Local News

Dan Kellams to speak at History Center

Author Dan Kellams will discuss the life and career of controversial Marion High School coach Les Hipple during a presentation at the History Center in downtown Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 1 p.m.

Kellams, who graduated from Marion High School in 1954 and played four sports under Hipple, will examine the coach's strict style and the conflicts and political infighting that led to his dismissal.

"A Coach's Life" chronicles how Hipple, praised for his strict discipline and winning teams in the 1940s and '50s, failed to change his style as the times changed during the social upheaval of the late 1950s and '60s. He was fired in 1965 for being too strict.

Hipple, who died in 1999, still looms large in the history of Iowa high school athletics. He is one of the few men to be enshrined in the Iowa coaching halls of fame for both football and basketball.

Kellams is a graduate of Cornell College. He is currently a New York-based freelance writer and editorial consultant. He makes regular contributions to the Metro Sports Report.

Admission is free and open to the public. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.

The Carl and Mary Koehler History Center is located at 615 First Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids.

Zaruba, 37, bowls 'em over at Mount Mercy

Jamie Zaruba is making up for some of the things he missed from high school.

He's studying theater arts and hopes to teach it some day soon. He sings in two school choirs. And here's something he wasn't able to do back when he was a student at Jefferson High School 20 years ago: He is a full-fledged member of his school's bowling team at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids.

Zaruba is 37 years old, married and the father of two children. He's an Army veteran with all kinds of experience in civilian jobs. And he's a senior at Mount Mercy about to launch a whole new career.

"I'm about 18 years behind the curve," he says of reliving, or re-inventing, his youth.

Bowling wasn't a sanctioned high school sport until a few years ago. There were club teams that competed on a friendly basis when Zaruba was in high school. Not like today, with eligibility rules, state-certified coaches, conference schedules and state tournaments.

College teams were unheard of when Zaruba attended Jefferson. Now, promising prep bowlers can earn four-year scholarships.

Zaruba, a 1993 Jeff graduate and sports editor of the high school newspaper back then, dabbled in all sorts of athletics in his more-svelte younger days. He was in junior bowling leagues, too.

"I think I built my average up all the way to about 130," he says.

Before his youth was fully spent, he entered adult life. He worked in the real world for 10 years in a hodge-podge of jobs, including a stint at Parsons Technology before it, too, was re-invented as Go Daddy.  And he got pretty serious about bowling, pushing his average in several local leagues to 220. He once thought of turning pro someday. With
teammates, he competed in five national tournaments in places like Reno and Las Vegas.

"Those were really more vacations, with a little bowling thrown in," he admits.

Married in 2001, he and wife Jackie have a son, Zander, 9, and daughter Samantha, 7, both of them students at Pierce Elementary. In 2003, Zaruba enlisted in the Army, thinking he might make a career in the military as a watercraft engine mechanic.

An onset of early arthritis and a bad back almost four years later forced him to take a medical discharge. But that, he says, is when his life turned around for good.

"I always wanted to be a teacher, and through the VA (Veterans Administration) I was given the opportunity to pursue a dream," he says.

Under the government's innovative vocational rehabilitation program for veterans, he started part-time in a liberal arts curriculum at Kirkwood Community College and earned an associate degree in 2010. Zaruba then dove into college life full-time at Mount Mercy.

As a speech communications and theater major, he plans to do his student teaching next fall and graduate a year from now. He's been active in the Cedar Rapids opera company as well as performing in college plays and musicals. And he thinks he's the only one of his classmates at Mount Mercy who's also a Cub Scout pack master.

"It's fun," the later-in-life Joe College says. "I'm involved in a lot of stuff, in addition to having a family."

When the university announced last year it was going to add men's and women's bowling to its intercollegiate athletic schedule, Zaruba jumped into that, as well. "I thought it would be cool to be on a team again," he says.

On a 10-man squad filled with teenaged freshman phenoms, he admits he's not the best of the bunch. So far, he's competed in two meets. Despite a long layoff from the lanes, he has his average up to around 170.

"I'm fighting to get back to where I was," he says.

Already, though, he's in the Mustang record book. "I've got the school's all-time lowest score, a 106 game in one match," he explains. "I wasn't happy with that."

But, as they say in bowling circles, at least he's made his mark.

Forkner, Thomas, Hahn earn volleyball honors

Three former Metro volleyball players have earned high honors in college this year.

Brittney Thomas, a Marion High School graduate who plays at Mount Mercy University, has been named a first-team pick in the Midwest Collegiate Conference for the third straight year.

JoAnna Forkner, also a Marion grad who plays at Kirkwood Community College, has been name a second team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Kristen Hahn, a Kennedy graduate who plays at Iowa State, received Honorable Mention on the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America squad.

Thomas, a junior outside hitter, set school records at Mount Mercy this year for most kills in one season (516) and most kills in a career (1,465).

Forkner led Kirkwood in kills (332) and also had 92 blocks. She helped the Eagles to a 29-10 record and No. 11 ranking in the final polls.

Hahn, in her first year as Iowa State's starting libero, led the Big 12 Conference with 5.44 digs per game and was named the Big 12 Libero of the Year. She helped Iowa State reach the Elite 8 of the NCAA tournament.

Atwater heads All-Metro football team

Mark Atwater, who quarterbacked Linn-Mar to an unbeaten regular season and No. 2 ranking in the polls, is the Metro Football Player of the Year, according to voting by the Metro football coaches.

Atwater, a senior, completed nearly 4 percent of his passes for 1,715 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also ran for 808 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also started at linebacker for the Lions and had 53 tackles.

Atwater was one of three Lions named to the All-Metro first team offense. Senior wide receiver Andy Henry caught 53 passes for 1,020 yards and a Mississippi Valley Conference record 18 touchdowns. Senior Mitch Wantock rushed for 1,109 yards and nien touchdowns in nine games. He broke his ankle in Linn-Mar's regular season finale at Xavier and was unavailable for the Lions' two playoff games.

Linn-Mar seniors A.J. Garcia and Tommy Feller were named to the first team defense. Feller led the Lions with 86 tackles. Garcia, a lineman, had 25 tackles, including seven for loss.

Linn-Mar finished 10-1, losing to Washington in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.

Washington had five players on the first team. Senior Flynn Heald was the only Warrior to make the offensive team. He caught 63 passes -- 21 in one game -- for 954 yards and five touchdowns.

Seniors David Tann, Sean Bredl and Ryan Cain were named to the first team defense. Bredl, a linebacker, led the Warriors with 106 tackles, including 10 for loss. Tann, who alternated between safety and linebacker, had 101 tackles (18 for loss) and intercepted three passes, one for a touchdown. Cain, a cornerback, missed most of the first four games because of a broken collarbone, but came back and had 33 tackles and three interceptions.

Senior Michael Peterson was named the punter on the team with a 39.2 average.

Tony Lombardi and the Washington coaching staff were named Coach of the Year. The Warriors finished the season 8-4, reaching the quarterfinals of the playoffs where they were beaten by Cedar Falls, 35-32.

Xavier also had five players on the first team, three on offense. Senior tackles William Wright helped open the holes that allowed senior running back Carter Valentine to rush for 1,149 yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Reggie Schulte completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 1,501 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Senior defensive end Kevin Hosch had 32 tackles for the Saints. Senior Chad Gilmer converted 20 of 21 PAT kicks and 4 of 8 on field goals with a long of 42 yards.

Kennedy had four first teamers, two on each side of the ball. Senior Trevor Heitland ran for 714 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 29 passes for 542 yards and five touchdowns as a flanker/running back. senior quarterback Jimmy Lizarraga completed 53.5 per cent of his passes for 1,385 yards and eight touchdowns.

Senior safety Josh Jahlas led the Cougars in tackles with 116. He also intercepted two passes. Senior defensive end Logan Letellier had 93 tackles, 10 for loss.

Marion had three players on the first team. Senior Colton Storla led the Metro in rushing with 1,222 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Marion senior linebacker Jake McDonald was the Metro leader in tackling with 135, including 21 for loss. His 135 tackles ranked fourth in Class 3A and his 21 for loss ranked second in 3A. He finished with 325 career tackles.

Marion senior cornerback Hunter Banes had seven interceptions, ranking him tied for second in Class 3A. He also had 65 tackles.

Prairie had two players on the first team. Junior wide receiver Jarred Edmonds caught 26 passes for 529 yards and seven touchdowns. Sophomore Tristan Beyer had 52 tackles.

Jefferson's lone representative on the first team was senior defensive lineman Mic Vesey, who had 16 tackles.

2011 ALL-METRO FOOTBALL TEAM

FIRST TEAM
Offense
Mark Atwater, Linn-Mar, sr.
Andy Henry, Linn-Mar, sr.
Mitch Wantock, Linn-Mar, sr.
Flynn Heald, Washington, sr.
Trevor Heitland, Kennedy, sr.
Jimmy Lizarraga, Kennedy, sr.
William Wright, Xavier, sr.
Carter Valentine, Xavier, sr.
Reggie Schulte, Xavier, jr.
Colton Storla, Marion, sr.
Jarred Edmonds, Prairie, jr.
PK - Chad Gilmer, Xavier, sr.

Defense
A.J. Garcia, Linn-Mar, sr.
Tommy Feller, Linn-Mar, sr.
David Tann, Washington, sr.
Sean Bredl, Washington, sr.
Ryan Cain, Washington, sr.
Logan Letellier, Kennedy, sr.
Josh Jahlas, Kennedy, sr.
Kevin Hosch, Xavier, sr.
Jake McDonald, Marion, sr.
Hunter Banes, Marion, sr.
Mic Vesey, Jefferson, sr.
Tristan Beyer, Prairie, soph.
P - Michael Peterson, Washington, sr.

SECOND TEAM
Offense
Dustin Smith, Linn-Mar, sr.
Tyler Burrell, Washington, sr.
Zac Gilles, Washington, jr.
Austin Holzer, Kennedy, soph.
Alex Hillyer, Kennedy, jr.
Zach Borens, Marion, jr.
Ethan Herren, Marion, jr.
Christian Knox, Jefferson, sr.
Ryan Eivins, Jefferson, sr.
Sam Manternach, Prairie, sr.

Defense
Colton Sanchez, Linn-Mar, sr.
Travis Kvach, Linn-Mar, sr.
Michael Redmond, Linn-Mar, sr.
Michael Daughtery, Washington, sr.
Stohrm Henry, Washington, sr.
Shane Williams, Kennedy, sr.
Colm Larkin, Xavier, sr.
Jordan Weber, Xavier, sr.
Jack Boland, Xavier, sr.
Justin Dolley, Marion, jr.
Brayton Carlson, Prairie, sr.

HONORABLE MENTION
Marion -- Brennen Kelly, Taylor Rogers, Trev Biery, Cale Cannoy, Tyler Gunderson
Xavier -- Seth Fahnle, Josh Giles, Matt Hansen, Jordan Hoffman, Corbin Woods
Jefferson -- Tanner Lunfd, Aaron Gruwell, Austin Short, Austin Goodell, Alex Baxter
Prairie -- Jace Hanna, Bryce Meeker, Demetrius Harper, Mitch Dellamuth, Bryce Alberts
Washington -- Braedon Tovey, Mitch Bredeson, JoJo McBride, McCauley Todd, Mitch Blades
Kennedy -- Michael Lawshea, Gage Berry, David Hynek, Riley Fergus, Drew Heitland
Linn-Mar -- Jacob Hutchins, Bryan Goings, Justin Green, Zach Martins, Nick Trabuco

2011 METRO FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Mark Atwater, Linn-Mar

2011 METRO COACH OF THE YEAR -- Tony Lombardi and staff, Washington