Barnes is the first Iowan to be named player of the year by USA Today and, prior to his selection, only three Iowans had been honored by McDonald’s in the 34-year history of its All-American game.
Since Ames’ season ended, Barnes was named Most Valuable Player at both the McDonald’s and Jordan Brand Classic all-star games, and he led the U.S. Junior National Select team with 27 points in a victory against a World Select team.
Dowling Catholic’s Flood grabs more records, titles
The only Iowa prep athlete with a senior year that would begin to rival that of Barnes is Katie Flood. The Dowling Catholic (Iowa) runner broke her own state record in the girls 1,500 meters with a time of 4:28.30 over the weekend at the Drake Relays in Des Moines. No one in the nation has posted a faster outdoor time in the event this season, according to DyeStat.com.
In addition, Flood won the 3,000 meters for the fourth time and anchored the Maroons’ winning 3,200 relay team. She is just the third high school athlete ever to win an event all four years at the Drake Relays. Last fall in cross country, Flood won the third state title of her career, in addition to taking first at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore. Flood has committed to run next season at the University of Washington.
Willms posts nation’s top high jump mark
Dike-New Hartford’s (Iowa) Hannah Willms shared the Drake Relays' outstanding girls performer honors with Flood. Willms, an Iowa State volleyball recruit, won the high jump with a meet-record leap of 6 feet, 1 inch. It’s the top mark in the nation this season, according to DyeStat.com. In addition, Willms won the 100 meters and ran the anchor leg of her squad's winning sprint medley relay team.
Future Hawkeye Scherff breezes to Drake Relays victory
The most memorable portions of Denison-Schleswig (Iowa) senior Brandon Scherff’s athletics career might be yet to come. After all, Scherff has a football career at the University of Iowa ahead of him. But his performance in the shot put at the Drake Relays should never be forgotten. The 6-6, 295-pounder threw 61-7 1/4 inches to win the boys high school competition. It was 7-11 1/2 better than the second-place throw and was the best winning distance in the last 15 years at the Relays.
It all began in Bettendorf for Colts’ pick Angerer
The University of Iowa had six players selected in the NFL Draft over the weekend, the most it’s had picked since the current seven-round system began in 1994. The second Hawkeye off the board was linebacker Pat Angerer, the lone native Iowan of the group, who went to the Indianapolis Colts in the second round with the 63rd overall pick. In high school, Angerer was a first-team all-state selection both his senior and junior seasons at Bettendorf. He led the Bulldogs to the state title in 2004 and set a state record with 197 tackles in 2003. He also helped Bettendorf win a state championship in soccer his junior season.
Aplington-Parkersburg taps Pollock to lead football program
With the trial and sentencing of the man convicted of killing its former football coach Ed Thomas behind it, Aplington-Parkersburg announced the hiring of Alex Pollock as its head football coach. Pollock, an all-state linebacker on Aplington-Parkersburg’s 2001 state championship team, takes the reins after serving as an assistant coach Winona State University and Augsburg College. Todd Thomas will be the team’s offensive coordinator and Aaron Thomas is the school’s activities director. They are Ed Thomas’ sons.
Nebraskans fare well at Kansas Relays
Three individuals and one relay team won gold at the Kansas Relays two weeks ago in Lawrence, Kan. Chris Reed of Omaha Central was the boys discus champion with a distance of 167-9. Seth Wiedel of Thayer Central captured the boys long jump with a leap of 22-5 1/4. Jillana Scanlan of Plattsmouth was the girls high jump champion with a jump of 5-5. Blair won the boys 4-by-880 relay in a time of 8:03.80.
Green headlines list of Nebraska Hall of Fame inductees
Before Ahman Green ran for more than 4,000 yards at the University of Nebraska and for over 9,000 yards in the NFL, he was an all-state running back and state track champion at Omaha Central. He heads the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame’s 17th class of inductees, whom will be honored in a ceremony in September. The induction list also includes Chuck Mizerski, who coached Lincoln Southeast to six state championships and three runner-up finishes in football.
Top performers
* Johnny Fuller (Glenwood, Iowa, track and field): The junior was the Drake Relays outstanding boys performer after winning individual titles in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.
* Morgan Woitzel (Millard South, Nebraska, track and field): The sophomore posted three Harold Scott Invitational meet records last week at Lincoln High. She ran a 2:15.82 in the individual 800 meters, won the 400 in 56.95, and anchored South’s 1,600 relay team to a winning time of a 3:59.66.
* Collin Craft (Millard West, Nebraska, golf): The senior blistered Champions Run Golf Course in Omaha with a 65 (6 under par) to win the Omaha Creighton Prep Invitational by two strokes. Craft shot a 30 on the front nine.
* Brandon Nickolite (Pius X, Nebraska, baseball): The senior tossed a no-hitter in his team’s 13-0 defeat of Seward.
* Logan Ehlers (Nebraska City, Nebraska, baseball): The University of Nebraska-bound senior stuck out 15 batters and allowed only four hits in a seven-inning 5-2 victory against Elkhorn.
Recruiting roundup
Shortly after coach Greg McDermott announced he was leaving Iowa State to become the new coach at Creighton, it was revealed his son Doug would follow after being released from his National Letter of Intent with Northern Iowa. Doug, a 6-7 forward, was the second-leader scorer this season at Ames, which won the 4A state title and finished undefeated for the second consecutive season. ... According to the Des Moines Register, Southeast Polk’s (Iowa) Kody Ingle accepted an offer to walk on at Iowa State. This was, however, before Greg McDermott left for Creighton. Ingle, a 6-4 guard, averaged 22.5 points per game and led the Rams to the 4A state championship game. ... James Hajeck of Omaha Skutt (Neb.) signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Weber State. Hajeck is a 6-9, 245-pound post who averaged 12.5 points and 9.7 rebounds last season.
Des Moines-based Jamie DeMoney has covered high school sports and recruiting for more than 15 years. He is editor and founder of PrepNation.com. You can reach him at PrepNation@aol.com.
