Jefferson High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

J-Hawks end frustrating campaign with loss

DUBUQUE – The night's mission was a season salvage project, plain and simple.

Friday night was about icing a painful losing streak, validating the countless hours of work Cedar Rapids Jefferson players and coaches had put into their disappointing 2013 season and upending a conference rival as hungry for a win as the J-Hawks were.

“We've been so bad for so long, but these kids were dedicated,” Jefferson Coach Brian Webb said.

Try as it fiercely might, Jefferson couldn't end an ultra-frustrating campaign on a winning note at Dalzell Field.

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Drake, Jenks claim MVC swim titles

IOWA CITY - According to family lore, Kelsey Drake first got into a pool when she was still a baby.

"I don't remember it, but my mom says I was 6 months old," Drake said Saturday at the Mississippi Valley Conference swim meet. "I think it was mostly my mom got in the water and held me there and let me feel the water, more than anything."

That early start has paid off for the Jefferson freshman.

Drake won two MVC titles Saturday and shattered the oldest meet record on the books with an impressive showing at the Mercer Park Aquatic Center in Iowa City.

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IC West rocks J-Hawks, 47-7

Jefferson lost for the seventh time in eight football games Friday night.

But for one of the few times, the J-Hawks laid an egg.

Iowa City West turned two interceptions into touchdowns, built a 40-0 lead by halftime and rolled past Jefferson, 47-7, on Senior Night at Kingston Stadium.

The loss was Jefferson's worst since a 44-0 whipping administered by Xavier in the season's second week.

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J-Hawk spikers fall to Hempstead

The Cedar Rapids Jefferson volleyball team was defeated by Dubuque Hempstead, 21-25, 25-21, 25-14, 25-18, in a Mississippi Valley Conference match at Jefferson on Tuesday night.

Amanda Ollinger collected 23 kills and 16 digs for the J-Hawks. Keke Pledge had 22 digs.

Drake, Chung pace J-Hawk swimmers

IOWA CITY — Kelsey Drake and Jaylee Chung were triple winners for the Cedar Rapids Jefferson swimming team Tuesday in a Mississippi Valley Conference dual meet against Iowa City High at Mercer Pool in Iowa City.

Iowa City High won the meet, 108-62.

Drake captured the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle. Chung claimed the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle. They both swam on the victorious 200 freestyle relay with Olivia Northrup and Ashley Anderson.

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Wash trims Jeff for 4th in row

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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Spunky J-Hawks whip Washington

Under new volleyball coach Mary Kay Van Oort, the Jefferson girls are suddenly full of spunk.

No longer the doormat they used to be, they made it clear Tuesday night that they're a team to be reckoned with by dominating Washington 3-1 on the Warriors' home court.

''Wash is a high quality team,” said Van Oort, who inherited a squad that managed a mere 4-32 mark last year.

“We've had some close games this year, but we haven't had a lot of success with really good teams.

“This win is the first we've had against such a high level team.”

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Drake, Chung spark Jefferson swimmers

Kelsey Drake and Jaylee Chung won four events Tuesday as Jefferson trimmed Dubuque Wahlert, 93-87, in a Mississippi Valley Conference swim meet at Jefferson.

Drake claimed the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Chung captured the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. They both swam on the triumphant 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.

Ashley Anderson contributed two victories for the J-Hawks in the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle relay. Taylor Langel (200 medley relay), Emily Wallace (200 medley relay), Olivia Northrup (200 freestyle relay) and Jessica Wesbrook (100 breaststroke) also picked up wins for Jefferson.

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Drake claims 2 titles in Cedar Falls

CEDAR FALLS - Cedar Rapids Jefferson freshman Kelsey Drake captured the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly at the 35th Annual Marcussen Invitational swimming meet in Cedar Falls Saturday.

Drake won the 200 IM in 2:09.83, beating Natalie Clausen of Waukesha (Wis.) South by nearly two seconds.

Drake won the 100 butterfly in 57.05, clipping Kierston Farley-Sepe of Waukesha South by 42-hundredths of a second. Drake broke the pool, meet and school records in the butterfly.

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