Local News

Mount Mercy signs 9 Metro bowlers

The Mount Mercy University bowling program has made great strides in its brief two-year history as a varsity sport.

High school bowlers from the Metro high schools have noticed and want to join.

The Mustangs have signed nine Metro bowlers for the 2013-14 school year, including former girls state champion Tara Trcka from Xavier and JUCO national champion Daniel Healy from Vincennes (Ind.) Junior College and Jefferson High School.

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Sweeney belts homer in return to Iowa

DES MOINES - Only the die-hard Iowa Cubs fans hung around for the latter parts of a home opener played in near-freezing temperatures Friday night, but Cedar Rapids native Ryan Sweeney still managed to greet the home-state crowd with a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth inning of a blowout loss to Albuquerque.

The shot over the right-center field wall off reliever Steve Smith was one of the few highlights during Iowa's 15-5 loss to the Isotopes. Playing his first game in his home state since his days at Xavier High School, Sweeney finished 1-for-4 in the Triple-A game.

"I don't think I've ever played in it this cold before, especially with the snow coming the last couple innings," said Sweeney, a 2003 Xavier graduate who was selected by the White Sox in the second round of that June's First-Year Player Draft. "That was definitely a first for me.

"It was freezing out there. I don't think anything can get you ready to play in 20-or 30-degree weather."

Another thing Sweeney can't quite get re-accustomed to is the not-so-plush minor league lifestyle. His team wrapped up Friday's game just after 10:30 p.m., marking the end of a marathon day.

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9 Metro players set for all-star hoops

IOWA CITY - Nine basketball players from Metro high schools will play in the Eastern Iowa All-Star Games at Iowa City West Wednesday night.

They were opponents during the regular season, but now they'll be teammates in the third annual all-star contests presented by Elite Sports USA.

Mykaela Brandt (Linn-Mar), Ashley Stulken (Xavier), Abby Herb (Washington), Courteney McCrary (Prairie) and Maddie Koolbeck (Jefferson) will play in the girls game at 6 p.m.

Matt Lassen (Linn-Mar), Trey Sampson (Xavier), Jimmy Roth (Linn-Mar) and Jace Hanna (Prairie) will compete in the boys game at approximately 7:30.

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MYFA getting 2 new fields at Tuma

The Metro Youth Football Association reached an agreement with the Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation Department Friday to build two new football fields at the Tuma Soccer Complex.

The MYFA will keep its three lighted fields at 1100 Ahearn Drive NE in Cedar Rapids, giving the program a total of five fields for games. The two new fields at the Tuma Complex will not be lighted.

The MYFA, in operation for more than 40 years, has been looking for additional fields as the program continues to grow.

"I think it's exciting," said Roger Gruwell, a vice president with the organization. "It gives us the opportunity to not only expand our league but expand our year-end tournament as well."

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