Xavier High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Bertsch will play golf at UNI

Xavier High School senior Maddie Bertsch has accepted an offer to join the University of Northern Iowa golf team next year.

Bertsch finished seventh at the Class 4A state meet last season and was named first team all-state in Class 4A. She also is a member of the Xavier basketball team and helped the Saints win the Class 4A state title last season.

Bertsch will sign her letter-of-intent with the Panthers on Tuesday at 2:45 p.m. in the Novak Conference Room at Xavier.

Xavier senior Mitch Keller will sign his letter-of-intent with the University of North Carolina baseball program at the same ceremony.

Ollinger, Torson make all-state volleyball

Amanda Ollinger of Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Kayla Torson of Xavier have been named to the Des Moines Register all-state volleyball teams.

Ollinger, a sophomore, made second team all-state in Class 5A as an outside hitter. She led Class 5A in kills with 654 and helped the J-Hawks finish 19-22 and reach the regional finals.

Torson, a junior, made second team all-state in Class 4A as an outside hitter. She finished seventh in Class 4A in kills with 379 and helped the Saints finish 28-11 and reach the regional finals.

Persick gets his kicks (and tackles)

CEDAR FALLS - Ryan Persick is not one of those kickers who ducks for cover after he boots the ball.

He's willing to sacrifice his body when the situation occurs, just like everybody else who plays football for the Xavier Saints.

Persick had a big night for the Saints Friday as they topped Bettendorf, 31-7, in the semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs.

Persick drilled a 37-yard field goal, went 4-for-4 on PATs, punted nine times for a 42.2-yard average, executed a perfect coffin-corner kick that bounced out of bounds at the 1-yard line, and belted a pair of kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

Read more...

Gardner's 3 TDs spark Saints into 4A finals

CEDAR FALLS - Wes Gardner has not shaved in several weeks, giving the Xavier High School senior a reddish-brown beard and a certain glow to his face.

It's a superstition that's coincided with the Class 4A playoffs. After what happened Friday night, there's no reason to grab his razor now.

Gardner scored three touchdowns in three distinct aspects of the game as the fourth-ranked Saints spanked No.10 Bettendorf, 31-7, in the semifinals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

Gardner tallied on a 17-yard interception return, a 4-yard run from scrimmage and a 63-yard punt return to spark the Saints into the state championship game next Friday night in the Dome.

Xavier (12-1) will face top-ranked Dowling Catholic (13-0) at 7:06 p.m. Friday for the title.

Read more...