Find out what some of the top players in the state are saying about sports now!
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Q&A with Dowling Catholic quarterback Dante Cataldo
How did the high school football season go overall?
“As a team we didn't quite meet our goals, losing a tough game to Valley in the semifinals. Individually I had a great opportunity to work and compete with Jaxon Smolik every day. It's not too often you get to learn from a Division 1 QB and I am a better QB today because of it. I took advantage of every opportunity I had on the field and to lead our team.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“I am currently playing basketball for Dowling Catholic but I began my off-season preparation for football soon after the season ended. I will continue to work on my overall strength, footwork and speed throughout basketball, track and summer months. I work with a couple different QB coaches but also my dad who is a QB coach at Dowling Catholic.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I am really confident about our team next year. We have a room full of guys who are putting in the work and will hold each other accountable. We have a great coaching staff who are invested in us. So I feel the work we are putting in will make us a competitive team next year.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Our schedule has not come out yet for next year. But we know each game we play we are getting everyone's best. The competition level is tough every game we play, and we embrace that.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“There are so many great football players throughout the state of Iowa that it’s hard to pick one or two. I'll say there are several individual players we identify with each game that we must respect and try to slow down. I am just excited to be a part of this talented 2024 class of football players.”
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Q&A with Ankeny Centennial quarterback Trenton Smith
How did the high school football season go overall?
“The season went well, we had a nice run and fell short in the first round to Cedar Falls. Everyone made tremendous strides from the previous season and continued to work hard every week.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“I’ve been training 3 times a week at D1 in Waukee.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel we have a lot of talent returning and a lot of younger guys who are eager to play. All of us know the main goal is a state championship.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“We don’t have next season’s schedule yet.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“We don’t have next season's schedule yet.”
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Q&A with Sioux City East wide receiver Dane Milton
How did the high school football season go overall?
“My high school season was great, it didn’t end how we wanted it to but play[ed] hard throughout the year.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“Train as hard as I can during the off-season, working on speed, acceleration, agility, strength, etc.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I think our team will be back on the “come up”. We lost a very good amount of seniors that played a tremendous role in our team.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“We play one game at a time, but the hardest competition we will play will most likely be a Des Moines school.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I don’t know.”
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Q&A with Des Moines East wide receiver Jamal Taylor
How did the high school football season go overall?
“I had a pretty good season, had to miss some games but when I played I made an impact.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“Right now it’s basketball season so I’m focused on that but I still lift and run routes when I have the chance.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I think we’ll be better than this year. We got a new head coach last year so we will have a better understanding of how to run our offense.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I honestly think it is Velt… [if] we can’t beat them we can’t win it.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Demetrious Hilson, he goes 100% every day and it doesn’t just make me better it makes all of us better.”
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Q&A with ADM quarterback Aiden Flora
How did the high school football season go overall?
“I thought our season went really well. No one thought that we would make it to the Dome, which we loved. Everyone was doubting us and we proved them all wrong.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“Right now I'm wrestling, getting ready for districts and planning on going to state! But I'm lifting and doing speed work. I plan to run track to also work on my top speed.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“Our team will do well even though we are moving up to 4A. We got a taste of the Dome and will do what we can to get back to the Dome.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“We do not know our schedule yet.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I do not know who we will play so I can’t answer that.”
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Q&A with Dowling Catholic quarterback Dante Cataldo
How did the high school football season go overall?
“As a team we didn't quite meet our goals, losing a tough game to Valley in the semifinals. Individually I had a great opportunity to work and compete with Jaxon Smolik every day. It's not too often you get to learn from a Division 1 QB and I am a better QB today because of it. I took advantage of every opportunity I had on the field and to lead our team.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“I am currently playing basketball for Dowling Catholic but I began my off-season preparation for football soon after the season ended. I will continue to work on my overall strength, footwork and speed throughout basketball, track and summer months. I work with a couple different QB coaches but also my dad who is a QB coach at Dowling Catholic.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I am really confident about our team next year. We have a room full of guys who are putting in the work and will hold each other accountable. We have a great coaching staff who are invested in us. So I feel the work we are putting in will make us a competitive team next year.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Our schedule has not come out yet for next year. But we know each game we play we are getting everyone's best. The competition level is tough every game we play, and we embrace that.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“There are so many great football players throughout the state of Iowa that it’s hard to pick one or two. I'll say there are several individual players we identify with each game that we must respect and try to slow down. I am just excited to be a part of this talented 2024 class of football players.”
..............................................
Q&A with Ankeny Centennial quarterback Trenton Smith
How did the high school football season go overall?
“The season went well, we had a nice run and fell short in the first round to Cedar Falls. Everyone made tremendous strides from the previous season and continued to work hard every week.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“I’ve been training 3 times a week at D1 in Waukee.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel we have a lot of talent returning and a lot of younger guys who are eager to play. All of us know the main goal is a state championship.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“We don’t have next season’s schedule yet.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“We don’t have next season's schedule yet.”
..............................................
Q&A with Sioux City East wide receiver Dane Milton
How did the high school football season go overall?
“My high school season was great, it didn’t end how we wanted it to but play[ed] hard throughout the year.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“Train as hard as I can during the off-season, working on speed, acceleration, agility, strength, etc.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I think our team will be back on the “come up”. We lost a very good amount of seniors that played a tremendous role in our team.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“We play one game at a time, but the hardest competition we will play will most likely be a Des Moines school.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I don’t know.”
..............................................
Q&A with Des Moines East wide receiver Jamal Taylor
How did the high school football season go overall?
“I had a pretty good season, had to miss some games but when I played I made an impact.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“Right now it’s basketball season so I’m focused on that but I still lift and run routes when I have the chance.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I think we’ll be better than this year. We got a new head coach last year so we will have a better understanding of how to run our offense.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I honestly think it is Velt… [if] we can’t beat them we can’t win it.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Demetrious Hilson, he goes 100% every day and it doesn’t just make me better it makes all of us better.”
..............................................
Q&A with ADM quarterback Aiden Flora
How did the high school football season go overall?
“I thought our season went really well. No one thought that we would make it to the Dome, which we loved. Everyone was doubting us and we proved them all wrong.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“Right now I'm wrestling, getting ready for districts and planning on going to state! But I'm lifting and doing speed work. I plan to run track to also work on my top speed.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“Our team will do well even though we are moving up to 4A. We got a taste of the Dome and will do what we can to get back to the Dome.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“We do not know our schedule yet.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I do not know who we will play so I can’t answer that.”
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