Washington High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Metzger quits as Wash basketball coach

Brad Metzger had three good reasons for resigning as the boys basketball coach at Cedar Rapids Washington on Friday.

Their names are Travis, Ty and Taden.

They are Metzger's three sons - ages 11, 9 and 6 - and they played a major role in his decision to retire after just four seasons as Washington's head coach.

The fourth reason is Sandra, his wife.

"Now that my three sons are all a little older and much more busy, I have to make a choice on how many hours outside the school day I can commit to a group other than my wife and children," Metzger said. "The hundreds of hours a year it takes to coach basketball forces a decision.

"I have decided that the most important years in my children's lives, in which I have an opportunity to mold them, may be the next few years. I simply do not want to miss those years.

"My wife has been an amazing coach's wife, and maybe she will be again someday. She has given enormous support and assistance to the cause of coaching."

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School district is investigating complaints against Lombardi

The Cedar Rapids Community School District is investigating a complaint filed by parents of Cedar Rapids Washington students against Washington coach Tony Lombardi.

Some of the parents involved with the complaint met Tuesday evening with Jill Cirivello, the executive director for human resources for the school district, along with two attorneys who are assisting the school district with the probe.

Washington parents have complained that Lombardi, the school's football coach since 2006, has used inappropriate language in his dealings with their children in his official capacity as a teacher and coach at the high school.

The parents who attended Tuesday's meeting were told their claims are being investigated but that no conclusions have been reached at this time, the Metro Sports Report has learned. The investigation will continue for an unspecified period of time.

The parents were told that the school district must give "due process" to all parties involved in the complaint.

Lombardi was named Washington's new baseball coach this past fall and has been conducting state-allowed offseason workouts the past few weeks in preparation for the season that begins in May. He also teaches physical education at Washington.

Lombardi declined comment on the parents' complaints when approached by a reporter from the Metro Sports Report on Monday.

Tuesday's meeting was held at the temporary school district headquarters at Kingston Stadium and lasted approximately 70 minutes.

Bruce named top boys bowler in MVC & Metro

Cedar Rapids Washington junior Quincy Bruce nabbed a couple of top honors Friday.

Bruce was named the Athlete of the Year in the Mississippi Valley Conference (Mississippi Division) and on the all-Metro team in a vote by coaches.

Prairie's Brogan Fiala also reaped a top honor. He was named the Athlete of the Year in the MVC Valley Division.

Bruce averaged 219.3 pins per game and led the Warriors to a Class 2A state tournament berth. Fiala had a 219.4 average and helped the Hawks to a 2A berth.

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Warriors splash to 49th district title in row

Nobody tossed Chris Cruise in the pool, took a victory lap or beat their chest Saturday, but don't get the wrong idea about the Cedar Rapids Washington boys swim team.

The Warriors were delighted to win their 49th straight district title at the Jefferson pool, extending an amazing streak that began in 1964 and shows no signs of ending.

The celebration wasn't subdued, just semi-professional.

"We're going to celebrate appropriately later on when we're not in front of a whole bunch of people," said Cruise, who has been Washington's head coach since 1999. "Our kids had a great meet today. They swam extremely well."

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