Tonight’s 1A regional opener between the Central City Wildcats and the Springville Orioles probably wasn’t even a blip on anyone’s radar outside those two districts, but it was exactly what a great basketball game should be.
Two long time rival teams stepped out onto the floor for the chance to play another day. It didn’t matter that neither team was at the top of the Tri Rivers Conference.  It didn’t even matter that neither team has a winning regular season.  All that mattered was this game, on this night…and the two …

The golden age of girls’ basketball at Springville has passed. In its wake, an era of growth.
After starting 2-7 in a year of transition, the Orioles have won five of their last six games and find themselves flirting with .500.
“We’ve seen a lot of growth and improvement,” said Orioles Coach Brian O’Donnell. “We’re starting to click a little bit.”
Gutted by graduation after two years of glory (a Class 1A state title in 2008, a runner-up finish in 2009), the Orioles are 7-8 overall, 5-6 in the Tri-Rivers Conference.
“We don’t have …

Springville Orioles will host a Coaches vs. Cancer event to “Purple Out Cancer” tonight, (1/15/2010) in partnership with Edgewood Colesburg. 
Boys/Girls Basketball Double Header
6:15 PM – January 15, 2009 at Springville High School
Purple Coaches vs Cancer t-shirts will be on sale for only $8.00. 
Contact Joe Martin for orders: jmartin@springville.k12.ia.us.
Purple HOPE wristbands will be on sale for $1.00 each
EVERYONE WEAR PURPLE!!
All proceeds from this night will go to the school’s Relay for Life totals for their respective Linn County and Delaware County events held in June.  These funds go to the American Cancer Society …

Don Bosco remains on top with eight ranked wrestlers, including four top-ranked wrestlers and a fifth in the top two. East Buchanan is second with six in the rankings. Belle Plaine made a considerable drop, falling from fourth to eighth. The Plainesmen are led by top-ranked 103-pounder Zakk Buch and No. 3 Jack O’Brien at 125.
Top 10 State Tournament Teams (# of ranked wrestlers)
1. Don Bosco (8)
2. East Buchanan (6)
3. New London/WMU (3)
4. Eddyville-Blakesburg (4)
5. Louisa-Muscatine (3)
6. Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn (4)
7. Twin River Valley (3)
8. Belle Plaine (3)
9. Alburnett (2)
10. Coon Rapids-Bayard …

NORTH LINN INVITATIONAL
At Troy Mills
Teams — 1. Davenport Assumption 235, 2. Denver-Tripoli 234, 3. Independence 215, 4. Williamsburg 184, 5. Valley Community 87, 6. Center Point-Urbana 86, 7. Wapello 68.5, 8. North Linn 58, 9. Dyersville Beckman 40, 10. Edgewood-Colesburg 20.
Championship matches
103 pounds — Dylan Peters (DT) pinned Austin Evens (IND), :52; 112 — J.C. Vercande (WIL) pinned Grant Rosenboom (DA), 2:53; 119 — Brandon Sorensen (DT) tech. fall Bradley McDermott (DA), 4:59; 125 — Levi Wolfensperger (DT) pinned Logan Mulnix (NL), :44; 130 — Tyler Endres (IND) major dec. …

From the fans came a standing ovation for the Springville Orioles, as they left the court with heavy hearts, after a hard fought battle that did not go the Orioles way. It was the end of the 2009 volleyball road for the Orioles, as Don Bosco took the match in four games to advance to the State Tourney.
After losing two close games, the Orioles bounced back to win the third in a slightly quicker paced match-up.  Momentum slipped away in game four when Don Bosco ran up an 8 point lead that ultimately was …

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER vs. SOUTHEAST POLK
Region: Class 4A Region 4
Site & time: Marshalltown, 7 p.m.
Records & rankings: Both teams are unranked. Xavier is 19-18; Southeast Polk is 16-15.
Notable: Southeast Polk pulled a regional-semifinal shocker, ousting No. 8 Cedar Rapids Washington in five games at Washington. Xavier survived its own thrilled, outlasting Des Moines Roosevelt in five games. SEP is searching for its first trip to state. The Saints have made one voyage, in 2004.
Linder’s pick: Southeast Polk in 5.
 
CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY vs. WATERLOO EAST
Region: Class 4A Region 5
Site & time: …

There was an air of excitement on the Oriole side of the gym….the fans sensed a win before the game had even begun.  Maybe it was the sight of all the girls smiling…maybe it was the baked potato team dinner the night before…maybe it was just good old fashioned team spirit. Whatever it was, you could feel it when you walked in.
The night belonged to the Orioles from the beginning, when the National Anthem singer was a no show, and Oriole players/singers Hope Matus & Sydney Vaughn stepped out of the team …

Orioles VS Prince of Peace, at Wheatland….Facing off  across the net from Prince Of Peace, the Orioles took the lead from the start of game one, and stayed on top for nearly all of the three game match.
Bolstered by sound defense,  the Orioles Offense stepped up to keep the team alive in Regional play.
Minus a starter due to illness, Springville once again filled that gap with Sophomore Alysha Dirks, who made the most of her time on the court, managing 6 kills and an important dig.  Katie Wyman had 9 kills, Maggie …

Congratulations to First Team All Conference Selectees Maggie Ray & Karlee Markley & to Coach Gretchen Eastman on being named 2009 Tri Rivers Coach of the year!