Jefferson High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Ollinger, Thomas, Torson named all-state

Amanda Ollinger of Jefferson, Alyssa Thomas of Marion and Kayla Torson of Xavier have been named to the all-state volleyball squads by the Des Moines Register.

Ollinger, a 6-foot-3 junior, was named first team all-state in Class 5A. She led Class 5A in kills with 532 and finished second overall in kills in the state. She also had 218 digs, 68 blocks and 28 ace serves.

Thomas, a 5-10 junior, was named first team all-state in Class 4A. She helped Marion reach the semifinals of the state tournament and finished the season with 367 kills, 89 digs and 49 blocks.

Torson, a 5-11 senior, was named second team all-state in Class 4A. She collected 338 kills, 325 digs, 48 blocks and 25 aces for Xavier. She will play college volleyball at Nebraska-Omaha.

3 Jeff softball players commit to college

All five seniors on the Cedar Rapids Jefferson softball have found a home for their college careers.

Hannah Towns has committed to Loras, Tori Brandon has committed to Wartburg and Alissa Good has committed to Buena Vista. They join Alyssa Olson (Coe) and Maddie Hansen (Kirkwood), as previously reported.

Towns played left field for Jefferson in the Class 5A state tournament this past season and hit .343 with 31 RBIs for the campaign. Tori Brandon was Jefferson's designated hitter at the state tournament and hit .282 with one homer and 24 RBIs. Good compiled a 15-2 record and 1.11 ERA on the mound.

Olson had an 18-6 record and 0.74 ERA for the J-Hawks and Hansen, a catcher, hit .441 with seven home runs and 46 RBIs.

Jefferson placed seventh at the state tournament with a 35-8 record.

Drake tops All-Metro swim team

Kelsey Drake of Linn-Mar has been named the Athlete of the Year on the All-Metro girls swim team.

Megan Lewis and her assistants at Washington High School were named the Coach of the Year.

Drake won gold medals in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly at the state swim meet in Marshalltown Saturday. She also helped Linn-Mar place third in the 400 freestyle relay and sixth in the 200 freestyle relay.

The All-Metro teams were based on times and points.

FIRST TEAM

Lizzie Adams (Linn-Mar), Maddie Bagby (Kennedy), Paige Broghammer (Linn-Mar), Alyssa Deuso (Linn-Mar), Kelsey Drake (Linn-Mar), Logan Eckhardt (Washington), Taylor Golden (Kennedy), Lauren Havertape (Washington), Sam Jacobsen (Kennedy), Jenn Jenks (Linn-Mar), Stephanie Jenks (Linn-Mar), Mikaela Lengwin (Linn-Mar), Mackinzee Macho (Kennedy), Emily Nelson (Washington), Kirsten Siebenga (Kennedy), Brooke Timmerman (Kennedy), Jessica Williams (Kennedy).

SECOND TEAM

Sarah Gannon (Kennedy), Jayden Lovell (Kennedy), Darby Manternach (Kennedy), Kaitlyn Nemickas (Washington), Caitlin Sievers (Washington), Carolyn Simon (Kennedy), Delaney Thoma (Washington), Lydia Yang (Kennedy).

HONORABLE MENTION

Linn-Mar: Grace Ahlers, Emma Behrens, Elizabeth Cavanah, Hannah Gardner, Hailey Harms, Georgia Sanderson, Kelly Wingerson
Washington: Morgan Chambers, Lucy Ernst, Alyssa Harris, Jenny Hughes
Kennedy: Courtney Fisher, Raquel Green, Kennedy Smith
Jefferson: Josie Thompson, Emily Wallace

Ollinger honored on MVC volleyball

Amanda Ollinger of Cedar Rapids Jefferson has been named the Valley Division Athlete of the Year on the Mississippi Valley Conference all-star volleyball team.

Ollinger, a 6-foot-3 junior, was one of the top kill-shot artists in the state this season with her powerful slams. She has committed to play basketball at the University of Iowa.

Sarah Renner of Linn-Mar, Ellie Anderson of Linn-Mar, Anna Fluent of Kennedy and Macy Anderson of Kennedy joined Ollinger as first-team selections in the Valley Division.

Kate Busswitz of Prairie and Kayla Torson of Xavier were first-team picks in the Mississippi Division.

VALLEY DIVISION

Athlete of the Year - Amanda Ollinger, Jefferson
Coach of the Year - Matthew Johnson, Cedar Falls

First Team

Amanda Ollinger (CRJ), Lauryn Kramer (CF), Mackenzie May (DW), Laynie Whitehead (ICW), Sarah Renner (LM), Ellie Anderson (LM), Anna Fluent
(CRK), Macy Anderson (CRK).

Second Team

Emma Gerdes (CF), Mikaela Morgan (ICW), Tayah Mahi (CF), Sami Boekhoff (LM), Emilee McGowan (LM), Brinley Milbrath (CRK), Maddie Heiar (DW), Makenzie Tomkins (CRJ).

Honorable Mention
Metro Only

Jefferson - Avery Guy, Sam Kitterman
Kennedy - Paige Franck, Kendal Meier
Linn-Mar - Meg Gostonczik, Carly Spies

All-Academic
Metro Only

Jefferson - Brianna Prohaska, Hannah Carter
Kennedy - Hannah Skow, Breanna Osterkamp
Linn-Mar - Meg Gostonczik, Sarah Renner

MISSISSIPPI DIVISION

Athlete of the Year - Alexa Aldrich-Ingram, Iowa City High
Coach of the Year - Craig Pitcher, Iowa City High

First Team

Alexa Aldrich-Ingram (ICH), Kate Busswitz (CRP), Kayla Torson (CRX), Ashley Smith (ICH), Kendra Cave (ICH), Kasey Davis (DH), Hope Splinter (DH), Indya Beaman (WE).

Second Team

Makenzie Soeken (CRP), Caiti Peterson (CRW), Majda Sulic (WW), Shannon James (ICH), Rylee Price (ICH), Makayla Doyle (DH), Mallory Jones (CRP), Madsy Richards (CRX).

Honorable Mention
Metro Only

Prairie - Jenni Lockhart, Rachel Shelangoski
Washington - Sophie Smith, Rumer Weiland
Xavier - Melanie Wertzberger, Olivia Krapfl

All-Academic
Metro Only

Prairie - Rachel Shelangoski, Megan Sprengeler
Washington - Ellen Holt, Sophie Smith
Xavier - Melanie Wertzberger, Olivia Krapfl

Paulsen named Metro Coach of Year

Roxanne Paulsen of Marion High School has been named the Metro Coach of the Year in girls volleyball, as selected by the Metro coaches.

Marion earned a spot in the Class 4A state tournament with a 3-0 victory over DeWitt Central in the regional finals Tuesday night. This will be Paulsen's fifth trip to the state tournament with the Indians and the first since 2009. Marion won a state title in 2008.

Abby Phillips and Amanda Sahm of Marion were named to the top all-Metro squad with their coach. They were joined by Kayla Torson of Xavier, Amanda Ollinger of Jefferson, Kate Busswitz of Prairie, Sarah Renner of Linn-Mar, Anna Fluent of Kennedy and Macy Anderson of Kennedy.

SECOND TEAM

Alyssa Thomas (Marion), Olivia Frazier (Marion), Ellie Anderson (Linn-Mar), Sami Boekhoff (Linn-Mar), Caiti Peterson (Washington), Mallory Jones (Prairie), Madsy Richards (Xavier), Brinley Milbrath (Kennedy).

HONORABLE MENTION

Jefferson - Maddie Slagle, Kristen Naber
Kennedy - Paige Franck, Kendal Meier
Prairie - Jennifer Lockhart, Megan Sprengeler
Washington - Sophie Smith, Rumer Weiland
Xavier - Mel Wertzberger, Olivia Krapfl
Linn-Mar - Emilee McGowan, Meg Gostonczik
Marion - Isabella Sade, Johanna Steggall

Schmidt honored in District 5

Linn-Mar quarterback Ryan Schmidt has been named the Offensive Player of the Year for Class 4A District 5, as selected by the district coaches.

Linn-Mar Coach Bob Forsyth and his assistants were named the Staff of the Year. Rayce Willett of Cedar Falls was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

Seven Linn-Mar Lions were named first team all-district. Schmidt, Perrion Scott and Trevor Noble were honored on offense. Logan Nelsen, Trevor Long, Andrew Gassmann and Zach Huffman were saluted on defense.

The Jefferson J-Hawks and Kennedy Cougars had four first-team picks.

Jesse Furrow and Dalton Kuehl of Jefferson were named to the first team on offense. Alex Fernandez and Dakota Tomkins of Jefferson were honored on defense Shaun Beyer and Tyler Dralle of Kennedy made the first team on offense. Jay Blank and Parker Steffen from the Cougars were honored on defense.

Second Team Offense

Metro Only

Cameron McInerney (CRJ), Mason Furnish (CRJ), Lotukalafi Ahomana (LM), Daniel Gorsich (LM), Tylor Newhouse (LM), Mason Jacobs (CRK), Sammy Lizarraga (CRK).

Second Team Defense

Metro Only

Kelly May (CRJ), Tavian Rashed (CRJ), Garett Evans (LM), Logan Benter (LM), Dalles Jacobus (CRK), Logan Wedo (CRK).

Honorable Mention

Metro Only

Jefferson - Bryce Lund, Ben Baxter, Luke Sedlacek, Mason Short

Linn-Mar - Austin McCulloh, Dallas McFarland, Ryan Holub, Zach Garnett

Kennedy - Drake Brewster, Terrance Hall, Jacob Hauschild, Jonah Moes

All-Academic

Metro Only

Jefferson - Mason Furnish, Cameron Frazier

Kennedy - Jacob Grovert, Kyle Brewer

Linn-Mar - Michael Ho, Tylor Newhouse

Xavier, Jeff, Prairie win matches

Xavier, Jefferson and Prairie won their matches in the regional volleyball tournament Thursday night and will play in the regional finals Tuesday.

The Xavier Saints blanked Fairfield, 3-0, and will face Clear Creek-Amana in the Class 4A regional finals at Marengo.

The Jefferson J-Hawks trimmed Marshalltown, 3-2, and will meet Ankeny Centennial in the Class 5A regional finals at Huxley.

The Prairie Hawks shut out Davenport West, 3-0, and will tangle with Iowa City High in the Class 5A regional finals at Linn-Mar.

The regional champions will advance to the state tournament at the U.S. Cellular Center.

Amanda Ollinger collected 35 kills for Jefferson despite battling leg cramps. Avery Guy contributed 49 assists. Sam Kitterman had 22 digs, Maddie Slagle 15 digs, Makenzie Tomkins 17 kills and Autumn Anderson 15 assists.

Kayla Torson led Xavier with 19 kills and 14 digs. Melanie Wertzberger had 20 assists, Rachel Sodawasser 13 assists and Charlotte Richards 10 kills.

Mallory Jones had 16 assists for Prairie. Kendra Gaskill had 15 assists, Kenzie Soeken 14 kills and Megan Sprengeler five aces.

No. 2 Bettendorf too strong for J-Hawks

BETTENDORF – This wasn't David vs. Goliath. This was David's Skinny Little Brother against one of the super heavyweights of Iowa Class 4A.

To say a 4-and-5 Cedar Rapids Jefferson team was facing long odds against second-ranked and undefeated Bettendorf in the J-Hawks' first playoff game in six years was saying the currently 0-7 Oakland Raiders have some work to do to make the 2014 NFL playoffs.

Yet Jefferson, playing sloppy but impassioned nothing-to-lose football went all out from first play to last in its long-shot attempt to upset the Bulldogs Wednesday night at TouVelle Stadium.

Alas, the rules of football physics played out on this chilly night, though David never quit.

Bettendorf, thriving on its swarming, lights-out defense and quarterback Cyle Cox's effective work, overwhelmed the J-Hawks 35-7 and motored closer to the UNI-Dome.

Going in, Jefferson Coach Brian Webb said his team was not “going to be happy with just being in the playoffs.” But while making their first postseason appearance since 2008 and seeking their program's first playoff victory since 1992, the J-Hawks (4-6) ran into an absolute buzz saw in the Bulldogs (10-0), a perennial playoff force making their 17th consecutive postseason appearance.

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Lions are 'most improved' team in 4A

Linn-Mar football coach Bob Forsyth said in August that he was "cautiously optimistic" about the 2014 season and hopeful for a good year.

He may have underplayed his hand a bit.

Quite simply, Linn-Mar is the most improved team in Class 4A this year with a good chance of making a deep run in the playoffs.

The Lions finished with a 2-7 record in 2013 and improved to an 8-1 mark for the regular season this year. That's a gain of six victories and that plus-6 mark is the best among all 46 Class 4A teams in Iowa.

Lewis Central is next on the "most improved" list at plus-4, going from four victories in 2013 to eight wins in 2014.

Two Metro teams tied for third place in the "most improved" category at plus-3. The Washington Warriors jumped from 6-3 to 9-0 and the Jefferson J-Hawks climbed from 1-8 to 4-5.

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