Prairie High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

McCrary soars away from trouble to state crown

DES MOINES - Curtis McCrary grew up on the mean streets of Detroit, where trouble was a constant and evil companion.

Compared to what he knew, Iowa is paradise for the Linn-Mar senior and new state champion.

McCrary sailed 23 feet, 1 inch to claim the state title in the Class 4A long jump Friday in his first and only year of competition in high school track.

"It feels great," he said. "First time here, last time here for high school. So it feels pretty good."

McCrary, 19, moved to Marion several years ago to live with an uncle and his uncle's wife. He left his mother and problems behind in Detroit for a better life in Iowa.

"I love it," he said. "I love it.

"Good school systems. And it pretty much keeps me out of trouble."

McCrary helped Linn-Mar climb into a tie for first place in the Class 4A team standings after Day 2 of the three-day meet with 42 points. Waukee also has 42, with eight events left Saturday.

Kennedy is sitting in third place with 35.5 points. Prairie is sixth with 22 points. Washington is 20th and Jefferson 23rd.

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Prairie boys nip Saints, 1-0

Seth Rinderknecht scored on a long throw-in midway through the first half Friday as Prairie nudged the Xavier Saints, 1-0, in a Mississippi Valley Conference soccer match at John Wall Field.

Xavier keeper Nick Huss got his fingers on the throw-in, but the ball deflected into the goal for the only tally of the night.

Prairie girls boot Saints in Shootout

Cedar Rapids Prairie trimmed Xavier, 2-1, in a PK Shootout Thursday afternoon in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls soccer match at Xavier's Heco Field.

Alexa Martin scored for Prairie during regulation and Brylee Bastian countered for Xavier. Neither team scored in overtime and the Prairie Hawks won the Shootout, 3-2.

Maleah Baloch collected an assist on Martin's goal for Prairie.

Prairie is ranked No. 10 in Class 3A and Xavier is ranked No. 2 in Class 2A

Pederson wins title; Caro sisters 2nd

BETTENDORF - Jessica Pedersen of Kennedy defeated Haley Bankson of Bettendorf, 6-2, 6-0, in the championship match of the Class 2A girls regional tennis tournament in Bettendorf Thursday.

Vale Caro and Magui Caro of Prairie reached the finals in doubles before losing a hard-fought match to Dana Waterman and Emilia Porbcin of Bettendorf, 6-2, 1-6, 7-6.

Pedersen and the Caro sisters advance to the state tournament June 5-6 in Ames.

Pedersen drew an opening-round bye as the No. 1 seed before winning a pair of 6-0, 6-0 verdicts in the quarterfinals and semifinals. She lost only two games all day while compiling a 36-2 mark.

The Caro sisters, also seeded No. 1, drew an opening-round bye and sailed in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

Lauren O'Brian and Karleigh Schilling of Prairie placed third in doubles with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Lolly Telleen/Stephanie Moore of Bettendorf. Evann Martin of Kennedy finished fourth in singles after losing to Hannah Borgh of Bettendorf, 6-2, 6-1, in the consolation match for third place.

Only the champion and runnerup in singles and doubles advance to the state tournament.