I recently visited the University of Iowa wrestling office and talked with head coach Tom Brands as well as new strength and conditioning coach Danny Song. Anyone exposed to wrestling the last 25 years knows Brands and his popularity among wrestling, especially Hawkeye, fans is tremendous.
So, what if you traded places with me one afternoon? What would you ask Tom Brands if you had one question for him? Would you ask him something goofy like, “Boxers or briefs?” Would it be about his wrestling career like, “Who is the toughest opponent …

DECORAH 
2008 state finish — 4th in Class 3A
Coach — Cristy Nimrod
Returning state-qualifying individuals (6) — Molly O’Regan (sr., 12th), Kaia Miller (sr., 16th), Kelsie Larson (sr., 52nd), Kelsey Strand (jr., 64th), Emma Blanchard (jr., 65th), Breanna Tangen (sr., 72nd)
 IOWA CITY HIGH
2008 state finish — 2nd in Class 4A
Coach — Tom Mittman
Returning state-qualifying individuals (4) — Rebecca Rethwisch (jr., 9th), Emily Fagan (sr., 34th), Cassidy White (sr., 45th), Melanie Holman (sr., 49th)
IOWA CITY WEST
2008 state finish — 3rd in Class 4A
Coach — Mike Parker
Returning state-qualifying individuals (5) — Bridget Novak (jr., …

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE
2008 state finish — 8th in Class 4A
Coach — Bill Schwarz
Returning state-qualifying individuals (6) — Jordan Burns (jr., 38th), Jacob Aune (soph., 69th), Scott Titler (jr., 71st), Justin Burns (jr., 79th), Matt Stocker (jr., 107th), Aaron Galloway (sr., 117th)
IOWA CITY HIGH
2008 state finish — 2nd in Class 4A
Coach — Jayme Skay
Returning state-qualifying individuals (3) — Scott Mittman (sr., 17th), Chris Robertson (sr., 31st), Lukas Ovrom (sr., 64th)
IOWA MENNONITE
2008 state finish — 2nd in Class 1A
Coach — Marty Gingerich
Returning state-qualifying individuals (6) — Bill Spencer (jr., 7th), Truman Shetler …

MADDY BECKER, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington — 7th in Class 4A, 14:44
REBECCA RETHWISCH, Iowa City High — 9th in Class 4A, 14:51
CAROLYN NEWHOUSE, soph., Linn-Mar — 13th in Class 4A, 15:01
BRIDGET NOVAK, jr., Iowa City West — 17th in Class 4A, 15:05
ALISSA ROTHMAN, jr., Iowa City West — 18th in Class 4A, 15:07
ALEX WILSON, jr., Mount Vernon-Lisbon — 7th in Class 3A, 15:08
KATERINA ALTHOFF, jr., Cascade — 5th in Class 2A, 15:09
JAISA MILLER, sr., Solon — 8th in Class 2A, 15:12
PAIGE SEARS, jr., Union — 9th in Class 2A, 15:19
TAYLOR …

FRANK CANADY, sr., Iowa City West — 3rd in Class 4A, 15:29
SCOTT MITTMAN, sr., Iowa City High — 17th in Class 4A, 16:06
BRETT LOSEN, sr., South Winneshiek — 4th in Class 1A, 16:08
JAKE GERBER, sr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson — 26th in Class 4A, 16:10
CHRIS ROBERTSON, sr., Iowa City High — 31st in Class 4A, 16:13
CONNOR SMOCK, soph., Mount Vernon-Lisbon — 11th in Class 3A, 16:19
JORDAN BURNS, jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie — 38th in Class 4A, 16:19
MAX NGUYEN, sr., Vinton-Shellsburg — 14th in Class 3A, 16:22
SAM READ, sr., Linn-Mar — 46th …

Here is a roundup of some of the top teams in high school volleyball
CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY

2008 record — 34-8
2008 postseason — Advanced to 4A state semifinals, lost to Johnston
Coach — Michelle Goodall
Returning starters (6) — L Kristen Hahn (5-4, sr.), S Alexus Litts (5-10, jr.), MB Morgan Guge (5-8, sr.), MB Katie Sickelka (5-11, jr.), MB Haley Brightwell (5-11, sr.), OH Laura Boenish (5-9, sr.)

C.R. WASHINGTON

2008 record — 26-11
2008 postseason — Advanced to 4A regional finals, lost to Dubuque Hempstead
Coach — Kari Lombardi
Top returners — OH Marci Novak (5-10, sr.), …

Here is a list of some top high school volleyball players to watch this season.
JORDYN AKERS, Iowa City Regina — 5-9, sr., OH, 5.7 kills per game, 4.7 digs per game, .388 kill efficiency, 2A special mention all-state
HALEY BRIGHTWELL, Cedar Rapids Kennedy — 5-11, sr., MB, 3.5 kills per game, .413 kill efficiency, 4A 2nd-team all-state
JOANNA FORKNER, Marion — 5-9, sr., OH, 1.6 kills per game, .296 kill efficiency, 3A special mention all-state
JESSICA GEHRKE, Iowa City West — 5-9, sr., OH, 3.9 kills per game, 3.4 digs per game, .418 …

How do you measure defensive excellence in volleyball?
Digs per game? That’s only a start.
Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Kristen Hahn led the state in that statistic last year, racking up 7.26 digs per game. But it’s the intangibles that set her apart.
“A couple of things go into being a good libero,” said Kennedy Coach Michelle Goodall. “You need leadership, and you need to be able to read. A good libero is always ahead of the ball with her anticipation.”
Hahn is more than a good libero. She was an Elite all-state pick last …

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DES MOINES, Iowa – Each week Mike Ferlazzo puts together a preview of some of the big games across the state in each of the six classes on his Friday Night Live Football Forecast. Week two brings us a number of those games…
Source: Iowa Sports Connection