Kennedy High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

No. 2 Cougars knock off Wahlert

DUBUQUE – Right now, the Kennedy girls basketball team's winning formula is as true as H₂0: Hydrogen plus oxygen equals water.

The usual Lela Sellers razzle-dazzle, balanced scoring, sniper shooting, lockdown defense and quality bench contributions have made the Cougars the hottest club in Iowa Class 5A this side of undefeated Indianola.

Dubuque Wahlert threw everything it had at the No. 2-ranked Cougars on Friday night with an inspired, intense defensive effort, but the Cougars knew exactly what chess moves to make in running their winning streak to 12.

Sellers muscled her way to a game-high 15 points, Sydney Hayden delivered a trio of 3-pointers, Ashley Hamilton exploded off the bench for eight tide-turning third-quarter points and Kennedy rode a third-quarter surge to a breakaway 60-41 road victory in one of the Mississippi Valley Conference's toughest venues.

It may be early January, but the fun-loving Cougars' sizzling play is leaving opponents sun-burned. Cyndi Lauper of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” fame didn't have this much fun.

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Jacobus helps No. 8 Cougars pin Lions

Dalles Jacobus knows how to bull-rush a quarterback and sack him for a big loss on a football field.

As it turns out, he can use the same maneuver for a big pin in wrestling.

Jacobus made a bull-rush at Isaiah Garman and pinned him during their 220-pound match Thursday night to help the eighth-ranked Kennedy Cougars stick Linn-Mar, 46-24, in a Mississippi Valley Conference meet at Kennedy.

There wasn't a whole lot of technique to his move, but there was a lot of brute strength and determination.

"There was a little bit of a scramble, the kid took a break to lean on his haunches and Dalles just ran him over," observed Kennedy coach Dennis Hynek, smiling. "There was no move there.

"He's a lot of fun, he works hard and if you take breaks against him, he's just going to pile-drive you."

Just like sacking an unwitting quarterback.

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Wampole named Kennedy girls track coach

Duane Wampole has been named the new girls track coach at Kennedy High School, pending formal school board approval.

Wampole succeeds Mark Jensen as head coach.

Wampole has been active in the Cedar Rapids Track Club since 2009, serving most recently as president, head coach and manager of the program. He is a Level 1 certified coach with the USATF.

Cougars bop Lions for 11th in row

On her 18th birthday Tuesday night, Lela Sellers’ wish came true.

Fellow Kennedy seniors Linden Runels and Sydney Hayden made sure of it.

"All I wanted for my birthday was a ‘W,’ and we got it,” Sellers said after her 17-point performance helped lead the Class 5A fourth-ranked Cougars to a 60-47 win over ninth-ranked Linn-Mar.

The silky-smooth 6-foot Division I signee may have been high scorer, but a strong supporting cast made the difference in a 19-8 fourth quarter that sealed Kennedy’s 11th straight victory.

None were more helpful than the unheralded Runels and sharpshooter Hayden. With the game on the line, the two came through.

After a sometimes-sloppy three quarters, the Cougars had inched ahead of the Lions (6-2) just 41-39. But Hayden, the state’s leading 3-point shooter who was held to only two points in the first half, hit her first long-range shot of the night to open the final period.

When Kennedy super sophomore Hailey Dolphin hit a short jumper soon after, the Cougars were off to the races on a 11-0 three-minute run.

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Washington swimmers dunk Kennedy

The Washington boys swimming team won eight events and beat Kennedy, 101-69, Tuesday in a Mississippi Valley Conference meet at Washington.

Cameron Kelley won the 200 freestyle (1:52.04) and the 500 freestyle (5:06.28) for the Warriors. Nick Saulnier won the 200 individual medley (2:02.97) and 100 freestyle (48.78).

Kaleb Donels took the 100 backstroke (57.84) and Washington won the 200 medley (1:41.60), 200 freestyle (1:31.57) and 400 freestyle (3:36.45) relays.

Cade Schoenauer captured the 50-yard freestyle (23.25 seconds) and 100 butterfly (56.65) for the Cougars. Stefan Kitsos won the 100 breaststroke (1:01.25).

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Balanced Lions dunk Cougars by 20

If you thought the Linn-Mar Lions were a one-man band, take another look and guess again.

The Lions played like a finely tuned orchestra Tuesday night in a 76-56 victory over the Kennedy Cougars in a Mississippi Valley Conference boys basketball game at Linn-Mar.

Linn-Mar star Jordan Bohannon does not have to score 40 points for the Lions to mow down a Metro opponent like he did against Prairie two weeks ago, not when his teammates are hitting all the right notes like they did against Kennedy.

Bohannon had a sub-par shooting night and scored only 17 points -- six points under his average -- but it hardly mattered with a balanced attack that kept Kennedy off-balance much of the night.

Riley Murphy had a hot hand and tossed in 17 points for Linn-Mar, Jared Printy notched 16 points, Jordan Brandt had 12 points and Beau Klostermann nearly made it five guys in double figures with nine points.

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Donner sizzles as J-Hawks nip Cougars

Chaise Donner rolled a big 493 series Monday to help the Jefferson J-Hawks trim Kennedy, 2943-2919, in a Mississippi Valley Conference meet at the Cedar Rapids Bowling Center.

Donner began the meet with a 236 game and followed with a 257 for his impressive score.

Jefferson topped Kennedy, 232-183, in the final baker game to capture the tight meet.

James Jambois rolled a 426 series for Kennedy and Aeron Stockwell had a 421. Riley Walton provided a 420 series for Jefferson.

JEFFERSON: Riley Walton 195+225=420, Logan Miller 168+183=351, Chaise Donner 236+257=493, Hunter Sturtz 145+218=363, Tanner Bennett 174+203=377, John Gardner 137+161=298.

KENNEDY: Nick Green 222+161=383, Aeron Stockwell 204+217=421, James Jambois 210+216=426, Max Hiatt 168+206=374, Dakota Dippel 203+165=368, Bert Goodwin 175+224=399.

Jefferson: 2004 + 939 = 2943. 
Kennedy: 2003 +916 = 2919.

J-Hawks top Cougars in girls bowling

Megan Kitzmiller rolled a 358 series Monday to help Jefferson trim Kennedy, 2369-2296, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls bowling meet at the Cedar Rapids Bowling Center.

Jamie Milota of Kennedy turned in the best game with a 214 and bowled a 357 series to finish just one pin behind Kitzmiller.

JEFFERSON: Megan Kitzmiller 166+192=358, Madison Rasmussen 146+188=334, Hailey Kimble 169+160=329, Allie Schirmer 146+144=290, Lauren Sheets 120+128=248, Maddie Kisling 99+148=247.

KENNEDY: Jamie Milota 143+214=357, Jill Zaiser 154+164=318, Alyssa Wiedemeier 128+147=275, Abbie Haller 119+126=245, Sam Eltze 107+125=232, Sydney Helms 100+112=212.

Jefferson: 1559 + 810 = 2369.
Kennedy: 1427 + 869 = 2296.

Sellers helps Cougars win 10th in row

The Kennedy Cougars have found a remedy for teams that like to double-team Lela Sellers near the basket and make it hard for her to get her hands on the basketball.

The solution? Move the lanky 5-foot-11 senior to point guard and let her create her own offense.

It worked Saturday night.

Sellers poured in 26 points as the Cougars handed North Scott its first loss of the season, 56-52, in a battle of highly ranked teams at the Kennedy gym to begin the new year.

Kennedy, ranked No. 4 in Class 5A, won its 10th straight game and raised its record to 10-1. North Scott, ranked No. 9 in Class 4A, fell to 8-1 after beginning the season with eight straight victories.

Sellers has the ability to play any position on the floor. Coach Tony Vis likes to station her near the basket to use her long arms and jumping ability, but not when the opponent sags its defense to slow her down.

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