Winter Sports Preview

Thursday, November 19, 2015 • Section C

Winter Sports Preview WATERLOO / CEDAR FALLS

SPORTS EDITOR: DOUG NEWHOFF • sportsdoor@wcfcourier.com • (319) 291-1467

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PREP PROFILE: TORI HAZARD

Hazard finds a home in Janesville Wildcats’ post player draws on wide range of experience NICK PETAROS nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

TIFFANY RUSHING / Courier Staff Photographer

Tori Hazard, pictured here on Nov. 9, is back to lead a promising Janesville girls’ basketball team this season.

JANESVILLE — The basketball court inside Janesville’s city park has become Tori Hazard’s training ground and sanctuary.

“Playing the game, I don’t think really about any worries and stuff, they just disappear,” Hazard said. “It relaxes me a lot.”

The junior, one year removed from an Iowa Newspaper Association first-team Class 1A allstate campaign, has spent the

past summer working to improve her versatility in hopes of competing at the collegiate level.

Her shooting range is expanding, and she’s already navigated through more obstacles than the cones she sets up for ball-handling drills.

The 16-year-old has spent much of her life on the move.

She was born in her father’s home state of Massachusetts, moved to her mother’s home state of Arizona in third grade, then back to Massachusetts in junior high.

Hazard didn’t arrive at Janesville until prior to her sophomore year of high school. The newcomer ranked second in Class 1A scoring with an average of 22.4 points per game to go with an

average of 8.5 rebounds and totals of 109 steals, 72 assists and 48 blocked shots.

She’s quick to credit coaches at every level for molding her into a strong basketball player.

“Basically all my life we kept on moving,” Hazard said. “It was kind of hard making friends all the time, but it was easy getting used to the coaches because they were all really nice and supportive.”

There’s Ms. Pierce, the Arizona elementary school teacher who spotted Hazard as one of the tallest fourth-graders in her class and first encouraged her to give the sport a try.

See HAZARD, page C8

PREP PROFILE: CONNOR CLEVELAND

Cleveland has unfinished business

Stunning district loss fuels New Hampton standout JIM NELSON jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

NEW HAMPTON — Connor Cleveland can’t explain it.

He said he was the most confident he’d ever been, and he felt great physically.

As a returning state runner-up at 106 pounds, Cleveland was considered a state title contender last year at 113, and the body of work he had put forth leading up to a Class 2A district tournament in Parkersburg only proved it.

But then in a close match with East Marshall’s Nick Meling, the unthinkable happened. Cleveland shut down and lost, 4-2.

Meling went on to lose to Union of La Porte City’s Derek Holschlag in the district final, and by virtue of his victory over Cleveland, earned the second state tournament berth at 113.

Cleveland was stunned. New Hampton head coach N ick Hemann was stunned, as was the entire Chickasaw fan base.

“I don’t know what happened,” Cleveland said. “The one thing that sticks out is nerves. Nerves usually don’t get to me. They go away once the whistle blows.

But I remember it felt leading up to the match a lot like the nerves I had before my state finals match.

“It was a close match and I was in it for five minutes and then, I guess, that last minute, I shut

BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer

New Hampton’s Connor Cleveland, left, wrestles Dubuque Wahlert’s Tristan Birt in the 2014 106-pound state finals. down mentally. I’m not sure how else to explain it.”

Cleveland doesn’t want to take anything away from Meling, who had a record of 46-5, but Cleveland’s track record said he should’ve been the heavy favorite.

Consider this: Cleveland is 10813 for his three-year career.

As a freshman, he went 26-8 with seven of his losses to either Crestwood’s Brandon Mayer or West Delaware’s Patrick Woods. Both happened to be in

his district with Woods going on to win the state title and Mayer finishing fifth. His other loss that season was to Colton Clingenpeel of Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson, who finished sixth at 106 in Class 3A. A year later, Cleveland went 44-2, losing to Mayer during the regular season in a match at 113 (Mayer went on to finish fourth at state) and not again until losing by sudden victory to Dubuque Wahlert’s Tristan Birt in the

106-pound state finals.

Last year, Cleveland was rolling again. He was 44-2 heading into the district tournament with loses to Birt and eventual 113-pound state champion Brennen Doebel of Clear Lake.

So of Cleveland’s 13 career losses, 12 have come to wrestlers who either went on to win a state title in his weight class that same year or at the minimum reached the podium at the state tournament.

“I don’t know how to explain it,”

Hemann said of the district loss.

“I can tell you this much, he has done a great job of moving on.”

Cleveland went on to pin all three of his opponents for the Chickasaws at the state dual tournament and then continued to be a strong workout partner for Noah Fye, who took third at 106, and Keaton Geerts, who finished fifth at 120.

It was redemption of sorts for Cleveland, who felt he let down his town.

“I love New Hampton. I love being from New Hampton. I take a lot of pride in being from New Hampton and I felt like I let the town down with that loss,” Cleveland said. “It was hard. I expected to win. But we still had the state duals and it was not all about me.

I was resolved to do as much as I could for the team and then help Noah Fye and Keaton Geerts, guys who have the same dreams I have.”

As he enters his senior season, Cleveland has even more resolve.

Because he didn’t make the state tournament last year, he feels like he’s off everybody’s radar. He’s out to prove he is a force to be reckoned with.

“Losing in the finals match as a sophomore, that was motivation. Losing in the district tournament ... tells me I need to work harder to reach my goals,” Cleveland said.

After concentrating on baseball over the summer and skipping Fargo nationals, Cleveland has had a good preseason.

See CLEVELAND, page C8

PREP PROFILE: JOE SMOLDT

Smoldt now main character in Gladbrook-Reinbeck saga Rebels’ junior guard excited about challenges ahead JIM SULLIVAN jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com‌

Joe Smoldt can read the court, even though the next chapter of his basketball career hasn’t been written.

After helping Gladbrook-Reinbeck win a state championship last year, the junior guard expects to get a lot more defensive attention during the 2015-16 season. Veteran teammates like Camden Kickbush, Zach Pierce and Cam Clark have graduated, and Smoldt earned all-state honors by averaging a team-high 18 points a game for the unbeaten Rebels.

Opponents gave Smoldt some extra attention last season, throwing a box-and-one or other defenses at him and Kickbush.

Whatever happens this year, the G-R junior plans to be ready for it.

“I’ll have to have the ball in my hands a lot more this year,” said Smoldt. “Just with the defenses I’m going to see, I’ll have to work a lot harder to get the ball back once I give it up.”

Smoldt added, “Last year me and Cam (Kickbush) saw a lot of that — not just box-and-ones, but different looks to keep me unbalanced. I’ve been working on that in the offseason — really working on moving without the ball once I give it up. Once I give it up, they’ll be on me like glue.

Hopefully, my other teammates can take some pressure off me.

“I won’t be able to do it all, but I’ll do everything I can to help the team win.”

Scott Kiburis, the head coach who directed G-R to the 1A title last winter, believes that if anyone can handle the expectations and defensive pressure, it’s Smoldt. He can read the court.

He knows basketball.

“He’s as smart a basketball player as I’ve been around,” said Kiburis. “He gets it.

“He’s all business out there when he plays. He expects a full effort out of himself, and he expects his teammates to play hard.”

In more ways than one, the Rebel guard has been preparing to play basketball at a high level for much of his life.

TIFFANY RUSHING / Courier Staff Photographer

Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s Joe Smoldt, center, splits an AGWSR double-team See SMOLDT, page C8 during a game last season.

PAGE C2

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Thursday, November 19, 2015

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METRO BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Tigers on prowl for big season Cedar Falls returns talented core, but MVC will be tough JIM SULLIVAN jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com‌

Tra’Von Fagan is more than just a man in the middle for Cedar Falls.

More than ever, the 6-foot-6 Tiger senior feels at home from long range. And that is one of the reasons why Cedar Falls head coach Ryan Schultz likes the potential for versatility as he looks ahead to the 2015-16 season.

“We have some multiple weapons who can play on the perimeter or in the post,” said Schultz, who guided the Tigers to a 15-8 mark a year ago. “The nice thing is, Tra’Von is so versatile. He’s played on the perimeter a bit, and he realized he needed to add to the perimeter game. In AAU, he went inside and out.

“We have A.J. Green returning. He’s an outside threat. We also have several guys on the team

that I think have some versatility this year.”

Cedar Falls did lose two talented starters from the 2014-15 team — Durrell Jackson and Keeon Johnson. On the other hand, there will be no shortage of veteran talent on the court this winter. In addition to Fagan and Green, Trey LaBeaux, Denison Harrington and Taylen Alexander all have starting experience.

Overall, four of Cedar Falls’ top six scorers return from a year ago, led by Fagan and his 14.5 points per game. Fagan, LaBeaux and Green ranked 1-3-4, respectively, in rebounding last season.

“I just think it’s nice to have some guys back with experience,” said Schultz. “That’s something we’ve been lacking for a while.”

Moreover, the younger players have matured physically. Green, to name one, has grown about three inches. To Schultz, that growth will be vital in what figures to be a rugged Mississippi Valley Conference.

MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor

Cedar Falls’ Tra’Von Fagan will be counted on to give the Tigers an inside presence and versatility on the See METRO, page C3 perimeter this season.

Dec. 4 — At Pleasant Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 7 — Oelwein, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 — Cedar Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 12 — West Des Moines Valley, 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 — Iowa City West, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 — At Dubuque Senior, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 5 — Waterloo West, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 — Cedar Rapids Prairie, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 — At Iowa City High, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 — Dubuque Hempstead, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 16 — Waukon, 3 p.m.

Jan. 22 — Cedar Rapids Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 — At Cedar Rapids Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 — Wahlert, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 — At Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 5 — At Cedar Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 9 — At Waterloo West, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 11 — Mason City, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 — At Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 16 — Linn-Mar, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 18 — At Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.

Cedar Falls HEAD COACH: Ryan Schultz 2014-15 RECORD: 15-8 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (11): Tra’Von Fagan, Sr., Denison Harrington, Sr., Michael Abbas, Sr., Logan Mozena, Sr., Mitchell Bower, Sr., Taylen Alexander, Sr., Jacob Leisinger, Sr., Noah Nickerson, Sr., Kam Watts, Sr., AJ Green, So., TreyShawn LeBeaux, So. Schedule Nov. 30 — Metro Jamboree at Cedar Falls Dec. 1 — At Crestwood, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 — At Decorah, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 — At Waterloo East, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 — At Dubuque Hempstead, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 — Iowa City High, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 19 — Ames, 5 p.m.

Jan. 5 — At Dubuque Wahlert, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 — Linn-Mar, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 12- Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 — At Waterloo West, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 16 — Mason City, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 — At Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 — Iowa City West, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 — At Dubuque Senior, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 — Cedar Rapids Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 5 — Waterloo East, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 6 — At Waverly-Shell Rock, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 9 — At Iowa City High, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 — Waterloo West, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 16 — At Cedar Rapids Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 18 — Cedar Rapids Prairie, 7:30 p.m.

Waterloo East HEAD COACH: Steve McGraw 2014-15 RECORD: 3-19 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (4): Averee Clark, Marquas Gafeney, Jordan Garrey, Martekas Matlock.

Schedule Dec. 1 — At Waverly-Shell Rock, 7:30 p.m.

Waterloo West HEAD COACH: Cliff Berinobis 2014-15 RECORD: 8-15 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (10): Trey Burt, Demertrius Caddel, Deyshaun Cooper, Brenden Howze, Amel Kujuhovic, Gabe Pepin, Christian Schultz, Jacory Spates, Devin Moore, Carondis Harris-Anderson.

Schedule Nov. 21 — West Delaware (Hall of Pride game), TBD Nov. 30 — At Metro Jamboree, Cedar Falls Dec. 5 — At Ankeny Centennial, 7:45 p.m.

Dec. 11 — Iowa City West, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 12 — At Waterloo Columbus, TBD Dec. 15 — Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 — At Dubuque Wahlert, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 5 — At Waterloo East, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 — At Cedar Rapids Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 — At Cedar Rapids Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 — Cedar Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 — Cedar Rapids Prairie, 7:30 p.m.

Jan.23 — Decorah, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 — At Iowa City High, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 — Dubuque Hempstead, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 30 — Waverly-Shell Rock, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 — At Dubuque Senior, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 5 — Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 6 — At Fort Dodge, 7:45 p.m.

Feb. 9 — Waterloo East, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 — At Cedar Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 16 — Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 18 — At Linn-Mar, 7:30 p.m.

Columbus HEAD COACH: Ben Barnett 2014-15 RECORD: 10-12 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (4): Francis Hart, Isaac Squires, Houston Sandvold, Joe Duggan Schedule Nov. 30 — At Metro Jamboree (Cedar Falls) Dec. 4 — At Hudson 7:45 p.m.

Dec. 8 — At Denver, 7:45 p.m.

Dec. 11 — Union Community, 7:45 p.m.

Dec. 12 — Waterloo West, 7:45 p.m.

Dec. 15 — Wapsie Valley, 7:45 p.m.

Dec. 18 — At Aplington-Parkersburg, 7:45 p.m.

Jan. 5 — Jesup, 7:45 p.m.

Jan. 8 — At Sumner-Fredericksburg, 7:45 p.m.

Jan. 12 — At Dike-New Hartford, 7:45 p.m.

Jan. 15 — Hudson, 7:45 p.m.

Jan. 16 — vs. Wapsie Valley, NICL Shootout, Wartburg College, Waverly, TBD Jan. 19 — Denver, 7:45 p.m.

Jan. 22 — At Union Community, 7:45 p.m.

Jan. 23 — At BCUW, 7:45 p.m.

Jan. 25 — Don Bosco, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 — At Wapsie Valley, 7:45 p.m.

Jan. 29 — Aplington-Parkersburg, 7:45 p.m.

Feb. 1 — East Marshall, 7:45 p.m.

Feb. 4 — At Jesup, 7:45 p.m.

Feb. 5 — Sumner-Fredericksburg, 7:45 p.m.

Feb. 9 — Dike-New Harford, 7:15 p.m.

Waterloo Christian HEAD COACH: Dave Liverance 2014-15 RECORD: 9-13 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (4): Tim Doering, Luke Zwack, Jordan Liverance, Heath Darst Schedule

Nov. 30 — At BCLUW, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 1 — Meskwaki Settlement, 8 p.m.

Dec. 4 — At North Tama, 8 p.m.

Dec. 8 — At Valley Lutheran (Cedar Falls), 8 p.m.

Dec. 11 — GMG, 8 p.m.

Dec. 15 — Colo-Nesco, 8 p.m.

Dec. 18 — Tripoli, 8 p.m.

Dec. 19 — CAL, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 22 — Riceville, 8 p.m.

Jan. 4 — West Central, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 — At Don Bosco, 8 pm.

Jan. 9 — Central City, 4:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 — At Janesville, 8 p.m.

Jan. 15 — At Meskwaki Settlement, 8 p.m.

Jan. 19 — At Colo-Nesco, 8 p.m.

Jan. 22 — Dunkerton, 8 p.m.

Jan. 26 — At Clarksville, 8 p.m.

Feb. 2 — At GMG, 8 p.m.

Feb. 5 — North Tama, 8 p.m.

Feb. 6 — At Cedar Valley Christian (Springville), 4 p.m.

Feb. 9 — Don Bosco, 8 p.m.

Valley Lutheran HEAD COACH: Greg Foxhoven 2014-15 RECORD: 8-14 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (4): Blake Carlson, David Stone, Eber White, Josten Gonzales Schedule Nov. 23 — At North Linn, 6 p.m.

Dec. 1 — At North Tama, 8 p.m.

Dec. 4 — CAL, 8 p.m.

Dec. 5 — At Clarksville, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 — Waterloo Christian, 8 p.m.

Dec. 11 — At Riceville, 8 p.m.

Dec. 12 — At Central City, 4:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 — Tripoli, 8 p.m.

Dec. 18 — At Meskwaki Settlement, 8 p.m.

Dec. 22 — Don Bosco, 8 p.m.

Jan. 5 — Dunkerton, 8 p.m.

Jan. 8 — At Janesville, 8 p.m.

Jan. 9 — Clarksville, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 — At CAL, 8 p.m.

Jan. 19 — At Tripoli, 8 p.m.

Jan. 22 — At GMG, 8 p.m.

Jan. 26 — Colo-Nesco, 8 p.m.

Jan. 28 — Grundy Center, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 — Janesville, 8 p.m.

Feb. 4 — BCLUW, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 5 — Riceville, 8 p.m.

Feb. 9 — At Dunkerton, 8 p.m.

PREP BOYS’ BASKETBALL: MOVING UP

Freshmen can make an early impact

Coaches finding more 9th-graders ready to play on varsity JIM SULLIVAN jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com‌

Two freshmen jumped on the fast track to Cedar Falls’ varsity basketball team last season.

To Ryan Schultz, bringing up A.J. Green and Trey LaBeaux early was not a snap decision.

“Definitely, when you do something like that, you have to consider it carefully,” said the head

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boys’ basketball coach for the Tigers. “There are a lot of things that go into that.”

A few years ago, Waterloo Christian coach Dave Liverance moved a freshman guard on to his varsity roster. Last season, Tim Doering scored 27 points per game as a junior.

“I never had a philosophy,” said Liverance. “I take a look at each kid individually. We want to make sure we look at what’s in the best interests of that young man.”

Al McGuire, the legendary basketball coach and broadcaster is credited with saying, “The

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best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores.” McGuire was speaking about the college game, of course, where many freshmen get on the court immediately.

At high schools in Iowa, basketball coaches are no different than their peers at the varsity level in football, baseball or so on. They value experience, so the roster is stocked with as many seniors as they can find. Freshmen and sophomore frequently get seasoned at their respective grade levels, and then make the move to the varsity as juniors.

Yet, as much as a head coach might want his top freshman to become a sophomore and then a junior before giving him playing time, there are times when that young player is ready or needed.

At Cedar Falls, for example, Green and LaBeaux moved into the starting lineup last year. Doering didn’t start as a freshman at Waterloo Christian, but he was in the rotation.

Nate Steege, the varsity head coach at Waverly-Shell Rock, turned to a freshman named Connor Coleman when he needed a starter at point guard. Later, he

brought up a young Jake Velky, who came off the bench.

Both players blossomed into allstaters before their varsity careers ended. Velky helped the Go-Hawks win a state title as a sophomore.

“I think a couple of things factor into it,” said Steege, regarding using freshmen on the varsity. “No. 1, the kids play a lot more basketball than they used to. They become complete players at a higher level earlier in their careers. I don’t think it’s as big a jump as it used to be, but it’s still a pretty big jump.”

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AREA BOYS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW

W-SR reloads for another strong run

Velky gone, but Go-Hawks aren’t lacking talent or experience

Camry Moore are back for their senior seasons.

Said Steege, “I really like our team. We have a lot of experience back. Obviously, having Austin in the middle is a big plus for us with his experience as a third-year guy. Mosley and Moore are more three-year guys for us. Those three bring back a lot of experience. We have some key role players back, as well.

“We have the pieces. At this point, it’s hard to tell, not having seen them playing together. But I think we should have a pretty solid team.”

Steege believes the competition in Class 3A will be strong this year.

Teams like Spirit Lake, defending champion Dubuque Wahlert, Pella and Cedar Rapids Xavier are listed as potential contenders for a title.

“There will be a lot of good players in 3A,” said Steege. “This is one of the best fields we’ve seen in a while.”

Gladbrook-Reinbeck had a season for the ages in 2014-15. The Rebels went 28-0 while winning a Class 1A championship.

Head coach Scott Kiburis lost a good share of talent from that team, most notably guard Camden

Kickbush and center Zach Pierce.

But all-state guard Joe Smoldt returns. So does senior Colton Dinsdale, the G-R defensive specialist who may take on a greater offensive role in 2015-16. Josh Cooley has a chance to pick up some of the offensive slack.

Tyler Eifler will provide some size inside and Matt Roeding gives G-R another good defensive player. There’s also another Kickbush in the pipeline — younger brother Cayden.

“With the football team being so successful and soccer and baseball, they want to compete,” said

Kiburis of his 2015-16 basketball team. “The expectations are trying to compete every day. We expect to get better every day, hopefully compete for a conference title and hopefully, when the tournament comes, we’ll be ready and prepared to step up.”

Kiburis expects the NICL West to be “pretty solid” in the top half, with AGWSR and Grundy Center among the top contenders.

In the NICL East, AplingtonParkersburg loses all-stater Ross Cooper after he helped the Falcons reach the state tournament. A-P should return senior guard Nick Waller and other members of the rotation. Dike-New Hartford had five players average 8.0 points per game or more last year. All of them were underclassmen.

Dave Liverance, the head basketball coach at Waterloo Christian, believes a couple of teams could separate from the field in the Iowa Star South.

“I think there is some separation,” said Liverance. “You have Meskwaki and Colo-Nesco on our side that are a little bit above the rest of the schools in the conference. Don Bosco, North TamaGMG, us — we’re all relatively close to each other in level of play.

It’ll be interesting to see how that mix happens.”

Riceville is a new member of the Iowa Star and will play out of the North Division. Janesville, according to Liverance, looks like the favorite in that half of the league.

Tripoli is a possible contender.

“Janesville is solid,” said Liverance. “Tripoli is Tripoli — great defense. They get after you and execute offensively. On any given night they can beat anyone in the conference. It’ll be an interesting year, conference-wise.”

Carondis Harris-Anderson. Both earned second-team All-Metro spots a year ago and they finished 2014-15 as the No. 2 and No. 3 scorers behind Conrey’s 18.7 points a game. Harris-Anderson tallied 7.3 ppg and Pepin 6.4.

To Berinobis, the key will be contributions from all 10 seniors on the roster.

“They ultimately will decide how far we will go as a team,” said the West coach, who added, “If all the cards play out, I truly believe that we could end up in the upper half of our division.”

Steve McGraw begins the second season of his second stint as Waterloo East’s head coach. The Trojans return four letterwinners from a year ago while losing their top four scorers.

While posting just three victories last season, the players got to know McGraw’s system, and he got to know the players. The Hall of Fame coach expects that experience to be helpful this year.

“Quite a bit,” said McGraw.

“This year, I’ve been able to observe them, either in open gyms or the AAU stuff in the summer. I have a much better idea of what they can do and what they

can’t do. I think they have a better grasp of what we want to do.

It’s a much better situation now.”

McGraw said East will have a bit more size on this year’s team, but it must still bank on quickness.

He also thinks his junior class can provide some depth after a respectable year at the sophomore level.

Waterloo Columbus is one of two metro teams with a new boys’ basketball coach on the bench, although he’s no stranger to the school. Ben Barnett played for the Sailors in high school. He also served as an assistant basketball coach from 2011 through 2014, and he’s now on the Columbus football staff as well as the head track coach.

Barnett was a sophomore coach at West last season. Now, he’s taking over the varsity at Columbus.

“It’s going to be surreal,” said Barnett. “I grew up fantasizing about competing for Columbus at Oppold Gymnasium and then I did that. I laced up the shoes and threw on the jersey and played with intensity and passion. My approach today is similar to what it was back then.”

Barnett has four letterwinners on his 2015-16 squad. At the same time, he must replace plenty of veterans, among them leading scorers Kyle McMahon and Beau McMahon plus top rebounder Christian Hellman.

Barnett watched last year’s Sailors play on a few occasions.

He saw an up and down basketball team.

“We’ll took to establish more consistency, for the better, this year,” he said.

Veteran Waterloo Christian head coach Dave Liverance welcomes back four letterwinners from last season’s 9-13 team, among them one of the state’s top scorers. As a junior, guard Tim Doering ranked second in Class 1A by averaging 27.2 points per game.

“Yeah, having him back is just huge for us,” said Liverance.

“He’s able to penetrate and get other people involved and he’s also able to create some shots for himself, too. He’s a good leader, a good defensive player. We’re looking forward to his final season with us.”

Doering also led the Regents in rebounding and assists last

season. He’ll be joined by veterans Luke Zwack, Jordan Liverance and Heath Darst, while Liverance will have to replace three departed seniors.

Valley Lutheran will begin its 2015-16 season with a new head coach. Jeff Foxhoven takes over for Ehren Simmer, who started the Crusaders’ program a few years ago.

A Cedar Rapids Xavier graduate who is now a junior at Northern Iowa, Foxhoven played four years of basketball in high school. He’s coached at St. Patrick’s Middle School in Cedar Falls. Now, armed with knowledge gleaned from coaches like Ryan Luehrsmann at Xavier, he gets a turn at Valley Lutheran.

Said Foxhoven, “I hope to bring an up-tempo style of play to Valley Lutheran. I want to push the ball offensively and really pressure the ball up and down the court defensively.”

For Foxhoven and his Crusaders, one of the keys will be replacing Isaiah Armbrecht, who led VLS in scoring (19.0 ppg) and rebounding (11.0 rpg). Blake Carlson, the No. 2 scoring a year ago at 11.7 ppg, does return.

adjust. Maybe their skills are ready to play at the varsity level. But, from the mental side, they’re not quite ready. That particular year, they need six or eight JV games to help get them to that level. Others need the freshman level to bring them along.

“Maybe with a Tim Doering you can push him right away because of how he was built. He came in after eight or nine older brothers pushed him along right. He came in with a completely different mentality than a lot of other kids.”

According to coaches like Schultz and Steege, a lot of discussion and observation happens before any decision on promoting a freshman to the varsity is made.

Unlike a lot of metro and area

high schools, Cedar Falls consists of students in grades 10 through 12. Freshman attend junior highs.

So, said Schultz there’s a policy in place that involves consultation with the parents.

While Waverly-Shell Rock is a 9-12 high school, Steege said he’ll also talk to a freshman’s family.

“We want to make sure they are comfortable, that it’s something they’re willing to do,” he said.

“We don’t want to put anyone in any situation where they’re not comfortable and not set up for success.

“We also meet with the seniors and captains. We want to make sure the guys who spend the majority of the time on the floor think it’ll be a good fit and won’t affect other factors that go into

winning ballgames.”

Through open gyms and offseason basketball, coaches get chances to watch younger players, to learn about them and their respective games. The tracking process can begin early.

So does the bonding of younger players to their older prospective teammates.

Joe Smoldt played on Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s varsity during his freshman season. Then, as a sophomore guard, Smoldt helped the Rebels win a state championship.

Before G-R took the Class 1A trophy, before Smoldt rose to the varsity in ninth grade, he had already competed a lot with Cam Kickbush and Zach Pierce and Cam Clark.

“Summer basketball helps out

a lot. I mean, I had been playing with them for four or five years,” said Smoldt. “It wasn’t too much different playing with them as older guys.

“I knew in my freshman year the game was a little bit faster than middle school. I knew that going in and that I’d have to adjust. I think I did that. I had confidence in myself I could play at that level.”

So freshmen like Green and LaBeaux have become sophomores --bigger and more experienced.

Smoldt and Doering have evolved into prep stars and team leaders.

They all began their varsity careers much faster than the average ninth grade boys’ basketball player. But it took time.

“It’s a slow process,” said Ryan Schultz.

JIM SULLIVAN jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com‌

Nate Steege said farewell to one of his most successful basketball players at the end of last season.

Losing Jake Velky doesn’t mean Waverly-Shell Rock is about to say good-bye to success.

Steege, the Go-Hawks’ head coach, knows how valuable Velky was. Before moving on to Truman State, he helped W-SR get to the state tournament in 2012, win a state championship in 2013 and return to Wells-Fargo Arena twice after that. Velky also earned allstate honors as a junior and senior.

He’s gone, but Steege knows the drill. He’s been there, done that more than once.

“We’ve been really fortunate to have some really good players every year, and then they leave,” said Steege, who’s led the Go-Hawks to five consecutive state tournament appearances.

“Everybody asks, ‘ How do you replace Jake Velky?’ How did we replace Klint Carlson or Clayton Vette? Every year’s a little different. Sometimes you have guys of a similar caliber. It just depends on the year.

“We feel that in our program we still have some good players set.

We’ve lost some good ones, but hopefully we have some new ones coming up the pipes.”

Even though Velky is gone, Waverly-Shell Rock has a returning all-stater in junior center Austin Phyfe, who has verbally committed to Northern Iowa. Veteran guards Christian Mosley and

METRO

Columbus, Valley have new head coaches From page C2 “We’re excited, but at the same time you just know there’s never a night off in our league,” said Schultz, who sees LinnMar, Iowa City West, Dubuque Wahlert and Iowa City High as potential favorites.

Waterloo West, in Cliff Berinobis’ second season as head coach, will have to replace an all-stater.

Lincoln Conrey was a do-it-all man for the Wahawks a year ago, and now he’s a redshirt at Northern Iowa.

“Lincoln Conrey’s on-court presence and his leadership will be irreplaceable,” said Berinobis.

“He did so many things for us last year. Once again, we will have to be team-oriented to succeed this year with every teammate taking up the slack for what Lincoln brought to the table.”

Like Cedar Falls, West appears to have depth. Among the 10 returning letterwinners are senior Gabe Pepin and sophomore

FRESHMEN Moving up isn’t right decision for everyone From page C2 But, say the coaches, going with freshmen is not done with haste or little thought. It’s a process, and a unique one at that.

“I feel good about it,” said Schultz about promoting LaBeaux and Green relatively early in their prep careers. “But, like I said, it’s an exceptional situation. It’s not something I look to do year-in and year-out.”

Said Liverance, “Other freshmen are just not ready for the quickness or — call it the tough, physical play that happens. Some kids need a little more time to

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METRO GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Young Tigers hope to ace chemistry test Cedar Falls returns young but promising team this season NICK PETAROS nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

CEDAR FALLS — Longtime assistant Gregg Groen couldn’t have asked for a much better first season on the job as Cedar Falls’ head girls’ basketball coach.

Not only did the 2014-15 Tigers return to the state tournament for the first time in seven years, they accomplished that feat with an unselfish group invested in the concept of teamwork.

Entering year two at the helm, Groen hopes that chemistry becomes contagious.

“Last year we had a great group of girls that just worked really well together,” Groen said. “I think they saw how that team worked in making it a team effort and that really paid off and gave us that opportunity to go to state.

“I see that same philosophy going into this season The girls want to do everything teamwise. They don’t care who gets the credit, how it gets done, they just want to make sure it gets

done. When you have a team like that and girls like that, I think it makes it fun to coach.”

Cedar Falls graduated its top two point guards, Addison Long and Jamie Becker, along with second-team all-state post Adrienne Boettger. But the Tigers return six letterwinners and Groen can list up to seven more prospects capable of supplying depth.

Senior Emma Gerdes is back after averaging 12 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.1 assists a year ago. Kiana Barney is back following a strong freshman campaign in which she averaged 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots a game. Ally Conrad hit the game-winning shot that lifted Cedar Falls to state and returns as a junior guard.

Senior Ellie Burken and sophomores Cynthia Wolf and Hailey Paup figure to be strong options in the post, while seniors Annie Bigler and Josie Johnson join five juniors as options for backcourt depth.

“We have a very young team,” Groen added. “So it will be interesting to see how quickly we TIM HYNDS / Lee News Service can develop that team chemistry Emma Gerdes of Cedar Falls slips a pass around on the court.”

Waukee’s Andie Mataloni, center, and Anna Kollmorgen during a state tournament matchup last season.

See GIRLS, page C5

Cedar Falls HEAD COACH: Gregg Groen 2014-15 RECORD: 18-6 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (6): Emma Gerdes, sr., Kiana Barney, so., Ally Conrad, jr., Annie Bigler, sr., Ellie Burken, sr., Josie Johnson, sr.

Schedule Nov. 23 — at Columbus, Metro Jamboree, TBD Nov. 24 — at Charles City Dec. 1 — Cedar Rapids Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 — at Cedar Rapids Prairie, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 5 — at Dubuque Wahlert, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 — at Cedar Rapids Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 — Waterloo East, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 12 — Decorah, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 — Dubuque Hempstead, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 — at Iowa City High, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 5 — Dubuque Wahlert, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 — Linn-Mar, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 — at Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 — Waterloo West, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 16 — Mason City, 5 p.m.

Jan. 22 — Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 23 — New Hampton, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 — at Iowa City West, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 — Dubuque Senior, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 30 — at Ames, 5 p.m.

Feb. 5 — at Waterloo East, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 9 — Iowa City High, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 — at Waterloo West, 7:30 p.m.

Waterloo East HEAD COACH: William Muhammad 2014-15 RECORD: 0-21 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (10): LaTrina Austin, so., Essence Baker, so., Shania Campbell, sr., Selena Collier, jr., Marquasha Johnson-Love, sr., Zaneihga Kemp, so., Jaquasia Love, sr., Tamia Sisk, jr., Taleigha Watson, jr., Shelby Werner, sr.

Schedule Nov. 23 — at Columbus, Metro Jamboree, TBD Nov. 24 — at Linn-Mar, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 27 — at Waterloo West Tournament, 5 p.m.

Nov. 28 — at Waterloo West Tournament, 5 p.m.

Dec. 1 — at Marshalltown, 6:15 p.m.

Dec. 4 — Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 7 — at Oelwein, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 — Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 — at Cedar Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 — at Iowa City, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 — Dubuque Senior, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 5 — Waterloo West, 6 p.m.

Jan. 8 — at Cedar Rapids Prairie, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 — Iowa City High, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 — at Dubuque Hempstead, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 — at Cedar Rapids Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 — Cedar Rapids Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 — at Dubuque Wahlert, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 5 — Cedar Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 9 — at Waterloo West, 6 p.m.

Feb. 11 — Mason City, 6:15 p.m.

Feb. 12 — Cedar Rapids Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

Waterloo West HEAD COACH: Tony Pappas 2014-15 RECORD: 5-18 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (5): Tahya Campbell, jr., Aliyah Robinson, jr., Alonnie Young, jr., Jessica Werner, sr., Aleah Cook, so.

Schedule Nov. 21 — West Delaware (Hall of Pride), TBD Nov. 23 — at Columbus, Metro Jamboree, TBD Nov. 27 — Waterloo West Tournament, 5 p.m.

Nov. 28 — Waterloo West Tournament, 5 p.m.

Dec. 1 — at Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 — Linn-Mar, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 — Dubuque Senior, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 — at Iowa City West, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 12 — at Columbus, 6:15 p.m.

Dec. 15 — at Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 — Dubuque Wahlert, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 5 — at Waterloo East, 6 p.m.

Jan. 8 — Cedar Rapids Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 — Cedar Rapids Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 — at Cedar Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 — Waverly-Shell Rock, 6 p.m.

Jan. 22 — at Cedar Rapids Prairie, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 — Iowa City High, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 — at Dubuque Hempstead, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 5 — at Cedar Rapids Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 6 — at Fort Dodge, 6:15 p.m.

Feb. 9 — Waterloo West, 6 p.m.

BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer

Waterloo West’s Tahya Campbell makes a pass around Iowa City West’s Bella Lozano-Dobbs during a game last season.

Feb. 12 — Cedar Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Waterloo Columbus CO-HEAD COACH: Mark Sinnwell, Dick Schons 2014-15 RECORD: 3-19 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (6): Molly McLaughlin, sr., Grace Surma, jr., Domonique Woods, sr., Chloe Jamason, so. Olivia Fain, so., Lily Christensen, so.

Schedule Nov. 23 — Metro Jamboree, TBD Nov. 28 — Don Bosco, 6:15 p.m.

Dec. 5 — vs. South Hardin, Wartburg College, 11:30 a.m.

Dec. 8 — at Denver, 6:15 p.m.

Dec. 11 — Union, 6:15 p.m.

Dec. 12 — Waterloo West, 6:15 p.m.

Dec. 15 — Wapsie Valley, 6:15 p.m.

Dec. 18 — at Aplington-Parkersburg, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 5 — Jesup, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 8 — at Sumner-Fredericksburg, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 12 — at Dike-New Hartford, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 14 — Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 19 — Denver, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 22 — at Union, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 23 — at BCLUW, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 25 — Don Bosco, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 — at Wapsie Valley, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 29 — Aplington-Parkersburg, 6:15 p.m.

Feb. 1 — East Marshall, 6:15 p.m.

Feb. 4 — at Jesup, 6:15 p.m.

Feb. 5 — Sumner-Fredericksburg, 6:15 p.m.

Feb. 9 — Dike-New Hartford, 7:15 p.m.

Waterloo Christian HEAD COACH: Danielle Schoonhoven 2014-15 RECORD: 2-20 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (6): Kristin Kimball, sr., Ally Youse, sr., Whitney Smith, sr., Allison Mazzarella, sr., Sydney Nystrom, jr., Mallory Smith, so.

Schedule Nov. 24 — Don Bosco, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 30 — at BCLUW, 6 p.m.

Dec. 1 — Meskwaki, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 — at North Tama, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 — at Valley Lutheran, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 — GMG, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 — Colo-NESCO, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 — Tripoli, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 19 — CAL, 5 p.m.

Dec. 22 — Riceville, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 4 — West Central, 6 p.m.

Jan. 8 — at Don Bosco, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 9 — Central City, 3 p.m.

Jan. 12 — at Janesville, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 — at Meskwaki, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 — at Colo-NESCO, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 — Dunkerton, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 — at Clarksville, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 — at GMG, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 5 — North Tama, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 6 — at Cedar Valley Christian, 3 p.m.

Valley Lutheran HEAD COACH: Hannah Krenz 2014-15 RECORD: 1-21 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (1-21): Katrina Piehl, sr., Jasper Downs, sr., Katelynn Panning, so., Trinity Killian, so., Kelsey L’Heureux, jr., Ardis White, jr., Sophia Killian, so., Elsa Swanson, so., Abigail Krohn, jr., Emma Armbrecht, so.

Schedule Nov. 24 — at Dunkerton, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 1 — at North Tama, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 — CAL, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 5 — at Clarksville, 5 p.m.

Dec. 8 — Waterloo Christian, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 — at Riceville, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 12 — at Central City, 3 p.m.

Dec. 15 — Tripoli, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 — at Meskwaki, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 22 — Don Bosco, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 5 — Dunkerton, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 — at Janesville, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 9 — Clarksville, 5 p.m.

Jan. 12 — at CAL, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 — at Tripoli, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 — at GMG, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 — Colo-NESCO, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 28 — Grundy Center, 6 p.m.

Feb. 2 — Janesville, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 4 — BCLUW, 6 p.m.

Feb. 5 — Riceville, 6:30 p.m.

PREP GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: PRESSURE POINTS

Team needs make a point Today’s point guards asked to fill a variety of roles NICK PETAROS nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

Waterloo West coach Tony Pappas had an opportunity to coach one of the state’s top guards in the late 1980s.

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professional basketball player Molly Goodenbour fit the mold as a combo guard or 1.5. She could do it all.

“Your point guards tend to be your best ball-handlers, best passers, probably your best scorers because they play the most,” Pappas said. “Molly Goodenbour is the prime example of a 1.5. She was a tremendous shooter, tremendous ball-handler, tremendous passer, tremendous

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“We had to have her do it all. You couldn’t play her at the shooting guard spot and you couldn’t just play her at the point guard spot so basically we kind of made her a 1.5 and that’s been a case with a lot of our point guards.”

Nearly two decades later, Pappas found a more prototypical point

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PAGE C5

AREA GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Juniors could help Union pivot forward Knights looking to make big move with experienced roster NICK PETAROS nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

Union Community coach Robert Driscol’s basketball team is growing up.

After finishing 18-5 a year ago, continued progress from a cohesive and battle-tested squad could allow Union to contend for a North Iowa Cedar League title, along with making a run toward the school’s first state tournament appearance since 2001.

The Knights return all five starters from a year ago and also bring back their first guard and post off the bench.

The best part? They’re all juniors.

“They were young last year and made some rookie mistakes at times, but all of them have played quite a bit of basketball,” Driscol said. “They’re pretty experienced, and instead of hitting on the younger end of the spectrum as freshman and sophomores, now they’re upperclassmen. I look for that age and experience to really help them out to have a more successful season that what we did last year.”

Among the key weapons at Driscol’s disposal are Courtney Powell and Kaeli Block, who averaged 13.8 and 12.3 points per game a year ago. Both have proven themselves as strong 3-point threats, in addition to Maggie Driscol and Jordyn Nagel. Jackie Barz is back as one of the top rebounders from that junior class.

“I think they’re all competitive kids,” Driscol said. “They want to do their best and they want to win. Once that role is defined, they seem to accept their role quite well and do their best to help their team succeed.”

Union will face stiff competition from defending conference champion and regional finalist Dike-New Hartford and a

GIRLS

West looking to make a big move this season From page C4 At Waterloo West, veteran coach Tony Pappas returns five letterwinners from a team that finished 5-18 a year ago. That group includes Tahya Campbell (16.6 points a game) and Aliyah Robinson (10.4).

“We just hope that we’ve improved enough where we can really go out and compete with the top teams in the state this year,” Pappas said, addressing an always challenging Mississippi Valley Conference schedule.

Taleigha Watson is the top returning scorer for a Waterloo East program that went winless a year ago. The Trojans have 10 players back from last year’s varsity roster.

At Waterloo Columbus, the Sailors graduated leading scorer and rebounder Brooke Craig from last year’s three-win campaign. Kiki

POINT

Position has evolved as game gets faster From page C4 guard to lead the Wahawks into the 2014 state semifinals. Surrounded by a cast of three NCAA Division I recruits, Sammie Sproul was a quick, strong ball-handler and savvy passer who helped facilitate what became statistically the most efficient offense Pappas has coached.

“She was an example of a true point guard at the high school

W-SR graduated four starters off its 23-1 team, but brings back six letterwinners. Junior Payton Draper, who averaged 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a point guard last year, has grown to 6-foot-1 and remains a strong ball-handling option.

Katie Harken (5-foot-10) and Bekka Pierson (6-2) received regular minutes off the bench last season and should be part of a group of lengthy defenders.

W-SR will receive a strong test early as Mason City, a 5A state qualifier a year ago, drops down to Class 4A this year and will face the Go-Hawks on Dec. 3.

“I think we have the potential to be pretty good,” W-SR coach Greg Bodensteiner said. “We have some young kids that I think really help us. It’s just going to be filling the gaps and see what happens with our depth after we get past those kids that are stepping into new roles.”

Crestwood coach Doug Sickles’ team was also hit hard by graduation. Shannon Pinsey, who averaged a 12.4 points and a teambest 8.4 rebounds as a freshman, is the lone returning letterwinner.

The Cadets, however, did have a strong junior varsity team a year ago.

“We have a good building block with her (Pisney) and we’ll just try and fit in the pieces,” Sickles said. “We’ll see if our kids can make that jump from being successful in the JV level to the varsity level.”

In the Iowa Star Conference, Janesville graduated just three seniors from a 21-2 team, while Dunkerton finished 14-9 a year ago and returns its top scorer in Alecia Kimball (16.7 points per game).

The Upper Iowa Conference’s TIFFANY RUSHING / Courier Staff Photographer Turkey Valley also appears poised Waverly-Shell Rock’s Payton Draper, left, drives the ball around Marion’s Chloe Rice during a regional final last for a strong season after returnseason. ing several key pieces from last year’s 23-2 team. Shelby Reicks, Sumner-Fredericksburg program their young teams, as well as Ap- as a state qualifier in Class 4A — Morgen Kuennen and Emily Busthat also has strong multi-sport lington-Parkersburg. losing just one game a year ago — ta were underclassmen who averathletes. Denver and Wapsie ValIn the Northeast Iowa Confer- while Crestwood has made the aged more than 10 points a game ley return some key pieces from ence, Waverly-Shell Rock returns last two 3A state tournaments. last season.

Cabrera, a leader on Columbus’ state-qualifying soccer team, will be a new addition after sitting out last season due to transfer rules.

Senior guard Molly McLaughlin is the top returning scorer for a team that has plenty of backcourt depth.

“We’ll need to improve our inside play and defense in the paint,” co-head coach Dick Schons said.

“We hope to be quick and a good outside shooting team.”

At Waterloo Christian, first-year coach Danielle Schoonhoven takes over following the graduation of four key players from last year’s two-win team. Schoonhoven is still pleased with the cohesive group she returns.

“They have spent countless games on the court with each other and know how each one plays and what to expect from each one,” Schoonhoven said.

Valley Lutheran finished with one win a year ago and returns COURTNEY COLLINS / Courier Staff Photographer Emma Armbrecht from a freshman season in which she averaged Cedar Falls’ Kiana Barney, left, drives the ball down the court as Cedar Rapids Washington’s Alexandra Semrau tries to cut her off last season.

10.3 points a game. level because she facilitated,” Pappas said. “She led the state in steals and assists and she did a tremendous job of setting up her teammates.”

While point guards come in a variety of styles, the role of an experienced ball-handler and leader is as important now as ever. An increase in defense pressure has helped facilitate that need.

“We see more teams that want to play you full-court from one end to the next for an entire game,” said Gregg Groen, who coached Cedar Falls to the 2015 Class 5A state tournament. “If you don’t have a point guard with the

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composure and know-how, that can wear not only on a player, but a team.

“It seems like when you have a point guard that has that confidence, they can face any type of pressure a team brings, along with the help of teammates. It’s a huge factor in being successful, having a point guard that can run the show.”

Doug Sickles, who has spent the last 12 years coaching at Crestwood, feels the game has become quicker, forcing point guards to adapt. His daughter, Madison, ran point for the Cadets’ previous two state qualifying teams.

“The game is a lot more up-tempo,” Sickles said. “Kids have got to have a more diverse skill-set than maybe 10 years ago. They have to be able to put it on the floor a little more, push the ball more. The thing I’ve seen change is the tempo of the game.”

While having a point guard with the ability to shoot 3-pointers is a nice luxury, Waverly-Shell Rock coach Greg Bodensteiner sees more successful point guards creating off the dribble.

“I think the point guard position has evolved into somebody who is more of a table-setter than go get us 20 (points) and do everything,”

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Bodensteiner said. “If you don’t have a point guard who can off the dribble break down a defense, you’re at a disadvantage. I feel like when I was in high school, the point guard’s job was to get the ball down the floor, get everybody in the offense and then run something. Now it’s all about creating for someone else.”

One trait that hasn’t changed with time is leadership.

“Our great point guards have really been mentally tough players,” Pappas said. “Really sharp, strong with the ball, good leaders. They knew the game. Without a doubt that’s been their greatest trait.”

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METRO WRESTLING

Time is right for Columbus to make its move The Trojans also took a hit when last year’s most valuable wrestler, Chase Pryor, and his 40 victories was lost for the season with an ACL injury sustained during football.

East returns strong group in upper weight classes

Waterloo West

JIM NELSON jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

The time is now for Waterloo Columbus.

First-year Sailor wrestling coach Denny Boleyn doesn’t have time to wait for the future. With a veteran team returning from a 9-6 dual meet season, Columbus is primed to have a big year.

Five Sailors — Colin Schmitz, Ethan Schmitz, Eric Schaffer, Kaleb Boleyn and Ethan Smith — finished third in the sectional tournament last year. Another returner, Jacob Haag, qualified for the district meet.

And with no sophomores or incoming freshmen on his roster, Boleyn says the time is now.

“We should have a good group of kids that made some big leaps last year and hopefully can continue to build on it,” Boleyn said.

“It is a veteran group. The question we hope to answer is to have a lot of those third-place sectional guys make a jump and qualify for district, state.”

Offseason workouts have been strong for the Sailors. Kaleb Boleyn, the head coach’s son, was active in the summer freestyle circuit.

Second-year head coach Kevin Emily will rely on returning state qualifier Sam Gerst and three-year starter Cody Rodebush to help in the Wahawks’ rebuilding process.

With a young and inexperienced team a year ago, West struggled to a 2-20 record.

“We should make significant improvements,” Emily said.

Rodebush and Gerst manned the 170and 182-pound spots for the Wahawks last year. Other key contributors back are Yashad Dufashard, Sam Wright, Jacob McKnight, Cameron Happel and Evan Baker.

Cedar Falls Tiger head coach Wil Kelly said it will be a growth and development year after Cedar Falls graduated 11 seniors last year, including state runner-up and current Iowa State Cyclone Dan Kelly.

“We lost a lot of guys, a lot of starters BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer that graduated,” Kelly said. “I’m excited Waterloo East’s Omar Begic returns this season for the Trojans after a seventh-place finish at the Class 3A state about the young guys we have coming in tournament. and there is a lot of enthusiasm. But we have to grow and develop those young Nationals.

“I’m excited to see the veter- a surplus of upper weight wrestlers. guys.”

“We have all our bigger guys back,” an guys improve, and Kaleb put On the other hand, Llewellyn’s team is Kelly said the Tigers will be boosted Llewellyn said. “And we have our weighthis time in and I’m excited to see not nearly as deep in the lower weights. by a pair of wrestlers who were limited Led by heavyweight Omar Begic, sevlifting program back. The problem is, I where he ends up,” Boleyn said. a year ago — Jacob Watters (132) and had a bunch of middle weight guys who enth in 3A last year, and state qualifier Bryce Pilcher (170-82). Nine other wresNakema Carter at 220, East may have the now all weigh 170 pounds or more. We tlers saw some action with the varsity are going to have to get some of those strongest metro team. In addition to the last season. A pair of incoming freshmen, Jay Llewellyn has a problem that most two state qualifiers, expected 195-pound guys to sacrifice and cut some weight, Andrew Schwab and Jake Penrith, are wrestling programs would like to have ... starter Payne Johnson qualified for Fargo spread out.” expected to contribute early.

Waterloo East

Jan. 23 — At Waverly-Shell Rock Invitational Jan. 30 — At MVC Supermeet (At Cedar Rapids Prairie) Feb. 4 — At Cedar Falls

Columbus

Cedar Falls

HEAD COACH: Wil Kelly HEAD COACH: Denny Boleyn 2014-15 DUAL RECORD: 12-12 overall, 3-3 MVC 2014-15 DUAL RECORD: 9-6 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (12): Colin Klatt, RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (10): Colin Tanner Doyle, Tommy Custer, Gabe Penrith, Carter Schmitz, Ethan Schmitz, Eric Schaffer, Zach Holton, Russell, Brock Weidenbacher, Ryleigh Reed, Javon Mitchell Schaffer, Kaleb Boleyn, Ethan Smith, Jacob Hunt, Bryce Pilcher, Ryan Roth, Caleb O’Conner, Haag, Dana Boesen, Mason Clasen Jacob Watters.

Schedule Schedule Dec. 1 — At Charles City (vs. Charles City, Dec. 3 — Dubuque Wahlert, CR Jefferson Independence, New Hampton) Dec. 5 — Keith Young Invitational Dec. 3 — At Union (vs. Union, Denver-Tripoli) Dec. 10 — At West Dec. 5 — At Keith Young Invitational Dec. 12 — At Western Dubuque Invitational Dec. 10 — At Dike-New Hartford (vs. DNH, AGWSR) Dec. 17 — At Iowa City West (vs. IC West, Dubuque Dec. 12 — At Nashua-Plainfield Invitational Senior) Dec. 17 — Hudson Dec. 18-19 — Battle of Waterloo Dec. 18-19 — Battle of Waterloo Jan. 7 — At Cedar Rapids Kennedy (vs. Kennedy, Jan. 2 — At East (vs. East, West) Linn-Mar) Jan. 7 — At Sumner (vs. East Marshall, Jan. 9 — At Crestwood Invitational Sumner-Fredericksburg) Jan. 14 — At Iowa City High Jan. 8 — At Linn-Mar Invitational Jan. 16 — At West Des Moines Valley Duals Jan. 14 — At State Center (vs. West Marshall, Jan. 21 — Dubuque Hempstead BCLUW) Jan. 23 — At Ed Winger Invitational (Urbandale) Jan. 16 — At Hudson Invitational Jan. 30 — At MVC Championships (At CR Prairie) Jan. 21 — Wapsie Valley, GRNT Feb. 4 — Waterloo East Jan. 26 — Aplington-Parkersburg, Jesup, Sumner-Fredericksburg Jan. 29 — At NICL Tournament (Parkersburg) Jan. 30 — At NICL Tournament (Conrad)

Waterloo East

Waterloo West

HEAD COACH: Kevin Emily HEAD COACH: Jay Llewellyn 2014-15 DUAL RECORD: 2-20 overall, 1-5 MVC 2014-15 DUAL RECORD: 11-21 overall, 3-3 in RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (7): Yashad MVC Dufashard, Sam Wright, Jacob McKnight, Cameron RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (11): Darrell Happel, Evan Baker, Cody Rodebush, Sam Gerst.

Lowery, Braydon Good, Nathan Nielson, Jeremiah Schedule Jordan, Dalyne King, Sam Mosely, Eric Gleiter, Payne Dec. 3 — Waterloo East, Cedar Rapids Washington Johnson, Nakema Carter, Omar Begic, Chase Pryor.

Dec. 5 — At Keith Young Invitational Schedule Dec. 10 — Cedar Falls Dec. 3 — At West (vs. West, Cedar Rapids Dec. 12 — At Western Dubuque Invitational Washington) Dec. 17 — At Iowa City High (vs. City High, Dec. 5 — At Bob Murphy Invitational (Manchester) Dubuque Hempstead) Dec. 10 — At Dubuque Wahlert Dec. 18-19 — Battle of Waterloo Dec. 12 — At Oelwein Invitational Jan. 2 — At East (vs. East, Columbus) Dec. 17 — At Linn-Mar Jan. 7 — At Cedar Rapids Xavier (vs. Xavier, CR Dec. 18-19 — Battle of Waterloo Prairie) Jan. 2 — Columbus, Waterloo West Jan. 9 — At Benton Community Invitational Jan. 7 — Dubuque Senior Jan. 14 — At Cedar Rapids Kennedy Jan. 9 — At New Hampton Invitational Jan. 15-16 — At Bettendorf Invitational Jan. 14 — At Dubuque Hempstead (vs. Hempstead, Jan. 21 — Dubuque Senior CR Prairie) Jan. 23 — At Clinton Invitational Jan. 16 — At Cedar Rapids Jefferson Invitational Dec. 28 — At Dubuque Wahlert Jan. 21 — Iowa City High, CR Xavier Jan. 30 — At MVC Championships (At CR Prairie)

PREP WRESTLING: THE FOUR-TIME DREAM

One state title just a beginning Millage understands the challenges that await him JIM NELSON jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

CRESCO — Lisbon’s Carter Happel is in line to be No. 25.

Crestwood’s Michael Millage would like to be No. 26.

Happel, the Iowa recruit, won his third individual state championship last February at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines and is the prohibitive favorite to make it four in a row in 2016.

Millage, on the other hand, was one of three freshmen to win state titles in 2015, joining Underwood’s Alex Thomsen and Fort Dodge’s Brody Teske.

Immediate thoughts after those victories always sway toward those wrestlers’ chances as potential four-time state champions.

But four-time state champ is easier said than accomplished. Crestwood coach Keith Slifka knows that, and he believes Millage does, too.

Slifka’s reasoning is solid.

Kids like Millage, Thomsen and Teske are unique in how they are motivated.

“To be honest,” Slifka said.

“Michael is very self-motivated. I don’t have to do things to attract him to work hard.”

Slifka relates a story of when Dan Gable was in

Cresco Oct. 21 for the dedication of a mural of the legendary wrestler at the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame.

While speaking, Gable turned to find Millage and congratulate him, only to be informed Millage had left to go work out.

“He (Gable) said, ‘If Michael is as good as he was last year he won’t be a state champion this year. He needs to be better.’”

Although Millage was not there to hear those words from Gable, he’s aware that the 2016 Michael Millage needs to be better than the 2015 version. Expected to bump up to 113 from 106 this season, Millage said he only has to point to the results he’s had in the offseason as proof improvement is needed.

In July, Millage did not place at the Fargo Nationals.

Then last month, while he won three matches, he failed to place at the prestigious Super 32 in Greensboro,

N.C., where one of his biggest rivals and teammates at the Elite Takedown Club in Waverly, Noah Fye, took eighth at 113.

“I haven’t really reached my goals on the national level,” Millage said. “Yeah, I went 3-2, but I should’ve never been on the back side.

It’s a good tournament. I’m going to work hard, go back there and prove myself. Fargo ... didn’t do as well there, either.

“There are things I need to get better at.”

Millage’s path to a second state title is filled with potential potholes.

In his own conference, Millage will have to contend with Fye, and because Clarion-Goldfield/Dows was reclassified to 2A, 1A 106-pound state champion Justin Portillo, who has been wrestling most of the preseason at 113, could be an obstacle.

“It’s a pretty easy reminder (of the competition out

there),” Millage said. “But as much as everyone looks forward to the state tournament, I’m not looking to state yet. There is so much work and growth I need to have over the next three months before I really think about state.”

That is the kind of thinking that Slifka has tried to instill in Millage. At the same time, like many elite level athletes, Slifka says Millage has a lot of confidence in his abilities.

“This isn’t the right word, but it is an arrogance,” Slifka said. “Michael understands how every single match is important and that each time he steps onto the mat whether it is a match or a practice, he needs to be better than he was the last time.

“So, when he steps out there and because of the work he puts in and the confidence in his abilities, he BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer knows he will succeed. All top-notch kids have that. Crestwood’s Michael Millage, right, hugs his coach after Michael is not arrogant, but beating Columbus Community’s Josh Keller in the 106-pound Class 2A championship match last season. it is arrogance in a way.”

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PAGE C7

AREA WRESTLING PREVIEW

BRANDON POLLOCK/ Courier Staff Photographer

BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer

Union’s Derek Holschlag, top, wrestles Clear Lake’s Brennan Doebel in the 113-pound, Class 2A state champion- New Hampton’s Keaton Geerts tries to escape from Sergeant Bluff-Luton’s ship match last season.

Brayden Curry during a state tournament matchup last season.

NE Iowa loaded with ‘iron men’

Many of state’s top prep programs still in this part of state JIM NELSON jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

Sometimes, wrestlers turn to biblical terms to explain what makes them strong.

Proverbs 27:17 states that iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. That’s a favorite among wrestling coaches and wrestlers.

Consider Crestwood 106-pound state champion Michael Millage.

His partner in the Cadets’ room on a nightly basis was Ryan Steffen, who finished fifth at 113 last year. At New Hampton, Noah Fye, Connor Cleveland and Keaton Geerts battled each other daily.

Fye was third last year at 106, Cleveland a state runner-up in 2014, and Geerts finished fifth at 120.

Across the state of Iowa, and in any successful high school or college wrestling room, that story holds true.

There is another layer to how iron sharpens iron. Both Crestwood and New Hampton reside in the Northeast Iowa Conference, which also includes traditional powers Charles City and Waverly-Shell Rock, in addition to Decorah, Oelwein and Waukon.

Waverly-Shell Rock has won the last 12 NEIC titles, but that string could be tested this season in a league that is loaded with talent.

Crestwood, fourth last year in 2A, returns the third-most state tournament points behind Clarion-Goldfield and Creston. New Hampton lost just two seniors from a team that took sixth in the state duals, and the Go-Hawks figure to have reloaded enough to be in the race for a team trophy in 3A. And, everybody thinks Charles City, Decorah, Oelwein and Waukon have solid individuals.

The NEIC has won 20 state team titles — Crestwood has seven (last in 1964), Charles City has one, New Hampton has six (last in 1993), and Waverly-Shell Rock owns five (last in 2011).

“I really believe the Northeast Iowa Conference has come back,” W-SR head coach Eric Whitcome said. “It’s more like it was 10 years ago. It’s going to be a brute. It’s only a seven-team league, but it is one of the best, if not the best, in the state.”

Nine state placewinners return in the NEIC, including Millage, last year’s 2A 106-pound champion. Six of those nine placewinners

BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer

New Hampton’s Noah Fye controls Union’s Jon Hellman in Class 2A district action last season.

BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer

Crestwood’s Chase Lienhard scrambles with Centerville’s Bradley Irwin during the state tournament quarterfinals last season. wrestled at 120 or lower last season. This season, 106, 113 and 120 figure to be an even bigger dogfight with several high-level freshmen entering the fold.

“We are going to see top-notch opponents every night in the conference,” Crestwood head coach Keith Slifka said. “Every single week, every single night, you are going to see state placewinners.

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This type of competition will make everyone better.”

Crestwood returns several other key wrestlers in addition to Millage and Steffen. Chase Lienhard was fifth at 132, while Trae Pecinovsky qualified at 138. Connor Slifka and Neal Clement were valuable contributors, as well.

At New Hampton, the Chickasaws could have one of the more

formidable lineups in the state with balance across the board, and few will be able to match their firepower in the lower weights where a huge freshman class brings depth and talent.

It all starts with Fye, Cleveland, Tyler Shatek and Geerts at 113 through 132. Keegan Tenge, Ryan Gorman, Cole Denner and Noah Hopp all won 30 or more matches

DUNKERTON CO-OP ELEVATOR

for the Chickasaws in 2015.

“We only lose two seniors and we are going to miss them, but I think we have guys who can live up to their potential,” New Hampton head coach Nick Hemann said. “And we are really excited about our freshman class. We are going to have to have some guys sacrifice to achieve the things we want to achieve. We might not see our best lineup until the end of the year.

“I don’t want to put the cart before the horse because we obviously have some work to do, but when you lose only two guys off a team that got sixth at the state duals, and gain a lot from freshmen, you feel good about what you potentially could be.”

Waverly-Shell Rock returns state medalwinners Austin Yant at 113 and Seth Walker at 152. Jamir Moore was a qualifier at 195.

Whitcome also likes the freshman class he is bringing in and how his other returners attacked the offseason.

“Our kids did a lot of traveling all across the country this summer,” Whitcome said. “They put in the work. I’m real happy with the work the kids put in.”

Talent in Northeast Iowa is not limited to the NEIC. Osage returns two wrestlers who reached the podium last February — state runner-up and Iowa recruit Tristan Johnson at 152 and Brock Jennings at 132.

Independence returns eight starters from a team that beat New Hampton in the fifth-place match at the state duals. The Mustangs will be led by Jake Juhl, who took fourth at 160.

Union of La Porte City, the reigning 2A dual champion, lost a lot to graduation, but state runner-up Derek Holschlag and state placewinner Jon Hellman both return.

North Fayette-Valley also has a pair of medalwinners back in Nick Baumler, the runner-up at 160, and Ethan Lape, who was fourth at 285.

In Class 1A, Dike-New Hartford returns nine starters from its seventh-place state duals team.

Leading the Wolverines will be Kody Kugel (seventh at 120) and Trent Johnson (sixth at 132).

“Anytime you have two wrestlers of that caliber in your room it makes the room that much tougher,” D-NH head coach Tony Norton said.

Traditional power Don Bosco brings back eight starters from a team that took fourth in the state duals, including four state qualifiers led by Gable Fox, who took seventh at 106.

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PREP GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: NUMBERS GAME

Girls’ basketball fighting numbers game

Participation on decline in Iowa, as well as nationally NICK PETAROS nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

For the first time nationally, more high school girls are digging volleyballs than giving basketball a shot.

Data provided by the National Federation of State High School Associations shows more girls participated in volleyball (432,176) than basketball (429,504) during the 2014-15 school year.

Iowa has been ahead of that trend with volleyball passing basketball in popularity in the late 1990s. Data shows basketball’s participation rate continues to decline faster than most of its peers.

While participation in Iowa girls’ high school athletics has dropped 5.6 percent from 58,701 in 200910 to 55,394 in 2014-15, volleyball participation has decreased by 7.6 percent and basketball participation is down 9.6 percent over that time frame.

In Iowa, basketball currently ranks fourth behind volleyball — the state’s most popular girls’ sport since 1996 — track and field and softball.

“Volleyball is more of a glamour sport I think than basketball,” Iowa Girls High School Athletic

SMOLDT

G-R guard knows his way around the court From page C1 Smoldt grew up with basketball. His parents, Dan and Shelli Smoldt, both played at the college level. Older brother Jacob spent four years wearing a Rebel uniform. Today, Dan Smoldt is an assistant coach at G-R. Basketball class is still in session for the younger Smoldt.

“It’s just hearing stories about how they played.

That taught me a lot,” said Joe Smoldt. “They keep me humble and keep me working hard. Confidence is the key. They taught me

HAZARD

Janesville star settles in on and off the court From page C1 “At first I couldn’t even catch a ball or dribble because I had never played a sport at that age,” Hazard recalls. “She just kept pushing me to work hard.”

Then there’s Mike Raad, the AAU coach in the basketball-crazed state of Massachusetts, who helped develop her skills. The cast also includes Hazard’s first high school coach, Mr. Gauither. He could recite a variety of inspirational quotes and worked with her through a freshman campaign in Northbridge, Mass., in which she averaged 13 points a game.

“He always said that I’m going to make it, not big, but make it somewhere with basketball,” Hazard recalls. “He would work with me a lot.”

As Hazard was coming into her own on the basketball court, she nearly walked away from the sport. She was an adolescent when her parents separated. The game reminded

Union director Mike Dick said, offering his take on the national shift in popularity. “Basketball, it’s a longer season, it’s much more physically demanding. Volleyball, it’s a little more fun, a little more glamorous with the bumps and sets and spikes.”

Continued consolidation and whole-grade sharing — a major factor in lower participation across the board — may be the culprit for part of the decline in a sport like basketball where only five athletes can compete at one time. The number of Iowa high schools offering basketball has dropped from 401 in 1995 to 361 in 2015, with volleyball mirroring those totals.

“If school A has 10 players and school B has 10 players, what we’ve found is if they come together, we don’t get 20,” Dick said. “We tend to get some attrition from both sides.”

While basketball only competes against bowling for participation among organized Iowa high school girls’ winter sports, the popularity of club volleyball may be the biggest factor leading to its decline.

“As much as I hate to admit this, it’s the popularity of club volleyball,” Dick said. “Specialization is one of the factors. We don’t like to see and hear that because we think kids ought to be in multiple activities. Our surveys and statistics have shown the more things

about having confidence in myself and knowing every shot can go in.

“Jacob was a pretty good shooter. He worked really hard, and I just followed his footsteps and worked hard to get better.

He taught me a lot, too.”

Smoldt brought all of those lessons to the G-R varsity level quickly. He got there as a freshman and averaged 11.2 points per game as the Rebels finished at 22-3. That record included a loss to Belmond-Klemme in a 2014 1A substate final.

Early in Smoldt’s sophomore year, he had to assume a larger role when a football injury kept Kickbush off the court. Smoldt played well, as G-R went unbeaten. When Kickbush her of her father, who helped serve as an assistant coach for teams during her developmental years.

“It was rough playing basketball because all I thought about was him,” Hazard said. “He just left us and it was pretty hard on us.”

Tori’s mom, Candy Hazard, encouraged her to stick with the sport.

“My mom was talking to me and she was just telling me that I can’t give up the game because of someone,” Hazard added.

A new relationship introduced Candy Hazard to Janesville. When the family took a visit to the town, Tori Hazard gravitated to how genuine the people were.

“I went to one of the basketball games and everyone was way nice,” she said.

“It’s a small school. Everyone knows each other, which is good, because at my old school it was so big that you didn’t really know everyone. Here, I’m more comfortable. I feel like everyone is family here.”

Naturally shy around new people, Hazard feels basketball has helped her acclimate to ever-changing

they’re in, the better they do, the more they learn, and the better adults they become.”

Likewise, the summer club basketball season has drawn athletes away from softball.

In response, sharing athletes has become a point of emphasis for several high school athletic departments. It’s an area of growth Waverly-Shell Rock girls’ basketball coach Greg Bodensteiner has witnessed in his school.

When Bodensteiner took over the Go-Hawks’ basketball program nine years ago, many of the school’s top athletes were playing other sports. He enters this season after guiding W-SR to state

returned, the Rebels remained undefeated all the way through the state tournament.

“Joe stepped up and scored a lot of points for us,” said Kiburis. “The rest of the year, he played team basketball. He scored when he needed to score and distributed when he needed to distribute.

“You know, he’s been a leader on the floor and off.”

Smoldt and Kiburis said that taking on more responsibility in Kickbush’s absence should help him this year. Then again, the G-R guard has also played AAU basketball with other top players in the state of Iowa. That’s another well of experience to be tapped. surroundings.

“If you just put me up to someone new, I wouldn’t be able to talk to them because I get way nervous,” she admits. “But for some reason during basketball I feel like it makes me closer to people and we communicate better. You have to have that communication on the court so you kind of have it off the court, too.”

Janesville girls’ basketball coach Steve Chidester didn’t realize he had a new addition until the boys’ coach pointed her out during an October open gym session. Despite Hazard’s average 5-foot-9 frame, Chidester could tell she’d be a valuable piece for his team in the post.

“She’s such a good inside scorer,” Chidester said. “At the 1A level, you don’t run into these 6-footers. She just attacks the basket so well and she’s got some great moves. What I think gets overlooked is for a post player, she had quite a few assists. She did a nice job of seeing who’s open when as the season went on she was double-teamed and sometimes triple-teamed.”

Being a shorter post hasn’t intimidated Hazard.

basketball tournament appearances in 2013 and 2015.

Girls from Waverly-Shell Rock High School have qualified for state team competition in volleyball, softball, soccer, tennis and basketball this past year alone.

“We’ve come a long ways over the last nine years,” Bodensteiner said. “I think across the board we’re seeing the benefits of it.

We’re sharing a lot of kids. I may have 30 kids out for basketball and I think I have five one-sport athletes.

“We’ve tried hard to develop at Waverly-Shell Rock the mindset of not only can you, but we want to help you play more than one

“I have a pretty good feel for the game,” said Smoldt. “It’s not just the skills.

You’ve got to know how to play the game.”

In a few years, Smoldt will probably be playing the game at the college level. He’s already getting some inquiries from schools like South Dakota.

That’s his future. Right now, Smoldt is putting in the time, trying to get better.

He’s about ready to open the book on the 2015-16 season.

“It’s got to pump you up, being the guy and having a big role,” said Smoldt. “It’s important and I’m really excited for that. I have confidence, but I’ll just go out and do what I do, play and have fun.”

She credits playing basketball with her older brother Angel, 20, and sister Angelica, 19, as factors that helped her build toughness.

Chidester was impressed with how she adapted to increased defensive attention as her sophomore season progressed.

“She started really becoming a target for other teams,” he said. “I thought she fought through that really well and didn’t let that bother her. I think it kind of motivated her. She wants to get to the basket, wants her team to win. She does what it takes to help her team out. I’ve seen her pass the ball off when maybe she could or should have taken the shot.”

By the end of the season, the sophomore had won

Denver

“We’re the best, so flush the rest.”

CLEVELAND He went 5-2 at the Preseason Nationals in the UNI-Dome, rebounding from getting caught and pinned in the first round before winning his next five and losing one match from placing. Then in the Conflict at Carver in Iowa City, he pinned Ohio Division II state runner-up Justin Stickley of St. Paris Graham as part of a third-place finish.

“He has done well nationally,” Hemann said. “He didn’t wrestle to his potential at Preseason Nationals. We’ve got to get past

whatever happened that day.

We have to get that figured out. I think we’re on our way because it looked like we ran a marathon after that first period (against Meling).

“We got to get back where we were. That process has started. I truly believe he is going to do great things. He has been a great leader in the room and I’m excited about him because he knows this is his last go-round.”

Cleveland, who is already committed to wrestle at Wartburg College, is excited, too.

“You take for granted the state tournament,” Cleveland said. “It’s a spectacle.

The atmosphere is electric and crazy. I want to be part of that again. That is huge personally for me. I still have something to prove.”

her teammates over and they voted her team MVP. “I moved a fair amount as a junior high and high school kid,” Chidester said.

“It’s tough. You want to make sure you’re accepted.

She’s very well accepted as a basketball player on this team and really the leader.”

Hazard enters her junior season alongside key returning pieces such as seniors Payton Thompson and Andrea Hesse. Three senior starters graduated, but their development with several newcomers has Janesville poised to

once again be a contender in the Iowa Star Conference and Class 1A. “I think a lot of our young talent will stick out,” Hazard said. “We’re all friends.

We may not always get along, but whenever we’re in games we cheer each other on and support each other. I’m pretty excited.”

On and off the court, the new Iowan seems content.

Eager to leave her mark on a program that most recently qualified for state in 2014, Hazard added, “I feel like I’ve found a steady home here in Janesville.”

Chickasaw wrestler hungry for state title From page C1

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sport, and help other teams, and help your teammates be successful in other sports. The results the last five years speak for themselves.”

The coach also realizes the draw club sports provide.

“With the importance of club from a recruiting standpoint in all sports anymore, kids feel like they need to do that if they want to go on and play at the college level,” Bodensteiner said. “It becomes a lot.”

When asked if basketball can do anything to improve its image compared to volleyball, Bodensteiner feels reducing the physicality could help.

“I think you have some kids who really like the idea in volleyball that it’s a non-contact sport,” Bodensteiner said. “The physicality in basketball I’d say has increased the last five to 10 years for sure. They’re trying to clean it up, but it’s not easy.”

As basketball numbers continue to decline, it becomes more of a challenge for schools to field teams at the developmental levels.

“The big concern is, as our basketball numbers have decreased, some schools are having difficulty fielding a JV or ninth-grade team,” Dick said. “Idealistically, we’d like to have all those levels available so kids have more opportunities to play. That’s our biggest concern.

You need the feeder program, the learning time to keep those programs viable down the road.”

Good Luck Cyclones

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