Iowa High School Sports

Rettig’s persistent pursuit of peak production made him invaluable part in Iowa City Liberty football reaching new heights, advancing to the Class 5A state finals for the first time in school history.

High school volleyball: Iowa City Regina’s Reese Naeve is the area player of the year; Iowa City West’s Jaedynn Evans is honored as the top coach.

Duane Schulte was the first varsity football coach in the history of Cedar Rapids Xavier High School back in 1998. He has built a program that has won five state championships, including this season’s Class 4A title.

See photos as the Hawks hosted the Saints for an Iowa girls’ high school basketball game.

The North Linn boys’ basketball program has qualified for the state basketball tournament nine straight years. It made a state championship game seven consecutive years, a streak ended last season. 69.3 percent of that team’s scoring graduated, meaning this year is a whole new team ... and a new coach, hired in early November.

Girls’ basketball: Cedar Rapids Xavier crashes the boards (plus-25), limits Cedar Rapids Prairie to 21-percent shooting and closes fast in a 51-37 MVC triumph.

Joe Hirsch placed fifth at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament last season. He entered this season with high expectations and is known for being all gas and no brakes. Hirsch opened the season in dominant fashion helping the Bobcats to a 46-34 win over Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Girls’ basketball notes: Who conquered the first week of the new season? Keota, for one.