Prairie High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Bliss brings 4 state titles to Prairie

Mark Bliss won 62 straight football games and four straight Class 3A state titles at Conway Springs High School in Kansas from 2001 to 2005, but he reluctantly walked away from that job for a very simple reason.

It had to do with basic family economics.

"It was hard, believe me. I could have stayed there the rest of my life," the new Cedar Rapids Prairie coach said Tuesday after practice. "But quite frankly, I have four daughters and I was only getting paid $38,000 a year."

Bliss heard about a better-paying job at a new high school in Naples, Fla., and went for it.

"It was double my salary and free insurance," he said. "So when you're almost borderline food-stamps, you basically have to do the right thing and better your family. So when that job came open in Florida I took advantage of it."

Bliss, 51, grew up in Oklahoma and has coached in Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Florida, Missouri and now Iowa. He came to Prairie from a high school in Ozark, Mo., where he made three straight trips to the playoffs.

"Iowa is probably the last place I was cut out to be, because I was pretty happy in Missouri," said Bliss, who speaks with a distinctive Oklahoma twang.

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Prairie boys top X-C rankings

The Cedar Rapids Prairie boys cross country team will begin the season as the No. 1 club in Class 4A, according to the preseason poll by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches.

The Hawks finished second at the state meet last fall and return five of their top six runners. Jake Moore placed fourth, Tysen VanDraska seventh and Matt Lorenz 15th at the 2014 state meet for Prairie.

The Linn-Mar Lions, who won the Class 4A state title last year, are ranked No. 4 in Class 4A. The Marion Indians are ranked No. 7 in Class 3A.

The Linn-Mar girls cross country team is ranked No. 5 in the Class 4A poll.

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Lindwall strikes again for Warriors

SILVIS, Ill. - Two days, two demanding courses, two outstanding rounds of golf.

That's been the story this week for Cedar Rapids Washington junior Frank Lindwall, who fired a 3-under-par 68 Tuesday and claimed medalist honors at the Washington Warrior Invitational at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

Lindwall nipped Tripp Kinney of Waukee by one shot Tuesday, just a day after the two premier golfers shared medalist honors with 3-under 69's in the Linn-Mar Invitational at Hunters Ridge.

Waukee won the team championship Tuesday at 294. Dowling took second place, followed by Linn-Mar, Washington and Xavier.

Max Thrune and Brent Larson of Linn-Mar tied for eighth at 5-over 76.

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Daniels, Lizarraga are 'super' all-staters

Zach Daniels and Sammy Lizarraga of Kennedy have been named to the 2015 All-State "Super Team" by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association, it was announced Thursday.

Daniels won the IHSBCA "Player of the Year" Award for his work as a hitter, pitcher and shortstop this season. He hit .519 for the Cougars and compiled a 4-2 record on the mound. He made the "Super Team" at shortstop.

Lizarraga compiled an 8-0 record and 0.70 ERA this season and made the "Super Team" as a pitcher. Lizarraga and Daniels are both headed to the University of Iowa to continue their baseball careers.

Trey Beckman of Prairie and Spencer VanScoyoc of Jefferson were named to the Class 4A All-State team. Beckman made the club as an outfielder and VanScoyoc, a top pitcher and outfielder, made the team as a utility player.

Beckman will play at Wabash Valley Community College. VanScoyoc, entering his senior year, has committed to Arizona State.

Daniels was named the captain of the Class 4A all-state team.

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