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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
March 9, 2006 |
Finding time to take the dive
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
ANAMOSA — They aren’t the first and they surely won’t be the last Anamosa High School students to take to the pool competitively for the Linn-Mar swim team, but when Raider freshmen Bryce Engelbart and Jordan Fliehler signed up to compete for the Lions, they knew they were taking a serious dive, literally, attempting to keep their passion for the pool alive and well.
“My social life sure took a beating,” said Engelbart who has been an avid swimmer since he was 10-years-old and who with Fliehler, competes during the summer with the Anamosa swim club. “It was tough going to school all day here at Anamosa then right after school, finishing all my homework before going to practice in Cedar Rapids every night.”
Fliehler agrees.
“I knew I was going to have to keep my schedule pretty tight to be able to do this,” said Fliehler who also is a member of Anamosa High School’s very popular Sadie Street Singers this winter. |
Dual studentship
Anamosa freshmen Jordan Fliehler (left) and Bryce Engelbart competed for the Linn-Mar swim team this past winter. Each had to juggle dizzying schedules to make competing with the Lions work during a grueling four-month stretch. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“Being a member of the Sadie Street Singers is pretty busy all on its own. But throwing swimming at Linn-Mar on top of that and I had to juggle schedules and make some decisions as to where I needed to be on a particular night. Both coaches worked with me and were very flexible so I could be at both as much as I could.”
A typical day for the boys over the past four months would see each rise at 6 a.m., go to school, quickly finish all their homework right after school before heading into Cedar Rapids meeting at the Linn-Mar High School campus to take a bus with the team to the pool for practice. After more than two hours in the pool, each would then arrive home around 11 p.m. At 6 a.m. the next morning, the cycle would start all over again.
“At first, that schedule was very tough to get used to and I didn’t know if I had it in me to do it all winter long,” said Engelbart. “But then after a while, I just realized I needed to be very organized because I didn’t want to give up being on the Linn-Mar swim team. I was having too much fun.”
Engelbart’s mom, Lisa Williams, who with her husband Randy, have spent countless hours in the car driving their son to and from practice and meets, agreed the busy schedule actually turned out to be a very good thing for their son.
“Bryce has been getting great grades in school this semester,” she said. “He’s had to really focus in on school because we told him if he couldn’t keep his grades up, this wasn’t going to work. But not only did he do that, he excelled in school. This has been a great experience all the way around and we’re very proud of him.”
The Fliehler’s and Williams’s car-pool every night taking the boys to practice and meets.
“Jordan is a very regimented and organized person, but even we weren’t sure about doing Sadie Street and competing with the Linn-Mar swim team at the same time,” said Jordan’s mom Janet. “We thought that might have been a bit much to do, but Jordan did it. He made it all work out and with a lot of help from the coaches, it turned out to be a great winter. Even if it was one of the busiest we’ve ever had.”
Practice started back on November 14, and ran from 7:15-9:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Coe College pool and on Friday’s the two practiced at the Marion YMCA from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
“We were very happy to have Bryce and Jordan on our team this year,” said Linn-Mar boys swimming head coach Sarah Langhurst, who has been coaching at Linn-Mar for the past eight years. “These are the first Anamosa boys I’ve ever had compete for us. I know there have been some girls from Anamosa who competed here over the years, but having Bryce and Jordan as members of this team this year really added to our depth. We wouldn’t have been the same without them. I hope to see them back next year too.”
Anamosa’s Abby Weers and Samantha Digmann swam for the Lion girls’ team this past fall.
“We knew the girls had done it and Bryce thought why not give it a try,” said Williams. “He hooked up with Jordan and when he seemed interested, we talked with Anamosa AD Derek Roberts and it all came together.”
According to Langhurst, Engelbart’s top events this past season included the 100 meter butterfly, 500 freestyle and 100 meter backstroke.
“Bryce has worked very hard this season,” said Engelbart’s coach. “He’s very dedicated to swimming and has been very coachable all season long.”
Fliehler’s top events included the 100 meter breastroke and 200 meter individual medley.
“Jordan had some more conflicts with his schedule,” said Langhurst. “But we tried our best to make it work. He’s a very competitive breastroker. He wasn’t too crazy about the 200 IM at first, but he got better and better and then started really liking it.”
Fliehler loves the competition swimming provides.
“I love competing at the meets,” he said. “I first heard about Anamosa kids swimming at Linn-Mar from my uncle Randy Burrack. My cousin Molly Charley swam for Linn-Mar a few years ago and when Bryce talked to me about joining, I was all for it. Couldn’t wait to get started.”
Engelbart’s and Fliehler’s travels took them all over the Mississippi Valley Conference this winter competing against schools like Iowa City High, Iowa City West, Cedar Falls and every Cedar Rapids school, just to name a few.
“I’ve been swimming competitively since I was seven years old,” said Fliehler. “This is the kind of environment I’ve always wanted to compete in. Even though it was an incredibly busy winter, I’m glad I can say I did it.”
Engelbart and Fliehler also credit Anamosa swim club coach Patty Timp with their development.
“I plan on swimming here in Anamosa again this summer,” said Engelbart. “I’m going to try and stay in the pool as much a I possibly can.”
With no school during the summer, staying in the pool will be no problem for these two. |
 Worcester in for the kicks teaching Anamosa kids soccer
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
Soccer crazed kids -
Former Anamosa High School soccer all-state superstar and Iowa’s all-time leading scorer Kelsey Worcester is surrounded by just a few of the dozens of area youth who made their way to the AHS gym Monday, March 6, for Worcester’s elementary age boys and girls soccer clinic. The South Dakota State sophomore also hosted a clinic for middle school age soccer players Saturday, March 4, in the gym and is planning another possibly week-long clinic later this summer. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
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Hitting fun right on target at Anamosa Bowhunters
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
Party time
Garrett Houdek, of Anamosa, shoots ping pong balls at the Bowhunters Club Sunday, March 5, at the annual kids club party. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
ANAMOSA — It started as the vision of several people, including Anamosa’s Tom Postel, originating back in 1960, and today the Anamosa Bowhunters Club is prospering more than ever following a legacy that is based on a foundation of fun for adults and kids alike.
“My dad helped start this club back then and today we’re the envy of many clubs in the area with the amount of members we have and the things we’re able to do,” said Todd Postel, who is helping keep is father’s passion for bowhunting alive and well as the vice-president of the Anamosa Bowhunters Club. “
Tom Postel died tragically in 1984 but his legacy and vision for the club’s past, present and future is everywhere.
“The interest in and around the community about our club here just continues to grow and we hope to keep that going.”
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With a family-fun atmosphere, the Anamosa Bowhunters Club has attracted more than 200 members with more than 70 kids showing up Sunday, March 5, for the annual pizza party wrapping up their indoor winter season at the club.
“The kids love coming here and shooting their bows,” said Postel as kids from all over the area shot balloons and air-hovering ping-pong balls inside the packed cozy club Sunday. “We have a great facility here, indoor and out, and anyone who’s interested should come and check us out. We keep things pretty loose here and just try to have as much fun as possible.”
The club moved from the Matsell Bridge area to its current site just off County Road E-28 back in 1966.
“Tom used to say the more rules you have the more trouble you have,” said Bowhunters treasurer Larry Stewart. “We walk the kids through how to use bows safely and have fun doing it.” |
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