Mid-Prairie is the top-ranked softball team in Class 3A in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union preseason rankings, released Wednesday.The Golden Hawks were 31-13 last season and finished sixth in the 3A state tournament. They return seven starters from that team, including pitcher Olivia ...

  Area teams to watch for the 2013 softball season: ALBURNETTCoach – Kevin Johnson (15th year, 482-325)         2012 record – 29-142012 postseason – Class 2A regional quarterfinalistReturning starters (10) – SS Taylor Huber (fr.), LF Madison Harger (jr.), 2B Kaitlyn Boline (jr.), 1B Danica Windfield (sr.), DH Amber ...

(RESULTS)DES MOINES — Monticello boys’ track and field coach Greg Williams issued the far from idle motivational threat one year ago.“(He) straight up told us, ‘If we don’t come down here next year and dominate, you’re all walking home,’” recalled the Panthers’ Ben Ahlrichs.Point taken ...

DES MOINES — The loudspeaker blared, carrying a beloved, capitalized name to the ears of discus thrower Devonte Merrill.“Monticello,” the announcer bellowed from the nearby Drake Stadium track.Monticello, Merrill’s school, had just won Friday’s Class 2A boys’ distance medley, prefacing a flex and shout from ...

DES MOINES — The crowd stirred, then roared.Monticello’s Dallas Lumpa responded, amping up an already swift pace.He knew the record — 7:53.67 for Class 2A in the 3,200-meter relay — was well within reach.Lumpa not only heard it, but felt it.And, like the crowd Thursday ...

GIRLSCedar Rapids Xavier - The Saints return all-Metro  selections Maddie Bertsch and Grace Winker. They provide a strong nucleus for Xavier, looking to get back to the state tournament for the second time in three years. Xavier was a Mississippi Valley Conference divisional runner-up for ...

Area boys track teams to watch for 2013:CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTONCoach: Bill Pinckney2012 state finish: 4th in Class 4A, 39 points (19.5 return)Returning state placewinners: Nick Corbett, sr. (2nd, 400; 3rd, 1,600 medley relay; 4th, 800 relay; 6th, 1,600 relay); Mitch Bredeson, sr. (3rd, 1,600 medley ...

DES MOINES – The message was simple, yet so true.“You are a state champion,” was voiced by a member of the Monticello coaching staff to senior Logan McQuillen after he claimed the 160-pound title Saturday night during the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 2A ...

TROY MILLS -- And that's a wrap.Class 2A third-ranked North Linn surrendered just 10 second-half points and clinched the Tri-Rivers Conference girls' basketball championship Tuesday night with a 57-40 victory over 3A No. 13 Monticello at North Linn High School.Undisputed, and still undefeated: North Linn ...

Nov. 26 - First official date for competitionNov. 27 - First Metro dual: Maquoketa, Marion at C.R. WashingtonDec. 1 - First weekend of tournament competitionDec. 8 - Five Seasons Duals hosted by C.R. Kennedy and C.R. WashingtonJan. 26 - Mississippi Valley Conference tournament at C.R. Washington; ...