Metro Sports Report

Linn-Mar players (left to right) Ellie Anderson, Kiley Coppock, Aryn Jones (16) and Audra Schminke celebrate after beating Dike-New Hartford in the second set of their semifinal match Saturday in the Westside Invitational at Jefferson. Dike-New Hartford, ranked No.8 in the nation, won the third set and went on to claim the championship, running its record to 33-1. (Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Noisy Lions push Dike-New Hartford

Sat - 12 Oct Written by Tom Fruehling

According to the Linn-Mar volleyball players, the louder they are the better they play.

“It's an energy thing,” said senior Kristie Sommer. “It seems like when we're talking more to each other more, we're a lot livelier.”

And on Saturday at Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Westside Volleyball Invitational, they were talking up a blue streak.

Seeded No.11 out of 21 teams in the field, the Lions advanced to a semifinals match with top seeded Dike-New Hartford.

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Xavier's Madsy Richards (15) drives a shot over the net in the Saints' match against Marion Saturday in the Westside Invitational at Jefferson. Xavier won the match in the consolation round of the championship bracket. (Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Saints get revenge against Indians

Sat - 12 Oct Written by Tom Fruehling

In the third match of the year between ranked Class 4A Metro teams, Xavier topped Marion Saturday afternoon in the championship bracket consolation round of the Westside Volleyball Invitational at Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Powerhouse Dike-New Hartford won the 21-team tournament by going 5-0 and beating Dubuque Hempstead in the finals, 25-17, 25-19.

Along with Linn-Mar, which lost to DNH in the semifinals, Xavier and Marion both went 2-0 in the morning pool play to advance into the championship bracket.

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Mitch Christensen prances into the end zone for one of his three touchdowns Friday night in Prairie's 63-17 rout of Linn-Mar at John Wall Field. The Hawks rolled up 497 yards of rushing offense and Christensen had 115. (Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Prairie Hawks clobber Lions, 63-17

Fri - 11 Oct Written by Jim Ecker

The Cedar Rapids Prairie football team summed up its performance at John Wall Field Friday night with a six-word yell with Coach Mike Morrissey leading the way.

"We came! We saw! We conquered!"

Boy, did they ever.

The Hawks rolled up 615 yards of total offense and squashed the Linn-Mar Lions, 63-17, in a Mississippi Conference mismatch of epic proportions.

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Washington's Clayton Bjornsen (red) has his arm pulled down by Jefferson's Brandon Wiederin, preventing him from catching a possible touchdown pass in Friday night's game at Kingston Stadium. Wiederin was flagged for pass interference. Washington eked out a 14-7 win. (Photo by Joe Bishop)

Wash trims Jeff for 4th in row

Sat - 12 Oct Written by Tom Fruehling

A couple of old warhorses, Cedar Rapids Washington Principal Ralph Plagman and Coach Paul James, stood talking at midfield Friday night after the Warriors eked out a 14-7 win over Jefferson at Kingston Stadium.

They've been together 33 years now, and neither can remember a Cinderella football season like the one they're now enjoying.

James was brought back to coach a team with dim prospects after former coach Tony Lombardi resigned. They lost their first three games with very little flair.

Now, however, the Warriors have won four in a row, including a huge upset over then-No.1 Xavier last week.

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Kennedy's Conner Koberg shot a 3-over 75 in Friday's first round of the Class 4A state golf tournament at Hunters Ridge and helped the Cougars into second place in the team race. The meet ends Saturday. (Photo by Ken Gilchrist)

Kennedy's hopes blowing in the wind

Fri - 11 Oct Written by Jim Ecker

His top golfer shot an 80, the winds howled at 30 mph and his team finished with one of its worst scores in ages.

Despite all that, Kennedy Coach Mark Wilden left Hunters Ridge Golf Course with an optimistic tune Friday after the opening round of the Class 4A state tournament.

And why not? The Cougars had a four-man score of 317, unusually high for them, but Ankeny Centennial was the only squad that fared any better at 310 in the 12-team field.

Kennedy, searching for its first state title since 1990, stands all alone in second place heading into the final 18 holes Saturday.

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