Metro Sports Report

Warriors sending 8 to college football

They battled back from broken bones to post stunning road victories over Iowa City High and Linn-Mar this season.

Now eight members of that talented and determined senior class at Cedar Rapids Washington will get a chance to play college football next season, and there could be a ninth or 10th player on a college team before it's over.

Seven of them sat on a long dais in the Washington cafeteria Wednesday afternoon, their parents at their side, to sign letters-of-intent and receive a final round of applause from their friends, teachers and fans.

Metro area among the best for its size

This week marks the annual stampede known as National Signing Day, where high school athletes from around the country sign on the dotted line for their school of choice for their college careers.

It is certainly one of the most memorable days in an athlete's young life as they are "in the spotlight" for a day as their choices are made. There are hundreds of great stories each and every year about many of these athletes, and two of the better ones came from right here in the Metro area.

It's been well documented over the years that our Metro area is the home to two of the greatest success stories in the last two decades of sports across the country. And they started out with the "spotlight" on them for National Signing Day. They are, of course, Zach Johnson and Kurt Warner.

Flynn Heald picks William & Mary

Cedar Rapids Washington senior Flynn Heald will play football at the College of William & Mary next season, Washington Coach Tony Lombardi confirmed Wednesday.

Heald caught 63 passes for 954 yards and five touchdowns for the Warriors last season. He was named first team all-Metro, first team all-Mississippi Valley Conference and third team all-state.

Heald caught 21 passes against Kennedy last season, setting a conference record. He helped the Warriors (8-4) reach the quarterfinals of the Class 4A playoffs.

William & Mary is an NCAA Division I FCS school that's located in Williamsburg, Va., and plays in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Tann will join Iowa as preferred walk-on

Cedar Rapids Washington senior David Tann has fond memories of attending University of Iowa football games as a kid growing up.

Now he hopes to collect memories of actually playing for the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium.

Tann, a 5-foot-10 safety, has accepted an offer to join the Hawkeyes as a preferred walk-on for the 2012 campaign.