melissa Ament (Don, Bosco, and Gilbertville); Anna Doering (Waterloo Christian)

Iowa Star North Conference Prediction: 1. Clarksville; 2. Tripoli; 3. Janesville

Iowa Star South Conference Teams: ColoNesco, Don Bosco (Gilbertville), GMG (Garwin), Meskwaki Settlement (Tama), North Tama (Traer), Waterloo Christian

Iowa Star North Conference Teams: CAL (Latimer), Clarksville, Dunkerton, Janesville, Northeast Hamilton (Blairsburg), Tripoli

Iowa Star South Conference Prediction: 1. North Tama (Traer); 2. Colo-Nesco; 3. Meskwaki Settlement (Tama)

Heart of Iowa Conference Prediction: 1. North Polk; 2. Gilbert 3. PCM-Monroe Heart of Iowa Conference Teams: Colfax-Mingo, Collins-Maxwell-Baxter, Gilbert, Greene County, Nevada, North Polk, PCM-Monroe, Roland-Story, Saydel, South Hamilton (Jewell)

Lakes Conference Outlook: Western Christian (Hull) battled with EsthervilleLincoln Central for the conference title on their way to raising the Western Christian, State Champions banner as the Class 2A champion in 2012, including a quarterfinal round win over the Midgets. The Wolfpack return one of the state top players in Brooke Wolterstorff with her nearly 18 points and 9 rebound per game average. Add Alissa Pollema and Kim Kroeze who led the team in assists and combined for 17 points per game. EsthervilleLC will counter with the return of Allie Sievert and Emily Kirchner who combined for 24 points per game. Watch out for Spirit Lake with the return of the Lakes leading scorer, KJ Veldman (23.0 ppg). Other top returning players in the Lakes include Megan Hummel and Megan Carlson (Cherokee); Carolyn Ahlers and Molly Renken (LeMars); Shae DeJager and Elissa Jansma (Western Christian, Hull); Alissa Christoffer (Spirit Lake), Sara Haywood (Estherville-Lincoln Central) and Ashton Connelly (Emmetsburg). Lakes Conference Prediction: 1. Western Christian (Hull); 2. Estherville-Lincoln Central; 3. Spirit Lake Lakes Conference Teams: Cherokee, Emmetsburg, Estherville-Lincoln Central, LeMars, Spencer, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, Western Christian (Hull)

Volume 1 Issue 4

SportsSpotlight.com

girls

Little Hawkeye Conference Outlook:

Mississippi Athletic Conference Outlook:

Pella Christian won the conference crown last season on their way to finishing as the runner-up in 2A overall. To repeat, the Eagles will have to count on new faces and the leadership of Paige Engbers. In what looks to be a wide-open race this season, look for Oskaloosa with Kena Veldhuizen (13.5 ppg) and Norwalk with Hali VanVelzen and Paige Lammers who combined for 17 points per game to be part of the upper conference battle. Other top returning players in the Little Hawkeye include Meredith Cunningham and Taylor Carter (Knoxville); Anneliese Wiltfang (Grinnell); Kaylie Rhoads (Newton) and Taylor Crawford (Oskaloosa).

Davenport Assumption won the MAC and the Class 3A state title for the second consecutive year with two different Davenport Assumption, State Champions coaches. Danielle Moore and Hailey Schneden are back with their combined 25 points per game scoring average. Muscatine will once again provide a challenge with the league’s top scorer in Leti Lerma (15.3 ppg) back. Emily Clemons (12.5 ppg) gives the Muskies a strong 1-2 punch. Bettendorf was young last season and should be better, but not sure if they can jump past the Lady Knights and Muscatine. Other top returning players in the MAC include Kelsi Conner and Kya Kimsey (Burlington); Megan Thiesse (Muscatine); Emily Soy (North Scott, Eldridge); Katie Moore, Anna Fry, Miranda Holle and Liz Finn (Bettendorf); Kate Fennelly (Davenport Assumption); Savanah Allen (Davenport North) and Lexi Spelhaug and Holly Hoelting (Pleasant Valley).

Little Hawkeye Conference Prediction: 1. Norwalk; 2. Oskaloosa; 3. Pella Christian Little Hawkeye Conference Teams: Grinnell, Knoxville, Newton, Norwalk, Oskaloosa, Pella, Pella Christian

Basketball Mississippi Valley--Mississippi Conference Outlook: Iowa City West won the 4A state title last season and return one of the top players in the state in Ally Iowa City West, State Champions Disterhoft (16.4 ppg), but the nucleus of the team is gone around her and will need to be filled to attempt to defend. Iowa City High looks poised to improve on their state birth last season with the return of Mickey Hansche and Haley Lorenzen who combined for 29 points per game. Dubuque Senior looks to improve behind Kristie and Katie Sommer who combined for nearly 30 points per game. Other top returning players in the Mississippi include Kiera Washpun (Iowa City High); Stephanie Botkin and Paige Hendrickson (Cedar Rapids Kennedy).

Mississippi Athletic Conference Prediction: 1. Davenport Assumption; 2. Muscatine; 3. Bettendorf

Mississippi Valley – Mississippi Conference Prediction: 1. Iowa City High; 2. Iowa City West; 3. Dubuque Senior and Cedar Rapids Kennedy

Mississippi Athletic Conference Teams: Davenport Assumption, Bettendorf, Burlington, Clinton, Davenport Central, Davenport North, Davenport West, Muscatine, North Scott (Eldridge), Pleasant Valley

Mississippi Valley – Mississippi Conference Teams: Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Dubuque Hempstead, Dubuque Senior, Iowa City High, Iowa City West, Waterloo East

Large

Not valid with any other offer. Good December 1 - 31, 2012.

SportsSpotlight.com

Volume 1 Issue 4

Basketball

PREVIEW

Cedar Rapids Washington returns Danielle Franklin and Abby Herb who combined for 23 points per game while Waterloo West returns the league’s top scorer in Blair Thomas with her 18.5 per game average. Cedar Rapids Xavier will count on Blair Thomas of Waterloo West Kayla Armstrong if they are to return to Des Moines. Other top returners in the Valley include Haley Puk and Kate Letkewicz (Waterloo West); Mykaela Brandt and Courtney Major (Linn-Mar, Marion); Logan Lynch, Ana Schmitt and Marissa Cody (Dubuque Wahlert).

photo courtesy of Rick Smith

Mississippi Valley--Valley Conference Outlook:

Mississippi Valley – Valley Conference Prediction: 1. Cedar Rapids Washington; 2. Waterloo West; 3. Dubuque Wahlert and LinnMar (Marion).

photo courtesy of Brian Peterson

Volume 1 Issue 4

St. Edmond (Fort Dodge) won the NCC title last season and return Alli Huss with her 12 points and 7.5 rebound per game for leadership. Clear Lake and Algona look to a bigger part of the league chase this season. The Lions return Logan Anderson and Trudy Peterson who combined for 18 points per game while the Bulldogs will count on Tangy Wiseman and Heather Ziesman. Pretty balanced looking conference this season where a number of teams should improve with experience back. Taryn Barz (Hampton-Dumont, 16.7 ppg) is the top returning scorer back. Some of the top returning players in the North Central include Jamie Peterson (Iowa Falls-Alden); Lauren Friesth and Erica Lane (Humboldt); Lexie Miller (Eagle Grove); Stephanie Steiner (Clarion-Goldfield); Megan Loux (Clear Lake) and Chelsi Lanus (bishop Garrigan, Algona)

North Iowa Cedar--East Conference Outlook:

West Hancock (Britt) was perfect in the NIC last season and also earned a berth in the 2A field at state. Kellie Schmit and Anna Mallen return with their combined 30 points per game average. GarnerHayfield and Ventura are now combined in all sports. Anna Mallen of W. Hancock Emily Matthews (12.6 ppg) will help lead their charge into a new season. Other top returning players in the North Iowa include Megan Johnson and Carlie Christianson (Lake Mills); Paige Hassebroek (North Iowa, Buffalo Center) and Maddie Tusha and Emily Spillman (Garner-Hayfield-Ventura).

Bishop Heelan won the league title last season in route to another Class 3A state tournament birth and semi-final round appearance. MaKayla Augustine (14.4 ppg) is back to lead the Crusaders hopes of success in 2012-13. Sioux City West looks to improve with the league’s top returning scorer back in Tanya Meyer (17.0 ppg). Sioux City East was down last season after some very good years. Look for improvement with what was a young squad last season gaining some much needed experience led by Tara Schwaderer (16.1 ppg). Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln could be better as well with the return of most of their offense. Other top players returning in the Missouri River include Lauren Meeker and Delaney Bolton (Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln; Madison Lee and Shauna Folchert (Sioux City North); Harlee Bauman (Sioux City East); Jenna Bork and Megan McCarthy (Bishop Heelan, Sioux City); Amber Schubert (Sergeant Bluff-Luton);

Missouri River Conference Teams: Bishop Heelan (Sioux City), Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln, Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson, Sergeant BluffsLuton, Sioux City East, Sioux City North, Sioux City West

North Iowa Conference Outlook:

North Iowa Conference Teams: BelmondKlemme, Forest City, Garner-Hayfield/Ventura, Lake Mills, Newman Catholic (Mason City), North Iowa (Buffalo Center), Osage, West Hancock (Britt)

North Central Conference Outlook:

Missouri River Conference Prediction: 1. Bishop Heelan (Sioux City); 2. Sioux City East; 3. Sioux City West

Mississippi Valley – Valley Conference Teams: Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Cedar Rapids Washington, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Dubuque Wahlert, Linn-Mar (Marion), Waterloo West

North Iowa Conference Prediction: 1. West Hancock (Britt); 2. Garner-Hayfield-Ventura; 3. Lake Mills

Missouri River Conference Outlook:

Union (LaPorte City) edged AplingtonParkersburg in the NIC East and there should be little difference this season between the two teams with most of the big pieces back in tow. The Falcons bring back Haleigh Hempen (13.7 ppg and 8.5 rpg) while the Knights counter with Kylie Powell and Peyton Bockholt who combined for nearly 22 points per game. Hudson, Denver and Jesup look to improve for an upper league finish. Other top returners in the North Iowa Cedar East include Alissa Brown (Jesup); Taylor Buhrow (Denver); Casey Miles and Hope Petry (Hudson); Ashley Dumler and Briana Weber (Dike-New Hartford); Amanda Dunn and Katie Thompson (Aplington-Parkersburg); Payton Hilton and Brittnay Frush (Union, LaPorte City). North Iowa Cedar-East Conference Prediction: 1. Union (LaPorte City); 2. AplingtonParkersburg; 3. Hudson and Dike-New Hartford North Iowa Cedar-East Conference Teams: Aplington-Parkersburg, Denver, Dike-New Hartford, Hudson, Jesup, Union (LaPorte City), Wapsie Valley (Fairbank);

North Central Conference Prediction: 1. St. Edmond (Fort Dodge); 2. Clear Lake; 3. Hampton-Dumont North Central Conference Teams: Algona, Bishop Garrigan (Algona), Clarion-Goldfield, Clear Lake, Eagle Grove, Hampton-Dumont, Humboldt, Iowa Falls-Alden, St. Edmond (Fort Dodge), Webster City

North Iowa Cedar--West Conference Outlook: South Tama edged out Grundy Center and West Marshall (State Center) in the NIC West and in the process all three teams posted 20 win seasons. West Marshall reached the state tournament in the 2A field. Grundy Center returns the biggest pieces from last season’s success in Samantha Meyers (15.4 ppg) and Heather Hook (12.5 ppg). South Tama looks to reload behind Dia Keahna. New faces will make statements on how the conference plays out this season with a ton of talent lost to graduation. The top returning players in the North Iowa Cedar West include Kaleigh Sieck and Jade Rohach (South Tama); Jayme Wiarda (AGWSR, Ackley); Kayla Prosser (South Hardin, Eldora); Jennifer Davis and McKenna Hotopp (West Marshall, State Center) and Riley Ackerman (Grundy Center). North Iowa Cedar-West Conference Prediction: 1. Grundy Center; 2. South Tama; 3. West Marshall (State Center) North Iowa Cedar-West Conference Teams: AGWSR (Ackley), BCLUW (Conrad), East Marshall (LeGrand), Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Grundy Center, South Hardin (Eldora), South Tama, West Marshall (State Center)

SportsSpotlight.com

girls

Basketball

Pride of Iowa Conference Outlook:

Raccoon River Conference Outlook:

Waverly-Shell Rock won a tightly contested NIC title last season and returns their top three scorers from that team in Aftin Phyfe, Naomi Phillips and Morgan Neuedorf who combined for 39 points per game. New Hampton feels good with the return of Hayley Drewelow and Abby Knowlton and their combined 18 points per game and solid defense. Oelwein looks to improve with the NIC’s top returning scorer in Ashley Rosenstiel (17.2 ppg). Other top returning players in the Northeast Iowa include Daneshia Snitker (Waukon); Cari Knowlton (Charles City); Nicole Burgin (Oelwein); Abby Arend (Decorah); Tessa Anderson (Crestwood, Cresco) and Abby Knowlton (New Hampton).

The largest conference in the state with 12 teams was won by Bedford who ended the season one win short of the Class 1A state title. The Bulldogs return Savanna Thornton and Kayla Lindenmeyer who combined for nearly 22 points per game. After Bedford, the race looks wide-open and will be Kayla Lindenmeyer of Bedford impacted by a new face to each of the contender’s rosters. Mount Ayr will build around Taylor Still (13.3 ppg); Central Decatur (Leon) with Sadie Green (11.6 ppg); Corning with Ella Akin (11.2 ppg) and Pleasantville with Kennedy Core (11.0 ppg). Other top returners in the POI include Hallie Linhart and Brittany Binning (Central Decatur, Leon); Marie Palmer (Corning); Sydney Reeves and Shelby Venteicher (Nodaway Valley, Greenfield); Kendyl Gruttemeyer (Bedford); Kylah Schumacher (Martensdale-St. Marys); Amy Williams (Southeast Warren, Liberty Center) and Dusti Carlisle (East Union, Afton).

Bondurant-Farrar won the title in the Raccoon River and a state tournament ticket in Class 3A. The youth of that team will have to take over the leadership roles lost to graduation to repeat. Winterset and Dallas Center-Grimes look to be ready to battle for the top. The Huskies return Mariah Criswell and Taylor Benshoof who combined for 26 points per game. The Fillies counter with Dani Heritage and Hannah Hansen who combined for 23 points per game. Perry returns the RCC’s leading scorer and rebounder in Claire Marburger (16.3 ppg) and Frankie Ekland (8.3 rpg). Carroll looks to improve behind Brittany Holdsworth (14.0 ppg) and Ballard (Huxley) behind Katie Ahrenholtz (14.9 ppg). Other top returners in the Raccoon River Conference include Payton Keeney and Mary Grace Wachel (Carlisle); Hayley Jensen (Saydel); Maggie Lowe (Perry); Abrianna Grapp and Madi Bertman (A-D-M, Adel) and Karly Olson (Winterset).

Northeast Iowa Conference Prediction: 1. Waverly-Shell Rock; 2. New Hampton; 3. Oelwein Northeast Iowa Conference Teams: Charles City, Crestwood (Cresco), Decorah, New Hampton, Oelwein, Waukon, Waverly-Shell Rock

photo courtesy of Bedford Times-Press

Northeast Iowa Conference Outlook:

Pride of Iowa Conference Prediction: 1. Bedford; 2. Central Decatur (Leon); 3. Nodaway Valley (Greenfield); 4. Corning Pride of Iowa Conference Teams: Bedford, Central Decatur (Leon), Corning, East Union (Afton), Interstate 35 (Truro), Lenox, Martensdale-St. Mary’s, Mount Ayr, Nodaway Valley (Greenfield), Pleasantville, Southeast Warren (Liberty Center), Wayne (Corydon)

SportsSpotlight.com

Raccoon River Conference Prediction: 1. Winterset; 2. Dallas Center-Grimes; 3. Perry; 4. Carroll and Carlisle Raccoon River Conference Teams: A-D-M (Adel), Ballard (Huxley), Bondurant-Farrar, Boone, Carlisle, Carroll, Dallas Center-Grimes, Perry, Winterset

Volume 1 Issue 4

Rolling Hills Conference Outlook: Adair-Casey and Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton had successful seasons in 2011-12 and hope to repeat and improve on it in 2012-13. The Rockets are the most likely to accomplish the feat with a solid nucleus returning, led by London Vais (15.4 ppg), Quinn Ruth (10.5 ppg) and Katie Clark (10.2 ppg). Rachel Smith and Chansea Nelson will need to pick up the hole left by Maddy Peppers if Exira/EH-K returns to the top of the standings. Other top returners in the Rolling Hills include Emily Beerman (CAM, Anita); Ashli Walker (Walnut); Madison Laib and Gabby Snyder (Ankeny Christian Academy); Marissa Minnehan (Paton-Churdan); Gabby Jenkins (OrientMacksburg); Rolling Hills Conference Prediction: 1. AdairCasey; 2. Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton; 3. Ankeny Christian Academy Rolling Hills Conference Teams: Adair-Casey, Ankeny Christian Academy, CAM (Anita), Exira/ Elk Horn-Kimballton, Glidden-Ralston, Iowa Christian Academy, Orient-Macksburg, PatonChurdan, Walnut

Volume 1 Issue 4

PREVIEW SEISC--North Conference Outlook:

SEISC--South Conference Outlook:

Mediapolis won the SEISC North title last season. The Bulldogs return a balanced squad with a ton of experience led by Jessica Holsteen, Kensley Heater, Haley Hillyard and Aubrey Siegle, who all average between 8.2 and 9.3 points per game. Winfield-Mount Union looks to improve behind the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top returning scorer in Cassie Kingery (12.3 ppg) while Columbus (Columbus Junction) counters with Heaven Chandler (11.8 ppg) and Megan Pretz (8.7 ppg and 11.4 rpg) in hopes of an upper conference finish. Other top returners in the SEISC North include Olivia Yutsy (Iowa Mennonite, Kalona); Torrie Blake (Wapello); Madelyn Flemr and Ella Feldman (Lone Tree); Cheyann Lankford (Pekin); Aaliyah Brown (WACO, Wayland); Kelsey Doreo (Highland, Riverside), Shelby Therme (WinfieldMount Union) and Andrea Larson (Mediapolis).

Van Buren (Keosauqua) won the SEISC South title last season, but will have to reload without doubledouble leader Makenzie Zeitler. Leading the way Lindsay Moore of Cardinal this year will be Hannah Haynes, who was the second leading scorer with her 16.7 per game average. Central Lee (Donnellson) is poised to battle for the crown this year with the return of Traci Keller (13.2 ppg) and Taylor Burdette (10.3 ppg). Burlington Notre Dame is another that will be highly competitive with the 1-2 punch of Morgan Meyers and Alex Yacko, who combined for 23 points per game last season. Other top returners in the SEISC South include Lindsay Moore (Cardinal, Eldon); Brittany Hoelzen, Gabbie Grothe and Allison Boyer (Danville); Jessica Saunders (Van Buren, Keosauqua); Rachel Kempker and Courtney Abolt (Holy Trinity Catholic, Fort Madison); Alex Krehbiel, Jada Mathison and Jordan Greenfield (Central Lee, Donnellson).

SEISC-North Conference Prediction: 1. Mediapolis; 2. Columbus (Columbus Junction); 3. Winfield-Mount Union SEISC-North Conference Teams: Columbus (Columbus Junction), Highland (Riverside), Iowa Mennonite (Kalona), Lone Tree, LouisaMuscatine (Letts), Mediapolis, Pekin, WACO (Wayland), Wapello, Winfield-Mount Union

photo courtesy of Tony Fetter

Basketball

SEISC-South Conference Prediction: 1. Central Lee (Donnellson); 2. Burlington Notre Dame; 3. Van Buren (Keosauqua) SEISC-South Conference Teams: Cardinal (Eldon), Central Lee (Donnellson), Danville, Harmony (Farmington), Holy Trinity Catholic (Fort Madison), Maharishi (Fairfield), New London, Notre Dame (Burlington), Van Buren (Keosauqua), West Burlington

SportsSpotlight.com

girls

South Central Conference Outlook:

photo courtesy ofMark Gunderson

MOC-Floyd Valley was nearly perfect last season in route to their runner-up finish in Class 3A. Back for the Lady Dutch is one of the top players in the state and for sure the Siouxland Conference in Alexis Conaway (18.9 ppg) and the team leader in assists. Lexi Ackerman (13.2 ppg) returns to lead the charge of Central Lyon (Rock Rapids) while Sioux Center looks to Alexis Conaway of MOC-Floyd improve behind Jillian Estes Valley (12.3 ppg). George-Little Rock could be a factor with the return of a young group led by Keeley Kruse (10.9 ppg). Other top returning players from the Siouxland include Bridget Doeden (Sibley-Ocheyedan); Skylar Hansen (Okoboji, Milford); Amber Bakker (Sioux Center); Kelsey Ackerman and Kori Schulte (Central Lyon, Rock Rapids); Kensy Vande Hoef (Rock Valley); Emily McDonald (MOC-Floyd Valley); Krista Bousema (Sheldon); Jessica Sandbulte and Taylor Carstensen (George-Little Rock) Siouxland Conference Prediction: MOC-Floyd Valley; 2. Central Lyon (Rock Rapids); 3. Sioux Center and George-Little Rock Siouxland Conference Teams: Boyden-Hull, Central Lyon (Rock Rapids), George-Little Rock, MOC-Floyd Valley, Okoboji (Milford), Rock Valley, Sheldon, SibleyOcheydan, Sioux Center, West Lyon (Inwood)

Southeast Conference Outlook: Washington and Keokuk battled for the top of the conference, but both lost a ton of talent while Mount Pleasant seems to have returned a solid group with experience to give the Panthers a slight edge in the small five-team conference. Kelsi Phipps and Taryne Shull combined for 20 points per game and gained a lot of leadership skills playing with Taylor Shull. Rachel Dunlap (10.5 ppg) will be counted on in Keokuk. Other top returning players in the Southeast Conference include Sidney Bauman (Fairfield); Caitlynn Holtcamp and Rachel Steffensmeier (Fort Madison). Southeast Conference Prediction: 1. Mount Pleasant; 2. Keokuk Southeast Conference Teams: Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Mount Pleasant, Washington

SportsSpotlight.com

Clarke (Osceola) and Centerville battled for the top of this small South Central Conference. The Indians look to remain at the top again this season with the return of Kacey Klemesrud (11.4 ppg) and Kylar McCann (10.9 ppg). Eddyville-BlakesburgFremont should improve their standings, led by Tasha Alexander and Jarrah Jensen, who combined for 19 points per game. Other top returning players in the South Central include Shelby Graves and Rylee Eakins (Davis County, Bloomfield); Sarah Pate (Clarke, Osceola); Brooke Bettis (Albia) and Miranda Davis (Chariton). South Central Conference Prediction: 1. Clarke (Osceola); 2. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont South Central Conference Teams: Albia, Centerville, Chariton, Clarke (Osceola), Davis County (Bloomfield), Eddyville-BlakesburgFremont

South Iowa Cedar Conference Outlook: You cannot do much better than North Mahaska (New Sharon) accomplished last season unless you can repeat the effort North Mahaska, State Champions with another state title. The 1A champs return Mallory Boyle (13.6 ppg), but will have the remainder of the starting group replaced. Belle Plaine returns the conference’s leading scorer and rebounder, Kameo Pope (15.4 ppg and 11.4 rpg). The South Iowa Cedar lost a ton of talent through graduation and will look for a new group to lead their respective schools into the new season which initially, looks to be wide open. Some of the top returning players in the SIC include Jawny Thompson (B-G-M, Brooklyn); Lauren Miller and Rylee Voss (English Valleys, North English); Abby Schafbuch and Taylor Tanner (H-L-V, Victor); Lily Seye and Jackie Kriegel Iowa Valley, Marengo) and Kelsi Sieren (Keota). South Central Iowa Conference Prediction: 1. Belle Plaine; 2. North Mahaska (New Sharon); 3. Iowa Valley (Marengo) South Central Iowa Conference Teams: Belle Plaine, B-G-M (Brooklyn), English Valleys (North English), H-L-V (Victor), Iowa Valley (Marengo), Keota, Lynnville-Sully, Montezuma, North Mahaska (New Sharon), Sigourney, Tri-County (Thornburg)

Tri--Rivers Conference Outlook:

Twin Lakes Conference Outlook:

Maquoketa Valley (Dehli), North Linn (Troy Mills) and Monticello all won 20-plus games last season, but none of them reached Des Moines with a state tournament ticket. Maquoketa Valley looks to make amends this season with a strong group back led by Renee Huber (13.0 ppg); Heidi Hoeger (9.8 ppg) and Nicole Kudma (9.0 ppg). Nicole Miller (12.0 ppg) is back for North Linn while Monticello will have to find new faces to have any chances of last season. Cascade (Western Dubuque) should improve with the experience they return led by Brianna Hostert and Abbey Meyer. Other top returners in the Tri-River include Chelsea Berry (Starmont, Arlington); Madison Miller (Alburnett); Andrea Hughson (East Buchanan, Winthrop); Sarah Matus and Tracy Kilburg (Springville); Ashley Lehl (Central City); Paxton Keleher (Monticello) and Brenna Win (North Linn, Troy Mills).

Top half of the Twin Lakes was competitive last season with Sioux Central (Sioux Rapids) edging the likes of Newell-Fonda and Manson-NW Webster. The Cougars bring back Renee Maneman of Newell-Fonda the league’s top scorer in Ellie Herzberg (19.8 ppg), but she cannot do it alone. St. Mary’s (Storm Lake) will build around double-double threat, Jasmine Demers (11.6 ppg and 11.5 rpg) and Hannah Sitzman (17.6 ppg). NewelFonda counters with Renee Maneman (15.2 ppg) and Andrea Christensen (9.5 ppg). East Sac County hopes to continue their 2011-12 success with the return of Dakota Blum and Kaitlin Bass who combined for 18 points per game. Other top returners in the Twin Lakes include Hannah Stanford (Pocahontas Area); Jaclyn Rittgers (Prairie Valley, Gowrie); Haley Birks (South Central Calhoun); Hallie Ehlers (Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids) and Jossie Ferrari (Southeast Webster-Grand (Burnside).

Tri-Rivers Conference Prediction: 1. Maquoketa Valley (Dehli); 2. North Linn (Troy Mills); 3. Cascade

Twin Lakes Conference Prediction: 1. Newell-Fonda; 2. Manson-NW Webster; 3. East Sac County and St. Mary’s (Storm Lake)

Tri-Rivers Conference Teams: Alburnett, Cascade, Central City, East Buchanan (Winthrop), Edgewood-Colesburg, Maquoketa Valley (Dehli), Monticello, North Linn (Troy Mills), Springville, Starmont (Arlington)

photo courtesy of Dick Jungers

Siouxland Conference Outlook:

Basketball

Twin Lakes Conference Teams: Alta/Aurelia, East Sac County, Laurens-Marathon, Manson-NW Webster, Newell-Fonda, Pocahontas Area, Prairie Valley (Gowrie), Saint Mary’s (Storm Lake), Sioux Central (Sioux Rapids), South Central Calhoun, Southeast Webster-Grand (Burnside)

Volume 1 Issue 4

Upper Iowa Conference Outlook: Sumner-Fredericksburg won the league title, but lost a solid group to graduation. In fact, most of the Upper Iowa will be determined by the newcomers and the under classmen who step in to leadership roles. Kee (Lansing) hopes to make a big jump in the league with a core of their scoring and experience back, led by Brittany Ellis and Kaylee Darling, who combined for 19 points per game. With no real favorite, here are some of the top returning players in the Upper Iowa which include Ashley Nemechek and Kiana Stender (Central, Elkader); Lexia Mormann and Jasmine Stabler (Clayton Ridge, Guttenberg); Allie Njus (Turkey Valley, Jackson Junction); Madeline Vogt and Lexi Dettbarn MFL, Mar-Mac, Monona); Krista Bushkofsky (West Central, Maynard); Ashley Larson (Sumner-Fredericksburg); Rhianna Galema (Kee, Lansing) and Mallory Burrack (Valley, Elgin). Upper Iowa Conference Prediction: 1. Kee (Lansing); 2. MFL, Mar-Mac (Monona); 3. Sumner-Fredericksburg Upper Iowa Conference Teams: Central (Elkader), Clayton Ridge (Guttenburg), Kee (Lansing), MFL, MarMac (Monona), North Fayette (West Union), Postville, South Winneshiek (Calmar), Sumner-Fredericksburg, Turkey Valley (Jackson Junction), Valley Community (Elgin), West Central (Maynard)

Volume 1 Issue 4

PREVIEW WAMAC--East Conference Outlook: Mount Vernon has been the standard bearer over the past few seasons and will look for leadership from Miranda Chapman (9.6 ppg) in their fight for the top of the WAMAC- East. Western Dubuque (Epworth) is set for a strong run with the return of their top three scorers led by Madalyn Welty, who also led the conference with her 16.7 per game average. Solon looks to improve as well with Rylee Smith and Emma Rickels, who combined for nearly 19 points per game. Other top returning players in the WAMACEast include Nicole Sanborn (Anamosa); Bethany Hahn and Amanda Solomon (West Delaware, Manchester); Devon Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell (Maquoketa); Miranda Meland (Central Clinton, DeWitt); Paige Koerperich and Zoey Weber (Western Dubuque, Epworth). WAMAC-East Conference Prediction: 1. Western Dubuque (Epworth); 2. Solon; 3. West Delaware (Manchester) WAMAC-East Conference Teams: Anamosa, Beckman (Dyersville), Central Clinton (DeWitt), Mount Vernon, Maquoketa, Solon, West Delaware (Manchester), Western Dubuque (Epworth)

WAMAC-West Conference Outlook: Benton (Van Horne) had an outstanding season cut short, even with the state tournament berth when all-state guard, Madison Weekly broke her wrist in the regional finals. Weekly is back with her 18 points per game and with help from Sara Petrzelka, hope to have another shot. Williamsburg may have lost Mackenzie Bigbee, but Paige Greiner of Williamsburg should also look forward to a successful season with the return of Paige Greiner (12.8 ppg) and Lindsay Schlabaugh (9.8 ppg). Center PointUrbana will fight for an upper conference finish behind Kennedy Salow (9.9 ppg). Other top returning players in the WAMAC-West include Anna Strien (Columbus Catholic, Waterloo); Maliah Fligg and Hannah Stokes (Clear Creek-Amana); Kelsey Ratchford (Independence); Beth Knapp and Michalyn Mohr (Marion); Bethany Stainbrook (VintonShellsburg) and Jessica Wooldridge (Center PointUrbana). WAMAC-West Conference Prediction: 1. Benton (Van Horne); 2. Williamsburg; 3. Center Point-Urbana WAMAC-West Conference Teams: Benton (Van Horne), Center Point-Urbana, Clear Creek-Amana, Columbus Catholic (Waterloo), Independence, Marion, Vinton-Shellsburg, Williamsburg

SportsSpotlight.com

photo courtesy of Mary Greiner

Basketball

girls

Basketball

War Eagle Conference Outlook:

West Central Conference Outlook:

Western Iowa Conference Outlook:

West Sioux (Hawarden) won the War Eagle title last year and also earned a spot in the Class 1A state semifinals. Led by Jade Lynn Vlotho (16.0 ppg and 8.7 rpg), look for the Falcons to once again at least battle for the top of the league standings. Hinton may be the team that takes the next step from their fourth place finish in a very competitive league with two teams that reached the Wells Fargo Arena floor to the top led by Lauren Hedlund and Shaeler Lund, who combined for 26 points per game last season. Gehlen Catholic (LeMars) will count on Katelin Langel (12.2 ppg) for leadership for a repeat performance. Other top returning players in the War Eagle include Caitlin Murphy (Spalding Catholic, Granville); Rachel West and Haliey Loutsch and Brittany Sudtelgte (Remsen-Union); Alex Yoerger and Sadie Shuck (Hinton); Rachel Struve and Hannah Schueder (South O’Brien, Paulina); Jill Schouten (Unity Christian, Orange City); Alexis Bunkers (St. Mary’s, Remsen); Jessica Stofferan and Katie Mills (Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn) and Emily Holtgrewe (Gehlen Catholic, LeMars).

Panorama (Panora) had a great season in 2011-12 and if you are a fan, look for maybe even better things this season with the return of the nucleus of the team led by Sidney Beckman (15.4 ppg); Oliva Godfrey (14.8 ppg) and Cadence Simmons (11.8 ppg). Watch for Woodward-Granger to once again have a solid season led by the return of Maddie Bardole and Julia Evans, who combined for just over 23 points per game. Des Moines Christian will look toward the leadership of Taylor Dubberke for hopes of a title chase. Other top returning players in the West Central include Bailee Arnburg (West Central Valley, Stuart); Morgan Johnson (Earlham); Caroline Maher and Katie Aggie (Van Meter); Kacie Schreck (Guthrie Center); Kat Ackerson (Madrid); Maddie Diggs (Ogden) and Brittany Zimmer (Des Moines Christian).

Missouri Valley won the balanced Western Iowa title last season, but last the top of their offense to graduation. Molly Cunard and Hailey Hellstrom combined for 18 points per game return to lead the Lady Reds. Audubon looks primed to challenge with the return of Emily Nelson, Marissa Haubrich and Susie Byland who combined for 25-plus points per game last season. Treynor always competes and look for Tracy Purdy (10.4 ppg) to lead their hopes. Tri-Center return the core of their attack last season, led by Kaylee Grote (10.5 ppg) and Emily Baatz (9.9 ppg). Other top returners in the Western Iowa Conference include Jordyn Sindt (Griswold); Shelby Sullivan (Tri-Center, Neola); Rachel Landen and Allison Waters (Underwood); Casey Peters (A-H-S-T, Avoca) and Sheyenne Smith (Riverside, Oakland).

War Eagle Conference Prediction: 1. Hinton; 2. West Sioux (Hawarden); 3. Gehlen Catholic (LeMars) War Eagle Conference Teams: Akron-Westfield, Gehlen Catholic (LeMars), Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, Hinton, Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn, Remsen-Union, St. Mary’s (Remsen), South O’Brien (Paulina), Spalding Catholic (Granville), Unity Christian (Orange City), West Sioux (Hawarden)

West Central Conference Prediction: 1. Panorama (Panora); 2. Woodward-Granger; 3. Des Moines Christian West Central Conference Teams: Coon Rapids-Bayard, Des Moines Christian, Earlham, Grandview Park Baptist (Des Moines), Guthrie Center, Madrid, Panorama (Panora), Van Meter, West Central Valley (Stuart), Woodward Academy, Woodward-Granger

Western Valley--South Conference Outlook:

Western Valley--North Conference Outlook:

IKM-Manning and Ar-We-Va (Westside) were by far the best in the WVC-South with both reaching the state tournament field. Both teams lost a key player, but also return a strong player to help in their attempt to repeat last season’s accomplishments. The Wolves will look toward Kaylee Blake with her 13 points and 5-plus rebounds per game. The Rockets return the league’s top scorer in Paige Danner (15.4 ppg). Other top players returning in the WVC South include Emilee Earlywine (West Harrison, Mondamin); Shelby Rodman (Whiting); Amanda Goodier (West Monona, Onawa); Megan Ehlers, Brittany Stoelk and Lexie Vande Hoef (Ar-We-Va, Westside); Alyssa Blum (Woodbine) and Morgan Muhlbauer (IKM-Manning).

Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove has had a great run the past few years. For that to continue there will be some big shoes to fill. The Falcons hopes ride on the leadership of Jensen Boger and Lexi Olerich. LawtonBronson will be one of the teams looking to overtake the top of the Western Valley-North with the return of Ashley Williams, Josie Kopal and Jessica Jager, who combined for nearly 40 points per game. Woodbury Central (Moville) will also be a factor with Katlyn Mellies and Ellen Gallagher, who combined for 25 points per game. Other top returning players include Nicole Snyder (Ridge View); Taylor King (Lawton-Bronson); Kayla Morgan (Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto); Kristin Hubert (Woodbury Central, Moville)and Danielle Groepper (Kinglsey-Pierrson).

Western Valley-South Conference Prediction: 1. Ar-We-Va (Westside); 2. IKM-Manning Western Valley-South Conference Teams: ArWe-Va (Westside), Boyer Valley (Dunlap), Charter Oak-Ute, IKM-Manning, Logan-Magnolia, West Harrison (Mondamin), West Monona (Onawa), Whiting, Woodbine

SportsSpotlight.com

Western Iowa Conference Prediction: 1, Audubon; 2. Tri-Center (Neola); 3. Missouri Valley and Treynor Western Iowa Conference Teams: A-H-S-T (Avoca), Audubon, Griswold, Missouri Valley, Riverside (Oakland), Treynor, Tri-Center (Neola), Underwood

Independent Teams: Cedar Valley Christian (Cedar Rapids) – Top returning player: Shelby Hembera St. Albert (Council Bluffs) – Top Returning Player: Kylie Ferguson Trinity Christian (Hull)- Top Returning Player: Nicole Gritters

Western Valley-North Conference Prediction: 1. Lawton-Bronson; 2. Woodbury Central (Moville); 3. Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove Western Valley-North Conference Teams: KingsleyPierson, Lawton-Bronson, Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto, Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove, Ridge View, River Valley (Correctionville), Siouxland Christian (Sioux City), Westwood (Sloan), Woodbury Central (Moville)

Volume 1 Issue 4

Basketball

PREVIEW

DRAKE MEN Drake University men’s basketball missed last season due to a shoulder with 77. In addition to being one of the coach Mark Phelps enters his fifth seainjury, but will be back in full force for top shooters in the league, the coaching son at the helm of the Bulldogs with a the upcoming season. staff anticipates he will be more aggresroster that features five returning play“He ended up having repair on sive on offense as well. Other veterans ers with starting experience and eight both shoulders and they’re better than returning include senior Jordan Clarke, newcomers for the 2012-13 campaign. they’ve ever been. He’s bigger, he’s who will be able to return to his natural The squad is coming off of a successstronger, we’re encouraged by what we forward position with the addition of ful 2011-12 season that saw the team see right now,” said Phelps. Seth VanDeest, sophomores Jeremy finish with an 18-16 overall record and Also encouraging is the continued Jeffers and Karl Madison, and redshirt a 9-9 mark in Missouri Valley Conferprogress that senior Ben Simons has freshman Mitch McLaughlin. ence games to finish in a tie for third A scoring punch was also added in the league. That performance was with the introduction of the team’s good enough to earn the team’s second newcomers, including a Chris Hines, trip to the postseason under Phelps a transfer from Utah that averaged with a berth in the Collegeinsider.com 10 points per game in the Pac 12 last Postseason Tournament that saw the season. Bulldogs advance to second round. “We’re excited for him [Hines] to That momentum has carried over score,” Phelps said. “Gary Ricks, Jr. is into preseason practices that has a guy who can really shoot it as well helped merge the team’s newcomers and we have two freshman who are with its veterans. wired to score in Kori Babineaux and “I see a cohesive group, I see a team Micah Mason. From a productivity that overall is deeper than we’ve stand point on the offensive side Ben Simons takes the ball for Drake I’m encouraged.” had in a while and is a better passing team and a better scoring The team’s other newcomers team,” Phelps said. “Those things are made in the offseason. A preseason include freshmen forwards Robert cause for excitement.” Puleikis, Daddy Ugbede and Joey all-MVC selection, the sharpshooter Another cause for excitement is the finished fourth in the league in scoring King and senior walk-on forward Matt return of center Seth VanDeest to the a year ago at 16.4 points per game while Bowie. Junior college transfer point lineup. The 6-11, 269-pound presence leading the league in three-pointers guard Richard Carter is another inte-

gral newcomer that has made a great impression early with his tremendous speed and athleticism. “Certainly we have offensive weapons, but our season is going to boil down to ‘how tough are we?’’ Phelps said. “Especially on the defensive end and how well we rebound. I like where our team is, I like the steps we’re making and progress individuals are making.” Phelps has sought to build that toughness on the defensive end during his team’s practices and ensuring that toughness is cultivated before the season starts. The team will have plenty of opportunities to showcase its offensive firepower and defensive toughness as the Bulldogs face one of their toughest schedules to date. Of the team’s 30 games, as many as 20 of the opponents advanced to the postseason last year with 13 finishing ranked in the RPI top 100. The 2012-13 season gets underway on Nov. 10 when the Bulldogs host William Jewell in the Knapp Center at 7:05 p.m. Drake begins MVC play at home on Jan. 2 against Wichita State at 7:05 p.m.

DRAKE WOMEn Former University of Iowa standout and Des Moines native, Jennie Baranczyk begins her first season as head women’s basketball coach at Drake University. Baranczyk comes to Drake after a two-year stint as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Colorado. Baranczyk also served as an assistant coach at Kansas State and Marquette. This will be the first head coaching position for Baranczyk but she brings an impressive postseason resume as a player and assistant coach, having reached postseason play every season. She also captured two Iowa high school state titles. Baranczyk has coached in two NCAA tournaments and has won two WNIT championships as a coach (Kansas State in 2006 and Marquette in 2008). At Iowa, she played in three NCAA tournaments and one WNIT and helped Iowa win the 2001 Big Ten

Tournament. Baranczyk’s first hire as head coach was retaining veteran assistant coach Allison Pohlman. Pohlman has been an assistant at Drake since the 2007-08 season. Former Chipola College head coach and Iowa native David Lane was hired as an assistant coach. Courtney Graham who coached at Holy Cross for three seasons was the final assistant hired by Baranczyk. Former Iowa State standout Kelsey Bolte is the new coordinator of basketball operations for the Bulldogs. Drake will play 11 non-conference games with home games against South Dakota (Nov. 11), Illinois Chicago (Nov. 18), Chicago State (Dec. 2), Iowa (Dec. 16), Saint Louis (Dec.21) it also travels to Iowa State (Nov. 27), North Dakota State (Dec. 6), North Dakota (Dec. 8) and Milwaukee (Dec. 29).

*All college basketball articles and photos courtesy of the respective team.

Volume 1 Issue 4

Iowa and Iowa State both were NCAA season before suffering a season-ending tournament participants in 2011-12. A hand injury. Sophomore Kyndal Clark trip to the New Mexico State Tournawas the team’s second leading scorer ment in Las Cruces, New Mexico with (9.8 ppg) in 2011-12 on her way to matchups against being named to the UC Irvine (Nov. all-MVC Freshman 23) and George team. Clark and Mason or New redshirt sophomore Mexico State Carly Grenfell are (Nov.24) is also the top shooters for scheduled. the Blue and White The Bulldogs will in 2012-13. They have a large hole to led the Bulldogs in fill in 2012-13 with three-pointers made the graduation of #4 Kyndal Clark with 46 and 31, respectively, last year. 2012 Jackie Stiles Clark and Grenfell along with Player of the Year, Rachael Hackbarth. junior Alyssa Marschner are the most Hackbarth had one of the greatest experienced guards on this season’s rosseasons in school history. In addition to ter. Three freshmen, including Alexis the conference player of the year award Eckles, Dilonna Johnson and Ashley she was named Honorable Mention on Bartow, along with junior-college the Associated Press All-America team transfer Mary Pat Specht, round out the and finished her career as the tenth allDrake guards. time scorer in school history with 1,161 Running, junior Morgan Reid (5.9 ppg points. She also led the entire country and 5.1 rpg) and sophomore Liza Heap in double-doubles with 26. Hackbarth lead a young group of post players for led the MVC in scoring at 19.8 points the Bulldogs. Sophomore Cara Lutes and rebounding 11.8 rebounds per played in 31 games a year ago. Sophogame. more Symone Daniels played in three Baranczyk will have a talented but non-conference games before suffering young roster in her first season with a season-ending injury. Bartow will nine first or second year players and split time between guard and forward just one senior, Stephanie Running. for the Bulldogs. Freshman Emma Running averaged 5.8 points and 4.4 Donahue will have a chance to see minrebounds per game in 24 games last utes at the center position for Drake. SportsSpotlight.com

COLLEGE

Basketball

IOWA STATE WOMEN It is all about tradition for the 20122013 Iowa State Cyclones women’s basketball team. The Cyclones were 9-9 last year in Conference play and look to expand on Chelsea Poppens that record this year. Head coach Bill Fennelly is entering his 18th season at Iowa State. Iowa State is the only school to have a unanimous first team All-Big 12 pick in each of the last three years. The Cyclones are one of 16 schools nationally to advance to six consecutive NCAA Tournaments. Chelsea Poppens was a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 first team after averaging a double-double with 14.2 points and 10.6 rebounds. Freshman Nikki Moody was named to the Big 12’s All-Freshman Team. Moody averaged 10.0 points per game and dished out an ISU freshman record 133 assists. She

was the first Cyclone freshman since Kelsey Bolte in 2007 to average double figure scoring. Iowa State will return its top three scorers and rebounders this season. Although Moody is just a sophomore, she finds herself in the position of being the most experienced player in the Iowa State women’s basketball team’s young, but talented backcourt. After starting 29 games as a true freshman, Moody said the two biggest improvements she wants to make for the coming season are her shooting, and being an extension of head coach Bill Fennelly out on the court. She also broke the Iowa State freshman record for assists in a season with 133. Although Moody, found plenty of success in her first year as a Cyclone, she said there were many valuable lessons learned along the way; lessons she can use to be an even better player in 201213. Although Moody, found plenty of success in her first year as a Cyclone, she said there were many valuable lessons learned along the way; lessons she can use to be an even better player in 2012-13. Poppens, from Aplington, Iowa,

has been selected as a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award. She was an academic All-Big 12 honoree and ISU Scholar-Athlete in 2012. On the court, Poppens has transformed herself from a lightly recruited prep player into one of the nation’s top players. Iowa State junior guard Ashley Hagedorn has been awarded a scholarship by Fenelley. The Irwin, Iowa native came to Iowa State as a walk-on after two years at Des Moines Area Community College. She averaged 12.3 points and 3.5 steals per game to earn all-region honors and helping lead the Bears to the regional semifinals. Hagedorn graduated from I-K-M Manning in 2010. The Cyclones have four newcomers this season including Nicole “Kidd” Blaskowsky, a five foot seven freshman guard from Sugar Land, Texas, Madison Baier, a six foot four freshman forward/center from Tama, Iowa, Ashley Hagedorn a five foot nine junior transfer guard and Emiah Bingley, a five foot seven freshman guard from Greenwood, Mo. This year, the Cyclones will play 13 games against teams that advanced to

NCAA Tournament play a year ago, including a home contest against defending national champion Baylor on Wednesday, Jan. 23. In all, Iowa State’s schedule features 20 games against teams that played in a postseason tournament. Iowa State will also participate in the Junkanoo Jam, Nov. 23-24, on Grand Bahama Island. The Cyclones will face Loyola Marymount in the first game before playing either Tulsa or Illinois in the second game of the tournament. The Cyclones open Big 12 play Jan. 2 against Texas at Hilton Coliseum. The 2013 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship will be held March 8-11 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Cyclones have been ranked No. 22 in the 2012-13 Lindy’s College Basketball preview magazine. Returning three starters and eight letterwinners they are one of six Big 12 teams in the rankings. Three Cyclone women’s basketball games will be televised by Fox Sports News including the team’s home game versus West Virginia on Feb. 17 and two away games including Jan. 20 against Oklahoma State and Feb. 14 versus Oklahoma.

IOWA STATE MEN Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg’s experiment worked. Looking to add experienced players to his lineup quickly, Hoiberg brought in new talent via the transfer route. The Cyclones were one of the biggest surprises in all of college basketball in 2011-12. Hoiberg successfully molded the group into a team which won 23 times and finished tied for third in the Big 12 at 12-6. Iowa State made its first NCAA Championship appearance since 2005, knocked off two top-10 teams at home for the first time since 1992 and appeared in the AP top-25 for the first time since 2005. More importantly, Hoiberg brought back the ‘Magic.’ Hilton Coliseum was once again one of the toughest places to play in all of college basketball. In the upcoming season, there are a lot of holes to fill with the departures of White, Allen, and Christopherson. Despite the losses, however, the Cyclones have a lot to be excited about in 2012-13. Iowa State returns six players who played significant minutes a year ago, including starters Melvin Ejim and Babb. The Cyclones, for the second year in a row, also will introduce a pair of “high level” transfers to their roster in Will Clyburn (Utah) and Korie Lucious (Michigan State). Hoiberg also brought in a highlytouted recruiting class which was SportsSpotlight.com

ranked in the top-30 in a number of guards,” Hoiberg said. “We have depth services. at both the point- and twoThe trademarks of a guard spots.” Hoiberg-coached team Babb, a senior from Arhave become very evident lington, Texas, started all in his first two years back 34 games for the Cyclones in Ames. The Cyclones last year while emerging as play fast, averaging 73.2 one of the better defenders ppg to rank fourth in the in the league. Babb drew Big 12 and 51st nationally the assignment of guarding last season. And for the the opposing team’s top second season in a row, scorer and did a fabulous the Cyclones broke the job. school record for 3-point“I think Chris is the most ers made by burying 293. underrated defensive Chris Babb for ISU player in the nation,” “Last year, we really played outside the box,” Hoiberg said. “He did a Hoiberg said. “We tried to play to the great job against the highest scorers in strength of our team, which, a lot of our league last year. He made it very times, was using Royce as a facilitator, difficult for them to score and made and he was great at it. He drew in the them take tough shots. He can shoot, defense and made great passes. He led and he’s a guy that we will lean on a lot the team in points, rebounds, blocks, this year. Not only on defense, but we’ll assists and steals, so we obviously have expect him to make shots as well.” a lot to replace in losing him. We’re McGee was an excellent junior not going to do it with one guy, but I college transfer last season, filling the think, collectively, we’ve got a group sixth-man role for the Cyclones. A with experience. We also have a great native of Stringtown, Okla., McGee class coming who I think will make an provided Iowa State with energy and immediate impact.”| spark from off the bench. Iowa State returns two players in “Tyrus is a guy that just goes out the backcourt with experience in Chris there and plays all out,” Hoiberg said. Babb (6-5, 225, Sr.) and Tyrus McGee “He leaves it all out there on the floor, (6-2, 205, Sr.), and added a number of and that’s what I love about him. He options with transfers and newcomers. won games for us last year just by hus“We still have a lot of talent in our tling with his desire to go and get loose

balls. He’s got a great shooting stroke. I’m excited about Tyrus’ senior season.” One of the biggest additions to the Cyclones will be senior Korie Lucious (5-11, 170, Sr.), who sat out last season after transferring from Michigan State. Lucious is a true point guard and will likely be the Cyclones’ starter at that spot. “We will play a little more traditional this year, now that we have a pure point guard like Korie with us,” Hoiberg said. “He’s extremely fast with the ball and very quick. He brings in great experience, having played in two Final Fours. He’s a guy that, I think, will be a very exciting player to watch.” Three freshmen Sherron DorseyWalker (6-4, 190, Fr.), Naz Long (6-4, 210, Fr.) and Nkereuwem Okoro (6-5, 230, Fr.) will look for playing time in 2012-13. Replacing Royce White’s production from 2011-12 season is going to be nearly impossible. However, the Cyclones do return Melvin Ejim (6-6, 230, Jr.) at a wing and power forwards Anthony Booker (6-9, 255, Sr.) and Percy Gibson (6-9, 260, So.). Plus, the Cyclones will gladly welcome wing Will Clyburn (6-7, 210, Sr.), one of the top transfers in college basketball, and rookie Georges Niang (6-7, 245, Fr.).

Volume 1 Issue 4

Basketball

PREVIEW

IOWA MEN There tends to be a correlation between college basketball teams playing deep into the month of March and college basketball teams having a deep bench. Fran McCaffery’s third edition University of Iowa men’s basketball team has depth; whether that translates into the school’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 2006 remains to be seen. But the march to March begins on Nov. 9 against UT-Pan American. “I don’t know that I’ve ever had a team where we have 12 guys that can play the game,” McCaffery said. “It’s not easy to get 12 in, so we’ll see how that goes. If we stay healthy I think we can be playing for a while. Obviously we want to play into March.” The Hawkeyes received a taste of the postseason a year ago, compiling a record of 18-17 and advancing to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament. It was the first winning season for the UI since going 17-14 in 2006-07. That success, especially an 84-75 win against Dayton in the first round of the NIT in front of 13,190 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, has led to a

high excitement level. McCaffery’s history also hints at happy times ahead... this season. In the third years of his previous head coaching stops, McCaffery’s teams have won 21 (Lehigh), 20 (UNC-Greensboro) and 23 (Siena) games. “We are very appreciative of how our fans have responded to our team, to me, and my staff, and how we have tried to improve,” McCaffery said. “I’m OK with expectations.” The Hawkeyes return seven lettermen and three starters: junior forward Zach McCabe, junior guard Roy Devyn Marble, and sophomore forward Aaron White. Senior forward Eric May, junior forward Melsahn Basabe and sophomore guard Josh Oglesby also have starting experience. Marble (11.5) and White (11.1) averaged double figures in points last season, followed by Basabe (8.2), McCabe (7.8), Oglesby (6.4) and May (4.3). White (5.7), Basabe (4.8), McCabe (4.6) and Marble (3.8) return with the top rebounding averages. Sprinkle in the best recruiting class in years, and it’s easy to see why things are looking up in Iowa City.

“Practices this year will be so much more competitive that they have been in the previous two years,” McCaffery said. “Players are going after playing time, they’re going after starting roles. That’s only going to make our team better.” McCaffery said the Big Ten Conference traditionally advances six to eight teams to the NCAA Roy Devyn Marble Tournament; with the ball he sees eight going this season, based on the strength of the league he called “without a doubt the best conference in the country.” Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Minnesota have all received preseason national recognition with Indiana, Michigan and Ohio State in the top 10. Iowa was

2-2 against those teams last season with a 75-59 win against Michigan and a 78-66 win against Indiana. “We have made phenomenal strides filling our roster with talent and addressing needs in terms of depth at the point guard position, size, versatility, the ability to have the personnel that can play the style that we want to play,” McCaffery said. “Now we have to go out and win consistently. We have to do it in the nonconference portion of our schedule and against the teams in the best conference in the country. Last year we won eight in league play (8-10) and it’s probably going to take a little more than that.” Newcomers to the program are freshmen Anthony Clemmons (guard), Mike Gesell (guard), Pat Ingram (guard), Kyle Meyer (forward) and Adam Woodbury (center). Forward Jarrod Uthoff, a transfer from Wisconsin, will not compete this season. “What we all hope for when we recruit freshmen is they don’t play like freshmen,” McCaffery said. “I don’t think they will.”

IOWA WOMEN

sophomore Samantha Logic and senior University of Iowa women’s basketJaime Printy. Logic was named to the ball coach Lisa Bluder has a simple goal Big Ten All-Freshmen team for the 2012-13 Hawkeye last season and averaged 9.4 women’s basketball team; points and led the team with win a tournament game at 7.1 rebounds per game and home. 136 assists. Bluder has seen Iowa will host the preimprovements in Logic’s season WNIT to open the game during the offseason season and was selected as one of 16 sites to host and believes she is poised for NCAA Tournament first another successful season. and second round games in “She has confidence,” March. Opening with a win Bluder said. “She’s not one of would mean advancing to our captains, but she certainly the second round of the #24 Jaime Printy is valuable in her leadership preseason WNIT. Ending role. She’s looking to score with a win at home would mean a more, she’s physical, she understands Sweet 16 berth. what we want out of her and she’s just “It’s not very often you get the opgoing to be a very good player for us.” portunity to host national tournaments Printy was a third team All-Big Ten that bookend your season,” Bluder said. selection a year ago, despite tearing an “That’s a great honor and we want to ACL with eight games remaining in make the most of those two tournathe season. The Marion, Iowa, native’s ments being held in Carver-Hawkeye rehabilitation has gone well and Bluder Arena.” expects her All-American shooting Iowa returns four players with guard in uniform when the season starting experience from a year ago begins. and eight letterwinners. The Hawkeyes “I can’t tell you if Jaime will be 100 also added a group of five newcomers, percent for our opener,” Bluder said. including four freshmen and a junior “But, I can tell you that she’s working college transfer. as hard as she can to get to that point. I “We are very excited about the can also tell you that I have 100-permake-up of this year’s roster,” Bluder cent belief in her when she shoots the said. “We return a solid group of playball. She will help our team reach its ers and have talented newcomers that goals.” will add to the depth of our team.” Melissa Dixon stepped in to a startAnchoring Iowa’s backcourt will ing role last year after Printy’s injury be two All-Big Ten performers in and wasted no time in making an Volume 1 Issue 4

impact. In her first career start, Dixon poured in 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting from 3-point distance. “Our team never missed a beat with Melissa moving into the starting lineup,” Bluder said. “She is one of the hardest workers on our team and we love the attitude she brings to the court every day.” Junior Theairra Taylor played her first complete season in a Hawkeye uniform last year after suffering knee injuries in each of her first two years. Taylor played in all 31 games a year ago and played her best game in the NCAA Tournament against California, scoring 10 points and recording three steals. “Theairra will be an impact player for us, there is no doubt about that,” Bluder said. “She is taking off right where she left last year in the NCAA Tournament.” Senior Trisha Nesbitt has also battled injuries throughout her career, but enters the 2012-13 season healthy and in form. “Trisha is one of our tri-captains,” Bluder said. “She is finally getting the opportunity to play healthy and she’s playing very well in preseason practices.” The Hawkeyes will be without sophomore Kathryn Reynolds, who suffered an ACL injury during offseason workouts in April. Bluder will look to freshmen Claire Till and Kali Peschel, along with junior college transfer Kathy Thomas, to contribute at the

guard position. Bluder has the luxury of looking to arguably the best post player in the Big Ten to lead Iowa’s paint attack. Senior Morgan Johnson was a second team All-Big Ten selection last year and was the seventh-best field goal shooter in the nation. She also brings a defensive presence and is closing in on Iowa’s all-time blocks record. “I think Morgan is one of the best centers in the United States,” Bluder said. “I love coaching her. I love coaching a kid that comes to practice every day with that much enthusiasm, a positive attitude and just a love for the game and a love for life. She is wonderful to have on the court.” Sophomore Bethany Doolittle served as a backup to Johnson at the center position last year, playing in all 31 games. “Bethany is more versatile and more confident as a sophomore,” Bluder said. “She can add some height to our team and that can make an impact. She really is a different player now than she was last year.” Two freshmen, Kayla Timmerman and Nicole Smith, will also see time in the paint. Smith is also coming off an ACL injury and is working her way back to full-strength during the offseason.

SportsSpotlight.com

COLLEGE

Basketball

UNI WOMEN The 2012-13 women’s basketball team is set to take on a new season with new additions to the team. The Panthers are looking to make their fourth straight post-season appearance and compete for another Missouri Valley Conference championship. UNI will play 31 games this season, including 15 inside the McLeod Center with the culmination of the MVC season ending in St. Charles, Mo. for the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Although the Panthers lost three starters from last season, they return three starters in seniors Amber Kirschbaum and Mercedees Morgan. Sophomore Brooke Brown, who started 13 out of 34 games last season also returns. Kirschbaum started all 34 games last season, averaging 24.8 minutes, 9.2 points and 7.1 rebounds. She led the team in rebounds and finished second with 32 blocks. Morgan started 20 games of the 23 she appeared in after suffering a season ending knee injury. She averaged 17.3 minutes, seven points and three rebounds a game and

per game, finishing fifth on the team finished third on the team with 63 assists. in three-point field goals made. Lamar Also returning to the court this finished the season averaging 9.8 minutes per game and finished fifth on the season will be senior Jacqui Kalin. team with 32 assists. After redshirting due to injury during The Panthers have nine new faces the 2011-12 season, the 2010-11 Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year is ready this season including four redshirt to start her senior season. Kalin finfreshmen, four true freshmen and a sophomore two-sport ished the 2010-11 seaathlete. Amber Sorenson, son with 506 points, 33 steals, 103 assists, 114 Moran Lonning, Stephanie rebounds and averaged Davison and Jen Keitel will see their first minutes as 15.3 points per game. Panthers this season after UNI will also see action from junior Jess redshirting last season. McDowell who saw Joining UNI this season action in all 34 games will be true freshmen Jessie Pauley, Alyssa Johnson, last season and sophoHannah Schonhardt and mores Brittni Donaldson and Sharnae Erin Dohnalek. Johnson and Pauley both hail from Lamar who saw action Iowa while Dohnalek is in 30 and 33 games, from Missouri and Schonrespectively. McDowell averaged 16.4 minutes hardt is from Minnesota. Pauley hails from Ida per game and finished Grove, Iowa and averaged fifth on the team in repoints per game bounds, blocked shots Jacqui Kalin looks to 21.4 as a senior. She holds and steals. Donaldson her high school records averaged 14.1 minutes take a jump shot

for most points in a single game, most rebounds in a game, most steals in a game and most steals in a season. Pauley was also named Miss Iowa Basketball by the Iowa Newspaper Association last spring, an honor given to the state’s most outstanding senior. Johnson, who is from Estherville, Iowa, averaged 12 points per game and was an All-State selection in 2011 and 2012. She averaged eight rebounds and five blocks per game on the way to leading her team to conference titles in 2011 and 2012. Dohnalek is from Lee’s Summit, Mo. and averaged 17 points per game during her junior year and helped lead her AAU team to a national championship in 2009. Schonhardt comes to UNI from Waconia, Minn. She averaged 14.3 points per game and 11.3 rebounds her junior season and also lettered in track and volleyball. The last addition to the UNI Panther squad this season is sophomore Abbie Ackerman. Ackerman was a four-sport athlete in high school, competing in basketball, track and field, volleyball and softball.

UNI MEN The University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball team opened its 201213 season Oct. 27 when the Panthers played host to the Briar Cliff University Chargers in an exhibition game in the McLeod Center. UNI and Briar Cliff had played two regular season games in the history of both programs with the series tied at 1-1. UNI scored an 84-67 win over BCU in the 1973-74 season. BCU returned the favor by defeating the Panthers, 85-63, in the 1974-75 season. The Panthers also played a second exhibition game on Sun., Nov. 4 against Northern State (S.D.) in the McLeod Center. UNI and Northern State tipped off at 5:30 p.m. UNI and Northern State hooked up in an exhibition game last season in the McLeod Center, too. UNI posted a 71-53 victory over the Wolves on Oct. 30, 2011. NSU and UNI have met one time in the regular season with NSU scoring a win in the 1972-73 season. Since joining the UNI Panthers program as an assistant coach in 2001, head coach Ben Jacobson has posted a perfect 22-0 mark in exhibition play with the Panthers. UNI has won 18 or more games in nine straight seasons. Prior to the 2003-04 season, UNI had won 18 or more games only six times in the history of its men’s basketball program. SportsSpotlight.com

UNI closed the 2011-12 season having made at least one 3-pointer in 394 straight games. The last time UNI failed to make a 3-point basketball came Feb. 3, 2000, vs. Southern Illinois in a 72-58 Panther victory in the UNI-Dome. UNI went 0-for-4 from 3-point land vs. the Salukis back in 2000. Junior forward Chip Rank will enter the season having made at least one 3-pointer in 12

#10 Seth Tuttle for UNI straight games. UNI’s non-conference schedule is one of the toughest in school history. The Panthers regular season opener is set for Nov. 10 against Wartburg. UNI’s last regular season matchup against the

Knights came Dec. 15, 2007, when the Panthers scored a 99-48 victory in the McLeod Center. UNI and Wartburg last met in an exhibition contest on Nov. 2, 2010, when the Panthers tallied a 67-46 triumph. As a part of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, UNI’s fourth game of the agreement comes in the form of a home game against the University of Toledo Rockets on Nov. 14. It will be the first-ever meeting between UNI and Toledo in men’s basketball. UNI will play host to the University of North Dakota on Nov. 17 before taking off for the Bahamas and the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament. UNI defeated North Dakota 65-52 in their last meeting in the McLeod Center on Nov. 27, 2010. UNI will then head to Nassau, Bahamas to take part in the 2012 Battle 4 Atlantis Nov. 22-24. UNI will matchup against the Louisville Cardinals in the quarterfinal matchup on Nov. 22. UNI will take on the Stanford Cardinal or the Missouri Tigers in the next round of the tournament - depending upon a win or loss vs. Louisville on Nov. 23. The bottom half of the Battle 4 Atlantis bracket features

Duke, Minnesota, Memphis and VCU. UNI will return home to play the Milwaukee Panthers on Dec. 1 and the Northern Colorado Bears on Dec. 5. UNI scored wins over Milwaukee (6751) and Northern Colorado (78-69) last season in the McLeod Center. The Panthers will complete a homeand-home series against George Mason as a return trip from a BracketBusters game in 2011. UNI will take on the Patriots in Fairfax, Va., on Dec. 8. The Panthers will take part in the Big Four Classic in Des Moines, Iowa, at the Wells Fargo Arena on Dec. 15 against the Iowa Hawkeyes. UNI scored an 80-60 win over the Hawkeyes last season the McLeod Center. UNI’s last road non-conference game of the year will feature a trip to Las Vegas to take on the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNI and UNLV’s only previous encounter came in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, when the Panthers scored a 69-66 win to move on to play Kansas in the second round. The Panthers will matchup against the Saint Mary’s Gaels in the McLeod Center on Dec. 22. UNI played at Saint Mary’s last season in the ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off in Moraga, Calif. UNI will also play host to a BracketBusters game in late February. The dates for this year’s BracketBusters are Feb. 22-24. Volume 1 Issue 4

Genny Frazier

Drew Hilgenberg

Al Eckhoff

Adam Woodle

Garret Wirtz

Davenport, Bettendorf, Clinton, Eldridge

Des Moines, West Des Moines, Waukee, Indianola

Cedar Rapids, Marion North Liberty, Hiawatha

Ames, Carroll Johnston, Fort Dodge

Des Moines, Ankeny

gmfrazier@fedins.com 563-210-9011

amhilenberg@fedins.com 515-490-7496

David Deterding

Allan Polniak

Des Moines

Cedar Falls, Marshalltown Grinnell, Independence

dmdeterding@fedins.com 515-229-3405

ajpolniak@fedins.com 319-270-0592

adeckhoff@fedins.com 319-350-5853

arwoodle@fedins.com 515-292-4164

Pella, Ottumwa

gjwirtz@fedins.com 515-320-4541

Adam Coughlin Iowa City, Burlington Fairfield, Mount Pleasant

ajcoughlin@fedins.com 563-340-4160

CONVENIENT, QUALITY INSURANCE For your Business Insurance Needs

Federated Mutual Insurance Company - Federated Life Insurance Company OWATONNA - ATLANTA - PHOENIX Home Office: 121 East Park Square - Owatonna, MN 55060 - Phone (507) 455-5200 Visit us on the web: www.federatedinsurance.com

Volume 1 Issue 4

SportsSpotlight.com

COLLEGE

Basketball

IIAC MEN Coe College, which is coming off its first IIAC men’s basketball title since 2006, is the clear favorite of the league’s coaches to capture the 2012-2013 Iowa Conference title. The Kohawks received six of seven possible first-place votes, totaling 55 points in the IIAC Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll. Buena Vista University picked up one of the two remaining first-place votes and sits second. The University of Dubuque captured the final first-place vote. Buena Vista returns two starters and five letterwinners from last season’s 17-11 team that tied for second in the league with an 11-5 record, won the Iowa Conference tournament and made its 10th appearance in the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship. Buena Vista head coach Brian Van Haaften says, “We have a really tight knit group that loves to compete. We have high expectations for ourselves and look forward to every game being very tough in the conference this year.” Central returns 12 letterwinners but just one starter from last season’s 18-8 team that tied for fourth place with a 10-6 league mark. Senior center Jacob Winkler didn’t start a single game

for the Dutch last season, but he finished the year averaging 10.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game to rank second on the team in scoring and first in rebounding. Winkler also shot a team-best 56.2 percent Kevin Kaerwer from the field en route to second team of Central all-league honors. Among all IIAC players, he ranked 20th in scoring. Coe returns four starters and 11 letterwinners from last season’s 19-8 squad that won the program’s first outright IIAC title with a 12-4 mark in league play. The Kohawks, who were the league’s top 3-point shooting team in 2011-12, will be led by guards David Mataloni and Andrew Wirth. Mataloni, a senior and the defending conference MVP, ranked third among all IIAC players in scoring with a 15.9 point-pergame average. Dubuque returns three starters and six letterwinners from last year’s 17-9 team that finished tied for second in

the league with an 11-5 mark. The Spartans return three of their top five scorers from last season. Junior forward Mitch Michaelis takes the honors as the squad’s top returning scorer for the second straight year. Loras returns 15 letterwinners but only one starter from last season’s 7-18 squad that finished eighth in the Conference with a 4-12 record. Leading the Duhawks will be senior point guard Connor Mooney. Mooney, a secondteam all-conference pick in 2010, hopes to rebound from an injury that sidelined him after just seven games last season. Luther returns two starters and nine letter winners from last year’s 17-9 team that went 10-6 in league play to finish in a tie for fourth place. Leading the Norse will be junior forward John Androus, a second-team all-IIAC pick last season. Starting all 26 games last season, Androus averaged 11.2 points and 7.0 rebounds, ranking 18th among IIAC players in scoring and sixth in rebounding. He also ranked second among all league players in field goal percentage at 57.6 percent (95-of-165) and steals (40 overall; 1.54 per game).

Simpson returns three starters and 10 letterwinners from last season’s 1214 team that finished sixth in the league with an 8-8 record. The Storm will need to find a way to replace their top three scorers from a year ago – a group that accounted for 57.1 percent of the team’s total offensive output. Leading Simpson will be three-year letter winner Elijah Knox from the point guard position. Knox averaged 9.2 points and 3.6 rebounds last season and registered team-highs with 89 assists and 37 steals. Wartburg returns two starters and 11 letterwinners from last season’s 11-14 team that finished seventh in the league with a 5-11 record. Gone from the Knights lineup is center Jordan Sathoff – the league’s top scorer a year ago – but Wartburg returns a wealth of experience. Senior point guard Mitchell Murphy started all 25 games a year ago, averaging 7.8 points per game to rank second on the team. He also averaged 3.96 assists per game to lead all IIAC players for the second time in three years and ranked sixth in assist-toturnover ratio (+1.27).

IIAC WOMEN Coe College, collected six of seven available first-places votes to capture the top spot in the 2012-2013 IIAC Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll. The Kohawks, a participant in the 2012 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship, received 55 of the maximum 56 points to stand seven points clear of five-time defending champion Simpson College (48 points) and 12 clear of Loras College (43 points). Buena Vista returns three starters and seven letter winners from last season’s 11-14 team that placed seventh in the league with a 6-10 record. The Beavers will be led by senior point guard Brooke Wehle and junior off-guard Susan Kies. Kies is the top returning scorer from a year ago when she averaged 11.0 points per game. She ranked 15th among league players in scoring, 11th in assists (2.44 apg) and 15th in steals (1.60 spg). Kies’ offensive output improved to 11.4 points per game in IIAC play, ranking her 11th in the league. Central returns 10 letter winners and two starters from last year’s 7-18 team that finished ninth in the Iowa Conference with a 2-14 mark. Senior guard Alyssa Schwartz and senior forward Nicole Strasko are the top returning scorers for the Dutch. Schwartz averaged 9.8 points per game overall, primarily on the strength of her play on the perimeter and her accuracy at the charity stripe. Schwartz led all SportsSpotlight.com

IIAC players in free-throw accuracy, making 85.4 percent (70-of-82) of her tries at the line. She also ranked 11th in 3-pointers made and 15th in 3-point field goal percentage. Dubuque returns three starters and eight letter winners from last year’s 1511 team that finished tied for third in the conference with a 10-6 league mark. The Spartans, who set new program benchmarks with their 10 IIAC wins and third-place finish, will be led by senior guard Mollie Whiting, a twotime all-IIAC selection and 2012 firstteamer. Whiting led UD in scoring last season at 14.5 points per game while shooting 42.2 percent (117-of-277) from the field, 37.9 percent (22-of-58) from 3-point range and 81.9 percent (77-of-94) from the free-throw line. She ranked third among IIAC players in free throw percentage, fourth in scoring, and 13th in field goal percentage. In 14 IIAC games, her scoring output increased to 16.5 points per game, second only to Cornell’s Rikki Mulloy, while she led the league in free throw percentage at 87.5 percent (56-of-64). Loras returns four of five starters and 16 letter winners from last year’s 14-12 team that finished fifth in the league with a 9-7 mark. With five of their top six scorers returning, the Duhawks seem poised to make a move upward in the conference standings. Leading the way will be seniors Melissa Herrmann and Kelly Rogowski. Herrmann, who

received All-IIAC honourable mention from the league’s coaches last season, played in all 26 games last season, averaging 8.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest. She also led the league in blocked shots, averaging 2.81 per game. Luther returns four starters and nine letter winners from last year’s 6-19 team that took eighth in the Conference with a 3-13 record. Junior forward Taylor Johnson, a second team all-conference pick last season, will lead the Norse into the 2012-2013 campaign. Johnson led the team in scoring (371 points), rebounding (198), blocked shots (18) and steals (30) while starting all 25 games.

Her 14.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game both ranked third among IIAC players. Johnson also shot 43.5 percent (140-of-322) from the field to rank 10th. Simpson returns four players who started at least half the team’s games last season and a total of six letter winners from a 21-7 squad that went 13-3 in league play to capture the program’s 11th crown overall and fifth in succession. The Storm also made its eighth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, falling to Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 69-61, in a first-round game. Senior forward Kate Nielsen, a first-team allleague pick last year, will lead Simpson into the new season. Nielsen played in all 28 games last season, starting 15. She averaged team-highs with 13.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.32 steals, ranking fifth, fourth, and second, respectively, among IIAC players. Nielsen also blocked 30 shots, ranking second on the team to Stacey Schutjer (67), and shot 47.8 percent (133-of-278) from the field, ranking sixth among league players. Senior point guard Abi Weidemann is that lone starter, having started 26 of 27 games last season. She is Wartburg’s top returning scorer at 10.9 points per game. Weidemann spent a wealth of time at the charity stripe last season, making 113 out of 143 free throws, both league highs for the 2011-12 season.

Kate Nielsen of Simpson Volume 1 Issue 4

Basketball

PREVIEW

UIU Women and Men The Upper Iowa Peacocks opened men’s team adds three new players to up their men’s 97th season with a 68-60 their roster this year: David Smith, a win over the William Jewell Cardinals. transfer from Drake University who still Senior Sam Elgin led the team in scoring has two years of eligibility left, Jordan with 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting and Hay of North Cedar High School and a perfect 6-of-6 shooting from the free Connor Schabel of Ankeny High School. throw line. Following this win, Upper Returners Tucker Wentzien and Jake Iowa’s men will have six straight away Hughes will both be tough this year as games with the last three being against they combined against Southern Illinois NSIC opponents. There are 12 players in the team’s exhibition game for 27 back this season for the UIU men and points on 9-of-17 shooting. Last year with them comes 75 percent of last year’s the team’s record was 10-16, but they are offensive production. looking to build off that this year. UIU has seven seniors on the team The men’s team was ranked 12 of 16 that will be suiting up in Peacock blue in the preseason poll from the Northern for their final season. Between the seven Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Winona of them, they average 52.5 points a State was selected as the number one game. The seniors, Tucker Wentzien, Jake Hughes, Sam Elgin, Joey Woods, Cedric Collins, Michael Lafrenz and Jake Shonka, will leave big shoes to fill when they graduate. Tucker Wentzien grabs for the ball UIU’s

Established in 1857®

Jennifer Herrick coaches’ pick. The Upper Iowa women will be led by sophomore Whitney Kieffer on the court this year. She led the Peacocks with a total of 31 points on 8-of-11 shooting and also grabbed 10 rebounds to earn a double-double at the team’s season opening victory. This was the first time the Peacock women have won their opener since 2006. Two other promising players for the Peacocks include center Carly Pagel, a six foot freshman from Sumner, Iowa and Sam Thrapp, a five foot seven guard from Davenport, Iowa. Coming off a 3-23 record from last season, the women have a lot to prove in the Dorman Gym this year, but should put a strong fight. Olivia Meier, a sophomore, was also an

asset to the team during the season opener. She had 13 points. They started off their exhibition games well, with a 75-67 win over Ashford University. University of Northern Iowa came next and the Peacocks lost to the Panthers, 82-54. They then took a trip to Des Moines, Iowa to face the Drake Bulldogs on Nov. 7. The Peacocks were brought down by the Bulldogs, losing 81-51. Their regular season opener was set for Nov. 10 at Dorman Gym against William Jewell College. The University of Upper Iowa swiped the win against William Jewell College, 82-77 in a tight overtime victory. Their season will continue with two more consecutive home games against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Grandview University. Then they will take the road to a three-game invitational in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The New UIU “I chose UIU because this is the place where I can excel on the court and in the classroom!”

STUDENT FOCUSED – on average, students graduate with less debt than students from most comparable colleges in Iowa

Sam Elgin, ‘13

International Business Management major • Center Point, Iowa

EXCELLENT FACILITIES – nearly $100 million in construction; new football stadium and suite-style residence halls in 2012 GLOBALLY AVAILABLE – offering degrees on campus, and through 19 U.S. education centers, distance education and international centers for quality education anywhere ONLINE EXCELLENCE – nationally ranked for quality, “best buy” online degree-granting programs

Learn more at www.uiu.edu/thenewuiu

800-553-4150

On Campus • Online • Independent Study • U.S. & International Centers

Volume 1 Issue 4

See It For YourSelF! SportsSpotlight.com

COLLEGE

Basketball

GPAC MEN The 2012-2013 season looks to be a bright one for the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). Recapping the 2011-2012 season, the regular season champions were Dordt College, who is preseason ranked No. 3, and postseason champions was Northwestern College, who is preseason ranked No. 7. The GPAC had three teams compete in the NAIA National Tournament in Branson, Missouri last year. Briar Cliff University, Northwestern College, and Dordt College all competed in the national tournament and won their first round games. The GPAC looks to continue the momentum into the 2012-2013 season. With a new season on the brink for the Great Plains Athletic Conference they are off to a great start. In the Preseason NAIA Poll the GPAC has 4 teams in the rankings or receiving national votes. The Dordt Defenders are preseason rated No. 3 in the nation, after coming off the best season in school history. They finished up the season 30-5 and winning two games at the national tournament. The Defenders are also the preseason favorite

to win the GPAC coming off a 17-3 season in the GPAC last year. Dordt is returning to GPAC first team all-

Jake Shipley of Briar Cliff conference performers in Cliff Warner and Trevor Wolterstorff. Dordt College rival Northwestern College is ranked No. 7 in the NAIA preseason poll, and is projected to get second in the GPAC. The Red Raiders also qualified for the NAIA national tournament last year

by winning the GPAC post-season tournament. They won their opening round game, but lost in the second round. Northwestern looks to make an impact with returning first team all-conference performer Walker Seim. Rounding out the top half of the GPAC in the preseason poll are the Briar Cliff Chargers, Midland Warriors (RV) and Morningside Mustangs (RV). The Chargers are coming off the best season in school history. They finished the season 22-10 and won their first round national tournament game against Grace (Ind.). Briar Cliff is returning standout performer and reigning GPAC Player-of-the-Year Jake Shipley. Shipley led the conference in scoring averaging 18.7 points per game, shooting an outstanding 41.7 percent from 3-point range. He also was in the top-20 in rebounding averaging 4.9 rebounds per game. The

Chargers look to build off of last years season and make an impact in the GPAC standings. Next, the Midland Warriors are picked to finish 4th in the GPAC and are currently receiving votes in the preseason national poll. Midland is returning all-conference performer Ben Imig. Last, Morningside is picked to finish fifth in the GPAC. Morningside is currently receiving votes in the national preseason poll. Morningside lost first team all-conference performer in Garth Hamilton, but return two all-conference performers in Danny Rudeen and Trent Miller. With the GPAC season starting this week the GPAC are looking to get off to a quick start. It won’t be easy as No. 3 Dordt is opening the season on Tuesday October 30th against No. 13 Bellvue. Non-conference games will take up the first part of the season with conference play beginning on November 14th with Briar Cliff taking on Northwestern in a GPAC showdown. Its that time of year again, and we are looking forward to another great season of men’s GPAC basketball.

GPAC WOMEN The Great Plains Athletic Conference is coming of another great year of women’s basketball in the 20112012 season. The league had three teams in the Fab Four (Northwestern College, Concordia (Neb.) University, Briar Cliff University) and reigning National Champion Northwestern. Northwestern College is the three-time reigning national champion in the NAIA Division II. The Great Plains Athletic Conference looks to continue its dominance amongst the NAIA this 2012-2013 season. Over the last twelve years the GPAC has won eleven national titles, Northwestern College with five, Morningside College with three, and Hastings College with three. But, the team with the top spot in the NAIA Division II women’s preseason basketball poll is the Concordia (Neb.) Bulldogs. In the preseason poll the GPAC has five teams in the top 25, Briar Cliff University (8), Concordia (Neb.) (1), Hastings College (18), Morningside College (5), and Northwestern College (2) as the GPAC looks to have another great year of competitive basketball. Within the GPAC conference this year you are looking at some extremely competitive games, and a fight for the top spot with five teams in the top 25 national polls. In the preseason GPAC poll reigning conference champion Concordia (Neb.) is the SportsSpotlight.com

conference favorite over reigning national champion Northwestern College. Coach-of-the-Year Drew Olson and the Bulldogs look to build on their breakout year and repeat as conference champions. Concordia (Neb.) has a solid core returning including First Team All-Conference performer Amber Kistler. Northwestern GPAC Player-of-the-Year Kendra De Jong is

returning for 2012-2013 as the Red Raiders look to defend their national title and contend for the GPAC title. De Jong was versatile player for the Red Raiders averaging 19.2 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game. Rounding out the top half of the conference are Morningside, Briar Cliff, and Hastings. Morningside is coming off a successful season finishing runner-up in the

GPAC and 26-9 overall. Morningside is returning First Team All-Conference performer Chelsie Trask. Briar Cliff is coming off one of the best seasons in school history finishing fourth in the conference, but more importantly making it to the Fab Four of the NAIA National Tournament. Briar Cliff was 25-10 last year and look to improve this year with First Team All-Conference performer Kylie Dilla returning and GPAC Freshman-of-the-Year Mattie Murren. Wrapping up the top half of the GPAC are the Hasting Broncos. They are preseason ranked 18th in the nation and look to be a contender in the conference race under first year head coach Carrie Hofstetter (starting point guard on the 2002 and 2003 title teams for the Broncos). With the 2012-2013 just about to get under way it looks to be another great year of women’s basketball within the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The conference will play a double round robin schedule for the second year playing each conference opponent twice, home and away. The season starts off this next weekend with a top ten match-up No. 2 Northwestern vs. No. 8 Grand View, and conference play begins on November 14th.

Kendra De Jong of Northwestern

Volume 1 Issue 4

College

AIB BASKETBALL AVAILABLE ONLINE AIB begins online streaming of basketball games byline- minion pro bold | Title

This season, alumni and fans of tive at Des Moines Register Media, AIB College of Business can watch is doing the play-by-play. He has their basketball teams on computers, about 20 years of experience in raiPhones or iPods via Stretch Internet, dio play-by-play at the high school a leader in online streaming for college and college levels in Illinois. and university athletic departments AIB student Logan Gray of and collegiate conferences. Avoca, a business administration “The broadcasts are on-demand, so – sales and marketing major, is in people can come back to them if they charge of engineering the games. miss the games,” said AIB Athletics “Logan is very good with the Director Keith Coleman. “Players’ equipment, and I look forward grandparents can see them. Friends to working with him,” Klockenga who have gone to other schools can said. watch them play. We want fans to feel The two announcers concede part of the Eagle nation, wherever they Logan Gray, left, Dustin Shandri, that their objectivity may lean a bit are.” in favor of the Eagles. center, and David Klockenga, That’s exactly why digital broadcasts “We work for AIB and let’s right. have become so popular, said Dustin face it, those that are listening will Shandri, who is providing color comfor the most part be fans of AIB,” and everything popped up,” he said. “It mentary for AIB games. Klockenga said. worked perfectly. The sound was good. “Streaming allows consumers – from “I would call myself objective, but Everything was good. We like to see the within the dorms to around the world opinioned,” Shandri said. “It makes for boys play, also.” – to get a peek of what AIB has to offer; great radio.” Shandri – who by day is a market both on and off the court,” Shandri said. Klockenga acknowledged that he has research analyst at Des Moines Register Robert Burkhartsmeier of Las been known to get “excited and enthusiMedia – has been a high school corCruses, N.M., father of AIB freshman astic” at times. respondent for Marty Tirrell’s Mouth guard Alexyss Burkhartsmeier, drove “With that said, we will show respect of the Midwest productions for the past to Des Moines to see his daughter’s first for all of the teams,” he said. four years. He’s also a former basketball game Nov. 3. But he’d already checked “And I always applaud good play.” player. out AIB’s online streaming, watching To prepare for the season, Klockenga “I was a J-V All Star at Des Moines preseason scrimmages with his wife and practiced pronouncing AIB players’ East High School from 2002-2003,” he Alexyss’ grandparents. names, including Tim Olejniczak and cracked. “We typed in the (Web site) address, Matej Culjak. David Klockenga, an account execu-

“Typically, before I announce a game, I check with both coaches to get all of the names down. That doesn’t mean I won’t mess up; still, I hope to get all of them right,” he said. “But hey, someone needs to get ‘Klockenga’ right, too!” (For the record, it’s pronounced CLOCKen-gay.) Shandri and Klockenga don’t have scripted plans for conversations during time-outs, but instead rely on what Shandri calls “spontaneous, on-the-spot banter.” Once into a game, the action provides issues to talk about, Klockenga said. “We usually will do some homework prior to a broadcast to get some key stats down. I don’t like to use too many stats, though – just a few interesting ones. To me, the game at hand is more important. We hope to interview AIB’s head coaches during our broadcasts this season, and we also hope to chat with some of the student athletes from other sports.” Klockenga said he will dust off some of the signature sports phrases he’s used over the years. But he’s not giving fans any early hints. “People will have to tune in and find out,” he said.

Friday Night Live Show 7pm - 11pm

- Live Sports Ticker!

- Live Real Time Scoring! - Watch on WHO 13.2 or Mediacom Ch.113 & 246

Over 20 stations across the state. Go to sportsspotlight.com to find the station nearest you.

Volume 1 Issue 4

SportsSpotlight.com

Volume 1 Issue 4

SportsSpotlight.com

STINGERS AND BURNERS

Health & Fitness

Barron Bremner D.O. | DMOS- Board Certified in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine

Many athletes recall taking a bad hit or landing on their shoulder or neck in a strange way and feeling a sudden painful electrical sensation down the arm. Sometimes this disappears as quickly as it came, or lingers for several minutes. This is sometimes called a stinger or burner, and results from an injury to the nervous system. Mechanism: Contact sports are the culprit in the majority of stingers. Often the head is forced away from the shoulder, stretching the nerves in the neck or upper chest. This can occur while making a tackle, or when landing on the side of ones head during wrestling. It can be caused by hyperextension of the neck, as in a football tackle. Less often, it can be caused by the arm being wrenched upward, stretching the nerves as they traverse under the collar bone, through the armpit and to their targets in the arm and hand. Also, a direct blow above the collarbone can cause a stinger. Symptoms: Players are usually contact sport athletes who relate one of the above mechanisms of injury. They may feel neck or shoulder pain, with pain radiating down

the arm into the forearm or hand. This may feel electrical or tingling in nature, or like a buzzing, or sharp pain. Sensation or strength (especially in shoulder elevation and elbow flexion) in the extremity may be diminished. Loss of consciousness is a sign of a more serious injury such as concussion or spinal cord injury.

full evaluation is performed. Obviously, any type of suspected spinal cord injury should be evaluated by a medical professional on the field and is beyond the scope of this article. No player with neck pain should return to the game without evaluation by qualified medical staff. For a firsttime stinger, the athlete can return to play when they Photo courtesy of DMOS Treatment: demonstrate Dr. Bremner, D.O. Players full range of should be evalmotion and uated after any strength, and stinger. Range of motion, sensation of only if the pain down the arm is absent. the arm and hand, and strength should If neck pain is absent, one should also be tested. If there are concerns of a head try to elicit reproduction of the stinger injury, mental status examination and a by performing resisted neck motion and

compression. Recurrence of symptoms keeps the athlete on the sideline. For athletes with multiple (3) episodes of stingers in the same season, consideration may be given to abandoning the season or sport. Symptoms lasting more than 2 days should be referred to a physician. An MRI of the neck or nerve test (EMG) may be performed. Prevention: Proper weight-training and posture can perhaps help to decrease the incidence of stingers. In football, cowboy collars and other pads can decrease stingers associated with neck extension but may increase the risk of tackling with the head down. Dr. Bremner’s practice encompasses all areas of orthopaedics. He has special interest in joint replacement, arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine and trauma. He also offers minimally invasive Direct Anterior Hip Replacement. To reach Dr. Bremner or to schedule an appointment please phone 515-299-6363. Dr. Bremner’s primary office location is DMOS – East; with satellite services available at DMOS – West.

DES MOINES O RTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS, P.C.

DMOS FREE

DAILY SPORTS INJURY ASSESSMENT CLINIC AT DMOS–WEST

For Middle School, High School and College Athletes that have an acute injury (acquired in the previous 24-48 hours). Receive timely care and limit the amount of time away from school. • MON–FRI (year-round): 7:15–8 a.m. Please check-in by 7:45 a.m. • SAT (Aug 18–Oct 20, 2012): 9–11 a.m. Saturday services are walk-in only. Call 224-5225 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Call aheads preferred Monday through Friday, walk-ins welcome. DMOS – West DMOS – East DMOS – Carroll (515) 224-1414 (515) 263-9696 (712) 792–2093 Please visit dmos.com for addresses and more information. SportsSpotlight.com

Volume 1 Issue 4

College

TIM STORY

subheads- minion pro italic (12 byline- minion pro bold | Title (color of section)(7 pt)

photo credits- myriad pro regular (5pt)

photo captions- myriad pro italics semibold (9pt, 10.8 lede)

http://www.dps.state.ia.us/commis/gtsb/

42 Volume 1 Issue 3

SportsSpotlight.com

Introducing Genie from DIRECTV. ™

The most advanced HD DVR ever!

Genie, only from DIRECTV, serves your entire home with one HD DVR1—no more extra, inconvenient boxes. It also records 5 shows at once and gives you up to 3X more HD recording capacity than cable.2

99*

MONTH For 12 Months After Instant Rebate

ENTERTAINMENT Package

OUR BEST VALUE.

OVER 140 Channels HD Channels Included 4,000 Shows and Movies On Demand

NEW

Genie,™ the most advanced

Connect up to 4 rooms.

Add’l equipment required. Add’l & Advanced Receiver fees apply.

PLUS

Lock in Your Savings for 2 Years!

Save $25/mo. in 1st year! AND $10/mo. in 2nd year!

CHOICE XTRA™ Package

TV THAT ALWAYS BEATS CABLE.

MORE CHANNELS, MOVIES AND SPORTS.

PLUS, FREE FOR 3 MONTHS

OVER 205 Channels HD Channels Included 7,000 Shows and Movies On Demand

EVERY GAME. EVERY SUNDAY.

INCLUDED° at no extra charge

Out-of-market games only.

Genie, the most advanced ™

FREE HD DVR ever! UPGRADE

NEW

Connect up to 4 rooms.

Add’l equipment required. Add’l & Advanced Receiver fees apply.

PLUS

99*

MONTH For 12 Months After Instant Rebate

CHOICE™ Package

OVER 150 Channels HD Channels Included 6,000 Shows and Movies On Demand

PLUS, FREE FOR 3 MONTHS

FREE HD DVR ever! UPGRADE

99*

MONTH For 12 Months After Instant Rebate

Lock in Your Savings for 2 Years!

Save $29/mo. in 1st year! AND $10/mo. in 2nd year! Regional Sports Fee may apply.

EVERY GAME. EVERY SUNDAY. Out-of-market games only.

Genie, the most advanced ™

FREE HD DVR ever! UPGRADE

NEW

Connect up to 4 rooms.

Add’l equipment required. Add’l & Advanced Receiver fees apply.

PLUS

Lock in Your Savings for 2 Years!

Save $29/mo. in 1st year! AND $10/mo. in 2nd year! Regional Sports Fee may apply.

All DIRECTV offers require 24-month agreement.** 1Requires a C31 Client or an RVU-enabled TV/Device for each additional room. Additional fees apply. 2Based on one Genie HD DVR setup (model HR34 Advanced Whole-Home DVR only).

PLUS

With every package you get:

NO Equipment to Buy. NO Start-Up Costs. FREE Professional Installation. #1 in Customer Satisfaction Over All Cable Providers.

99% Worry-Free Signal Reliability. Based on Nationwide Study of representative cities.

Local Channels Included in over 99% of the U.S.

As compared to the largest national cable providers.

Ask me how to Bundle and save! CALL TODAY.

JOHNSTON COMMUNICATIONS

866-977-4022 515-954-7507

5010 Mills Civic Pkwy West Des Moines, IA Authorized DIRECTV Dealer Your Local

Offers end 12/5/12. Credit card required (except in MA & PA). New approved customers only (lease required). $19.95 Handling & Delivery fee may apply. Applicable use tax adjustment may apply on the retail value of the installation. Programming/pricing may vary in certain markets. *BILL CREDIT/PROGRAMMING OFFER: IF BY THE END OF PROMOTIONAL PRICE PERIOD(S) CUSTOMER DOES NOT CONTACT DIRECTV TO CHANGE SERVICE THEN ALL SERVICES WILL AUTOMATICALLY CONTINUE AT THE THEN-PREVAILING RATES. Free HBO, STARZ, SHOWTIME and Cinemax for three months, a value of $135. LIMIT ONE PROGRAMMING OFFER PER ACCOUNT. Featured package/service names and prices: ENTERTAINMENT $54.99/mo.; CHOICE $63.99/mo.; CHOICE XTRA $68.99/mo. Advanced Receiver fee $20/mo. In certain markets, a $3/mo. Regional Sports fee will be assessed with CHOICE Package or above and MÁS ULTRA Package or above. Prices include the following instant bill credits for 12 months: $25 for ENTERTAINMENT Package and $29 for CHOICE and CHOICE XTRA Packages. In months 13-24, bill credit will be $10/mo. °2012 NFL SUNDAY TICKET OFFER: Package consists of all out-of-market NFL games (based on customer’s service address) broadcast on FOX and CBS. Games available via remote viewing based on device location. Local broadcasts are subject to blackout rules. Other conditions apply. 2012 NFL SUNDAY TICKET regular full-season retail price is $199.95. 2012 NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX regular full-season retail price is $299.95. Customers activating the CHOICE Package or above or the LO MÁXIMO Package will be automatically enrolled in the 2012 season of NFL SUNDAY TICKET at no additional cost and will receive a free upgrade to NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX for the 2012 season. NFL SUNDAY TICKET subscription will automatically continue each season at special renewal rate unless customer calls to cancel prior to start of season. To renew NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX, customer must call to upgrade after the 2012 season. Subscription cannot be cancelled (in part or in whole) after the start of the season and subscription fee cannot be refunded. Account must be in “good standing” as determined by DIRECTV in its sole discretion to remain eligible for all offers. **24-MONTH AGREEMENT: EARLY CANCELLATION WILL RESULT IN A FEE OF $20/MONTH FOR EACH REMAINING MONTH. Must maintain 24 consecutive months of any DIRECTV programming package ($29.99/mo. or above) or any qualifying international service bundle. Advanced Receiver-DVR fee ($8/mo.) required for DVR lease. Advanced Receiver-HD fee ($10/mo.) required for HD Receiver lease. Advanced Receiver fee ($20/mo.) required for Advanced Whole-Home DVR, HD DVR and TiVo HD DVR from DIRECTV lease. TiVo service fee ($5/mo.) required for TiVo HD DVR from DIRECTV lease. If you have two receivers and/or one receiver and a Client/Enabled TV/Device, the fee is $6/mo. For the third and each additional receiver and/or Client/Enabled TV/Device on your account, you are charged an additional fee of $6/mo. per receiver, Client and/or Enabled TV/Device. NON-ACTIVATION CHARGE OF $150 PER RECEIVER MAY APPLY. ALL EQUIPMENT IS LEASED AND MUST BE RETURNED TO DIRECTV UPON CANCELLATION, OR UNRETURNED EQUIPMENT FEES APPLY. VISIT directv.com OR CALL 1-800-DIRECTV FOR DETAILS. ^GENIE HD DVR UPGRADE OFFER: Includes instant rebates on one Advanced Whole-Home DVR and up to three DIRECTV Clients with activation of the ENTERTAINMENT Package or above; ÓPTIMO MÁS Package or above; Jadeworld Package; or any qualifying international service bundle, which shall include the PREFERRED CHOICE programming package. Whole-Home HD DVR functionality requires an Advanced Whole-Home DVR (model HR34) connected to the primary television and a DIRECTV Client, H25 HD Receiver(s) or an RVU-capable TV/Device in each additional room. Limit of three remote viewings per Advanced Whole-Home DVR at a time. Visit directv.com/genie for complete details. INSTALLATION: Standard professional installation in up to four rooms only. Custom installation extra. DIRECTV ON DEMAND: Access to available DIRECTV On Demand programming is based on package selection. Actual number of TV shows and movies will vary. Additional fees apply for new releases. Some DIRECTV On Demand content requires an HD DVR (HR20 or later) or DVR (R22 or later), DIRECTV CINEMA Connection Kit and broadband Internet service with speeds of 750 kbps or higher, and a network router with an available Ethernet port. Visit directv.com/cinema for details. To access DIRECTV HD programming, HD equipment required. Number of HD channels based on package selection. Customer satisfaction ratings based on 2012 American Customer Satisfaction Index. Local channels eligibility based on service address. Not all networks available in all markets. Programming, pricing, terms and conditions subject to change at any time. Pricing residential. Taxes not included. Receipt of DIRECTV programming subject to DIRECTV Customer Agreement; copy provided at directv.com/legal and in order confirmation. of DIRECTV, LLC. All other trademarks and Volume 1 Issue 4 NFL, the NFL Shield design and the NFL SUNDAY TICKET name and logo are registered trademarks of the NFL and its affiliates. ©2012 DIRECTV. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo, CHOICE, CHOICE XTRA and GENIE are trademarks SportsSpotlight.com service marks are the property of their respective owners.