Does Hosting RAGBRAI Equate To Post Season Success? History Says YES!
Every year I do a little bit of research of the RAGBRAI route before I embark from the Missouri to the Mississippi. Even the pass through towns, not just the overnight towns, the stories of their community, and yes…I look into what high schools they feed into. With the small towns in Iowa consolidating into other high schools there are always the stories of the Scranton (before Jefferson-Scranton), Charter Oak-Ute (before whole grade sharing with MVAO), Rockwell (Before becoming West Fork), Titonka (before WCLT which is now dispersed into Algona, North Iowa, West Hancock, and Forest City), the list goes on.
However, despite the small towns finding ways to consolidate, I have also found a correlation between RAGBRAI towns and post season success in high school sports. It’s true (although not deeply researched), does having RAGBRAI coming through town rekindle a sense of pride in a community? A little bit of extra money to put towards activities? Absolutely. How could it not? I love supporting local schools when I stop through. I remember stopping in Leon (Central Decatur High School) a couple of years ago at the girls basketball stand. “So tell me about your basketball team, how are you guys going to be?”. They were humble, modest saying, “I think it should be a great season.” They only went on to an undefeated regular season and a state tournament appearance which they have since continued to do so the past three years with one loss per season. In 2017, Waukon was a big stop on RAGBRAI, filling the town with people the night before the hills of Northeast Iowa into the Mississippi River in Lansing. Waukon just happen to go on and win a state football title that fall and Lansing Kee had just gotten done winning a state title in softball (the trophy hadn’t made its way into the case yet). What volleyball teams could be in for a big post-season based on the RAGBRAI Post Season Success Theory.
Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln High School is going to be building up to a pretty strong season with the return of some All-State athletes who will be looking for a big Senior season. They return six rotation outside hitter, Elaina Bohnet who was 2nd Team All State in 2018, Sam Christiansen who had 1000 assists in her Junior year, and libero Taylan Keefer who had over 650 digs. The Lynx not only have solid talent, but depth as well to make a deep run.
Underwood
Coming out of Council Bluffs, Underwood is one of the first major stops on the route. As for volleyball, the Eagles racked up a 23-13 record in 2018 and will be returning to solid Juniors to be in Macy Vanfossan who had nearly 300 kills and Zoe Rus who was right behind her with 248 kills. They also return top assist leader in Peyton Cook who will be a Junior as well.
Lauren Carter for WintersetWinterset
I am already picturing a warm July day as I pass through the bridges of Madison County heading into Winterset. I may be romanticizing the rolling hills a bit of Southern Iowa, but by mile 65 on 2,000 feet of climb a little vision of the picturesque hills makes it not as intimidating. Winterset will be returning their top attacker from 2018 in Macy Larson who had nearly 3 kills per set, but will also be joined with a really solid Freshman class, soon to be Sophomore which includes Bridget Stover, Thea Banning, and Denver commit Lauren Carter. Winterset was 20-8 in 2018 and will definitely make a push to be a contender in Class 4A.
Norwalk and Indianola
Going through Norwalk, who always has a solid athletic program, will have Senior to be Samantha Hoover, the 6’3 middle blocker who is extremely dynamic. Indianola is coming off a 29 win season and will be returning top kill leader in Anna Marvelli. Marvelli can do a little bit of everything for the Indians and will be joined by Sophomore to be Lauren Blake who led the team in assists last season.
West Burlington
Sydney Marlow was one of the top Sophomores in the state last ear with 427 kills, good enough for over five per set. Marlow also had over 400 digs on the year as well as fellow Sophomores Kadence Johnson and Alyssa Dameron were big time backrow defenders as well.
Mikaela Foecke taking a swing for Holy Trinity out of West Point at the Iowa State Tournament.West Point (Holy Trinity Catholic)
I might be severely disappointed if there is not a statue of Holy Trinity Catholic legend and Nebraska great, Mikaela Foecke someone near the center of town. West Point is home to Holy Trinity Catholic which is a Class 1A powerhouse, most recently finishing state runner-up to Janesville this past Fall. However, one of their four losses was to a school down the road in Central Lee (Donnellson). Holy Trinity will be losing their three big attackers in Emily Box, Eryn Anderson, and Taylor Boeding, but will return Claire Pothitakis. They will also be returning their top setters in Bailey Hellweg and Kassi Randolph.
Donnellson (Central Lee High School)
Central Lee racked up over twenty wins last year with a relatively young team. In 2019 they will be returning their top attackers in Mya Merschman, Abby Wellman, and Meghan Hopp. Zoe Eschman will be coming back for her Junior season after leading the team in 2018 with 720 assists. Sophia Woodley will be pacing the backrow after having nearly 300 digs in 2018.