Find out what some of the top players in the state are saying about sports now!
Q&A with Dallas Center-Grimes running back Zach Smid
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“For off-season workouts I’ve been in the gym 3-5 times a week and doing some field work. I'm top of that.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“I feel like I’m a lot faster than I was last season, plus I am a lot stronger as well.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel like this year we have the leadership roles that we were missing last year and therefore will have a good season.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Lewis Central is always good and they are coming off a state championship so they’ll have momentum.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Titus Cram is the first dude that comes to mind. He’s a dog and I should know, I’ve been playing him in sports since I was a little kid.”
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Q&A with Lynnville-Sully athlete Conner Maston
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I’ve been working out with our lifting staff from William Penn. Right now, we’re trying to gain muscle and gain speed. Right now I’m on track which will help me become a faster athlete and we workout two days every week. Sometimes it’s three times a week. Occasionally I will find time on my own to work out as well.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“What I feel I’ve improved on the most since last football season is my overall athletic ability. I have gotten stronger and faster which has helped not just in football but also in basketball and track over the winter/early spring.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel our team will do great things next football season. This past year was a great year for our program after a few struggling years. We gained a lot of confidence in ourselves and the person next to us and trusted in each other from day one. Next season is going to be fun and I’m really looking forward to it and I know my teammates are as well.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“The team I think will be the toughest team on our schedule is going to be Pleasantville. In my years of playing them, they have always gave our team struggles. Last year we lost our first game to them as well. Pleasantville never quits and are a tough team ready to battle it out the whole game.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“The toughest individual player I think our team will face off against next year is Ty Alcott from Belle Plaine. Ty is a physical young running back who runs downhill. He doesn’t mind taking hits either.”
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Q&A with Dowling Catholic wide receiver Cooper Nicholson
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“The off-season is the biggest part of football in my opinion. What you do in the off-season determines the outcome in the regular season. What we have been doing to prepare is getting our lifts in. We have set three lifts per week with focuses on core lifts such as squat and bench. [We also do] two speed and agility workouts per week. That’s just the bare minimum that our school has set up. Outside of school, I’m working with IAP to train two times a week and also running routes to work on my route running ability. Three times per week I get my auxiliary lifts in at Genius Health Club.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“I have improved most on my speed. Improving my 60 time from a 5.1 to a 4.8, working with some people to improve my speed as that plays a huge role in my position at wide receiver.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“Our team has been doing a great job this off-season with holding each other accountable about getting our lifts and workouts in. We are starting to form chemistry and relationships. I feel like we have a really good chance with the returning starters and overall talent on the team.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Our hardest competition will be similar to last year with SEP our first game and NW, Ankeny following. We have one of the hardest schedules that Dowling has had in awhile.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Our toughest player we will play against is definitely Kadyn Proctor once again. He has stopped our run game when he is on defense and has also given us a hard time rushing the QB. We will have to game plan over him but I do think it is possible.”
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Q&A with Harlan tight end Franz Reisz
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Me and the team have been working hard this off season so far with weight and strength and agility training along with multiple sports. But in early February I had a minor detour tearing my ACL during a basketball game, so I've been doing a lot of PT lately getting ready for Fall Football.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“I have gained more muscle since last year, especially with my upper body. I have been working on my speed and defensive line and tight end skills this off-season.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“Our main goal as a team is to go back-to-back in the state championship and go undefeated again. I feel confident that we can do that. We are really talented all the way through.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Last year the toughest team was probably Lewis Central, they are always a tough team to go against.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Probably Landyn Van Kekerix of Boyden Hull-Rock Valley, he was probably one of the hardest players to take down.”
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Q&A with Wapsie Valley tight end Mason Harter
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Getting faster and stronger.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“Being in the weight room every day.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I think we will be a really good team next year, we all have to work together. We also have most of our team returning back next year.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Grundy Center, they have always been a really good team.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“That is a hard one, a different player steps up every year.”
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Q&A with Dallas Center-Grimes running back Zach Smid
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“For off-season workouts I’ve been in the gym 3-5 times a week and doing some field work. I'm top of that.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“I feel like I’m a lot faster than I was last season, plus I am a lot stronger as well.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel like this year we have the leadership roles that we were missing last year and therefore will have a good season.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Lewis Central is always good and they are coming off a state championship so they’ll have momentum.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Titus Cram is the first dude that comes to mind. He’s a dog and I should know, I’ve been playing him in sports since I was a little kid.”
..............................................
Q&A with Lynnville-Sully athlete Conner Maston
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I’ve been working out with our lifting staff from William Penn. Right now, we’re trying to gain muscle and gain speed. Right now I’m on track which will help me become a faster athlete and we workout two days every week. Sometimes it’s three times a week. Occasionally I will find time on my own to work out as well.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“What I feel I’ve improved on the most since last football season is my overall athletic ability. I have gotten stronger and faster which has helped not just in football but also in basketball and track over the winter/early spring.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel our team will do great things next football season. This past year was a great year for our program after a few struggling years. We gained a lot of confidence in ourselves and the person next to us and trusted in each other from day one. Next season is going to be fun and I’m really looking forward to it and I know my teammates are as well.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“The team I think will be the toughest team on our schedule is going to be Pleasantville. In my years of playing them, they have always gave our team struggles. Last year we lost our first game to them as well. Pleasantville never quits and are a tough team ready to battle it out the whole game.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“The toughest individual player I think our team will face off against next year is Ty Alcott from Belle Plaine. Ty is a physical young running back who runs downhill. He doesn’t mind taking hits either.”
..............................................
Q&A with Dowling Catholic wide receiver Cooper Nicholson
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“The off-season is the biggest part of football in my opinion. What you do in the off-season determines the outcome in the regular season. What we have been doing to prepare is getting our lifts in. We have set three lifts per week with focuses on core lifts such as squat and bench. [We also do] two speed and agility workouts per week. That’s just the bare minimum that our school has set up. Outside of school, I’m working with IAP to train two times a week and also running routes to work on my route running ability. Three times per week I get my auxiliary lifts in at Genius Health Club.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“I have improved most on my speed. Improving my 60 time from a 5.1 to a 4.8, working with some people to improve my speed as that plays a huge role in my position at wide receiver.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“Our team has been doing a great job this off-season with holding each other accountable about getting our lifts and workouts in. We are starting to form chemistry and relationships. I feel like we have a really good chance with the returning starters and overall talent on the team.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Our hardest competition will be similar to last year with SEP our first game and NW, Ankeny following. We have one of the hardest schedules that Dowling has had in awhile.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Our toughest player we will play against is definitely Kadyn Proctor once again. He has stopped our run game when he is on defense and has also given us a hard time rushing the QB. We will have to game plan over him but I do think it is possible.”
..............................................
Q&A with Harlan tight end Franz Reisz
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Me and the team have been working hard this off season so far with weight and strength and agility training along with multiple sports. But in early February I had a minor detour tearing my ACL during a basketball game, so I've been doing a lot of PT lately getting ready for Fall Football.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“I have gained more muscle since last year, especially with my upper body. I have been working on my speed and defensive line and tight end skills this off-season.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“Our main goal as a team is to go back-to-back in the state championship and go undefeated again. I feel confident that we can do that. We are really talented all the way through.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Last year the toughest team was probably Lewis Central, they are always a tough team to go against.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Probably Landyn Van Kekerix of Boyden Hull-Rock Valley, he was probably one of the hardest players to take down.”
..............................................
Q&A with Wapsie Valley tight end Mason Harter
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Getting faster and stronger.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“Being in the weight room every day.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I think we will be a really good team next year, we all have to work together. We also have most of our team returning back next year.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Grundy Center, they have always been a really good team.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“That is a hard one, a different player steps up every year.”
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