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Oglesby, Washpun combine for 42 in win

DUBUQUE – Cedar Rapids Washington wants to make another northbound trip on U.S. 151 in 10 days.

The Warriors hope Tuesday was a preview of things to come in Class 4A Substate 4.

Washington leaned on its one-two punch of Josh Oglesby and Wes Washpun to edge Dubuque Senior, 55-50, in a Mississippi Valley Conference game at Nora Gymnasium.

Oglesby and Washpun combined for 42 of Washington’s 55 points.

If it gets by Clinton on Monday in the first round of substate play, Washington (13-8) would return to Nora Gymnasium on Feb. 25 for a rematch with Senior.

The Rams (9-10), the substate’s No. 2 seed, have a first-round bye.

Washington Coach Brad Metzger doesn’t think the teams will see anything new from each other if a rematch does occur.

“It’s not like (Senior) hasn’t had the chance to figure out some of the things we do,” Metzger said. “We have also had the chance to figure out some of the things they do. There isn’t going to be any surprises.

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Tia Dawson accepts Dartmouth offer

Cedar Rapids Washington senior Tia Dawson has accepted an offer from Dartmouth College to pursue an Ivy League education and play NCAA Division I basketball.

Dawson struggled with the decision, uneasy with the notion of going so far from home, but finally decided the offer was too good to refuse. Dartmouth is located in Hanover, N.H.

"I had to decide by Friday, but they gave me until Monday because I was still on the edge of whether I should go or not," Dawson said Tuesday. "So last night (Monday night) they called and I made up my mind I was going to go there."

Dawson said she actually reached her decision Saturday night, but kept it a secret until Monday. "I didn't tell anybody," she said.

"I didn't tell my mom until I was on the phone with the coach," she said. "I wanted it to be a surprise for her. She was kind of scared that I was going to say no."

Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but they can provide academic scholarships and need-based grants in their financial package. It costs approximately $55,000 per year to attend Dartmouth, and Dawson said the school will cover about 95 percent of her costs.

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Warriors rock Sioux City East

DES MOINES -- Cedar Rapids Washington and Sioux City East battled it out at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday in a game that felt like a state tournament tuneup.

The state wrestling tournament, that is.

The Warriors put burly 6-foot-4 Sean Bredl on Black Raiders star Adam Woodbury, who stands 7-1. Bredl bumped and shoved and, at one point, even rode on the back of Woodbury.

East countered by having 5-8 Jordan Menard shadow Washington’s 6-6 sharpshooter Josh Oglesby. Menard pushed and tugged at the Iowa recruit until the moment he fouled out.

Oglesby was better able to shake off the rugged play, and his jumper from the free-throw line with 45 seconds remaining broke a tie and allowed Washington to earn a 45-41 victory.

“We’re used to physical games playing in the MVC,” Washington guard Wesley Washpun said. “We were in our comfort zone. That helped us out more than I think it hurt us.”

The first half was played at East’s pace. Washington scored just two points in the second quarter and trailed 20-15 at halftime. Oglesby had only three points at that point.

But the Warriors started the second half with a full-court press that had its intended result.

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Warriors finish 4th at state swim meet

MARSHALLTOWN -- The Washington Warriors had a strong showing at the boys state swimming meet, but not quite strong enough to slide a 28th trophy in the case. The Warriors mustered a fourth-place finish, with a score of 105.5 at the Marshalltown YMCA.

The Warriors were one of six teams that reached the 100 point mark. Muscatine led the way with 187.5 points and Dubuque Senior came in second with 141. Cedar Falls rounded out the top three with 135. Ames and Iowa City City High also broke triple digits. Jefferson and Linn-Mar had swimmers compete, but did not score.

With such a competitive field, Washington Coach Chris Cruise said he was pleased with the Warriors' performance.

“We had some phenomenal swims today, we had some disappointments here and there, but overall a very good day for the Warriors,” said Cruise. “We finished about in the middle of where we could have.”

The Warriors did not win an event, but they had plenty of strong swims. The 200-yard medley relay finished second leading off the meet, and junior Morgan Barnes was second in the 200 free and senior Mo Green second in the 100 butterfly.

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