Vote: Who should be SBLive’s Iowa high school athlete of the week? (11/6/2023)

Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Iowa high school athlete of the week for Oct. 30–Nov. 5. 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.

Luke Anderson, Ankeny football

The senior quarterback completed 13 of 16 passes and tossed a pair of touchdown passes as the Hawks shocked No. 2 West Des Moines Dowling in a Class 5A quarterfinal. Ankeny controlled the clock and avenged a 35-14 loss to the Maroons during the regular season.

Austin Baumhover, Van Meter football

The senior quarterback rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 138 yards and another score as last year’s Class 1A state champs advanced to a 2A semifinal with a 31-21 win over PCM. Unbeaten Van Meter will face Monticello in a semifinal.

Tyler Bell, Solon football

The junior completed 18 of 24 passes for 286 yards and a pair of touchdowns, leading the Spartans to a 36-35 victory over West Delaware in a 3A quarterfinal. Brett White had 114 receiving yards on five catches, 10 tackles, 2.5 for loss and a sack as Solon moved on to a semifinal.

Mary Kate Bendlage, Fort Madison Holy Trinity Catholic volleyball

The senior was named to the all-tournament team as the Crusaders made it all the way to the championship match. Bendlage was a big part of Holy Trinity’s success as she combined for 32 kills, five assists, two aces, 40 digs and a block in the tournament, which included straight-set victories over Don Bosco and Boyden Hull before the straight-set loss to Ankeny Christian.

Bailey Boeve, Hinton volleyball

The sophomore was named to the all-tournament team in Class 2A and the Iowa Pork Producers Top Producer of the Match in the state tournament. She had 22 kills, three aces serving, a dig and five block assists in the championship match loss to Dike-New Hartford. She combined for 29 kills, three aces, 13 digs and five solo and three assisted blocks in the opening round straight set wins over Aplington-Parkersburg and Grundy Center.

Isaac Clark, Gladbrook-Reinbeck football

The senior rushed 16 times for 153 yards and completed 15 of 20 passes for 179 yards and another score as the Rebels avenged their only regular season loss with a 32-20 victory over Clarksville in an 8-player quarterfinal. It’s the first trip to the semifinals for Gladbrook-Reinbeck since 2016.

Kamdyn Cross, Lewis Central football

The senior had 31 carries for 151 yards and three touchdowns, while adding a 22-yard touchdown reception as the Titans downed ADM 32-21 in a 4A quarterfinal. Lewis Central has a matchup with North Polk in a semifinal.

Mackenzie Dean, WDM Dowling Catholic volleyball

An all-tournament team selection, Dean led the Maroons with 13 kills, two service aces, 10 digs and four solo blocks in the five-set championship match. In the semifinal straight set victory over Pleasant Valley, Dean hammered out 15 kills, served three aces, had nine digs and assisted on two blocks. In the opening round four-set victory over rival West Des Moines Valley, she had 17 kills, 13 digs and four solo blocks.

Jake Edwards, Winfield-Mt. Union football

The junior passed for 214 yards and three touchdowns, leading the unbeaten Wolves to a 34-29 win over Don Bosco in an 8-player quarterfinal. Cole Milks intercepted a pass in the end zone on the final play of the game to send Winfield-Mt. Union into a semifinal.

Tate Foertsch, Algona Garrigan football

The sophomore rushed for three touchdowns and passed for another as the Golden Bears beat CAM 26-16 in an 8-player quarterfinal. Garrigan is heading to the UNI-Dome for a semifinal for the first time since 2016.

Grant Glausser, Western Dubuque football

The senior rambled for 250 yards on 32 carries and a touchdown and also caught a 35-yard touchdown pass for the Bobcats in a 21-7 Class 4A quarterfinal win over North Scott. Western Dubuque will play Bondurant-Farrar in a semifinal.

Colin Gordon, Grundy Center football

The senior passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more, leading last year’s Class A state champs to a 40-0 shutout win over Dike-New Hartford in a Class 1A quarterfinal. Justin Knaack added a pair of scoring runs for the unbeaten Spartans, who play Waterloo Columbus in a semifinal contest.

Abbey Hayes, North Scott volleyball

Named captain of the Class 4A all-tournament team, the junior led the Lancers to the state championship by pounding out 17 kills, serving two aces and blocking two in a straight set win over Indianola

Drew Kluender, Woodbury Central football

The senior passed for 189 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 62 yards and another score as the Wildcats returned to the Class A semifinals with a 35-0 quarterfinal shutout of Logan-Magnolia. Unbeaten Woodbury Central’s foe in the UNI-Dome will be East Buchanan.

Carter Lockert, Waterloo Columbus football

Lockert completed 14 of 18 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown, helping Columbus reach the state semifinals for the first time in 19 years with a 35-14 Class 1A quarterfinal win over Sumner-Fredericksburg. Parker Kjeldson and Myles Gardner each rushed for two touchdowns for the Sailors.

Garrett Lueth, Underwood football

The sophomore passed for 335 yards and four touchdowns – completing 19 of 25 – as the Eagles soared past OABCIG 43-8 in a Class 1A quarterfinal. Mason Boothby had three touchdown receptions among his six catches for 171 receiving yards.

Caden Lundt, Spirit Lake football

The junior passed for 238 yards and two touchdowns and the Indians clipped West Lyon 20-19 in a 2A quarterfinal. Dylan Stecker had 10 catches for 137 yards, including an 85-yard scoring strike from Lundt.

Jayden McGregory, West Des Moines Valley football

The sophomore caught a 71-yard touchdown pass (from classmate Drake DeGroote) and returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown in the Tigers’ 20-7 5A quarterfinal win over Waukee. Valley started the season 0-4 but has won its last six games to reach a semifinal against Southeast Polk.

Chloe Meester, Mount Vernon volleyball

The junior was named captain of the Class 3A all-tournament team as she led the Mustangs to the state championship. She had 25 kills, 24 digs and a solo block in the title match – a four set victory over Hull Western Christian. She had 22 kills, three aces, nine digs and four solo blocks in a four-set semifinal win over Davenport Assumption. She earlier had 22 kills, three aces and a combined for three blocks in a straight set opening round win over Dubuque Wahlert.

Connor Moberly, Southeast Polk football

The senior and Iowa State recruit passed for 199 yards and two touchdowns as the defending 5A state champions edged Cedar Falls 21-20 in a playoff quarterfinal. The Rams denied Cedar Falls on a two-point conversion try in the final minute.

Garrison Motsinger, Bedford football

The junior rushed for 190 yards on just nine carries, scoring three touchdowns for the unbeaten Bulldogs in a 36-24 win over Lenox in an 8-player quarterfinal. Cal Peterman had 14.5 tackles, including four for loss.

Quinn Olson, Sioux City Bishop Heelan football

The senior quarterback had 124 yards passing and two touchdowns, while tacking on 93 rushing yards on 22 carries with a touchdown in Heelan’s thrilling 27-26 triple-overtime win over Sioux Center in a 3A quarterfinal. Olson hit George Tsiobanos on fourth-and-9 from the 30 yard line with less than two minutes remaining to tie the game at 7-7.

Katrina Pelds, Waukee Northwest volleyball

Captain of the Class 5A all-tournament team, Pelds spiked home the final point of the state championship five-set victory over West Des Moines Dowling. She had 11 kills and 18 digs in the championship match. In the semifinal over Ankeny Centennial, Pelds had 27 digs and earlier had 15 in the opening round win over Cedar Falls – both straight set victories.

Jadyn Petersen, Dike-New Hartford volleyball

The UNI recruit was named to the Class 2A all-tournament team as the Wolverines swept their way to another state championship and an unblemished 50-0 record. She had 16 kills in the first two matches to go with 31 digs, two assisted blocks and an ace. She had nine kills, one ace, six digs, one solo and two assisted blocks in the championship match win over Hinton.

Payton Petersen, Dike-New Hartford volleyball

The senior was named captain of the all-tournament team for the Class 2A state champions who finished the season with a perfect 50-0 record. The Louisville recruit had 56 kills, five assists, 24 digs, two solo and three assisted blocks in the tournament – all three-set sweeps.

Wyatt Powell, MFL MarMac football

Powell rushed for 161 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Bulldogs to a 22-7 Class 1A quarterfinal victory over Iowa City Regina. MFL MarMac will play Underwood in a semifinal at the UNI-Dome.

Katie Quick, Ankeny Christian volleyball

The junior was named captain of the Class 1A all-tournament team for the state champion. The Eagles’ setter had 35 assists, seven kills, an ace and 11 digs in the championship game straight-set victory over Holy Trinity. Earlier she had 37 assists,10 kills, two aces and 15 digs in a four-set win over BCLUW and 44 assists, 10 kills, three aces, 21 digs and two assisted blocks in a four-set win over Newell-Fonda in the opener.

Preston Ries, Monticello football

The University of Iowa recruit rushed 39 times for 232 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 319 yards and another score in a 34-28 Class 2A quarterfinal victory over Mediapolis. Ty Tallman caught passes for 235 yards.

Tori Runyan, Indianola volleyball

The junior helped the Indians earn a state runner-up finish in the Class 4A state tournament with the all-tournament team performance. She had an incredible 63 assists to go with 16 digs, two kills and an ace in the Indians’ opening round five-set win over Marion. She followed that with a 43-assist, 16-dig performance in a five-set semifinals triumph over Lewis Central and finished the tournament with 24 assists and eight digs in the title match.

Tanner Thurn, East Buchanan football

Thurn rushed for 183 yards and three touchdowns as the Buccaneers upended top-ranked Saint Ansgar 30-16 in a Class A quarterfinal. East Buchanan handed Saint Ansgar its first loss and moved to the semifinals for the second time in the last three seasons.

Cael Turner, Creston football

Turner passed for 264 yards and four touchdowns and added 60 rushing yards and a score for the top-ranked Panthers in a 50-27 come-from-behind win over Webster City in a Class 3A quarterfinal. Creston (11-0) trailed 19-0 before scoring 43 unanswered points to earn its first trip to the UNI-Dome since 2014 and just the second in school history.

Shayna Van Dyken, Hull Western Christian volleyball 

The senior hitter was named to the all-tournament team along with the Iowa Pork Producers Top Producer of the Match. She opened the tournament with an 18-kill effort in a four-set win over Center Point-Urbana, then followed with 13 kills in a straight set win over Union before hammering out 20 kills in the title game loss Mount Vernon.

Reece Vander Zee, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock football 

The senior quarterback, who will play at the University of Iowa, rushed for 224 yards and four touchdowns as the defending Class 2A state champions beat Carroll Kuemper 48-27 in a quarterfinal game. Graham Eben, who will also play at Iowa, had 22 carries for 251 yards and three touchdowns, a fumble recovery and six tackles.

Derek Weisskopf, Williamsburg football

The University of Iowa commit passed for 137 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 108 yards in the Raiders’ 38-35 3A quarterfinal win over Mount Vernon. Rayce Heitman scored three touchdowns, including the go-ahead score on a 55-yard pass from Weisskopf late in the third quarter.

Brent Yonkovic, West Delaware football

The senior had 263 passing yards and a touchdown and 100 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a 36-35 loss to Solon in a Class 3A quarterfinal.

Cale Zuehl, West Hancock football

The senior carried 31 times for 183 yards and four touchdowns as the Eagles reached the state semifinals for the third straight season with a 44-22 Class A quarterfinal win over Wapsie Valley. West Hancock plays Madrid in a semifinal.