Conference News

James named Valley Division's top coach

Paul James has been named the Valley Division Coach of the Year in the Mississippi Valley Conference for coming out of retirement this year and leading a troubled program to a 6-4 record and a berth in the Class 4A playoffs.

James and his assistant coaches shared the award, the league announced Tuesday.

A total of 26 Metro players were named first team all-conference, as selected by the league's coaches. The Xavier Saints led the way with six first-team picks. Washington and Prairie claimed five first-team berths, Kennedy nabbed four spots, Linn-Mar had three selections and Jefferson had three selections.

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Class 4A football districts are bad idea

It's been a terrific season for high school football in the Mississippi Valley Conference again this year, filled with high drama and pennant races and great games.

There was a lot riding on all the games, week after week, as teams jockeyed for playoff spots and league titles.

That could all end if a renewed effort to install artificial districts for Class 4A football in Eastern Iowa is not stopped in a hurry.

If Class 4A districts are approved for the 2014 season, it would mean the end of the venerable Mississippi Valley Conference as a football league.

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Evans, Decker grab MVC honors

Josh Evans and Amber Decker of Linn-Mar have been named Athletes of the Year on the Mississippi Valley Conference cross country teams in the Valley Division, the league announced Tuesday.

Todd Goodell of Linn-Mar was named the Coach of the Year.

Tanner Rathje and Michael Mather of Linn-Mar joined Evans on the Valley Division first team. Jake Moore, Isaiah Vlasek, Mitch Pritts and Tysen VanDraska of Prairie joined the three Linn-Mar runners on the first unit.

Maddie Saville and Morgan Garcia of Linn-Mar joined Decker on the Valley Division first team. Shannon Gorman of Washington and Jenny Dickes of Xavier also made the top honor squad.

Alyssa Averhoff and Allison Culver of Kennedy were named first team all-conference in the Mississippi Division.

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Nick Niemeyer named City High coach

IOWA CITY - Nick Niemeyer has been named the head softball coach at Iowa City High, the school announced Sunday.

Niemeyer graduated from Cedar Rapids Jefferson in 1999 and served as an assistant coach with the J-Hawks for 10 years, working for his father Larry Niemeyer.

Niemeyer was named the Assistant Coach of the Year by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association in 2012. The entire Jefferson staff was named the Mississippi Valley Conference Staff of the Year in 2011 and 2012.

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