Rylee Beardsworth, Sports Writer
December 19, 2019
“With sons and fathers, there’s an inexplicable connection and imprint that your father leaves on you,” Brad Pitt, father of six, said.
Xavier junior Tyler Wilken has found that bond with his dad, Brian Wilken, by spending hours out on a pond and on a frozen lake together.
“I started ice fishing when I was little and I started because my dad liked to do it and I wanted to go with him,” Tyler said.
When Tyler was younger, his dad instil...
Amanda Ross, Sports Writer
December 19, 2019
Rolling into a new season with the same coach.
Coach Russ Camacho is the head coach of the girls’ and boys’ bowling teams at Xavier High School. Coach Camacho has been coaching the bowling team for 18 years and has been the coach for all but one year of the program’s existence.
“I continue to coach because it is so rewarding to see athletes that could barely get the ball to make it to the pins when they started to become contributing members of...
Kya Loffswold, Sports Writer
December 19, 2019
Sportsmanship can be an important skill to learn.
For the second consecutive year, Xavier won The Cliff Brees Fall Sportsmanship Award. This award is for outstanding sportsmanship displayed by coaches, athletes and spectators during the fall sports of football and volleyball.
This competition is between all Mississippi Valley Conference schools. Xavier won the Mississippi division side.
This award means a lot to many people.
“It means a great deal to me a...
Kya Loffswold, Sports Writer
December 6, 2019
Leadership is needed for most things to run smoothly.
There are five Xavier seniors leading the girls’ bowling team this year: Katelyn Jakel, Ellie Marovets, Olivia Nolte, Katherine Skoumal, Morgan Simoneau.
With the team heavy in upperclassmen, the seniors are focusing on leading the current team.
“We are going to lead the team by example and all of us are practicing really hard so that the underclassmen have a strong team to lead next year,” Marovets said...
Libby Arnold, Sports Edtior
December 6, 2019
Losing early in the postseason is no way a team wants to end their season.
The Xavier boys’ basketball team made it to the regional semifinals last season. The Saints team are motivated and hungry, especially the senior class.
“Losing so early last season left a sour taste in our mouth so I think everyone is excited to prove to everyone that we can be a contender this year,” senior Tre McCrary said.
The seniors are motivated to make the most of their las...
Jack Delaney, Sports Writer
December 6, 2019
Playing a varsity sport is one accomplishment and committing to a college is another. One Xavier senior has accomplished both of those but has even higher aspirations of competing at the Olympics.
Dale Weaver has been a member of the Xavier boys’ bowling team since his freshman year. The reigning individual state champion recently committed to bowl at Iowa Central Community College.
“I chose to attend ICCC because I want to be an engineer and it was h...
Amanda Ross, Sports Writer
December 6, 2019
Sibling rivalry creates a bond.
Brothers Seth and Ethan Williams have been swimming together for nine years. They both now swim on varsity for the Washington High School team and they push each other to do their best.
“I look up to my brother a lot, he puts in great effort and it shows with the way he improves year after year,” Seth said. “It is nice to have a brother on the swim team, so he can tell me what to expect and what practices and meets are like...
Caitlynn Daniels, Sports Editor
December 6, 2019
Preparing and practicing for a sport can be a critical component to one’s success. This is no different for Xavier wrestlers.
“I have to watch what I eat because of the sweets and desserts,” junior Ivan Thomas said. “The best way I avoid eating them is by having the mindset that I will perform better without them.”
Many wrestlers drop body weight in order to get into a weight class where they believe they will have an advantage.
“I believe training f...
Rylee Beardsworth, Sports Writer
December 6, 2019
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way,” John C. Maxwell, bestselling author on leadership, said.
Libby Arnold and Caitlynn Daniels are two of six seniors in the Xavier girls’ basketball program this year. Being a senior comes with its own leadership role, but Arnold and Daniels have been chosen as captains, bringing them even greater roles as leaders.
“Being a captain is an honor because my teammates chose me to lead and be their...
Libby Arnold, Sports Editor
November 15, 2019
To the 2020 senior class, it was more than just football; it was a brotherhood.
The Saints ended their season in the first round of playoffs against North Scott on Friday, November 1.
“It was bittersweet knowing that was the last Friday night we would play together,” senior Cole Smith said. “Every Friday night with my brothers was something special.”
Playing together went beyond football.
“We definitely had a brotherhood. I feel like that is the most...
Kya Loffswold, Sports Writer
November 15, 2019
Leaving things behind can be difficult for many people. Senior Maddie Gannon swam her last high school swim meet for Cedar Rapids Kennedy on Saturday, November 9 at state swimming in Marshalltown. Three other Xavier Saints also participated at state. Maddie’s younger sister, freshman Casey Gannon and sophomore Anne Baumann swam for Cedar Rapids Kennedy while sophomore Lucy Pfab swam for Cedar Rapids Washington.
Maddie qualified for state all four years ...
Jack Delaney, Sports Writer
November 15, 2019
Finding one’s happy place in activities can be hard for some kids in high school. Xavier senior, Hannah Denman was able to find her happy place in cross country.
Denman has been a member of the Xavier varsity girls’ cross country team since she joined sophomore year. She ran in the state cross country meet in Fort Dodge on November 2 and placed 88 in Class 3A with a time of 21:04, improving by 22 spots from her 110 place finish last year.
“I was very ...
