Kennedy High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Estelle steals show at MVC girls track

CEDAR FALLS - Marissa Estelle appeared to have a promising track career when she finished fifth in the 100 meter hurdles at the Class 4A state track meet as a freshman in 2010 for the Kennedy Cougars.

Then came the injuries.

She tore several muscles in her hip as a sophomore, then grew four inches prior to her junior year in high school and suffered from growing pains, shin splints and apophysitis in her hips. "It's when you grow too fast and the bone pulls apart," she explained.

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Fontana takes job at Ankeny Centennial

Bob Fontana had several chances to leave Kennedy High School and take another job during his 16 years with the Cougars, but he always turned them down.

Until now.

The lure of coaching in Ankeny, where he grew up and has numerous relatives, was too attractive to pass up.

Fontana, 54, has agreed to become the first boys basketball coach at the new Ankeny Centennial High School, which will open for business for the 2013-14 school year.

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Sanchez has special feeling as Wash clips Cougars

Adam Sanchez sat on the bench as a graduate assistant coach at Drake University five years ago when the Bulldogs had their magical 28-5 season, cracked the national rankings and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in eons.

The rookie head coach had that special feeling again Monday night after his upstart Washington Warriors clipped Kennedy, 48-42, in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A substate tournament at Kennedy.

The Warriors (7-15) did not win a single game last season, but they're feeling good about themselves heading into Friday's encounter with No.3 Western Dubuque (21-0) in the semifinals at Epworth.

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Coleman brothers are buddies and top cagers

There was a time when Alex Coleman didn't like having his younger brother Josiah around.

"He was a little knucklehead, always running beneath mom," Alex said Sunday, laughing at the memory. "You know, he never did anything wrong."

Somewhere along the line, his kid brother went from being a pest to being a best friend. They both played basketball at Cedar Rapids Kennedy and they're both playing for successful college teams this season.

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Kennedy girls ousted by Waterloo West

WATERLOO -- Cedar Rapids Kennedy came out bombing 3-pointers from seemingly every corner of Siddens Gymnasium. Not to be outdone, Waterloo West's Haley Puk and company answered with a hot-handed approach of their own during Saturday's Class 5A Region 3 semifinal.

West scored 30 second-quarter points, overcoming a 22-7 first-quarter deficit, before making key shots down the stretch en route to a thrilling 66-59 victory.

The Wahawks (16-6) advance to face Des Moines East at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Saydel.

"I'm just so proud of all of our players here tonight I can't tell you," West Coach Tony Pappas said after his team outscored Kennedy by 22 points over the final three quarters.

Kennedy (15-8), a winner of its previous seven games, hit its first six shots from 3-point range and poured in nine treys in the opening half. But West answered with points on 12 of its 13 second-quarter possessions to tie the game at 37 heading into intermission.

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Cougars escape Wahlert, 53-50

DUBUQUE - John Bardsley scored 15 points and Kennedy escaped Dubuque Wahlert, 53-50, Thursday night in a Mississippi Valley Conference boys basketball regular season finale.

Johnathan Koelling and Benjamin Struss added 11 points apiece for the Cougars (11-9, 8-8).

Jared Walker and Cordell Pemsl scored 13 points apiece for Wahlert (7-14, 6-10).

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Cougars down J-Hawks a 3rd time

Kennedy hosted crosstown rival Jefferson in a Class 5A regional quarterfinal girls basketball tournament game Wednesday night and used the long ball to shoot down the J-Hawks, 58-50.

In beating Jefferson for the third time this season, Kennedy (15-7) advances to play Waterloo West (15-6) in Saturday's regional semifinals at West. Tip-off is 7 p.m.

“We are looking for a tough game in Waterloo this weekend,” said Coach Tony Vis. “We got them by nine earlier this year, but we can’t take them for granted.”

Led by Madi Meier’s school record seven 3-pointers, the Cougars knocked down 10 bombs to go with only nine two-point baskets and 10 free throws to defeat Jefferson.

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Cedar Falls charity tosses trip Kennedy

A battling Kennedy team dropped a hard fought Mississippi Valley Conference matchup with Cedar Falls at home Tuesday night by a score of 59-49.

When the smoke had cleared, the difference in the game was very clear. Cedar Falls made 29 of 37 free throws and Kennedy made just 3 of 6.

While the Cougars outscored Cedar Falls from the field with 22 field goals and 43 points to 13 field goals and 30 points, it was not enough to overcome the free throw disparity.

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Kennedy boys roll over Dubuque Senior

Kyle Custer shot a 235 high game and Alec White a 414 series to lead Kennedy past Dubuque Senior, 2951-2779, in boys bowling Monday at Cedar Rapids Bowl.

Custer finished with a 403 series. Troy McKiernan also had a 403 series. McKiernan and Aaron Smith had high games of 212.

Kennedy held an 87-pin lead after first-round singles. They stretched their margin to 232 pins after three Baker games, mixing in games of 268 and 221.

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