The Top 5 Cedar Valley High School Sports of 2016

We asked the Cedar Valley to vote for what they thought the top Cedar Valley High School Sports story of 2016 was. The votes are in.

It was a big year for several of our area high school teams and athletes. Records were broken. Championships were won. We even had one receive national attention.

Courtesy: Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU)
Courtesy: Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU)
5
National Coach of the Year
In January, Dr. Anthony Pappas of Waterloo West was named as the 2015 National Coach of the Year for girls basketball by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association. At the completion of the 2015-16 season, his coaching record sat at 533-341. Pappas has guided the Wahawks to seven state tournament appearances with two runner-up finishes in 1999 and 2002.
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Photo By: Elwin Huffman - Waterloo Broadcasting
Photo By: Elwin Huffman - Waterloo Broadcasting
4
Don Bosco Wins 8-Player State Football Title
After finishing the runner-up in 2015, the Don Bosco Dons stormed through the 2016 to 12-1 record and the Iowa High School 8-Player Football State Championship. Austin Svoboda tallied four touchdowns and 183 rushing yards for Don Bosco, and Austin Hellman added 82 yards and one touchdown.
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Trent Johnson (No. 44) / Photo By: Bucky Doren
Trent Johnson (No. 44) / Photo By: Bucky Doren
3
Trent Johnson's Record Effort
Trent Johnson ran his way into the Iowa High School record book while leading Dike-New Hartford to a first-round playoff victory Friday night (Oct. 28, 2016). He finished the year with 7,653 career rushing yards.
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Photo By: Elwin Huffman - Waterloo Broadcasting
Photo By: Elwin Huffman - Waterloo Broadcasting
2
Dike-New Hartford & Hudson Win Volleyball Titles
Two Cedar Valley Sports teams were crowned the 2016 Iowa High School Volleyball State Champions, and both championship matches featured an all Cedar Valley showdown. Janesville had to defeat Hudson to earn the Class 1A title. Dike-New Hartford beat Union for the Class 3A title. A combined 10 players from those four teams made the All-Tournament Team.
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(Source: IHSSN via YouTube)
(Source: IHSSN via YouTube)
1
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Goes Back-to-Back
In 2016, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels defended their Iowa High School Football State Championship. It was a game that went down to the final seconds, but GR's defense held firm later to secure the 20-19 win over Bishop Garrigan, Algona. The Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels boys basketball team’s perfect season was voted as the best Cedar Valley Sports story of 2015.
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Filed Under: Year in Review

Categories: Cedar Valley Sports, High School Sports