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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday, December 20, 2007
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Anamosa breaks through in the WaMaC
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
ANAMOSA— Playing much like they had in their first three WaMaC Conference contests, the Anamosa girls basketball team put themselves into position to post a big win Friday, December 14, hosting Maquoketa.
“We’ve been in games like this before and I think with that experience and us being a pretty young and inexperienced team, that helped us pull through at the end,” said Raider girls basketball coach Jack Leighty after his team fought off a late Cardinal rally and still had enough to pull away for a 53-45 triumph, their first in league play this season. “We held off their run in the fourth quarter. Earlier this season we had some trouble doing that and had some frustrating losses. That didn’t happen here. I think we have grown a lot as a team already this season and we will continue to get better.”
Anamosa (2-4, 1-3) jumped out to a 10-3 lead early on but a 9-5 spurt by the Cardinals closed the visitors to within 15-12 at the first quarter horn.
The game stayed tight in the second stanza as well as the two teams struggled putting the ball in the basket and for more than four minutes, were tied at 18-18.
The Raiders made a mini-run at the end of the first half and led 23-21 going into the locker-room.
“We just took what Maquoketa gave us,” said Leighty. “We attacked the basket when we wanted to and got out and ran the floor when we wanted to and set the tempo with the way we played. This was a great effort all the way around.”
The third quarter saw the Raiders begin to take control going on an 11-4 run to end the frame with a 40-31 advantage. |
Calling for the ball
Anamosa senior Christy Coons calls for the basketball as junior teammate Paige Goetz dribbles during the Raiders’ 53-45 WaMaC Conference triumph Friday, December 14, over visiting Maquoketa. The win was the first for the Anamosa girls in league play this season. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski)
Breaking through
Anamosa junior Chelsey Bildstein fires a pass through the fingers of a Maquoketa defender during fourth quarter action from the Raiders’ triumph over the Cardinals. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“When Maquoketa made their run in the fourth quarter, I never really felt our team was going through a, here we go again mentality,” said Leighty. “I called time-out and we talked about what we needed to do to put Maquoketa away for good and that’s exactly what the girls went out and accomplished.”
The Cardinals closed to within two points mid-way through the final frame before Anamosa met the challenge and closed the contest with a game-winning spurt.
“Paige Goetz, Kayla Sanborn and Jackie Engelbart all did a great job of breaking the Maquoketa press and set us up for some easy baskets,” said Leighty. “We kept attacking even after they made their run and it continued to get us easy hoops.”
The Cardinals trimmed the Raider lead to 42-40 with 3:54 remaining when Melissa Deven connected on two free throws for the visitors. Goetz quickly responded for the hosts when she scored a basket and was fouled just seven seconds after the Maquoketa tallies. After hitting the free throw, Anamosa was back in front by five points.
Becca Patterson scored a field goal for Maquoketa, making the score 45-42, but Christy Coons and Goetz added back-to-back field goals the Raiders were back in control holding a 49-42 lead.
Engelbart and Sanborn added free throws for the Raiders before Coons sealed the Anamosa victory with one final field goal with 24 seconds left off a sensational pass from Sanborn.
“I was very impressed with the way we handled Maquoketa’s physical play,” said Leighty. “This was the most physical game we’ve played this year and we stepped up and met their challenge all game long.”
Goetz was sensational for the hosts leading the way with 20 points, three rebounds and three assists. Lauren Buck added 10 points while Sanborn chipped in with eight more
to go with six rebounds, five assists and three steals.
“Christy Coons and Kayla Zumbach played well, and at both ends of the floor too,” said Leighty.
“We still turned the ball over a little more than I’d like, but I’m very happy with our overall effort. This is a quality win.”. |
Raiders edged by Beckman in wrestling home opener
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
ANAMOSA — A roller-coaster contest hosting Beckman Thursday, December 13, ended with a wild finish that saw the Anamosa wrestling team edged in a 39-37 final against the Blazers.
“We knew with the way we matched up with Beckman that this match was going to come down to the wire,” said Raider wrestling coach Ron Timp. “It was just going to depend on how things played out at the end and Beckman won the last matches and beat some of our younger kids at the end.”
The Blazers started the match winning three of the first four bouts and led 15-3 before Tyler Forbes received a forfeit win at 103 pounds to pull the Raiders to within 15-9.
After a Beckman win at 112 pounds to take a 21-9 lead, Anamosa (2-5) went on a huge run winning the next five bouts to take a 37-21 advantage with just three matches remaining.
“The only way Beckman could win was by scoring six points in each and every match,” said Timp. “And unfortunately for us, that’s exactly the way it played out.”
Ryan Dolan and Evan Taylor scored pin triumphs at 119 and 125 pounds, respectively for the Raiders while Steve Coleman added a forfeit win at 130 pounds to push the Anamosa advantage to 27-21.
Jesse Hansen scored a 12-2 win at 135 pounds and after Derek Young dominated Beckman’s Austin Mensen at 140 pounds, posting a quick 2:44 pin win, the Raiders had the 16-point lead.
The Blazers finished the match posting two pin wins as well as a being handed a forfeit win and escaped with the two-point triumph. |
Building the lead
Anamosa sophomore Jesse Hansen scores a 12-2 decison victory over Ben Ertl during the Raiders’ narrow 39-37 loss hosting Beckman. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski)
Back points
Anamosa senior Travis Keltner gets Beckman’s Jordan Bildstein on his back scoring points during an 8-6 decision win for the Raiders at 215-pounds Thursday, December 13. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“The younger guys had their struggles in this one,” said Timp. “They did the best they could though against some more experienced wrestlers. They struggled, but I can’t complain about their effort and hopefully they’ll learn from this experience.”
After suffering the narrow two-point defeat, the Raiders hit the road Saturday, December 15, and took part at the annual Muscatine Duals.
“This tournament is always a great test for our wrestlers and this time we struggled pretty much all day long,” said Timp as his team went 0-3 overall against Muscatine, Davenport West and Louisa-Muscatine. ““Even our more experienced guys struggled against some pretty good wrestlers.”
Anamosa opened the dual tournament with a 46-33 setback against the hosts Muskies.
“We fell behind early and and finished strong, but it was much too little, much too late,” said Timp. “Muscatine is a pretty good team and pretty much handled us most of the match.”
Muscatine jumped out to a huge early lead against the Raiders winning the first seven bouts with six pins and a forfeit win.
The final seven bouts saw six Anamosa victories as Kenner Ahrendsen got the run started at 171 pounds with a 3:35 pin win over Austin Petersen. Jacob McWilliams added a forfeit win at 189 pounds which was followed by a 4:50 pin win at 215 pounds by Travis Keltner over Muscatine’s Treaver Willis.
After another forfeit win for the Raiders given to Sawyer Frazier at heavyweight, Anamosa had closed to within 42-24. Andrew Lindley received a forfeit win at 112 pounds and Dolan ended the match with a 5-4 decision over Donovan Barber at 119 pounds.
“It was nice to see us finish that match so well,” said Timp. “Granted 18 of our 33 points were from pins, but we still didn’t go down easy.”
The second match saw a 57-22 loss against Davenport West.
The Raiders got off to a good start as Jesse Hansen posted a 9-0 decision win and Young added a 4:19 pin win to give Anamosa a 10-0 lead.
The rest of the match would belong to Davenport West however as the Falcons won six straight bouts to take a 39-10 lead.
Forbes and Dolan won forfeits to give Anamosa their final points of the match.
The final dual saw a rough 62-13 loss at the hands of Louisa-Muscatine.
“They were probably the best team at the tournament,” said Timp. “We were handled pretty good all the way through this one.”
Hansen scored a 9-0 victory getting the Raiders on the board only to see Louisa-Muscatine win 10 of the final 12 bouts to pull away.
Keltner tallied a 6-4 decision and Forbes posted a 1:20 pin win over Bryce Taylor. |
Huge wrestling week for Fay, UNI
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
CEDAR FALLS — A huge week for the University of Northern Iowa wrestling team battling the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the country, saw junior and former Anamosa High School superstar Moza Fay turning up the heat on the Cyclones as one of three Panthers to post a win Sunday, December 16, as No. 24 ranked UNI hosted No. 2 ranked Iowa State.
Fay, taking to the mat after teammate Jarion Beets opened the dual and was handed a loss at 157 pounds, gave the Panther faithful inside the McLeod Center plenty to cheer about after posting a thrilling 9-6 decision over Iowa State’s No. 6 ranked Jon Reader.
“Moza wrestled unbelievable,” said UNI wrestling coach Brad Penrith after his team was handed a 29-10 dual setback at the hands of the No. 2 team in the country.
“This sure was a better effort than Iowa. We still have some work to do. I’m not happy about losing to Iowa State, but we have things to work on.”
Reader, one of Iowa State’s prized red-shirt freshmen, who had a stellar prep career in Michigan winning 234 matches and three state titles, was handed his first collegiate defeat by Fay, who controlled most of the match.
“He was a tough kid, but I got a reversal near the end of the match and got the win,” said Fay, who is ranked fourth in the nation at 165 pounds. “I felt I wrestled my style the entire match.”
Fay scored the first points of the match scoring a takedown at the 1:43 mark of the first period. After Reader added a reversal with 1:03 remaining, the score was tied 2-2.
Fay chose down to start the second period and scored a reversal to lead 4-2, but when Reader answered with one of his own 22 seconds later, the score was tied at 4-4. Fay closed the period with yet another reversal taking a 6-4 lead.
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Battle of the nation’s best
UNI junior and former Anamosa High School star Moza Fay, ranked fourth in the nation at 165 pounds, works his way to an impressive 9-6 victory over Iowa State’s sixth-ranked freshman Jon Reader at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls Sunday, December 16. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski)
Wearing down the Cyclone
Moza Fay puts the finishing touches on his big 9-6 win over Iowa State’s Jon Reader as the No. 2 ranked Cyclones and No. 24 ranked Panthers battled in Cedar Falls Sunday, December 16, at the McLeod Center. Dozens of Anamosa youth wrestlers made the trip up to watch Fay as UNI was handed a 29-10 dual defeat, but Fay tallied one of the hosts three win on the day. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Reader was down to start the third period and scored a reversal knotting the score at 6-6 until Fay had the final say tallying the final reversal with a mere 44 seconds left on the clock to win. With riding time included, Fay posted the 9-6 decision scoring the first Panther points in the match.
“I know I’ll see Reader again at Midlands next month,” said Fay. “I’m sure he’ll want revenge, but I’ll be ready.”
Fay and the UNI wrestlers traveled to Iowa City Thursday, December 13, and against the No. 1 ranked Hawkeyes, were handed a rough 40-3 defeat.
Fay was handed a rare pin loss against Hawkeye Mark Perry in a 48-second bout at 165 pounds.
“I learned a lot from that match,” said Fay. “It may not have lasted very long on the mat, but that match will do a lot of good for me down the road this year. I’ll remember the things I did and didn’t do in that match and make sure they don’t happen again. This won’t be the last time I see Perry this year either. I’ll make the adjustments necessary and get back on track.”
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