Ollinger leaving Jefferson for Linn-Mar

CEDAR RAPIDS - Virtually overnight, the Metro girls' basketball landscape has changed.

Volleyball, too.

Two-sport all-state athlete Amanda Ollinger is leaving Cedar Rapids Jefferson and will enroll at Linn-Mar High School after the holiday break.

'I'm really sad to be leaving Jefferson, but I'm excited to see what the future holds,” she said Thursday morning.

This doesn't appear to be a move based on athletics. Ollinger's parents, Scott and Bonnie, own a construction company, and most of their work is based in Marion.

'We've talked about this for a year or two,” Bonnie said. 'It's a good half-hour, one way, twice a day. That gets to be a lot. We spend over $100 in gas per week.”

Bonnie said the family looked at a condo Wednesday and is looking at a house today. Both would be in the Linn-Mar district.

She also said the family has not been in contact with Linn-Mar Coach Jaime Printy Brandt or school officials.

Linn-Mar associate athletics director Tonya Moe said, 'As with any family that wants to transfer, we will direct them on procedures and policies and who to contact.

'We will follow everything by the book. Until someone establishes a residence, they won't be eligible for varsity competition.”

Ollinger's final game with the J-Hawks was Tuesday, a 59-36 victory at Waterloo West.

She spoke with Coach Jason Edwards and the J-Hawks before practice Wednesday.

'It was really tough,” Ollinger said. 'Really emotional. But I think everyone understands, and that's all I can ask for.”

Jefferson Coach Jason Edwards said, 'Where everybody is at now, is they're dealing with the loss of a friend and a teammate on this team.

'They're sad they can't play with their friend any more.”

Edwards was asked if had any inkling this was going to happen.

He said, 'Nope.”

A 6-foot-2 junior, Ollinger committed in October to play basketball at the University of Iowa, and will enroll in Iowa City in the fall of 2016.

She is the 30th-ranked junior in the nation according to ESPN's hoopgurlz.com.

In eight games this season at Jefferson, Ollinger averaged 19.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. The J-Hawks (5-3 overall, 4-1 MVC) are gunning for their first winning season since 2009-10.

Jefferson hosts Cedar Rapids Xavier on Friday.

'I've lived in the same house since I was 3, and I've known these people as long as I can remember,” Ollinger said. 'It's hard to leave them.”

Once residence in the Linn-Mar district is established, Ollinger would be eligible immediately.

'Assuming this is a contemporaneous change in parental residence, the student is immediately eligible in the new district,” said Mike Dick, executive director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

'If this is truly a change of family residence, and if everything is completed on the new school's checklist, this does result in immediate eligibility.”

Ollinger's first game with her new team could be as early as Jan. 6, at Linn-Mar against Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Class 5A sixth-rated Linn-Mar is 5-1 overall (4-0 MVC) under Brandt.

Linn-Mar travels to Jefferson on Jan. 30.

'That's going to be really tough emotionally,” Ollinger said.

Ollinger is an AAU teammate of Linn-Mar's Niki Sharma for the All-Iowa Attack.

'We've car-pooled together, and it will be fun to play with her,” Ollinger said.

Ollinger's change of address will impact volleyball, as well.

Linn-Mar has made great gains in Teresa Kehe's two years as head coach, and Ollinger was third in the state in kills, with 532, last season for Jefferson.

She was offered a volleyball scholarship by both Iowa and UNI, but chose to play basketball. Her signature match came in her sophomore season, when she hammered 44 kills as Jefferson upset Iowa City West in a regional semifinal.

Ollinger will be the second elite female athlete to leave Jefferson for Linn-Mar in a matter of months.

Swimmer Kelsey Drake did likewise before the school year, then won state titles in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard butterfly at Linn-Mar.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com