Kennedy High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Big openers on tap for Metro gridders

There was no grand design. Nobody sat down and tried to fill the opening night of the 2014 high school football season with intriguing matchups, but that's how it turned out.

No matter where you look, all of the eight Metro teams will have an interesting battle on their hands when they open the campaign Friday night.

You've got the ancient rivalry of Washington vs. Jefferson at Kingston Stadium, with the Warriors looking to build on last year's momentum and the improved J-Hawks looking to accomplish big things this year with newcomer Jesse Furrow at quarterback.

You've got Linn-Mar at Prairie, where the Lions are hoping to rebound from a couple of sub-par campaigns and the Hawks are looking to improve upon a .500 season behind 300-pound lineman Bryce Meeker, a future Iowa State Cyclone.

There's Kennedy at Iowa City West, where both teams have new head coaches who were promoted from within the program.

There's Marion at Mount Vernon, where the Indians will be tackling the start of a demanding schedule.

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Koberg claims title at Jester Park

GRANGER - Cedar Rapids Kennedy senior Conner Koberg fired a 1-under-par 71 Wednesday to claim medalist honors at the Dragon Invitational at Jester Park in Granger.

Koberg nipped Caleb Peters of Johnston by one shot.

West Des Moines Valley edged Kennedy, 300-302, for the team championship. The Xavier Saints finished seventh in the 10-team field at 322.

Cole Murdock shot a 3-over 75 for Kennedy. Jordan Even carded a 3-over 75 for Xavier.

TEAM STANDINGS

1. West Des Moines Valley 300, 2. Kennedy 302, 3. Dowling 304, 4. Johnston 306, 5. Bettendorf 308, 6. Southeast Polk 315, 7. Xavier 322, 8. Ames 331, 9. Urbandale 339, 10. Waterloo West 362.

KENNEDY: Conner Koberg 71, Cole Murdock 75, Davis Sutton 78, Ross Grekoff 78, Jordan Weiss 78, Jake Corkery 83.

XAVIER: Jordan Even 75, Luke Winker 82, Sam Martin 82, Matt Neumeyer 83, Brody Robinson 84, Mitch King 90.

Kennedy girls swim by City High

IOWA CITY - Freshman MacKinzee Macho captured the 200 IM and 100 butterfly Tuesday as Kennedy dunked Iowa City High, 124-59, in the Mississippi Valley Conference opener at the Mercer Pool.

Kirsten Siebenga (50 free), Courtney Fisher (diving) and Maddie Bagby (100 free) also won individual events for Kennedy. The Cougars also claimed the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay.

The Cougars won 8 of 12 events overall.

KENNEDY 124, IOWA CITY HIGH 59

200 medley relay - Kennedy (Maddie Bagby, Brooke Timmerman, Taylor Golden, Kirsten Siebenga) 1:56.72

200 free - Taylor Pajunen (ICH) 2:08.83

200 IM - MacKinzee Macho (CRK) 2:20.87

50 free - Kirsten Siebenga (CRK) 25.68

Diving - Courtney Fisher (CRK) 213.05

100 fly - MacKinzee Macho (CRK) 1:06.74

100 free - Maddie Bagby (CRK) 57.37

500 free - Taylor Pajunen (ICH) 5:43.99

200 free relay - Kennedy (Brooke Harris, Brooke Timmerman, Darby Manternach, Lydia Young) 1:48.27

100 back - Alayna McCafferty (ICH) 1:05.40

100 breast - Lizzie Brown (ICH) 1:09.56

400 free relay - Kennedy (Maddie Bagby, Kirsten Siebenga, Lydia Yang, Taylor Golden) 3:56.75

Waukee nips Kennedy at Hunters Ridge

The Waukee Warriors spoiled the day for the Kennedy Cougars and everyone else at the Linn-Mar Invitational golf tournament Monday at Hunters Ridge.

Tripp Kinney of Waukee fired a 3-under-par 69 to claim medalist honors and lead the Warriors to the team championship.

Waukee nipped Kennedy, 305-306, for the title.

Cole Murdock of Kennedy finished second in the individual standings with a2-over 74. The Cougars got a 75 from Conner Koberg and a 76 from Davis Sutton, but all their other golfers shot in the 80's.

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Davis Sutton wins Metro Spotlight Award

Cedar Rapids Kennedy senior Davis Sutton is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school boys this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Sutton tamed the links at Gates Park in Waterloo Thursday with a sizzling round of 7-under-par 65 to take medalist honors at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet.

Sutton won the meet by four strokes as Kennedy ran away with the team championship.

Sutton is one of the top golfers in the state. He finished sixth at the Class 4A state meet at Hunters Ridge last October to help Kennedy place second in the team standings.

The Cougars are one of the favorites to win the state title this season.

White installs new offense at Kennedy

Brian White had some big news to share with Sammy Lizarraga last February.

First of all, White was going to become the new head football coach at Kennedy High School. And second of all, the Cougars were going to throw the ball a lot more this season.

Make that A LOT more.

Lizarraga, a promising quarterback with a strong arm, was all ears.

"When I got the job, he was one of the first kids I went up to and started talking to," White said this week. "I said, 'Hey, things are going to change a little bit for you, Sammy,' and his eyes lit up."

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Daniels named captain of all-state team

Kennedy High School junior Zach Daniels has been named the captain of the Class 4A all-state baseball team by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Daniels had a sensational year for the Cougars as a pitcher, hitter and second baseman as Kennedy reached the state tournament.

Sammy Lizarraga of Kennedy and Spencer Van Scoyoc of Jefferson joined Daniels on the IHSBCA All-State Super Team, which is selected regardless of a school's class as 4A, 3A, 2A or 1A.

Manny Jeffery of Linn-Mar made the Class 4A second team.

Bryce Grimm of Xavier was named first team all-state in Class 3A.

Sutton fires 65 as Cougars win MVC title

WATERLOO - Davis Sutton and the Kennedy Cougars collected a resounding victory at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Golf Meet at Gates Park in Waterloo Thursday.

Sutton fired a 7-under-65 to grab medalist honors and the Cougars won the conference title by 18 shots over Xavier.

Kennedy claimed four spots in the top-10 standings. Ross Grekoff was fifth with an even-par 72, Cole Murdock finished sixth at 73 and Conner Koberg was eighth with a 74.

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Pakkebier is new Kennedy track coach

Curt Pakkebier has been named the new boys track coach at Kennedy High School, according to The Gazette and Iowa Prep Sports.

Pakkebier has been an assistant track coach with the Cougars since 1999.

Brian White was the head track coach the past two years for Kennedy. He will remain with the program as an assistant coach.

White is the new head football coach at Kennedy.