Drew Riesberg

Grundy Center

Senior

Cross country

Riesberg earned his place in the Grundy Center's record book following a third-place time of 17:19 in Thursday's Class 1A district meet at Marshalltown. The effort allowed Riesberg to become the school's first four-year state qualifier. His teammates will join him in Fort Dodge, as Grundy Center edged Prairie Valley by three points for the final team qualifying position. "He's been a team leader by example," coach Sam Iverson said of Riesberg. "He just has done everything we've asked him to do. In practices when we do intervals or repetitions, he sets the pace and helps bring them along." Riesberg has been a consistent top-four finisher. He also participates in track and carries a 3.97 GPA.

Morgan Gerdes

Waterloo West

Sophomore

Cross country

A big reward awaits Gerdes after a breakthrough season. The Waterloo West standout earned an opportunity to compete in Saturday's state cross country meet by finishing seventh in the Class 4A district meet at Marshalltown in 16:00. Gerdes improved from 16th as a freshman to runner-up in this year's Metro Meet. She also leaped from 66th to 13th in the MVC Supermeet. "I'm very excited for Morgan," coach Ralph Longus noted. "She's put in the time and the mile,s which put her in a position to have great success this fall." Gerdes competes on the trapshooting team and performs in the marching band. She is active outside of school at Orchard Hill Church while maintaining a 3.85 GPA.

Luke Breuer

Don Bosco

Senior

Football

Breuer's strong play helped Don Bosco close out its season with a pair of convincing victories. He rushed for 232 yards on 14 carries and had 42 yards on two receptions with four touchdowns in the Dons' 35-0 thrashing of Valley of Elgin. One week later, he conquered a rain-soaked field with 130 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in a win over Midland. Defensively, Breuer has been a valuable asset from either the linebacker or corner position. "Luke has been a solid team leader throughout the entire season," coach Dean Youngblut noted. "He always leads by example with his hard work."

Rachel Schaefer

Columbus

Sophomore

Volleyball

The development of Columbus' sophomore outside hitter has been instrumental in the Sailors' success this season. Schaefer is leading Columbus in kills (243) and hitting efficiency (.276). "She kind of brings a lot of emotion to the game," coach Laura Rowen said. "She gets people pumped up and ready to play. Even though she's a sophomore, I kind of think of her as a leader out on the court. … She's got that outgoing personality, so it kind of comes easy to her. She loves to play and she's going to be one of those girls working her butt off to do what she can to help us win." Schaefer also leads the team with 67 aces and 229 digs. She participates in basketball, softball and club volleyball.

Josh Becker

Charles City

Senior

Football

Becker is leading a potent Comets' aerial attack into the postseason. He torched Waverly-Shell Rock, completing 16 of 23 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns in a 33-20 win on Oct. 17. Becker then threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns as Charles City closed out the regular season with a 27-0 win over Algona. "I think he's gotten very comfortable with everything that we're doing," coach Steve Stallsmith said. "We've kind of opened it up for him to get in sync early in the games, and when he's comfortable he does a nice job of getting the ball where it's supposed to go." Becker is also on the baseball team. He's active in FFA and showed a Grand Champion steer at the Iowa State Fair.

Amanda Magnuson

Waterloo East

Senior

Volleyball

East High coach Ali Rahnavardi believes his third-year starting setter is like a second coach for this year's No. 11-ranked Trojans. "She's just got a really great, positive attitude, and she has a way of getting everyone pumped up and fired up," Rahnavardi said. "We're a totally different team when she's on the court and when she's off the court." Magnuson has 387 assists (4.6 per game) setting out of the back row. She is fourth on the team with 169 digs, while serving at 92 percent with 35 aces. Magnuson is also a talented five-year starter and four-year captain of the softball team. She has participated in track and soccer for one season, and is a member of the MVC All-Academic team.

Jeff Conrad

Cedar Falls

Junior

Football

Conrad has been a major contributor for a stingy Tigers' defense that has posted back-to-back shutouts prior to tonight's postseason opener. The Cedar Falls linebacker recorded nine tackles ï½ two for loss ï½ and an interception in a 33-0 win over Cedar Rapids Prairie on Oct. 17. He followed that with five tackles in Friday's 42-0 shutout of Dubuque Senior. "Jeff is a player that always puts himself in a position to be around the football," linebackers coach Matt Humpal noted. "He is a guy the defense can count on when a big play needs to be made." Conrad leads the team with 86 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. Conrad also participates in basketball and baseball.

Parker Drake

AGWSR

Junior

Cross country

Before earning a trip to state last week, Drake took advantage of a favorable flat course during the North Iowa Cedar League Conference meet in Cedar Falls, as he broke his school's record by over one minute with a second-place time of 15:33. Drake then finished fourth in his Marshalltown district in 17:36. In his first season of cross country, Drake boasts three titles and four runner-up finishes. He's battled through a pulled quadriceps suffered prior to the record-setting run. "His injury is still lingering, and he is trying to work with it and run through it," coach Steve Hippen noted. Drake is also involved in basketball, baseball and track, where he finished eighth at state last spring in the 3,200-meter run.