Two weeks ago today, it rained. Rained hard. Rained a lot. On top of a lot of rain the day before.
Two weeks ago today, Kingston Stadium had its first high school football game of the year, Xavier against Jefferson. Had its natural-grass field still been in place, it would have been a torn-up, muddy mess that night and would probably have stayed torn up all season.
Brian Kramer of Cedar Rapids was in the top row of the Kingston grandstand that night. He didn’t have a rooting interest.
“I just sat and …

Cedar Rapids Washington wrestling coach Matt Hatcher has been around wrestling since he was a youth. He’s competed and coached wrestlers on the state’s highest level.
In a new feature on Crossface Chronicles where coaches will address different topics on and off the mat, Hatcher discusses nutrition. It’s an important part of a wrestler’s regimen. Maintaining the proper diet enhances his performance, allowing him to have the proper energy and strength.
Hatcher shares his approach and what wrestlers can do to prepare themselves for the season.

Hatcher has experiences success in wrestling at …

Sisters Emily and Katy Klinefelter, both of Iowa City, will be top headliners at the Johnson County Fairgrounds (4261 Oak Crest Hill Rd. SE in Iowa City) on Friday, Sept. 11. They will fight at “Unforgettable” which should feature nine bouts, beginning at 7 p.m. at the South Outdoor Arena.
Many local and professional fighters will be competing, and Chris Weitz, of Iowa City, will perform a Muay Thai demonstration to go along with the scheduled bouts.
The Klinefelters will be the biggest attraction the two of them are a combined 8-0 …

Iowa State national champ Jake Varner and former Cyclone national champ Trent Paulson will travel to Herning, Denmark, to compete in the World Wrestling Championships on Sept. 21-23. The entire United States freestyle team departs today,
Varner, the 2009 197-pound NCAA champion and a three-time NCAA finalist, will compete at 96 kilograms (211.5 pounds). He won the World Team Trials by defeating Andy Hrovat in two straight matches of a best-of-3 series in Council Bluffs on June 1. He beat Hrovat, a former Olympian, 0-1, 3-0, 1-0 and 0-1, 2-0, 1-0, …

Four high school volleyball teams, including three from the area, are ranked in prepvolleyball.com’s first national top-100 rankings.
Defending Class 4A champion Ankeny is rated 41st. Mount Vernon is 57th, Iowa City West 63rd and Cedar Rapids Kennedy 65th.
The rankings were released before the season began. Each of the Iowa teams are undefeated.
West and Mount Vernon probably will meet at Saturday’s West Extravaganza.

Decorah is the Class 3A champion in the 2008-09 Bank Iowa Traveling Challenge Cup standings.
In a tight race, Decorah tallied 790 points to edge Sioux City Heelan (785). Marion was third with 640.
Ames was the 4A champion with 1,010 points, followed by Iowa City West (865).
Council Bluffs St. Albert scored the most points among 2A schools, Cedar Falls NU High in 1A.
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