Western Christian reigns again

CEDAR RAPIDS — Tammi Veerbeek could shingle a small house with all of her state-championship plaques.

That's not why she coaches.

'Every team is different, and there are always those tears of joy,' she said. 'That's the biggest reward a coach can get. It means so much more to me than a trophy.'

Top-ranked Western Christian put another link in its dynastic volleyball chain Friday evening, sweeping No. 10 Waterloo Columbus, 25-17, 25-19, 25-23, for the Class 2A championship at the U.S. Cellular Center.

The Wolfpack (41-6) claimed their 15th title, and just consider their sustained excellence of the last 16 years:

• Sixteen state tournaments.

• Sixteen trips to the semifinals.

• Fifteen title-match appearances.

• Ten championships.

And, quite frankly, there's no end in sight.

'You can't take it for granted, and we don't,' senior Erika Feenstra said. 'I'm so happy to get this championship with these girls.'

Veerbeek's daughter, Ashtyn, is 16 years old. So all she knows is an annual trip to Cedar Rapids each November.

'Every team at Western has the same dream, and that's to come here,' said Ashtyn, a junior who likely will play Division-I basketball in two years. 'Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of playing for Mom.

'We know what it's like to win, but we also know what it's like to lose, so we work so hard for that winning feeling.'

Western went through a four-year title drought (2011-14), losing each year in the final to Dike-New Hartford. The Wolfpack regained their throne last year. And with Dike-New Hartford up to 3A, it gave both teams opportunity to reign this year.

The DNH players stuck around for the Western match, then joined them for a picture afterward. It was a mutual-admiration moment of two powerhouse programs.

Feenstra was the all-tournament captain and was joined on the 2A honor team by Ashtyn Veerbeek and Karsyn Winterfeld, along with Columbus' Lauren McManus and Anna Sinnott, Allison Timmermans of Unity Christian and Sydney McLaren of Council Bluffs St. Albert.

Columbus (29-14) had knocked off No. 4 Lake Mills, No. 3 Sumner-Fredericksburg and No. 2 Unity Christian in the previous three rounds. But No. 1 plays at a different level than anyone else in this class. And there's no end in sight.

'Our girls cherish this week,' Coach Veerbeek said. 'I tell them to soak up all the joy they can when they're here, because it's over so fast.'

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