Sports News - Page 2 of 7 - Central Iowa Sports Network

Getting to Know You: Valley Tigers

November 24, 2014/in Basketball /by Romelle Slaughter

Frank Sinatra once sung about having “High Hopes”. It was used as a campaign song for John F. Kennedy’s successful presidential campaign in 1960.

“Very high hopes” is what Joe Sigrist describes the upcoming season for his Valley Tigers’ girls basketball squad.

Coming off a record-setting 2013-14 year, the Tigers welcome back three returning starters (seniors Grace VanderWeide and Whitney Fuller, and sophomore Hannah Fuller) and three more letterwinners in Emily Smith, Courtney Carr and Lexi Merritt. VanderWeide is an excellent All-Stater who is unafraid of making the big plays in games that matter. Merritt, a junior guard, is regarded by Sigrist as a sharp shooter that can help stretch opponents’ defenses.

Valley will be looking for depth from their sophomore class to solidify their bench.

The Tigers are ranked 4th in the IGHSAU preseason Class 5A poll.

West Des Moines Valley Tigers

2013-14 Record (overall, conference): 22-2, 5-1

Class, Conference: 5A, CIC – Western Division

Head Coach: Joe Sigrist, 4th season, 69-34 overall (36-9 in 2 yrs at Valley)

Assistant Coaches: Chris Larson, Kelli Morgan, and Molly McClelland

Returning players and positions: Grace VanderWeide (G), Hannah Fuller (G), Whitney Fuller (G, Lexi Merritt (G), Emily Smith, Courtney Carr

Newcomers: Mackenzie Ward, Casey Carr, Leah Lodermeier, Jadyn Loecke, Jamie Feldt

Players lost to graduation: Madi Agey, Kasey Feldt, Taylor Steil

Key games on schedule: Dowling (2), Johnston (2), Waukee, SE Polk, Ankeny Centennial, Iowa City West

Team Goals: Repeat as CIC Conference Champs and win the 5A State Title

Interesting story lines: VanderWeide committed to continue her playing career at Missouri State. She is the first Valley GBB player in sometime to play for a Division I school, according to Sigrist. Last season was Valley’s first trip to the state tournament since 2007 (10th appearance overall)

Follow on social media: @ValleyGirlsBB (Twitter)

Getting to Know You: Ankeny Hawkettes

November 22, 2014/in Basketball /by Romelle Slaughter

Brad Wilkening is accustomed to winning. The Ankeny girls basketball team is accustomed to winning too. Wilkening hopes that the Hawkettes can continue that winning tradition that vaulted the Hawkettes to powerhouse status, including 4 consecutive state titles. Wilkening is in his first season at Ankeny and his first foray into coaching girls basketball. He comes from Storm Lake St. Mary’s, where he led the boys’ basketball squad to a combined 102-5 in a four year span.

Last season was a unusual winter for the Ankeny Hawkettes. They went 1-10 in the CIC Eastern Division. Wilkening knows that rebuilding the Hawkettes’ will not be a quick fix, but then again, taking struggling programs and making them winners has been his calling card. The Hawkettes will depend on senior returning players Kelsey Yarrow, Jordan Enga, and Carolyn Buell. Sophomore Codee Myers was the 2nd leading scorer on the team.

Ankeny Hawkettes

2013-14 Record (overall, conference): 5-18, 1-10

Class, Conference: 5A, CIC (Eastern Division)

Head Coach: Brad Wilkening, 1st season (

Assistants: Bryce Maschino, Ryan Rassmusen, Shayna Greitzenhouser, Dennis Anderson and Seth Hagerty

Returners: Kelsey Yarrow, Jordan Enga, Carolyn Buelt, Codee Myers

Newcomers: Hannah Shadrava, Annika DellaVedova, Kayla Heitz

Players lost to graduation: N/A

Key Games on schedule: Centennial, DM East, Dowling, and Valley

Team Goals: “The CIC is a competitive league and we’re looking forward to the challenge”, according to Wilkening.

Interesting storylines: If Ankeny gets to the state tournament, it will be their first tournament appearance since the split and creation of Ankeny Centennial, forming two public schools in Ankeny.

Follow them on Social Media: N/A (Twitter)

Getting to Know You: Hoover Huskies

November 18, 2014/in Basketball /by Romelle Slaughter

The Hoover Huskies may have went 9-12 last season, but looks are deceiving. That is because they went 8-3 in the CIC-Metro Conference. Hoover looks to improve and give city rivals Des Moines East and Roosevelt a challenge in the Metro. After graduations to Mikayla Larson and Malaysia Duncan, coach Jason Karadios will look to returning players like Nyachristmas Puok to help the Huskies on the front court.

Is it the Huskies’ year to win the Metro Conference?

Des Moines Hoover Huskies

2013-14 Record (overall, conference): 10-12, 9-3

Class, Conference: 4A, CIC (Metro Conference)

Head Coach: Jason Karaidos, 3rd year (30-37 overall, all @ Hoover)

Assistants: Will Siffin, Jim Petersen, Rachel Chapman, Tristan Maxey

Returning starters/letterwrinners: Nyachristmas Puok (F), Brianna Hale (G), Olivia Evans (P), Emily Hestbech (P)

Newcomers: Madisen Blackford, Hannah Blackford, Hannah Broshar, Drea Turner

Players lost to graduation: Mikayla Larson, Malaysia Duncan, Artorria Jung, Lauren Provost (transferred)… All four were starters

Key Games on schedule: Roosevelt, Perry, and all CIC conference games

Team Goals: Improve each game and gain experience, gain confidence

Interesting storylines: Hoover’s last state tournament appearance was in 2004 (4 overall appearances). The Huskies were runner-ups in the six-player title game in 1983.

Follow them on Social Media: @HooverHuskies (Twitter)

The 2014 Girls’ Basketball Preview

November 18, 2014/in Basketball /by Romelle Slaughter

Sneakers, gyms, nets, and basketball. Hoops season is back. (Maxpreps)

The winter sports season is upon us, and that means the start of girls’ and boys’ basketball across the state of Iowa.

As a prelude, CISN will roll out our team preview capsules (better known as “Getting to Know You”) of the teams in the Central Iowa Conference (CIC) that we will be following and covering this winter.

This week, we will start with the girls’, since they start their season on Friday.

Can Dowling Catholic go back-to-back and win their 2nd 5A girls title, or will Southeast Polk get their second title in three years? Does Valley, Des Moines East, and Ames have what it takes to take the crown? Will Hoover and Roosevelt get over the hump and make their return to State?

Or is there a dark horse team that could make a splash?

We’ll find out to all of those answers as the curtain rises for the ’14-’15 season.

We’ll have our first look at several teams starting Tuesday afternoon.

Getting to Know You: Ames Little Cyclones

November 18, 2014/in Basketball /by Romelle Slaughter

The Ames Little Cyclones are no strangers to the rough and tumble schedule in the Central Iowa Conference (CIC). After a 16-8 season where they lost to Waterloo West in the regional semifinals, coach Joel Sullivan and the Little Cyclones are focused and determined to make a return trip back to state. Ames returns three players from last year’s squad (Ryan Weiss, Emily Frisk, and Molly Sanders), amid heavy graduation.

The challenge for Ames, according to Sullivan, will be their height, which may present some matchup issues going up against taller teams like Dowling Catholic, Ankeny Centennial, and Southeast Polk.

Ames Little Cyclones

Class, Conference: 5A, CIC (Northern Division)

2013-14 Record (overall, conference): 16-8, 5-1

Head Coach: Joel Sullivan, 16th year (211-95 @ Ames, 221-123 overall)

Assistant Coaches: Chuck Stevens, Mike Frisk

Returning players and positions: Molly Sanders (2nd team All Cent. Iowa Conference), G, Emily Frisk, G, Ryan Weiss, G

Newcomers: Haley Melby, Hannah Mumm, Kelly Friedrich, Amara Lipsey

Lost players: Kiana Peterson, Jamie Steyer, Bailee Jackson, Deja McAtee, JeAnn Hiraldo

Key games on schedule: Dowling Catholic, Mason City, Ankeny Centennial, Southeast Polk, Waukee

Team Goals: Get better every day, Come together as a team

Interesting story lines: “We are very short (in height),” according to Sullivan

Follow on Social Media: N/A

Game Plan for Friday Night’s 4A Quarterfinal Games

November 7, 2014/in Football /by Romelle Slaughter

Tonight, we’re going to take a slightly different pass route for the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.

CISN will have the night off…but that doesn’t mean you will miss any football here on the site.

Our partners at High School Cube will be carrying the Valley vs Waukee quarterfinal game, and we’re happy to let you know that carry the audio broadcast of the Ankeny vs Dowling Catholic game as well, courtesy of Iowa Catholic Radio. You can go to our “Home” page and to access the audio links for both contests tonight.

The Des Moines Register’s Chris Cuellar and Andy Hamilton has the breakdown on what to expect from both games, as well as the other quarterfinal games between Iowa City West vs. Cedar Rapids Washington and North Scott vs. Bettendorf.

Both games will kickoff at 7pm, and you can hear both games here on Central Iowa Sports Network.

Tigers Slay The Dragons in Second Round Play, 35-7

November 4, 2014/in Football /by Romelle Slaughter

Throughout the season, Rocky Lombardi and Dominique Dafney have made big plays in big games. Tonight, the duo connected on two plays before halftime that provided the spark West Des Moines Valley needed as they defeated Johnston, 35-7, in a Class 4A second-round playoff game at Valley Stadium.

A week after a pedestrian performance by Lombardi and Dafney against Des Moines East, both players got back on track when they were needed. After a scoreless 1st quarter, Lombardi (10-17, 153 yards, 2 TDs) orchestrated a 16-play drive over 87 yards, punctuated by Lombardi’s 1-yard quarterback sneak for a 7-0 lead with 10:19 left in the second quarter. That drive had Drew Gray written all over it. Gray racked up nearly 65 yards rushing on 12 of those plays.

Johnston’s defense was up to the task in the first half, forcing Valley to punt three times, despite Gray gaining 169 yards rushing. The Dragons’ offense punted on 4th down with about 2:00 left before halftime, setting up the key drive of the game. Lombardi ran on consecutive plays for nine and three yards respectively, and on the third play of the drive, he finds Dominique Dafney (4 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD) streaking down the middle of the field and completes a 42-yard pass to the Johnston 8 yard line. On the ensuing play, Lombardi hooks up with Dafney again on a corner route to give Valley a 14-0 lead with three seconds left before halftime.

The scoring drive swung the momentum in Valley’s favor as the second half began. Gray (24 carries, 169 yards, 1 TD) continued his assault on the Dragons with the ground game. Johnston went for it on fourth down at their own 28, and running back T-Boy White was stuffed by Dan McCoy and the Tigers defensive line. A penalty on Johnston after the play, gave Valley the ball on the Dragons’ 14 and Lombardi made the most of the opportunity, completing a 14 yard pass to Austin Hronich to push the Tigers’ lead to 21-0 at the 2:08 mark of the third quarter.

Johnston went three and out to start the fourth quarter and Valley struck again, this time a 29-yard sweep play by Blake Salsbury made it 28-0.

The Dragons, who were able to gain yardage against Valley sporadically throughout the contest, got on the scoreboard with 4:00 left in the game when wide receiver Jared Seay took a reverse play to the Johnston sideline, reversed course, went back towards the Valley sideline and followed a convoy of blockers into the end zone for a 42 yard touchdown.

That fleeting moment would be short-lived for Johnston. Valley took the kickoff return and started their next drive past midfield in the Dragons’ territory and Drew Gray put the exclamation point on the Tigers’ win by slipping past defenders and exploding down the field for a 43-yard score.

Valley garnered 440 total yards, 287 of it rushing behind Gray, Javon Mason, and Lombardi. Reid Sinnett completed 12 of 26 passes for 118 yards for Johnston, while T-Boy White rushed for 13 times for 44 yards. The receiving tandem of Andrew Heuss, Jared Seay, Mark Johnson, and Regen Siems combined 9 receptions for 94 yards.

johnston ends their season with a 7-4 record. Valley advances to the quarterfinal round with a 10-1 record and a date with Waukee on Friday evening at 7:00 pm.

Dragons Look to Shut Tigers’ Offense Down

November 2, 2014/in Football /by Romelle Slaughter

Monday nights are usually reserved for the pros. But in Iowa, the first Monday in November belongs to the preps. And just like in the professional ranks, the atypical evening throws off routines. This includes short turnarounds from the first playoff round and the quick study of your next foe.

Scouting your next opponent was never considered to be exact science. “Win and move on” is the motto most teams use when it comes to the playoffs. The Johnston Dragons and the Valley Tigers are no strangers to the playoffs: learn as much about your next opponent, put on the shoulder pads, and take the field.

The Tigers and the Dragons will meet for a second-round playoff affair Monday night at Valley Stadium. Listen to the game on www.CentralIowaSportsNetwork.com beginning at 650p Monday night.

In the first round, Valley handled Des Moines East 56-7, as running backs Javon Mason and Drew Gray rushed for a combined 217 yards as the Tigers racked up 491 total yards against a Scarlets’ defense that led Class 4A in takeaways. The defense stymied East’s running game and forced the Scarlets to pass.

Johnston scored the mild surprise of the first round, easily dispatching Ankeny Centennial, 34-6. The Dragons defense, led by Hezekiah Applegate, shut down the Centennial running game to under 150 yards, as Dragons’ running back T-Boy White scored three touchdowns and quarterback Reid Sinnett went 15-25 for 252 yards.

Courtesy: Holly McQueen (Des Moines Register)

Will Johnston and Valley end up in an offensive shootout, or will it be a defensive battle in the trenches?

Who: Johnston (7-3) at WDM Valley (9-1)

Where: Valley Stadium, West Des Moines, Iowa

When: Monday, November 3rd, 7:00pm kickoff

The Facts: In first round play, Johnston eliminated Ankeny Centennial, 34-6. Valley posted a 56-7 win over DM East. The last time the Dragons and the Tigers met was a second-round playoff game 2012, Valley winning the game 42-17.

Things to watch:

Johnston leads the remaining playoff teams in passing. Will Ed Wilson’s rainy forecast put out the Dragon’s fire?
The Tiger’s leading receiver was held to one catch by East. Can Dom Dafney be contained again?
How will Valley tackle the tough T-Boy White?
Can Johnston get a program signature playoff win?

Johnston – Projected Lineups

Offensive starters – QB Reid Sinnett; TB T-Boy White; WR Andrew Heuss, Zach Seay, and Mark Johnson, TE/FL Regen Siems; C Logan Beguhn, G Dane Beery and Alex Beltrame, T Alex Wary and Tom Dusen.

Defensive starters – S Nolan Monte Monthei, FS Drew Singbush, Rover Nolan Wengert, CB Jonathan May and Jack Bergstrom, LB Karl Rasmussen, Jackson Clausen and Eric Siedenburg; DE Regen Siems and Hezekiah Applegate , dT Troy Tigges , NG Boris Petrusic

Special Teams – P/K Tom Zinselmeier, KR Jack Bergstrom and Mark Johnson, PR Jack Bergstrom

Courtesy: Andrea Melendez (Des Moines Register)

Valley – Project Starting Lineups

Offensive starters – QB Rocky Lombardi, RB Drew Gray and Blake Salsbury, WR Dominique Dafney and Austin Hronich, TE John Gliniecki, T Cody Genzen and Sam Rogers, G John Rairdon and Zachary Matt, C Brady Smith

Defensive starters – NG Trey Walsh, DT Dan McCoy and Zach Downs, DE Austin Turner, CB Matt Vertin and Turner Scott, LB Nick Yencer, Mason Berg and Ben Campos, S Gabe Honnold and Keller Prien

Special Teams – P Zach Downs, K Cole Hahn, KR Javon Mason

The pregame show on the Central Iowa Sports Network (centraliowasportsnetwork.com) will start at 6:50 pm, kickoff at 7 pm.

The game will be live streamed audio only.

Join Paul Yeager, Dar Danielson, and Keith Borness for the play-by-play, with Jim Kirby on the field with the Scheels sideline report.

Follow us on Twitter @CISportsNet throughout the game for updates.

Big Plays Propel Valley to Second Round With 56-7 Win Over D.M. East

October 30, 2014/in Football /by Romelle Slaughter

The mantra “always be prepared” is a tried and true statement. Javon Mason took those words to heart. When his name was called, he didn’t disappoint as he rushed for 117 yards as the Valley Tigers easily dispatched an undersized Des Moines East Scarlets team, 56-7, in a Class 4A first round game at Valley Stadium.

Tigers scored by land and by air, literally, and Mason landed the knockout punch when he out-rushed the Scarlets’ defense for a 78 yard touchdown run as the third quarter ended. Mason has become into a reliable go-to guy when he fills in for starting running back Drew Gray. The Tigers’ offense netted 491 total yards and converted on five of eight third downs on an East defense that led Class 4A in takeaways.

Drew Gray scored two of his three touchdowns on the first two Valley drives, one from 10 yards and the second from 6. Gray did much of his work in the first half, carrying the ball 10 times for 90 yards and tacked on a third touchdown in the second quarter. Blake Salsbury’s 4 yard run into the endzone bumped the Valley lead to 21-0 before the end of the first quarter.

It was an unusually quiet night for Tigers’ quarterback Rocky Lombardi and wide receiver Dominique Dafney (1 reception, 19 yards). Lombardi completed 6 of 11 passes for 183 yards and two scores. The first came with 4:17 left in the first half on a 21-yard swing pass to Drew Gray, and the second one with 55 seconds before the break when he found Austin Hinkle streaking towads the endzone and hit him for a 49-yard strike. The Hinkle score sent Valley into the locker room with a 42-0 lead at the break.

East got on the scoreboard with 1:28 left in the third quarter on a seven yard touchdown run by quarterback Chino Alcala, who led the Scarlets in passing (12-22, 130 yards, 2 interceptions), and rushing (15 carries, 36 yards). That score was sandwiched between two more Dowling touchdowns. Backup quarterback Will Loundsbury connected with Peter Lewis for an 11-yard score and the aforementioned long scoring run by Mason.

Juleo Harris hauled in 4 catches for 40 yards for East as they concluded their season at 4-5.

Valley (9-1) advances to the second round on Monday, November 3rd, as they will host the Johnston Dragons. The Dragons (7-3) stunned Ankeny Centennial (7-3), 34-6, at Ankeny Stadium in a first-round game.

2nd season begins: Scarlets and Tigers Begin March to a Championship

October 28, 2014/in Football /by Romelle Slaughter

Two weeks ago, Des Moines East was sitting at 1-2 in their district and facing a crucial game against Ames. In a blink of an eye, there was no game. A false internet threat of violence at East set off a wild chain of events that resulted in Ames backing out of playing at East and the Scarlets being forced to forfeit. After several days of outrage and bewilderment, the forfeit was changed to a “no contest”, which meant the game didn’t count on East’s record.

The events gave East (4-4) a chance to reset and control their own destiny towards the playoffs. After a resounding win over Sioux City North, what was once a lost opportunity now became a reality for Coach Greg Schoon’s bunch: a playoff run.

The old saying goes, to be the best you have to beat the best. The Scarlets will get that chance as they drew #4-ranked West Des Moines Valley in a Class 4A 1st round game Wednesday night at Valley Stadium.

Courtesy: Des Moines Public Schools

East racked up 581 total yards, 472 on the ground in their 62-35 thumping of S.C. North. Quarterback Chino Alcala rushed for 250 yards and passed for 109, while running back Brandon Trotter racked up 233 yards against the Stars’ defense. Alcala’s go-to receivers have been Josh Davis and Jaylin James, who have combined for a little over 850 receiving yards and 50 receptions between them.

Lead by linebackers Rory Walling and Juleo Harris, East High’s defense leads Class 4A in takeaways. Walling, a sophomore, has been nothing short but impressive in the defensive lineup.

The Valley Tigers (8-1) dominated Des Moines Lincoln, 62-0, in their regular season finale. Everyone knows about the usual suspects of (Rocky) Lombardi, (Dominique) Dafney, and (Drew) Gray, but Mr. Versatility, Blake Salsbury, is called upon to contribute in any way for Gary Swenson’s Tigers. He scored both a running and receiving TD against the Rails on Friday, from his fullback position. Gray broke the 1,000 yard rushing barrier by picking up 147 yards on the ground and two touchdowns against the Railsplitters (3-6). Dafney had another stellar performance, hauling in 6 catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

Will East find a way to chip away at Valley and put a monkey wrench into the Tigers’ pursuit of a state title, or will Valley send the Scarlets packing for the winter?

Who: Des Moines East 4-4) at #4 WDM Valley (8-1)

Where: Valley Stadium, West Des Moines, Iowa

When: Wednesday, October 29th, 7:00pm kickoff

The Facts: East defeated SC North 62-37 and finished 2-2 for 4th place in Class 4A District 1. Valley cruised to a 62-0 win over DM Lincoln, completing an 8-1 season and a 4A District 4 title and plus have won 8 straight. The last time the Scarlets and the Tigers met, ironically, was a first-round playoff game on November 3, 2004. Valley eliminated East 49-14, en route to a runner-up finish for the 4A state title (losing to Bettendorf 34-22).

Things to watch:

Will there be enough East athleticism to score a program-defining win?
Can East’s defense force Valley’s offense to turn the ball over?
Will a rested and healthy Valley be primed for a run towards the UNI-Dome?
8 straight wins for Valley, will 9 be fine for the Tigers behind a stingy D?

Des Moines East – Projected Lineups

Offensive starters – QB Chino Alcala; RB Brandon Trotter; WR Quincy Green, Juleo Harris, Gerald Sama, and Hunter Kahler; C Tim Carney, G Case Tillotson and David Razo, T Billy White and Zach Stemsrud.

Defensive starters – FS Hunter Kahler, CB Quincy Green and Gerald Sama, LB Rory Walling, Austin Hunter, Jonathan Harrington and Juleo Harris; DE Billy White and Cirima Bangura, DT Alex Contreras, NG Eric Ridgner

Special Teams – P Chino Alcala, K Javier Guerrero, LS Rory Walling, KR Brandon Trotter, PR Juleo Harris and Quincy Green

Valley – Project Starting Lineups

Offensive starters – QB Rocky Lombardi, RB Drew Gray and Blake Salsbury, WR Dominique Dafney and Austin Hronich, TE John Gliniecki, T Cody Genzen and Sam Rogers, G John Rairdon and Zachary Matt, C Brady Smith

Defensive starters – NG Trey Walsh, DT Dan McCoy and Zach Downs, DE Austin Turner, CB Matt Vertin and Turner Scott, LB Nick Yencer, Mason Berg and Ben Campos, S Gabe Honnold and Keller Prien

Special Teams – P Zach Downs, K Cole Hahn, KR Javon Mason