This past 2009-2010 sports season has been one of many memories when it comes to the Iowa high school female athlete. This season the choice was narrowed down to an elite group of nine. Highlighting this group was Katie Flood of Dowling Catholic, Carli Tritz of Bishop Heelan (Sioux City), Jessica Gehrke of Iowa City West and Hannah Willms of Dike-New Hartford. 

 

In the end the choice for the ISC Iowa High School Senior Female Athlete of the Year was Hannah Willms of Dike-New Hartford.

 

Listed below are the finalists and their individual bio’s.

 

(Alphabetical Order)

Being in Class 2A hurt the general public knowledge of how good this young lady was in her steadily improving track and cross country career. This past fall Casey won the 2A individual cross country title. At the state track meet this spring, Casey won the 800, 1500 and 3000 meter run titles. Casey made it back-to back state titles in Class 2A in both the 1500 and 3000 meter runs.

 

Morgan has also participated in the Drake Relays against the likes of Flood and Decker and posted top three finishes the past two years. Morgan may have been under the radar, but Iowa State University thought enough about her to offer her a scholarship next season.

 

The past season Katie won the Class 4A cross country title. It was her third title in four seasons. Also in the fall Flood won the Nike Heartland Nationals individual championship and the Nike Cross Nationals national individual title. Katie was also eighth at the elite Foot Locker Cross Country National Championship. Katie was named the Co-Female Outstanding Performer at the Drake Relays after victories in the 1500 and 3000 meter runs. Flood claimed her fourth straight Drake Relays title in both events. 

 

At the state meet, Flood won three more individual titles and anchored a fourth title for the Maroons. Flood won the 800, 1500, 3000 and part of the winning 4x800 relay team. Flood also finished 5^th at the Adidas Grand Prix where she was one of 14 high school girl’s in the nation to be selected for the Jim Ryun Dream Mile. Katie will attend the University of Washington next season.

 

Jessica is an elite all-state volleyball player and track and field athlete. This past season in volleyball Gehrke was one of the leaders in kills in the state and helped to lead the Trojans to a runner-up finish in Class 4A at the state championships in Cedar Rapids. 

 

At the state track and field championships Jessica won her second consecutive 100 and 200 meter dash and long jump titles in Class 4A. Gehrke leaves behind the record time in the 100 meter dash of 12.09. Wanting to continue to compete in both volleyball and track, Jessica will head to the sunshine state where she will attend Florida International.

 

Gronewold began her fourth season in the circle for the storied Carlisle Wildcat softball program. Her success over the years landed her a scholarship the Drake University next season. Jordan joined a milestone list last season when she collected her 100^th victory in her career as a junior. The Wildcats have reached the state tournament the past two seasons, finishing second last year in Class 3A. In 2009 Jordan posted a 34-2 record with an ERA of 0.33. This summer the Wildcats won the Class 3A state softball title. This past season Gronewold was 32-2 with an ERA of 0.61.

 

Jordan was also  a big was part of the volleyball team where she led Carlisle in kills and second in digs and on the basketball court averaged just over 18 points a game which was ninth best in Class 3A. 

 

A true student-athlete, Lindsay was presented with the E. Wayne Cooley Scholarship Award, worth $15,000 over four years to assist as she attends an Iowa college or university of her choice. The choice was Iowa State. On the athletic field, Hoehns was a multi-sport star at Twin Cedars, excelling in volleyball, track and field, softball and basketball. This past basketball season Lindsay became only one of five Iowa girl’s basketball players to score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in a career. 

 

A knee injury is about the only blemish on her high school career in which she was part of a her high schools softball state championship and runner-up finish in basketball in 2008 and runner-up finish in softball in 2009. The injury moved Keis from behind the plate to shortstop in softball last season. The Mustangs reached the state basketball tournament this past season and Keis led the team with her 18-plus points per game average. 

 

Keis was also named the Class 1A Softball Player of the Year last season by the Iowa Softball Coaches Association. The Iowa Sports Connection named her this seasons Class 1A Player of the Year as the Mustangs finished second.

 

Jessica is a multi-sport star with the Blue Jays and may be under appreciated out of those on this list but for those that know of her understand why she is part of this end of year recognition. Nichols finished this past basketball season leading her team with a 19 points per game average, seventh best in Class 3A. Nichols also led Perry on the volleyball court in kills, digs and blocks and was named to the IGCA third team all-state.

 

This past spring at the state track and field championships, Jessica won the 200, 400 and 800 meter dash titles in Class 3A. Her progress in track moves her to the next level with a scholarship to Iowa State University.

There is not much that can be said that hasn’t already been said about this multi-sport superstar. Carli is headed to Creighton University to play basketball but many fell she could have just as easily chosen to play volleyball or soccer and had the same future success. In basketball the Crusaders won two of the past three Class 3A championships including this past spring. A third trip with Tritz was a runner-up finish in 2008. Carli was named the Class 3A Player of the Year by the Iowa Sports Connection.

 

In soccer Bishop Heelan qualified for state the past two seasons.   The Bishop Heelan volleyball team has been a frequent qualifier to the state tournament, winning twice in their past four visits to Cedar Rapids including state titles in 2006 and 2007.  Tritz was named to the all-tournament team in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

No matter what Hannah does, Hannah does it great!! Willms set new marks in track and field this past season. The all-time high jump mark is hers, setting it at the Drake Relays at 6-01. The new 400 meter dash all-time record is also now in her name, erasing a record set back in 1984 by Natasha Kaiser of Des Moines Roosevelt.   Hannah also qualified for the Junior Worlds at the USA Track and Field Championships where she finished fifth in the world in the high jump.

 

In volleyball, Willms was named to the Iowa Volleyball Coaches Association Elite All-State Teams all four seasons. Dike-New Hartford qualified for the state volleyball tournament the past three seasons and finished second in 2007 and 2008. Hannah was named to the all-tournament team all three seasons and the team captain in 2008. Willms received a scholarship to play volleyball at Iowa State University and may even continue her track and field success if time allows.