Xavier High SchoolSports14Boys’ basketball charges into every game Bowlers bond over wins and losses

Wrestlers stay competitive

Alex FoxSports Writer

Connor CollinsSports Writer

Shannon MulcaheySports Writer

Heading into last week, the Xavier boys’ basketball team was undefeated and ranked in the top 10 in the state. After upsetting then 10th ranked Dowling by one point in overtime, Xavier was 5-0.

The Saints then played Cedar Rapids Jefferson last Tuesday and although they put up a good fight with senior point guard Trey Sampson hitting two clutch three pointers late in the fourth quarter, Xavier fell to the J-Hawks in the final minutes with a score of 64-55 and the Saints took their first loss of the season.

Xavier proceeded to Friday to compete against top ranked and defending state champion,

Iowa City West. After trailing by two points at halftime (21-19), the Saints looked as if they could hang with the top team in the state. However, after the intermission and a technical foul by head coach Ryan Luehrsman, the Trojans went on an 8-0 run and never turned back. “It’s been a tough couple of games, but they are both great teams. We just got to work on the little things and get better,” Sampson said.

The Saints dropped to 5-2 overall, 1-2 in Mississippi Valley Conference play, and play Waterloo West tomorrow night at Ron Thillen Gymnasium.

tied for 9th place at the Cedar Rapids Prairie Boys Invitational Baker Tournament on Saturday, December 15.

The girls’ bowling team members emulate the positive attitude of their male counterparts. They, too, have seen the many friendships that have blossomed out of participating in bowling, some between varsity members and junior varsity members. “We are all close right now and we get closer as time goes on. We have nicknames for each other and we all have fun together,” junior Haley Jensen said.

The girls won their meet against Iowa City High on Friday, December 7, 2440-2141. Senior Tara Trcka was the top bowler, rolling a 491 series. Senior Abbey Konzen bowled her best game of the season, rolling a series of 367. The girls then participated in the Cedar Rapids Prairie Invitational Baker Tournament on Saturday, December 8. The team squeezed into a four-way tie for 9th place. Bowling once again on Tuesday, December 11, the girls’ team fell to Dubuque Hempstead in a close meet, 2251-2229.

The next meet for the girls’ and boys’ bowling teams will be on Friday, January 4 at May City Bowl, starting at 3:45 p.m.

The Xavier Saints’ wrestling team is off to one of the best starts in school history. The team is currently 9-5 in dual meets on the season. “We’re feeling good about what we’ve accomplished so far this year especially record-wise, and we hope to continue it throughout the rest of the year”, junior Sean Ickes said.

The Saints wrestled on December 8, at the Beckman Catholic Duals wrestling tournament. The team went 2-2, which was good for a 3rd place finish out of five teams. The team earned victories against host team, Dyersville Beckman, 41-33, and against Dubuque Wahlert, 45-36. The Saints then competed in a triangular against hometown rival Cedar Rapids Kennedy, and Cedar Falls on December 13 at Xavier. Xavier went 1-1 defeating Kennedy 46-27, and losing to Cedar Falls 53-19. Freshmen Jeff Vipond and Clint Lembeck, and junior Nick Drahozal each recorded two wins for the team.

Xavier put together a solid performance as the host team in the Doug Phillip Duals at Xavier on December 15. The Saints went 4-1 and placed 2nd in a six-team dual tournament consisting mainly of 3A teams.

Vipond, sophomore Camden Chicchelly, and juniors Jerry Duball, Ryan Persick, Drahozal, and Ickes all recorded three pins for Xavier. Lembeck and senior Drew McGraw both earned two pins for the team. Xavier earned their victories against West Liberty, 60-24, Marion, 47-30, Anamosa, 69-6, and Dubuque Hempstead, 43-33. “We’re happy with how we’re performing so far this season but we aren’t satisfied yet,” McGraw said.

The Saints will participate in a quadrangular meet at Cedar Rapids Jefferson tonight at 5:30 p.m.

Achievements and struggles define a team, and they make up the narrative of every season. Yet the backstory of this year’s Xavier boys’ and girls’ bowling teams as the season unfolds involves the mutual respect, support and friendship of teammates.

The vibrancy evident in the boy’s bowling team is charged with brotherly camaraderie. The teammates constantly spur each other on to do their best and show their support in encouraging ways. “You may hear us in the hall yelling ‘That’s my best friend!’ when we see each other,” junior Zach Klimesh said. At meets and practices, the boys always feed off each other’s energy as they push each other to keep up the great work. Even when they lose, Xavier’s boys’ bowlers still cultivate a positive mental attitude and learn from their defeats.

The boys’ bowling team lost to Iowa City High, 2806-2798, on Friday, December 7, but they did not let the loss discourage them. “We take the losses as lessons on how to improve as a team and individually,” Klimesh said. Sophomore Brett Young led the team, bowling a series of 433. The team lost to Dubuque Hempstead, 3208-2512, on Tuesday, December 11. Sophomore Caleb Miller and junior Nick Terfler were the top bowlers, rolling a series of 378 and 365, respectively. The boys

Sophomore Matt Downey takes the ball down the court. Cassie Busch Photo

Freshman Clint Lembeck attempts to pin his opponent.Haylee Schiltz Photo