Vote now: Who should be SBLive's Iowa high school athlete of the week? (July 10-16)
By Nate Olson
Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Iowa high school Athlete of the Week for July 10-16. Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday, July 23, at 11:59 p.m. If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email nate@scorebooklive.com.
Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes who receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.
Brynn Acton, Winterset softball
The Huskies will get a chance to defend their 4A state title after a 6-0 regional final win over Indianola. Acton, a sophomore first baseman, was 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs.
Ryleigh Algood, Lisbon softball
The senior struck out nine and gave up two hits in a five-inning, 11-1 victory over South Winneshiek in a 2A regional final. The Lions punched their sixth straight ticket to the state tournament.
Emerson Anderson, Missouri Valley softball
Anderson had two hits and knocked in three runs for the Lady Reds in an 8-4 regional final victory over Sioux Central. Missouri Valley makes the state tournament for the first time since 2011 and meets Van Meter in a Class 2A quarterfinal.
David Begnoche, Le Mars Gehlen Catholic baseball
The Jays became the third team from Plymouth County to make the 1A state field with a come-from-behind 9-6 win over West Harrison in a substate final. Begnoche was the winning pitcher with five innings of relief and drove in two runs. Gehlen joins Remsen St. Mary’s and Kingsley-Pierson as Plymouth County state qualifiers.
Skylar Benesh, North Linn softball
Benesh was 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs as the Lynx belted Calamus-Wheatland 17-7 in a 1A regional final. North Linn is making its fifth straight trip to the state tournament.
Macy Blomgren, Van Meter softball
The senior struck out 10 and allowed three hits in a 10-0, five-inning victory over Pocahontas Area in a 2A regional final. Van Meter shut out its third straight post-season foe and earned the No. 2 seed in the state tournament.
Shae Buskohl, Cedar Falls baseball
The senior righthander allowed two hits and struck out 12 as Cedar Falls blanked Cedar Rapids Kennedy 2-0 in a 4A substate final. Buskohl retired the final 12 batters he faced and the Tigers reached state for the second time in four years.
Jack Casey, Southeast Polk baseball
The senior outfielder had a single, double, RBI and four runs scored in the Rams’ 16-1 victory over Urbandale in a 4A substate final. Southeast Polk had 10 hits off eight different Urbandale pitchers in earning a state tournament berth.
Maura Chalupa, Muscatine softball
The senior pitched a two-hitter, striking out nine, and the Muskies earned a repeat trip to the state tournament with a 2-0 win over Iowa City Liberty. Muscatine, which plays Ankeny in a first-round 5A contest, placed third in last year’s state meet.
Hunter Clark, Lisbon baseball
The senior pitched a two-hit, complete-game shutout in the Lions’ 7-0 win over Garwin GMG in a 1A substate final. Lisbon is making its third straight trip to state and 10th overall, but is still looking for its first state tourney win.
Layna DeMoss, Benton Community softball
The eighth grader walloped a three-run homer in the first inning, fueling the Bobcats’ fast start en route to an 8-2 3A regional final victory over reigning state champion Mount Vernon. Benton ended a stretch of three straight regional final losses to make state for the 17th time and first since 2018.
Peyton Driscoll, Williamsburg softball
Driscoll struck out nine and walked one in a two-hit shutout, as the Raiders blanked Grinnell 3-0 in a 3A regional final. After finishing second, third and third in the last three 3A state tournaments, Williamsburg is the top seed in the 3A field this time around.
Tatum Dunlavy, Estherville-Lincoln Central softball
The senior struck out 13 batters and scattered five hits in a complete-game effort, leading the Midgets to a 3-1 win over West Lyon in a 3A regional final. Estherville-LC had five hits, including two by Jaselyn Anderson, getting back to the state tournament for the second time in the last three seasons.
Kaliyah Freeman, Carlisle softball
The junior third baseman had two hits ans drove in three runs, leading the Wildcats to an 11-3 Class 4A regional final win over Ballard. Carlisle plays defending state champion Winterset in a first-round state tournament contest.
Kaden Frommelt, Marion baseball
A catcher by trade, Frommelt was on the mound in a Class 3A substate final against Cedar Rapids Xavier. He pitched a complete game, limiting Xavier to six hits while improving his record to 5-0 as the 2021 3A champions returned to the state tournament
Austin Gabrielson, Ames baseball
Gabrielson had two doubles and knocked in two runs as the Little Cyclones shocked No. 1-ranked Ankeny Centennial 5-1 to earn their first state tournament berth in 28 years. Ames trailed 1-0 heading into the sixth, but Gabrielson’s double started a three-run uprising in the sixth and he added a two-run double in the seventh.
Campbell German, Martensdale-St. Marys baseball
The junior struck out 11 and allowed two hits in a 4-0 win over Collins-Maxwell in a Class 1A regional final. The Blue Devils are the top seed in the 1A state bracket in their second straight trip.
Joe Goodhue, Carlisle baseball
The senior threw six scoreless innings, striking out 10 while allowing three hits in a 5-1 Class 3A substate final victory over Boone. Goodhue issued three walks and the Wildcats earned a spot in the state tournament opposite Marion.
Carly Goodwin, Sigourney softball
Goodwin struck out 16 batters in a four-hit effort as Sigourney ended Twin Cedars’ reign as Class 1A state champion with a 2-1 regional final victory. The Savages play North Linn in a first-round state tourney contest.
Kaili Henning, Fort Dodge St. Edmond softball
Henning earned the pitching win and helped her own cause with three RBIs as the Gaels topped Newell-Fonda 11-1 in a 1A regional final. St. Edmond, which gets to stay home for the state tournament, earned its first berth since 2015 and plays top seed Martensdale-St. Mary’s in the opening round.
Sam Kemmer, Johnston baseball
The sophomore drove in six runs, finishing 3-for-3 with two singles and a double, as the Dragons beat West Des Moines Valley 12-4 in a Class 4A substate final. Defending state champion Johnston is the No. 1 seed in Class 4A.
Jackson Khamphilanouvong, Iowa City Liberty baseball
The junior laced a pinch-hit two-run double to tie the score and the Lightning went on to upend No. 2 Cedar Rapids Prairie 6-2 in a 4A substate final. Liberty, which plays defending champ Johnston, returns to the state tournament for the second consecutive season.
Cooper Klaahsen, Central Springs softball
The senior pitched five perfect innings, striking out nine of the 15 batters she faced in a 6-0 win over Waterloo Columbus in a 2A regional final. Klaahsen had worked two shutout innings the night before but the game was suspended because of rain. Central Springs reached the state tournament for the ninth straight season.
Maddy Klever, North Polk softball
Klever, an eighth grader, had three hits and drove in three runs as the Comets outscored Gilbert 13-10 in a Class 4A regional final. North Polk pitcher Ava Husak leads 4A with 24 pitching wins, 230 strikeouts and a .148 opponent batting average.
Carson Koerperich, Western Dubuque softball
The junior shortstop had two hits, drove in three runs and scored twice in a 12-2 win over Maquoketa in a 4A regional final. Western Dubuque has won five straight and eight of its last nine heading into a first-round state tournament game against Norwalk.
Isabella Krogman, Davenport Assumption softball
The senior shortstop had two hits, including an RBI triple, and the Knights earned their eighth straight trip to the state tournament with a 3-2 win over West Burlington in a 3A regional final. Krogman will be playing in her fifth state tournament.
Jamie Kuennen, South Winneshiek baseball
The senior limited North Linn to one hit as the Warriors rolled to a 10-0 victory in a 1A substate final. Parker Timp and Cole Hageman drove in three runs each for South Winneshiek made the state tournament for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
Dakota Lake, Saydel softball
The senior helped her own cause by delivering two hits, including a three-run homer, in a 12-2 3A regional final win over Greene County. Lake allowed four hits and struck out seven while walking one en route to her 23rdpitching win of the season.
Dani Laughlin, Iowa City Regina softball
Laughlin, headed to Texas State University to play softball, had two hits in the defending state champion Regals’ 6-2 Class 2A regional final win over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont. Laughlin raised her batting average to .614 (fourth in the state) and Regina earned the No. 1 seed in the 2A state field.
Stephen Leinen, Harlan baseball
Leinen was the winning pitcher and drove in a key run as the Cyclones upended third-ranked Council Bluffs Lewis Central, 9-6, in a 3A substate final. Harlan returns to the state tournament after a five-year hiatus, but is in the state meet for the 19th time to face top-seeded and defending champ Western Dubuque.
Izaak Loeffler, Van Buren County baseball
The sophomore catcher singled home two runs in the top of the seventh inning, giving the Warriors the lead and eventually a 6-4 win over second-ranked Mid-Prairie in a Class 2A substate final. Van Buren County is making its fourth trip to state.
Jayda Long, Southeast Polk softball
Long pitched a three-hitter and hit a home run, leading the Rams past Ottumwa 5-1 in a 5A regional final. Southeast Polk matches up with rival West Des Moines Valley in the state tournament.
Garrett Luett, Underwood baseball
The freshman pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and one earned run while striking out 10 in a 2A substate final win over Clarinda. Mason Boothby had three hits and drove in two for the Eagles, who made state for the second time in five seasons.
Kaden Marso, West Des Moines Dowling baseball
The senior struck out 10 in a complete-game three-hit shutout for the Maroons in an 8-0 4A substate final win over Ankeny. Beau Gamble had two doubles and four RBIs for Dowling, which is seeded fourth in the 4A state bracket.
Connor Maston, Lynnville-Sully baseball
Maston struck out 12 and allowed just three hits as the Hawks topped Lenox 4-2 in a 1A substate final. Lynnville-Sully will play in the state tournament for the first time since 2001.
Maddy McDermott, North Scott softball
McDermott pitched a complete-game shutout for the Lancers in a 6-0 4A regional final win over Cedar Rapids Xavier. It was the second straight shutout in a regional final for Northern Iowa signee McDermott, who gave up four hits and struck out four.
Kaitlyn Merkle, Pleasant Valley softball
The sophomore threw a two-hit shutout and hit a two-run homer as Pleasant Valley earned its fourth straight trip to the state tournament with a 9-0 win over Linn-Mar. Merkle retired the first 13 batters she faced and didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning.
Kacy Miller, West Monona softball
The junior shortstop had two hits, including a home run, and the Spartans held off North Union 7-6 in a 2A regional final. West Monona, which had lost five straight regional finals, makes its first state tournament trip since 1968.
Mackenzie Mohler, West Des Moines Valley softball
Mohler, a sophomore, had a single, double and homer for the Tigers in an 8-7 win over Johnston in a 5A regional final. Mohler has a .515 average, fourth best in Class 5A and the Tigers will look to avenge two regular-season losses to Southeast Polk in a first-round state matchup.
Emmalee Manwarren, Clarksville softball
The sophomore rightfielder was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs as the Indians earned their fourth state softball berth n five years with a 12-2 win over Saint Ansgar in a 1A regional final. Mollie Bloker drove in four runs, while Cailyn Hardy gave up just three hits in the six-inning contest.
Korey McKenney, West Lyon baseball
The senior pitched a complete-game shutout with nine strikeouts in a 2-0 Class 2A substate final win over Forest City. The 24-2 Wildcats carry a 13-game winning streak into a first-round state tournament contest against Van Buren County.
Izzie Moore, Wayne softball
The sophomore picked up the pitching win and clubbed a two-run homer as the Falcons secured their fourth state tournament berth in the last five seasons with a 5-4 1A regional final win over Griswold. Moore retired the first 13 batters she faced and ended up allowing five hits and striking out six. Wayne is one of three Pride of Iowa Conference teams in the 1A state field, joining Martensdale-St. Marys and Southeast Warren.
Miles Mudd, Ballard baseball
Mudd scored three runs and drove in two, helping the Bombers upset No. 7 Knoxville in a 3A substate final, 9-2. Ballard, which meets Dubuque Wahlert in the first round, made state for the first time since 1989.
Katie Murphy, Interstate 35 softball
The senior recorded 12 strikeouts and gave up two hits in a 2-1 2A regional final win over South Hardin. Interstate 35 won it in walk-off style in the bottom of the ninth inning to reach the state tournament.
Evan Neumann, Kingsley-Pierson baseball
The senior pitched six shutout innings, helping the Panthers beat Newell-Fonda, 2-0, in a Class 1A substate final. Kingsley-Pierson is the No. 1 seed in the 1A state tournament bracket and is making its third trip since 2020.
Maddie Oetzmann, Waukee Northwest softball
The senior struck out 11 and the Wolves scored a run in the bottom of the 10th to edge Des Moines Lincoln 2-1 in a 5A regional final. Oetzmann earned her 18th win of the season and has struck out 194 batters.
Nate Offerman, Dyersville Beckman baseball
Offerman notched the pitching victory with a complete-game effort in the third-ranked Blazers’ 8-2 Class 2A substate final win over Anamosa. He spaced seven hits and struck out four with just one walk, improving his record to 9-0. Beckman is the No. 1 seed in the state tournament field.
Kaitlyn Olinger, Davis County softball
The senior delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning, giving the Mustangs the lead for good in a 3-2 win over Atlantic in a 3A regional final. Davis County makes a return trip to the state tournament in Fort Dodge, taking on Estherville-Lincoln Central.
Trey O’Neil, Williamsburg baseball
O’Neil held West Marshall to one hit in a 1-0, eight-inning victory in a Class 2A substate. O’Neil had 12 strikeouts and three walks, while Williamsburg won on a suicide squeeze bunt by Rayce Heitman, earning its first state berth since 2013.
Cael Ortmann, Remsen St. Mary’s baseball
The senior was 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored in the Hawks’ 10-3 win over Woodbury Central in a 1A substate final. St. Mary’s is making its eighth straight trip to the state tournament, which ties Harlan for the second-longest streak of consecutive appearances in state history. Only Mason City Newman’s 13 straight from 2008 to 2020 is longer.
Mady Ott, Ankeny Centennial softball
The freshman was 3-for-3 with a single, triple, home run and three RBI for the top-ranked Jaguars in a 10-1 win over Ames in a Class 5A regional final. Lauren Gustofson struck out 10 and allowed four hits in six innings pitched.
Mason Otting, Cascade baseball
The senior shortstop was 3-for-3 with a double and RBI, leading the Cougars to a 5-1 victory over MFL MarMac in a 2A substate final. Cade Rausch went the distance on the mound for state-bound Cascade, which plays Woodward-Granger in the first round.
Brylee Person, ADM softball
Person had two of her team’s four hits, including a double, as the Tigers knocked off Dallas Center-Grimes 3-1 to earn a 4A state tournament berth. Lauren Hagedorn got the pitching win, allowing four hits.
Jazzlynn Poole, Bettendorf softball
The freshman socked a two-run homer in the sixth innings, giving the Bulldogs an 8-7 victory over Dubuque Hempstead in a 5A regional final. Bettendorf made the state tournament for the third time in the last four seasons.
Lucy Porter, Fort Dodge softball
Porter pitched the Dodgers to their sixth straight state berth, blanking Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 5-0 in a 4A regional final. Porter struck out 13 and gave up just two hits.
Sayler Rozenboom, Albia softball
The speedy senior was on base in all five of her at-bats in the Chargers’ 8-2 win over Chariton in a 3A regional final. Rozenboom had four singles, drew a walk and scored twice as Albia avenged two regular-season losses to its South Central Conference rivals.
Julia Roth, Dubuque Wahlert softball
The freshman was not only the winning pitcher in a 6-1 Class 3A regional final triumph over Solon, but also hit a two-run triple. Wahlert is the No. 3 seed in the 3A state tourney and plays Benton Community.
Alivia Ruble, Southeast Warren softball
The senior pitched a no-hitter, striking out eight, in a 3-0 victory over Exira-EHK in a 1A regional final. Last year’s Class 1A state runner-up is back in the field for the third straight season.
Eli Rupp, Dallas Center-Grimes baseball
The junior drove in half of his team’s runs in an 8-4 victory over Waukee Northwest in a Class 4A substate final. Rupp was 2-for-4 with a single and double for the Mustangs, who play West Des Moines Dowling in the state tournament.
Claire Schroeder, Remsen St. Mary’s softball
Schroeder collected three hits and the Hawks blanked Logan-Magnolia 10-0 in six innings in a 1A regional final. St. Mary’s, behind pitching ace Mariah Cronin, is back in the state tournament for the second straight season and plays Wayne in the opening round.
Caden Schwenker, Burlington Notre Dame baseball
The junior shortstop contributed three hits to the Nikes’ winning cause in a 4-3 victory over Hillcrest Academy in a Class 1A substate final. Notre Dame, the fourth seed, faces Lisbon in the opening round of state.
Sam Sejnoha, Woodward-Granger baseball
The junior centerfielder was 3-for-4 with a double and triple as the Hawks upended Carroll Kuemper 3-2 in a 2A substate final. Woodward-Granger rallied with a one run in the fifth and two in the sixth to deny Kuemper a return trip to state.
Will Specht, Dubuque Wahlert baseball
The sophomore contributed two hits and three RBIs and the Golden Eagles held off Central DeWitt, 7-4, in a 3A substate final. Wahlert avenged a loss to Central DeWitt in last year’s substate final, advancing to the state tournament in Iowa City.
Carsen Sparrow, Saint Ansgar baseball
The junior laid down a suicide squeeze bunt with two strikes, which resulted in two runs scored and Saint Ansgar went on to oust top-ranked Mason City Newman, 2-1, in a 1A substate final. Saint Ansgar’s Jayce Schweisow got out of a bases-loaded jam to end the contest.
Isaac Then, Western Dubuque baseball
The senior struck out 11 and gave up just three hits and the Bobcats earned the right to defend their Class 3A state title with a 4-3 substate final win over Mount Vernon. Hunter Quagliano led the way offensively for Western Dubuque with two doubles and two RBIs.
Ella Trenkamp, Goose Lake Northeast softball
The junior hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Northeast went on to down Wilton 5-1 in a 2A regional final. Northeast plays defending state champ Iowa City Regina in the opening round at state.
Zadie Wadle, Norwalk softball
The senior combined with Olivia Dougherty to shut out Burlington 5-0 in a 4A regional final. Wadle also contributed an RBI double for the Warriors, who play Western Dubuque in the state tournament.
Campbell Wessels, Spencer baseball
The senior outfielder broke a 4-4 tie with a run-scoring hit in the top of the eighth inning, providing the winning run in a 6-4 3A substate final win over Sergeant Bluff-Luton. Spencer earned its first state berth since 1999, when it finished as runners-up.
Corbin Westerkamp, Pella Christian baseball
The senior contributed mightily to the end of a dynasty, pitching 7.2 innings of no-hit baseball and collecting three hits in a 2-1 2A substate final win over Van Meter in 10 innings. Westerkamp had 11 strikeouts and two walks before being replaced after throwing 110 pitches. Van Meter had won the past three 2A state championships.
Kendra Winfrey, Ankeny softball
The senior drove in two runs and picked up the pitching win in relief for the Hawks in a 4-3 5A regional final win over Waukee. Winfrey (11-0) relieved starter Abby Rusher, who knocked in Ankeny’s other two runs.
Reece Wrage, North Polk baseball
The junior had 12 strikeouts in a complete-game two-hitter as the Comets beat Gilbert 7-1 in a 3A substate final. Wrage walked four and threw 105 pitches to grind out the win.
Talon Young, Iowa City High baseball
The sophomore went the distance to pick up the mound victory for the Little Hawks, 5-1 over Pleasant Valley, in a 4A substate final. Young allowed only a third-inning run as City High made a return trip to the state tournament.
