Metro Sports Report

Kamin wins Metro Spotlight Award

Cedar Rapids Washington senior MJ Kamin is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school girls this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Kamin, a versatile athlete and one of the top golfers in Iowa, has accepted an offer to join the Iowa State golf program next season. She finished sixth at the Class 5A state meet last year at Lake Panorama and placed second at the regional meet at Gardner Golf Course.

Kamin also is a member of the cross country, basketball and soccer teams at Washington.

Nelson, Vega top all-state football

Matt Nelson and Daniel Vega of Xavier High School have been named to the Des Moines Register Elite All-State Football Team on the defensive line.

Nelson and Vega also were named first team all-state in Class 4A on the Register's 100th all-state squads. Xavier kicker Ryan Persick was named second team all-state in Class 4A as a punter.

The Saints finished 12-2 this season and reached the championship game of the Class 4A playoffs. Nelson, Vega and Persick are seniors.

Muskies trip Prairie girls again

In their four years, the Prairie girls have never defeated Muscatine in the two teams’ traditional season opener.

They certainly had their chance Saturday night at home but were flummoxed by turnovers and missed free throws.

After leading early, the Hawks ended up losing 56-46.

A veteran squad that made it to state last season, the Muskies came out as cold as the weather outside, And they couldn’t keep from fouling. But the Hawks failed to take full advantage.

Athletic Warriors ready for next step

Adam Sanchez inherited a winless program last season when he became the boys basketball coach at Cedar Rapids Washington and led the revived Warriors to a 7-16 record after a slow start.

From the look of things, the Warriors could be ready for another leap forward this season.

"I like our group a lot," Sanchez said during practice Thursday. "I think we have a lot of good pieces, a lot of different pieces that make us a pretty tough matchup.

"We're trying to find out what pieces fit together and what guys are playing well together, but I think we'll have a good group and the competition has been extremely good in practice."