The Cedar Rapids Jefferson wrestling program is honoring all of its former state finalists and former coaches at the home dual against Cedar Rapids Kennedy on Thursday. According to J-Hawks Coach Dick Briggs, there has been an overwhelming response and a number of those honored will be in attendance. Some are coming from places like Wisconsin, Virginia, Texas and Arizona.
Among those you have confirmed are the Metro’s first three-time state champ Mel Wieland, who won titles in the early 1960s, all three state champion Ironside brothers, Matt, Mark and Tim, and …

The top six teams in the rankings have a number of wrestlers on the list. All of them have at least five wrestlers ranked. Defending state champion Ballard still leads the way with Denver-Tripoli and Davenport Assumption close behind. The state tournament could be very interesting depending upon the number of qualifiers each can take to Des Moines.
Top 10 State Tournament Teams (# of ranked wrestlers)
1. Ballard (6)
2. Denver-Tripoli (8)
3. Davenport Assumption (7)
4. Independence (6)
5. Forest City (5)
6. East Marshall (5)
7. Centerville (3)
8. Emmetsburg (4)
9. Dallas Center-Grimes (4)
10. Sgt. Bluff …

Benton Community’s Bobcat “Jerry Eckenrod” Invitational boasts one of the strongest fields from all three classes and this Saturday is no different at Van Horne.
The 16-team field includes five ranked tournament teams and almost 40 ranked wrestlers. The field boasts top-ranked Don Bosco, No 4 Belle Plaine and seventh-rated Eddyville-Blakesburg from Class 1A and third-ranked Davenport Assumption and No. 7 Centerville of 2A.
One of the most intriguing weights is 152 pounds, which could include three defending state champions. Cedar Falls’ top-ranked Michael Kelly, a University of Iowa recruit and the …

FORT DODGE — The Union Knights felt no heat to three-peat.
“There was no pressure on us,” said Ashley Frush. “The pressure was on the other teams to beat us.”
It didn’t happen. Almost, but not quite.
Union captured its third consecutive Class 2A girls’ championship at the state cross country meet Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course.
The Knights edged 2008 1A champion Pekin by a 57-60 margin.
“I knew it was close. I didn’t think we had it,” said Union Coach Andy McQuillen. “It’s pretty amazing. This group overachieved, overachieved and overachieved.
“I couldn’t be …

CLASS 4A
Cedar Rapids Xavier at Linn-Mar
Time & place: 7 p.m., at Armstrong Field.
Radio: WMT-AM (600).
Records: No. 8 Xavier is 8-2; No. 7 Linn-Mar is 9-1.
How they got here: Fifth-seeded Xavier advanced with a 38-21 substate win over Pleasant Valley; Fourth-seeded Linn-Mar rallied past Burlington, 37-14. The Lions beat the Saints, 14-7, in Week 2.
Linder’s pick: Xavier, 21-19.
 
Cedar Rapids Kennedy vs. Cedar Rapids Washington
Time & place: 7 p.m., at Kingston Stadium.
Radio: KGYM-AM (1600).
Records: Kennedy is 5-5; Washington is 8-2.
How they got here: Kennedy, the 14th seed in the 4A East, pulled the upset of …

A thumbnail sketch on the Class 2A girls’ race at the state cross country meet Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course, Fort Dodge.
Time: 1 p.m.
Individual race: It’s difficult to bet against defending champion Morgan Casey of Northeast/East Central. She won last year’s state meet by 32 seconds and built a 33-second margin of victory at the Monticello regional over last year’s runner-up, Jodi Miller of Sumner-Fredericksburg. Becca Ellis of GLR-Central Lyon was sixth last year and won the Sheldon regional by 16 seconds.
Team race: It would take a major upset for …

Can lightning strike twice? Roxanne Paulsen hopes so.
“A lot of people think we’ve lost a lot (to graduation),” said Paulsen, the volleyball coach at Marion High School. “We’re just hoping things can fall into place again.”
The Indians, defending Class 3A state champions, open regional play tonight at home against Benton Community. First serve is 7 p.m.
Fifth-ranked Marion (33-9) is bidding for its fourth state-tournament appearance in five years. Last year, the Indians stunned Mount Vernon for the championship.
Graduation did hit the Indians, but three players — Morgan Paige, JoAnna Forkner …

Top 3 teams, top 10 individuals qualify for state meet Oct. 31 at Fort Dodge … single-meet sites start at 4 p.m.; double-meet sites start at 3:30.
CLASS 4A
At Burlington — Bettendorf, Burlington, Clinton, Davenport Central, Davenport North, Davenport West, Iowa City West, Muscatine, North Scott, Pleasant Valley.
At Cedar Rapids (Noelridge) — C.R. Jefferson, C.R. Kennedy, C.R. Washington, Dubuque Hempstead, Dubuque Senior, Iowa City High, Linn-Mar, Waterloo East, Waterloo West.
At Marshalltown — Ames, Cedar Falls, C.R. Prairie, Des Moines North, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City, Newton, Southeast Polk, Storm Lake.
CLASS 3A
At …

LA PORTE CITY — The Union defense bottled up Logan Pickering.
For a half.
Pickering rushed for 179 yards — 154 after intermission — and scored three touchdowns as fourth-rated Marion downed No. 9 Union, 37-9, in a Class 3A District 4 football showdown last night at Union High School.

The Indians (7-0 overall, 5-0 3A-4) have an opprtunity to clinch the district title when they host Maquoketa next week at Thomas Park Field.
Pickering managed just 25 yards on six carries in the first half. The first carry of the second half, a …