Kennedy High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kennedy sweeps Waterloo East

Anna Fluent collected 33 assists Tuesday night as Kennedy swept Waterloo East, 25-7, 25-21, 25-12, in a Mississippi Valley Conference volleyball match at Kennedy.

Both teams celebrated DIG PINK and donations were raised to help fund the DIG PINK/Sideout foundation's breast cancer clinical trial drug.

The Cougars finished with 19 ace serves, 42 digs, 36 assists and 38 kills.

Read more...

Gratz named Kennedy softball coach

Former Cornell College assistant coach Dan Gratz has been hired as the new softball coach at Kennedy High School, the school announced Wednesday.

Gratz also has been an ASA softball coach in Wisconsin and served as an assistant coach for the late Gary Stamp at Mount Vernon High School.

He replaces Katie Bova, who resigned after the 2013 season.

"Coach Gratz has a tremendous enthusiasm and passion for the game of softball, both for the competitive game on the field and for the long-term lessons and leadership development of young people that the game has to offer," said Kennedy athletic director Aaron Stecker.

Read more...

Benedict resigns as Kennedy tennis coach

Kennedy girls tennis coach Joe Benedict has resigned after six seasons with the team, the school announced Tuesday.

Kennedy had 14 singles or doubles qualifiers for the state tournament during his tenure, including five top-4 finishes by doubles teams. The Cougars finished third at the state tournament in 2009 and fourth in 2010.

Benedict will remain an assistant girls basketball coach at Kennedy and will continue as a social studies teacher and student government advisor.

Cougars swamp Wash swimmers

Hannah Botkin was a triple winner and Kennedy won 10 of 12 events to swamp Washington, 136-49, Tuesday in girls swimming at Kennedy.

Botkin won the 50 and 100 freestyle events, and swam a leg on the winning 200 free relay. Larkyn Aldrich also won two individual events, claiming the 200 free and 100 breaststroke for the Cougars.

Other Kennedy winners were Kirsten Siebenga (200 IM), Michele Wasta (100 butterfly) and Maddie Bagby (500 free).

Washington's Kaitlyn Nemickas won the 100 backstroke and swam on the winning 200 medley relay team.

Kennedy swept the top three spots in seven events.

Read more...

Cougars, Warriors, Saints heading to state

Kennedy High School has a lot of friendly, fun-loving guys on its golf team, but something has been bugging them for nearly 365 days now, ever since they lost the 2012 state tournament to Waukee by a single shot.

"There's definitely a little anger," Davis Sutton said Monday. "It's frustrating to lose by one shot. We're going to definitely give it a run this year."

The Cougars served notice Monday with a dominating performance at the Class 4A district meet on a gorgeous day for golf at Elmcrest Country Club in northeast Cedar Rapids.

Sutton took medalist honors with a 3-over-par 73 and Kennedy captured the team title with an impressive four-man score of 299. Conner Koberg shot 74, Cole Murdock fired a 76 and Seth Nutt also had a 76 as the Cougars placed four guys in the top-10.

Read more...

Moa helps Cougars roll by J-Hawks

Although he's been Kennedy's leading rusher, senior scatback Miles Moa says he's been unhappy with his season so far.

“I had a rough start,” he said Friday night after leading the Cougars to a 35-14 win over Jefferson at Kingston Stadium.

“I wasn't reading the blocks right and kept missing my assignments. Just wasn't producing like I wanted to.”

That all changed in a flash when, on Kennedy's first play from scrimmage, he scooted 29 yards for a score.

Read more...

Renwick paces Metro runners in Epworth

EPWORTH - Cedar Rapids Prairie freshman Cayla Renwick placed seventh at the Western Dubuque Invitational cross country meet Thursday in Epworth.

Renwick ran the 4K course in 16 minues, 37 seconds. Cascade freshman Becca McDermott won the race in 16:09.

The Prairie girls finished third out of 16 teams.

The Kennedy boys placed third out of 17 teams in their race. Addison Furry finished 10th for the Cougars.

Read more...

Sutton fires 32; Wash tips Cougars

Cedar Rapids Kennedy junior Davis Sutton collected four straight birdies Thursday and fired a 4-under-par 32 on the front-9 at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion.

Sutton began his streak with a birdie-4 on the 6th hole and followed with birdies on the 7th, 8th and 9th holes as well.

Frank Lindwall of Washington and Matt Bauman of Cedar Falls tied for second place at 1-under 35 in the Mississippi Valley Conference quadrangular meet.

Read more...

Hawks, Cougars rule in Iowa City

IOWA CITY - Cedar Rapids Prairie senior Mitch Pritts raced to victory at the Iowa City West Invitational cross country meet Tuesday and led the Hawks to the team championship.

The Cedar Rapids Kennedy girls also had a good day and claimed first place in their race.

Pritts captured the 5K boys race in 16 minutes, 7.51 seconds. Mason Tope of Davenport Central finished second in 16:14.04.

Read more...