Find out what some of the top players in the state are saying about sports now!
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Q&A with Waukee Northwest defensive end Jack Vinyard
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“This season has gone very well for me and my team. Playing varsity football is one of the best things in high school and I just have really enjoyed it this year.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I am very pleased with how I am playing this year. At the start of the year, I had a few seniors in my spot so I didn’t really know what my playing time would look like but it turned out just right for me. I have been a little banged up this year but I’m hoping I can stay healthy going into the playoffs.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“I think everyone on my team is very excited about how we played so far this year. During the summer no one really knew if we would be good as no one was talking about our team. When we put the whole team together and spots got filled and all the players bought into the coaches’ program, that’s when we knew we could be one of the best teams in the state as we are one of them right now.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“We have the effort, toughness, discipline, and belief. The only thing I would say is that we need to continue executing every Friday night.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Having laser focus practices because we preach out practicing our opponents. Also just not taking our feet off the gas as we have been playing very well recently. We just need to keep it going, taking it week by week.”
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Q&A with Columbus fullback Riley Kaalberg
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“I thought it went pretty good, we didn't make it as far as we wanted to though.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“Offensively yes, defensively no. I like defense a lot more.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“We played well, could've been one of our best seasons but we couldn't pull through our last game.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“Honestly we just need to be able to work on our energy throughout the game, one moment we will be hype and then if the other team scores we just lose it, we got to be able to keep it the whole game.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Energy, and hustle.”
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Q&A with Columbus offensive lineman Itai Zapiensz
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“The season just got done. We lost to Maquoketa Valley in the first round. Hope they continue on further down. They deserved that win.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“Overall, yes, I loved how we responded to adversity when we had our downs during our season.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“I think my team has played great. We have one of the best offenses in the state and a great defense. We solidified ourselves as a very solid team.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“Consistency and discipline. That was a huge problem that we had throughout the season. We fortunately got better at it, and it showed in our recent games.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“For the team to be consistent and to be ready to step up through adversity and the unexpected.”
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Q&A with Bondurant-Farrar offensive lineman Bryce Baker
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“Our season has had a lot of ups and downs. One of our seniors was not able to play this year because of medical reasons. In these past couple of weeks, a lot of our guys have gotten hurt. With that being said, we have had multiple guys step up and fill those positions in order to get things back on track. We still are very confident in ourselves and our goals. We have gone 7-2 in the regular season and are district champions. But we are not finished yet.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“This was the first year I have played on both sides of the line. It was a unique experience as I didn’t play that much of a defensive role in years past. I feel like I have stepped up and become someone others can count on and go to for help. And I feel like I have improved not just physically but mentally.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“I couldn’t be happier with how our team is doing. We have had to go through so many things this year as far as injuries and adversity. And I feel like our team doesn’t cower from the challenge but rather rises to the occasion.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“There is always room for improvement. We lost our first game in a way that should not have happened. Ever since then, I feel we have corrected many things from that game and have really grown as a team. We went on a six-game winning streak after that loss.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“With where we are in the season, I see my teammates continuing to step up and fill the positions they have stepped into with the loss of some of our key players and adapt accordingly. We need to raise to the next level our belief in ourselves and our teammates that we can accomplish anything on the football field. I have 100% confidence in them that they can do this. Since I was in elementary school and playing Crusader football, the goal with my classmates has always been to go to the Dome.”
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Q&A with Columbus linebacker Cole Storm
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“My football season went well. Didn’t get as deep into the playoffs as I would have hoped but still had a very solid year. With tons of improvement from my freshman year to senior year.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I have been pleased, I had a solid year. On defense I went from inside linebacker to outside so I had a considerably lower amount of tackles this year. I ended first team all-district so still a solid year.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“Our team played well all year with a very high-powered offense. We as a whole did not accomplish what we have worked for but that’s all part of life.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“I felt we were a little weak on the defensive side this year, just silly little mistakes that really ended up coming back to affect us big.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“The key to success this year was just being solid and playing as a team. Once we started playing as a team and not for ourselves, I saw great improvements.”
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Q&A with Waukee Northwest defensive end Jack Vinyard
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“This season has gone very well for me and my team. Playing varsity football is one of the best things in high school and I just have really enjoyed it this year.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I am very pleased with how I am playing this year. At the start of the year, I had a few seniors in my spot so I didn’t really know what my playing time would look like but it turned out just right for me. I have been a little banged up this year but I’m hoping I can stay healthy going into the playoffs.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“I think everyone on my team is very excited about how we played so far this year. During the summer no one really knew if we would be good as no one was talking about our team. When we put the whole team together and spots got filled and all the players bought into the coaches’ program, that’s when we knew we could be one of the best teams in the state as we are one of them right now.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“We have the effort, toughness, discipline, and belief. The only thing I would say is that we need to continue executing every Friday night.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Having laser focus practices because we preach out practicing our opponents. Also just not taking our feet off the gas as we have been playing very well recently. We just need to keep it going, taking it week by week.”
..............................................
Q&A with Columbus fullback Riley Kaalberg
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“I thought it went pretty good, we didn't make it as far as we wanted to though.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“Offensively yes, defensively no. I like defense a lot more.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“We played well, could've been one of our best seasons but we couldn't pull through our last game.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“Honestly we just need to be able to work on our energy throughout the game, one moment we will be hype and then if the other team scores we just lose it, we got to be able to keep it the whole game.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Energy, and hustle.”
..............................................
Q&A with Columbus offensive lineman Itai Zapiensz
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“The season just got done. We lost to Maquoketa Valley in the first round. Hope they continue on further down. They deserved that win.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“Overall, yes, I loved how we responded to adversity when we had our downs during our season.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“I think my team has played great. We have one of the best offenses in the state and a great defense. We solidified ourselves as a very solid team.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“Consistency and discipline. That was a huge problem that we had throughout the season. We fortunately got better at it, and it showed in our recent games.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“For the team to be consistent and to be ready to step up through adversity and the unexpected.”
..............................................
Q&A with Bondurant-Farrar offensive lineman Bryce Baker
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“Our season has had a lot of ups and downs. One of our seniors was not able to play this year because of medical reasons. In these past couple of weeks, a lot of our guys have gotten hurt. With that being said, we have had multiple guys step up and fill those positions in order to get things back on track. We still are very confident in ourselves and our goals. We have gone 7-2 in the regular season and are district champions. But we are not finished yet.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“This was the first year I have played on both sides of the line. It was a unique experience as I didn’t play that much of a defensive role in years past. I feel like I have stepped up and become someone others can count on and go to for help. And I feel like I have improved not just physically but mentally.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“I couldn’t be happier with how our team is doing. We have had to go through so many things this year as far as injuries and adversity. And I feel like our team doesn’t cower from the challenge but rather rises to the occasion.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“There is always room for improvement. We lost our first game in a way that should not have happened. Ever since then, I feel we have corrected many things from that game and have really grown as a team. We went on a six-game winning streak after that loss.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“With where we are in the season, I see my teammates continuing to step up and fill the positions they have stepped into with the loss of some of our key players and adapt accordingly. We need to raise to the next level our belief in ourselves and our teammates that we can accomplish anything on the football field. I have 100% confidence in them that they can do this. Since I was in elementary school and playing Crusader football, the goal with my classmates has always been to go to the Dome.”
..............................................
Q&A with Columbus linebacker Cole Storm
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“My football season went well. Didn’t get as deep into the playoffs as I would have hoped but still had a very solid year. With tons of improvement from my freshman year to senior year.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I have been pleased, I had a solid year. On defense I went from inside linebacker to outside so I had a considerably lower amount of tackles this year. I ended first team all-district so still a solid year.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“Our team played well all year with a very high-powered offense. We as a whole did not accomplish what we have worked for but that’s all part of life.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“I felt we were a little weak on the defensive side this year, just silly little mistakes that really ended up coming back to affect us big.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“The key to success this year was just being solid and playing as a team. Once we started playing as a team and not for ourselves, I saw great improvements.”
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