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 …

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 …

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!

Staying cool and playing smart, the Oriole Volleyball team took care of Calamus Wheatland in three games Wednesday night to advance to the next round of play.
Game two was a little close for comfort, but the score was misleading, for there was never really any doubt that the Orioles would come away victorious. 
Maggie Ray led all players in kills, and the Orioles, propelled by great offensive plays by Hannah Loehr, CJ Fitzgerald, Hope Matus and Katie Wyman,  dominated the match from the start.
The Springville ladies will take it on the road Tuesday October 27th, playing Prince of …

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released its latest installment of the swim Power Rankings Friday. There hasn’t been much movement by local teams.
Bettendorf still holds the top spot, while Cedar Falls, which won the MVC Super Meet on Saturday at Loras College in Dubuque, is still third. Decorah, Iowa City West and Cedar Rapids Kennedy still hold their spots at seventh, eighth and ninth. Kennedy placed second at the MVC conference meet, one spot in front of West.
Linn-Mar, which finished fourth in the MVC meet, is in 12th …

IOWA CITY — Solon made a big statement last night.
The distance between the top-ranked and third-ranked teams in Class 3A is further than the drive it takes to reach each other.
Top-ranked Solon handled No. 3 Iowa City Regina, 42-7, in a Class 2A District 5 battle last night at Regina High School.
Solon seemed to have a little more adrenaline pumping and wanted to put its stamp on a game that determined the district champion and increased the Spartans win streak to 35 games.
“To a certain extent,” Solon Coach Kevin Miller …

 The upcoming conference tourney on Saturday could well be any team’s game…but today, the Springville Orioles are wearing the conference crown.
 
 For only the 2nd time since starting a volleyball program, the Orioles captured the conference volleyball title outright. (Springville won the title in 2000. They also tied for the title in 2007, and tied for the Valley Division in 2006)  The Orioles cleared a major hurdle in their climb by defeating previously unbeaten (in the conference) Monticello last week  in 3 straight sets.  Monticello dropped a match to Alburnett two nights …

The Cedar Rapids/Marion Metro Class 4A coaches have voted and released the members of the 2009 All-Metro boys’ golf team.
It’s no surprise the first team is dominated by Cedar Rapids Kennedy with three selections. The Cougars were the top-ranked seen for most of the season and finished fourth at the state meet Friday and Saturday at Davenport Country Club. The Cougars’ Dane Worley was the top individual finisher, tying for third with 149. He’s joined on the first-team by senior teammates Connor Steele and Isaac Brown.
Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Parker Linn, …