ANAMOSA— Having their first three track meets cancelled by various weather related issues, the fourth time was the charm for the Anamosa boys track team as they were finally able to host their annual Ken Fearing Relays Friday, April 4.
‘There is always a big question mark until you run the first outdoor meet as far as what team we have here,” said Raider boys track coach Wes Wilson as his team placed third in the eight-team rescheduled meet scoring 87 points. “These guys stepped up and competed with some very good teams.”
The meet, originally slated for Tuesday, April 1, saw the hosts win a pair of titles as Colten Kelly and the 1600 medley team each bested the field.
Kelly cleared 6’ 4” and easily won the high jump title while teammate Jason Breon was third clearing 5’ 10”.
The 1600 medley relay team of Kaleb Kilburg, Breon, Evan Buck and Brady Vaughn broke the tape with a time of 3:55.40.
The Raiders’ shuttle hurdle team placed second as Kilburg, Charlie Vernon, Kelly and Kenner Ahrendsen tallied a time of 1:05.80 while Tucker Vondracek also scored second-place points crossing the finish line in the 100 meter dash after a time of 12.39.
Andy Holcomb was runner-up in the shot put after throwing 42’ 6 1/4” with Josh English also scoring field event points placing fourth in the discus unleashing a 127’ 8” toss.
The 4x200 team of Vondracek, Evan Buck, Kilburg and Breon were third after their 1:38.10 time and Vernon also scored third-place points in the 110 meter high hurdles after his 17.18 effort.
Hewitt, Vaughn Takes, Doune Alderdyce and Jordan Wilson ran the 4x800 team to a fourth-place showing in 9:51.30 while Vaughn tallied a time of 54.22 in the 400 meter dash to also place fourth.
Hewitt was fourth in the 800 meter run posting a time of 2:26.70 as was Jorge Martinez in the 100 meter dash after his 12.51 clocking.
Alderdyce ran fifth in the 800 meters (2:29) with Vondracek taking sixth in the long jump soaring 18’ 7”.
Kenny Beadle ran sixth in the 3200 meter run (12:23.80) while the 4x400 team was sixth as Vaughn, Buck, Vernon and Takes tallied a time of 3:56.30.
In JV events, Cory Moats cleared 5’ 4” to win the high jump while Spencer Wood claimed the long jump title flying 17’ 10”. Alderdyce was third in the long jump after his 16’ 2”.
The JV 4x200 ran second as Moats, Cody Robinson, Lee Simcox and Nic Jansen posted a time of 1:13.90.
The JV 4x100 team also ran second as Moats, Ahrendsen, Chris Cooper and Wood ran a 50.69.
The JV 4x400 team was third posting a time of 4:16.80 as Hewitt, Jansen, Alderdyce and Wilson combined to tally a 4:16.80 effort.
The 1600 medley JV group of Cooper, Robinson, Simcox and Richie Dirks sported a 4:22.80 clocking which was good enough for third at the JV race.

ANAMOSA— Strutting their stuff for the first time on their own home field Monday, April 7, the Anamosa boys soccer team made a very, very good first impression on fans who turned out for the chilly home opener against Marion.
“This was a very physical game, but we didn’t let that fact get in the way of playing some pretty good soccer,” said Raider boys soccer coach Dr. Mike Weston after his team held back the Indians with an impressive 4-2 final. “We recognized the open spaces in the Marion defense and took advantage of that space with our speed and athleticism.”
Kyle Gerber opened the scoring for Anamosa (2-0) firing the ball past the Indian keeper just 20 minutes into the contest. The Indians answered with one of their own 13 minutes later and at the half the two teams were deadlocked in a 1-1 tie.
Sean Corpstein wasted little time getting the offense going in the second half as just four minutes in, the star senior forward fired a richoched penalty kick back through the Marion net.
“Sean did a nice job staying with that,” said Weston as Corpstein lined up for a penalty kick and had it returned right to him after bouncing off the hands of the Indian goalie and blasted in the second attempt. “We did a very nice job of keeping the ball on our offense end most of the second half.”
The Indians answered the Raider score with one of their own at the 11 minute mark of the second half, tying the score at 2-2, but two minutes later, Tobi Huisgen gave the hosts a lead they would not lose.
“We really stepped up the defense once we got the lead and made things very tough for Marion from there on out,” said Weston. “They didn’t get too many good looks at our goal.”
And the few the Indians did were snuffed out by Anamosa keeper Casey Krapfl, who made five saves in the win.
The Raiders added an insurance goal 25 minutes into the half when Jorge Martinez blasted a long, powerful shot 30 yards and part the visitors’ keeper.
Corpstein led the Anamosa offense with seven shots while Huisgen added three more. Martinez and Gerber each added two shots for the hosts.

MONTICELLO — While it was the first meet of the season for the Anamosa girls golf team as they took to the course in Monticello Friday, April 4, it was also only the second time the team has even stepped foot onto a course so far this spring.
“The girls did a fantastic job for only our second time on the golf course this season,” said Raider girls golf coach Andrew Buck after his team rolled past the host Panthers and Cascade tallying a sensational 191 team score. “At this same meet last year we shot a 207. I think a 16-stroke improvement is sufficient enough to say we have improved over the year.”
Monticello took second firing a 206 while the Cougars shot a 227 to take third at the triangular.
Anne Daily fired the meet medalist score making her way through the soggy Monticello Country Club course with a red-hot round of 45.
“Anne had every part of her game working the way she wanted it to,” said Buck. “She kept the ball in the fairway keeping the game of golf as simple as she could. What a great way to start her final golf season as a senior as well as show some great leadership for the rest of the team.”
Anamosa also tallied the runner-up medalist score as Paige Goetz came through with a 46.
“Paige had a great round going, but struggled on the ninth hole,” said Buck. “
“Still a 46 was impressive considering the circumstances. If she can work on ball control a little more, it will be another outstanding year for Paige.”
Jordan Bickford fired a 49 while Ryann Pratt counted for the Anamosa girls coming through with a solid 51.
“Jordan and Ryann both turned in very good scores considering,” said Buck. “We just haven’t had a lot of time outside to work on all the aspects of the game.”
Erin Ridgeway carded a 53 for the varsity team while Lauren Herren tallied a 57 in the opener.
“Erin and Deedee Rowley turned in fantastic rounds,” said Buck. “They’ll definitely see some varsity playing time this year.”
Rowley carded a solid 54 for the Anamosa JV squad while Morgan Tjaden added a 55 and Kayla Zumbach a 58 on the afternoon.
Katie Wehling, Bree Gassmann and Sarah Williams also took to the JV course for the Anamosa girls gaining valuable meet experience.
Monticello and Cascade could not field enough golfers to compete with the Anamosa girls in the JV meet standings.

Firing first
Anamosa junior Ryann Pratt chips during Raider girls’ golf action in Monticello Friday, April 4, during Anamosa’s victory over the host Panthers and Cascade. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski)