Eagles' sports in review 2008-2009
Ryan Pleggenkuhle and Ali Carlson
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Sports
Volleyball
A combination of sophomore leaders and talented freshmen were the keys for the Kirkwood Community College volleyball team. They finished the season with an overall record of 28-12. The team also finished the season ranked No. 10 in NJCAA Division II.
Led by sophomores Beth Ripperger, Katie Johnson, Tomomi Sakurai, Janae Rosien, Rachel Walker and Hanna Bruns, the Eagles had experience all over the court. "Kirkwood volleyball was ranked No. 10 in the nation and that to me is awesome. We had a great group of girls that really pushed hard and wanted to get something out of the season.," said sophomore Katie Johnson.
Region XI-B All-Tournament team members included sophomores Sakurai and Bruns as well as freshman Julia Brus. Sakurai was also named Region XI-B's All-Tournament Team MVP and was also named Iowa Community College Athletic Conference's first team All-Conference team. Second team All-Conference members included sophomores Katie Johnson and Julia Brus.
The Eagles also had success in the classroom this year. The ICCAC All-Academic 1st team included Kirkwood sophomores Ripperger and Rosien as well as freshmen Ellie Farrier, Heather Brus and Julia Brus. Second team All-Academic members were Bruns, Sakurai, Tess Wegner, Paige Stroud and Tima Amr.
Men's Basketball
The Kirkwood Community College men's basketball team ended its 2008-2009 with a loss but was full of success throughout the year.
The men finished the season with a loss in the NJCAA Division II National Championship game against Johnson County Community College. The National runner-ups finished with a record of 27-6 and a conference record of 11-1.
"Watching the team grow through the whole season was the best part," stated sophomore Bryant Kucera. "We really progressed from the start of the season to our final game."
The team was led by a solid group of sophomores along with a talented group of freshmen. Sophomores included Kucera, Bryce Brunz, Rashad Basey and Joel Barkers. Each sophomore averaged more than nine points per game this season.
A combination of sophomore leaders and talented freshmen were the keys for the Kirkwood Community College volleyball team. They finished the season with an overall record of 28-12. The team also finished the season ranked No. 10 in NJCAA Division II.
Led by sophomores Beth Ripperger, Katie Johnson, Tomomi Sakurai, Janae Rosien, Rachel Walker and Hanna Bruns, the Eagles had experience all over the court. "Kirkwood volleyball was ranked No. 10 in the nation and that to me is awesome. We had a great group of girls that really pushed hard and wanted to get something out of the season.," said sophomore Katie Johnson.
Region XI-B All-Tournament team members included sophomores Sakurai and Bruns as well as freshman Julia Brus. Sakurai was also named Region XI-B's All-Tournament Team MVP and was also named Iowa Community College Athletic Conference's first team All-Conference team. Second team All-Conference members included sophomores Katie Johnson and Julia Brus.
The Eagles also had success in the classroom this year. The ICCAC All-Academic 1st team included Kirkwood sophomores Ripperger and Rosien as well as freshmen Ellie Farrier, Heather Brus and Julia Brus. Second team All-Academic members were Bruns, Sakurai, Tess Wegner, Paige Stroud and Tima Amr.
Men's Basketball
The Kirkwood Community College men's basketball team ended its 2008-2009 with a loss but was full of success throughout the year.
The men finished the season with a loss in the NJCAA Division II National Championship game against Johnson County Community College. The National runner-ups finished with a record of 27-6 and a conference record of 11-1.
"Watching the team grow through the whole season was the best part," stated sophomore Bryant Kucera. "We really progressed from the start of the season to our final game."
The team was led by a solid group of sophomores along with a talented group of freshmen. Sophomores included Kucera, Bryce Brunz, Rashad Basey and Joel Barkers. Each sophomore averaged more than nine points per game this season.
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