The numbers indicate progress.
Not in terms of wins and losses, but rather in terms in participation.
“The first year, we had 18 kids out (in grades 8-12),” said Coach Fanaye Kifletsadik, who is in Year 3 of her building project with the Cedar Rapids Washington softball program. “Now, we’ve got 35.
“Our first goal was to get our numbers up and change the mentality here. I think it’s starting to happen.”
Washington picked up a rare win Friday morning, rallying from a four-run deficit to defeat Midland, 7-6, as part of …

Larry Niemeyer’s magic number remains at 6.
Cedar Rapids Jefferson was rained out in its double-header against Cedar Falls on Tuesday. The J-Hawks and the Tigers will play today.
Niemeyer is 1,994-410 in 50 seasons.
Later this week, the J-Hawks (7-2) face Waterloo West in a double-header Thursday at Waterloo, then a home tournament next weekend — Friday against Bondurant-Farrar (3 p.m.) and Southeast Polk (9:30 p.m.), Saturday against Maquoketa (10:30 a.m.) and Solon (6 p.m.).

CEDAR RAPIDS — This is the time prep tennis coaches are put to the test.
With rosters due Monday for Thursday’s Class 1A and 2A district meets, boys’ tennis coaches are challenged to find their best possible lineup.
It turns out that determining lineups for district competition is more complex than filling out a sheet with names. Coaches implore strategy to try to advance as many athletes to the state meet as well as improving the team’s chances to reach team substate.
Coaches and players have to decide whether to compete in singles …

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union has released the Class 4A regional golf assignments. Unlike the other classes, the class of largest schools do not have district meets. Just regionals and state. The Cedar Rapids/Marion Metro 4A schools all travel north to Irv Warren Memorial at Waterloo for their regional meet. In a little bit of an odd circumstance, the Iowa City schools are being sent to very different locations. Iowa City High heads north to Peosta to play Timberline. Iowa City West goes to Ottumwa.
Class 4A Golf regional assignments …

This Class 4A substate clash featured two rising stars on the recruiting scene being pursued by multiple Missouri Valley Conference schools.
It took awhile for James Harrington and Jarrod Uthoff to make their presence felt last night. But once they got rolling, they put on a show for all in attendance last night, including Northern Iowa Coach Ben Jacobson and Creighton’s Dana Altman.
But Uthoff and Cedar Rapids Jefferson (18-4) got all the applause after a 47-42 comeback win over Cedar Falls that sent the J-Hawks to their first state tournament since …

Friday
CLASS 4A SUBSTATE SEMIFINALS
Metro-Area
Cedar Rapids Kennedy (14-7) at Cedar Rapids Washington (12-8)
Dubuque Senior (12-10) at Linn-Mar (20-1)
Iowa City West (11-10) at Iowa City High (9-12)
Marshalltown (10-12) at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (16-4)
Waterloo East (8-12) at Cedar Falls (15-5)
State
Ankeny at Johnston
C.B. Jefferson at C.B. Lewis Central
Davenport Central at Clinton
Davenport West at Bettendorf
D.M. Roosevelt at D.M. Hoover
Mason City at Ames
Pleasant Valley at North Scott
Sioux City North at Sioux City East
Urbandale at Southeast Polk
West Des Moines Dowling at Waukee
W.D.M. Valley at Des Moines North
Saturday
(All games at 7 unless noted)
CLASS 2A SUBSTATE FINALS
Area
Dyersville Beckman (14-10) …

Since there are a smaller number of 3A regionals I will tackle predictions from tonight’s duals. I hate predictions, especially in wrestling, because so many variables effect the outcome. I’ll list the match ups and pick a winner without a score. Winners advance to the State Duals this Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. Here we go….
AT BETTENDORF
Bettendorf vs. Maquoketa – Bettendorf.
AT INDIANOLA
Indianola vs. Ankeny- Indianola
AT IOWA CITY WEST
Iowa City West vs. Keokuk – Iowa City West
AT COUNCIL BLUFFS LEWIS CENTRAL
C.B. Lewis Central vs. Urbandale – Urbandale in …

IOWA CITY — Rebounds are more associated with a different winter sport, but the Iowa City West wrestling team is looking for one.
The Trojans placed a surprising fourth at the traditional state tournament last weekend after having hopes of a championship performance.
West will take its first step of a bounce back in a class 3A regional dual meet tonight against Keokuk at West High School. Competition begins at 7 p.m. Regional dual winners advance to the 3A State Duals tournament Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids.
“You never …

CLASS 3A DISTRICTS
—- Metro
—- Vinton-Shellsburg (9-12) at Marion (18-3)
—- Anamosa (3-15) at Davenport Assumption (18-3)
—- Benton Community (10-11) at Dubuque Wahlert (12-9)
—- Center Point-Urbana (7-14) at West Delaware (6-12)
—- Crestwood (5-14) at Decorah (11-10)
—- Fairfield (4-15) at Clear Creek-Amana (14-7)
—- Keokuk (11-10) at Washington (Iowa) (15-6)
—- LaPorte City Union (9-12) at Charles City (20-1)
—- Maquoketa (8-10) at DeWitt Central (14-7)
—- Oelwein (3-17) at Western Dubuque (14-5)
—- South Tama (1-21) at Williamsburg (15-6)
—- Waukon (6-14) at Independence (7-12)

CLASS 4A SUBSTATES
—- Metro-Iowa City-Area
—- @z_agate:Burlington (5-16) at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (13-7)
—- Cedar Rapids …

East Buchanan is attempting to claim its first state duals berth, but if the Bucs are going to end their season in Cedar Rapids they will have to earn it.
The third-ranked Bucs host a competitive Class 1A regional dual at Winthrop, featuring No. 9 Lisbon, Alburnett and West Branch. East Buchanan opens with West Branch, while Lisbon takes on Alburnett in the semifinals, starting at 6 p.m.
Opening round winners then compete for a trip to the state duals Feb. 27 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids.
East Buchanan Coach …