Local News

Football prevues - Aug. 30

The second night of the season features an intra-city battle between Washington and Kennedy at Kingston Stadium.

A "new" coach will be on the sidelines for the Warriors in Paul James, who guided guided Washington to a 58-48 record in 11 seasons before stepping down after the 2005 season to assume the full-time duties of associate principal/activities director. He now wears all three hats.

Xavier didn't nab the crown last year, falling in the Class 4A state title game to Ankeny, but the Saints have a No.1 target on their backs this season. Dubuque Hempstead will be rolling out the green carpet for Xavier at Dalzell Field, which reopened last spring after nearly $10 million of renovations. It's like putting lipstick on a pigskin for the Mustangs, who were winless in 2012.

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Football prevues - Aug. 29

The temperature is in the mid 90s.

The sun has baked the earth into cement.

It is the last week of August.

It's time to kick off another prep football season.

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Suchomel joins MSR staff as writer

Ryan Suchomel, the former sports editor of the Iowa City Press-Citizen, has joined the Metro Sports Report as a general assignment reporter. Suchomel spent 13 years at the Press-Citizen and worked in the newspaper business for 19 years. He graduated from West Branch High School in 1990 and from Central College in 1994.

Suchomel was heavily involved in the Press-Citizen's coverage of the University of Iowa and also has extensive experience covering high school sports. He will help cover prep football and the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders for the Metro Sports Report this season, among other assignments.

"We are incredibly fortunate to have someone of Ryan's ability and experience join our staff," said MSR president Jim Ecker. "We feel we have a very talented group of writers at the Metro Sports Report and Ryan is a great addition."

Clete Campbell, a prize-winning sportswriter during his years at the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, also joined the Metro Sports Report staff this week.

Campbell joins MSR staff as writer

Clete Campbell, a prize-winning sports journalist who spent 12 years at the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, has joined the Metro Sports Report staff as a reporter.

Campbell, a graduate of Loras College, served as the Telegraph Herald's beat writer for the University of Iowa football team (2007-April 2013) and the University of Wisconsin football team (2001-2007). He left the paper earlier this year to pursue other interests.

Campbell has covered a wide range of high school, small college and major college stories during his career. He also has worked for the Kankakee Daily Journal and the Ottawa Daily Times during his career.

Campbell won the "Best Sports Story" award from the Iowa Associated Press Editors Association in 2007.

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