Vote: Who should be SBLive’s Iowa high school athlete of the week? (10/23/2023)
Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Iowa high school athlete of the week for Oct. 16-22. Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday 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.
Lincoln Bainbridge, Van Buren County boys cross country
The sophomore raced to victory in 16:52.64 in a state qualifier at Kickers Park in Iowa City.
Katelyn Brandhorst, Madrid girls cross country
The Tigers’ sophomore won a Class 1A state qualifier in 19:03.33, and freshman teammate Madelyn Grothus took second in 19:17.94 at Central Decatur.
Austin Baumhover, Van Meter football
The senior quarterback passed for 146 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 54 yards and another score. The 9-0 Bulldogs, who won the Class 1A title last season, rolled past Albia 56-7 in a 2A playoff opener.
Landon Bendgen, Woodbine boys cross country
The senior won a state qualifier at Spencer with a time of 16:05.87. Teammate Gunner Wagner finished third.
Cam Buffington, Winfield-Mt. Union football
The senior and University of Iowa commit had 192 rushing yards and three touchdowns along with a receiving score in the unbeaten Wolves’ 64-8 win over Belle Plaine in an 8-player first-round playoff game.
Ben Casey, Treynor football
The junior completed 17 of 22 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns as the Cardinals downed West Sioux 31-13 in a Class 1A first-round playoff game. All four of the scoring passes went to Karson Elwood, who had 11 catches for 216 yards.
Jaxon Cherry, Webster City football
The senior carried 31 times for 234 yards and three touchdowns, and the Lynx closed the regular season with a 26-7 win over Humboldt. Cherry heads into the playoffs with 1,499 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Kanen Decker, Wapsie Valley football
The junior quarterback rushed for 177 yards (17 carries) and five touchdowns, while also passing for 76 yards and another score in the 8-1 Warriors’ 43-6 Class A playoff win over Danville.
Karson Downey, Clarinda football
The senior rushed for 141 yards and four touchdowns and also returned an interception for a score as the Cardinals beat Des Moines Christian 56-28 in an opening-round Class 2A playoff contest. Clarinda (7-2) rushed for 339 yards.
Gentry Dumont, Iowa City Regina football
The senior quarterback passed for 186 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score in the Regals’ 48-20 win over Eddyville-Blakesburg in a 1A first-round playoff game. Dumont completed 10 of 13 throws.
Colin Gordon, Grundy Center football
The senior quarterback completed 20 of 25 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns, leading the 9-0 Spartans to a 50-14 victory over Cascade in a Class 1A playoff opener. Grundy Center won the Class A title last season.
Shane Helmick, Moravia football
The senior passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more, leading the Mohawks to a 45-33 win over Lone Tree in a first-round 8-player playoff contest. Helmick has thrown for 31 touchdowns this season.
Danielle Hostetler, Mid-Prairie Wellman girls cross country
The senior ran to the state meet by winning a qualifying meet in Williamsburg with a time of 19:09.65.
Kadence Huck, Nashua-Plainfield girls cross country
The junior was the first to break the tape in 19:38.07 at a Class 1A state qualifying meet at Pioneer Town and Country Club in Central Springs.
Sam Johnson, Waukee Northwest football
The senior passed for 218 yards and three touchdowns and tacked on a rushing touchdown as the Wolves closed the regular season with a 49-7 win over Ames. Waukee Northwest hosts Ankeny Centennial in a first-round Class 5A playoff game.
Drew Keith, Wilton football
The junior tossed five touchdown passes in a 49-21 Class 1A playoff win over Woodward-Granger. Owen Hassell and Cade Souhrada each hauled in a pair of scoring passes for the 8-1 Beavers.
Drew Kluender, Woodbury Central football
The senior and Southwest Minnesota State recruit passed for 295 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown in the Wildcats’ 51-13 Class A playoff victory over North Union. Kluender has passed for 1,953 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Carter Lockert, Waterloo Columbus football
The senior threw five touchdown passes – three to Myles Gardner – and Columbus sailed past Pocahontas Area 47-6 in a first-round Class 1A playoff game. It was the fourth consecutive time the Sailors won their opening-round playoff contest.
Garrett Luett, Underwood football
The sophomore threw four touchdown passes as the 8-1 Eagles opened Class 1A playoff action with a 44-6 victory over East Sac County. Luett was 12-for-16 for 187 yards through the air.
Caden Lundt, Spirit Lake football
The junior quarterback was 12-for-16 for 207 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 49-0 first-round Class 2A playoff win over Southeast Valley. All three of the scoring passes went to junior Dylan Stecker.
Ashton McCully, Akron-Westfield football
The senior spearheaded a Westerner defense that shut out Tri-Center, 35-0, in a Class A playoff opener. McCully finished with nine tackles, 2.5 for loss, and a sack. A-W’s Ian Blowe rushed for 207 yards and a touchdown.
Braden McShane, New Hampton football
The senior rushed for 223 yards on 31 carries, scoring four touchdowns for the Chickasaws in a 41-21 2A playoff win over West Marshall. McShane also had four tackles and recovered a fumble.
McKenna Montgomery, Albia girls cross country
The sophomore turned in a time of 18:42.56 to win the Class 2A state qualifying meet hosted by Pella Christian.
Garrison Motsinger, Bedford football
The junior rushed for 194 yards and five touchdowns and also caught a touchdown pass for the 9-0 Bulldogs in a 65-14 8-player playoff victory over Fremont-Mills.
Evan Osler, Okoboji boys cross country
Osler won a 2A state qualifier at Unity Christian with a time of 16:28.30.
Jonah Petersen, MMCRU football
The senior completed 13 of 19 passes for 309 yards and six touchdowns, leading the Royals to a 50-14 win over Kingsley-Pierson/River Valley in a Class A first-round playoff game.
Nora Peterson, Alta-Aurelia girls cross country
The junior won a girls state qualifying meet at Spencer with a time of 19:36.95.
Neal Printer, Denver boys cross country
The Cyclones’ senior won a 2A state qualifying meet at Dike-New Hartford with a time of 15:55.87.
Alyssa Richman, Manson NW Webster girls cross country
The junior won a Class 1A state qualifier at Panorama with a time of 19:21.30.
Preston Ries, Monticello football
The senior University of Iowa quarterback commit had a hand in all six touchdowns as the Panthers opened Class 2A playoff action with a 42-13 win over North Fayette Valley. Ries rushed for 204 yards and four touchdowns and completed 14 of 19 passes for 208 yards and two scores.
Aidan Shannon, Wapsie Valley Fairbank boys cross country
The senior claimed the boys championship at a Class 1A state qualifying meet at North Linn with a time of 16:07.40.
Mitchell Smith, West Hancock football
The senior rushed for 235 yards on 13 carries, scoring three touchdowns for the 8-1 Eagles in a 38-22 Class A first-round playoff win over Le Mars Gehlen Catholic. West Hancock rushed for 394 yards.
Chase Spieker, CAM football
The junior quarterback accounted for seven touchdowns as the unbeaten Cougars exploded for a 75-12 win over Southeast Warren in an 8-player first-round playoff game. Spieker completed 10 of 13 passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 91 yards on just four carries, with three scores.
Emmett Swartzentruber, Mid-Prairie Wellman boys cross country
The junior held off two Mediapolis runners to win a 2A state qualifier in Williamsburg, turning in a time of 16:12.02.
Caleb Ten Pas, Des Moines Christian boys cross country
The sophomore won a 2A cross country meet at Pella Christian as the Lions took three of the top four positions. Ten Pas crossed the tape in a time of 15:54.40 and teammates Collin Houg finished second and Jack McPartland fourth.
Tanner Thurn, East Buchanan football
The senior rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns, caught a touchdown pass and had 6.5 tackles for the 7-2 Buccaneers in a 46-3 Class A first-round playoff victory over South Winneshiek. Hunter Bowers had 202 rushing yards and two touchdowns for East Buchanan.
Hillary Trainor, Sumner-Fredericksburg girls cross country
The senior won a state qualifier at Dike-New Hartford with a time of 17:51.56.
Cael Turner, Creston football
The senior passed for three touchdowns and rushed for two as the Panthers closed out an unbeaten regular season with a 49-7 victory over Perry. Turner was 12-for-18 for 218 passing yards and carried three times for 71 yards.
Reece Vander Zee, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock football
The senior quarterback and Iowa recruit rushed for 94 yards and three touchdowns and completed 13 of 18 passes for 170 yards and a score. The top-ranked Lions beat Okoboji 42-7 in a first-round Class 2A playoff game.
Carson Van Sickle, Ogden boys cross country
The senior won a Panorama state qualifier in 16:52, holding off AC/GC’s Andrew Mahaffey by a second.
Emerson Vokes, Grundy Center boys cross country
The sophomore won a Class 1A state qualifying meet at Central Springs with a time of 16:13.13.
Clay Warson, Madrid boys cross country
The senior nosed out teammate Ethan Loutzenheiser by 0.31 seconds to win a Class 1A state qualifier at Central Decatur.
Meghan Wheatley, North Linn girls cross country
The senior turned in a time of 17:40.30 to win a Class 1A state qualifying meet her school hosted.
Owen Wise, Council Bluffs St. Albert boys cross country
The senior won a state qualifier in Mount Ayr with a time of 16:44.10. Teammate Parker Heisterkamp finished second.
Marie Yoder, Hillcrest Academy girls cross country
The freshman won a Class 1A state qualifier at Kickers Park in Iowa City with a time of 20:30.86.
Katie Young, Unity Christian girls cross country
Young won a 2A state qualifying meet at Unity Christian with a time of 20:14.40.
