Conference News

IC West volleyball player dies in moped accident

Caroline Found of Iowa City West High School died in a moped accident Thursday night in Coralville.

Found, 17, helped Iowa City West win the Class 4A state volleyball title in 2010 and was a member of the softball team. She would have been a senior this year.

Found lost control of her moped going around a curve on Mormon Trek Boulevard, according to police. She apparently hit a curb and struck a tree in the median.

Police do not think she was wearing a helmet when the crash occured at approximately 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

"Caroline was one of the most kind and thoughtful young ladies we had here," Iowa City West principal Jerry Arganbright told the Iowa City Press-Citizen. "She was a kind and considerate young woman."

Found was a volleyball captain and sports editor of the school newspaper.

"She made friends with everybody," Iowa City West volleyball coach Kathy Bresnahan told the Press-Citizen. "She was the heart and soul of our team. She was an unbelievable person."

Knoop retires as City High baseball coach

IOWA CITY -- Dennis Knoop has retired as Iowa City High's baseball coach, Little Hawks Athletics Director D'Anne Kroemer announced Thursday.

Knoop was the City High baseball coach for 11 years, compiling a record of 280-147. His teams won three Mississippi Valley Conference titles and went to the state tournament once.

Kroemer said Knoop will remain on staff at City High and will continue as a member of the varsity football coaching staff.

Kroemer said the search for a new baseball coach will begin immediately.

Stewart fires 64 as Kennedy takes MVC golf title

Brigham Stewart had never broken 70 in a competitive round of golf in his life.

He has now, in grand style.

Stewart fired an 8-under-par 64 at Twin Pines Golf Course Thursday and teammate Cody Bell carded a 66 as Kennedy captured the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet by 11 strokes.

Stewart, a senior, has shot 70 and 71 before, but had never dipped into the 60s until he tamed the 5,802-yard layout at Twin Pines on a picture-perfect day for golf.

"I played well. I putted pretty well, the driver was really working," he said. "I'm really happy with a 64.

"This is the first time cracking 70," he said. "Hopefully this is just the start."

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Metro pair win Athlete honors in baseball

Kennedy senior Austin Christensen and Prairie senior DJ Utley were named baseball Athletes of the Year in their respective divisions of the Mississippi Valley Conference.

Christensen won the honor in the Mississippi Division, Utley in the Valley Division.

Kennedy, which won the Mississippi Division by a game over Dubuque Wahlert, had three players named to the division first team. Joining Christensen are senior second baseman Terrell Sykes and junior third baseman Devon Jacobus. Washington had two players on the first team, senior outfielder Jordy Brown and sophomore first baseman AJ Puk.

Linn-Mar did not have any players on the first team, but had three on the second team: sophomore pitcher Nate Greve, senior shortstop Ben Larison and junior outfielder Michael Redmond. Kennedy also had three players on the second team: senior pitcher Griffin Michael, junior first baseman Cody Bell and senior outfielder David Yancey.

Prairie had four players on the Valley Division first team. Joining Utley are senior pitcher Anthony Gagliardi, senior catcher Dustin Carlson and junior infielder Brayton Carlson.

Xavier and Jefferson had two players apiece on the first team. Xavier's players are senior pitcher Ean McNeal and junior utility man Mack Mattke, a slugging first baseman and pitcher. Jefferson's players are senior second baseman Tanner Unkel and senior outfielder Michael Rooney.

Xavier had three players on the second team: senior pitcher Dane Mehring, senior catcher Colby Brecht and sophomore third baseman Corbin Woods. Prairie had two second teamers: senior outfielder Chaz Boots and sophomore utility man Brennan Hammer.

Coaches of the Year were Bret Hoyer and the Kennedy staff in the Mississippi Division and Charlie Stumpff and the Iowa City West staff in the Valley Division.

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