2014 E. WAYNE COOLEY “YOU CAN” AWARD WINNERS
WINTER SPORTS
YOU CAN COACHES:
Jason Yessak, Dunkerton
Coach Yessak has done a great job of maintaining a program through lean
years. With an improved talent base, they had a fantastic season with a 20-4
record. With many young players coming back, the future is very bright at
Dunkerton.
Nominated by IGCA
Aaron Gingerich, Iowa Mennonite Girls Coach
Aaron has taken over a program that was in need of some attention and has turned
it into a respectable program. Over the past four years he has slowly built the
winning percentage while teaching quality life skills to the young ladies at
IMS. Aaron has never made excuses and pushes the girls to get better
everyday. Aaron is the type of coach that we want young our young people to learn
from.
Nominated by Jody Fink, Highland Girls Basketball Coach
YOU CAN ATHLETES:
Vianca Corpuz, Sophomore, Prince of Peace Prep
Vianca is a great example of overcoming great odds this basketball season. She
came to our team and had never played basketball before. But, she came into the
season with a remarkable attitude and great work ethic. In the beginning we taught
her everything about basketball. Vianca was timid at both practice and games
during the beginning of the season. As her confidence grew you could tell she could
have an impact on our team. She has made giant leaps forward in both her level of
play and her love of the game. Her impact on the team has been inspiring to all of us
in many ways. I am very proud to coach Vianca and I really respect her work ethic.
Nominated by Scott Maddasion, Prince of Peace Girls Basketball Coach
Kylee Glennie, Sophomore, West Harrison
Kylee is a starter on our team but is a severe asthmatic. After two attacks during the
season, she struggled. After going from a starter to not playing very much Kylee has
continued to be a team leader for us. She never complains and played when
possible. She helped her teammates anyway she could. This season Kylee has
showed us what being a "team" player is all about.
Nominated by Kathy Glennie, West Harrison Girls Basketball Coach
Miranda Bertelsen, Senior, West Harrison
West Harrison was lucky to have Miranda playing the last couple of years. Miranda
is always upbeat and keeps the team fired up. Miranda has played through many
aches and pains. Miranda also has asthma and had a knee injury this past
summer. Miranda would get knocked around a lot and just when you think she was
ready to come out, she would give us a smile and thumbs up.
Nominated by Kathy Glennie, West Harrison Girls Basketball Coach
Brittany Rogers, Senior, Dubuque Wahlert
Brittany has been a member of our team for four years. At the end of her
sophomore season she had to undergo detached retina surgery She has had a total
of four surgeries on her eye. As a junior, Brittany helped as a manager because she
was not medically cleared to play. As a senior she was cleared and wore protective
eyewear. Her vision is still unclear, but continued to play. Brittany has had an
outstanding attitude throughout the entire process and she has lived with a "You
Can" spirit.
Nominated by Coach Kris Spiegler, Dubuque Wahlert High School
Ruth Berning, Junior, Dubuque Wahlert
Ruth has been a varsity member for three years. She did not get a lot of playing time
this season at the varsity level. She always came to practice and games with a great
attitude and always gave 100%. Ruth would sacrifice her body by diving for the ball
or taking a charge. She is the kind of player that every team desires.
Nominated by Coach Kris Spiegler, Dubuque Wahlert High School
Drew Piersma, Junior, Sioux City North High School
As her Sports Performance Director and Girls Basketball Coach, I have known Drew
for three years. In that time she has impressed me with her leadership, positive
outlook, and maturity. Drew always rises above and beyond expectations and is
someone that you can count on. As a result she easily gains respect of her
peers. Drew is involved in many activities as well as basketball and maintains a 4.73
grade point average!
Nominated by Tedi Andrews, Girls Basketball Coach, Sioux City North
Shauna Folchert, Junior, Sioux City North High School
I have had the opportunity to coach Shauna the past 3 years. In that time she has
demonstrated great character and leadership skills. She is the type of
person that her teammates will follow and listen to and as a result of this she was
named co-captain as a junior. She is involved in many community activities and
maintains a 4.0 grade point average.
Nominated by Tedi Andrews, Girls Basketball Coach, Sioux City North
Allie Treinen, Senior, Rock Valley Community Schools
Allie is a senior on our basketball team. She is an outstanding young lady that has
overcome a very difficult situation. Last year she started the season as our 6th
player and looked forward to having a great year. During the 2nd game of the
season she had season ending knee surgery. She continued with us and was
basically another assistant coach. She worked hard during the offseason and got
herself back on track. She was a great senior leader and demonstrated many of the
characteristics this award stand for.
Nominated by, Dave Vonk, Girls Basketball Coach, Rock Valley
Maeve Broeg, Senior, Williamsburg
On the final drill of the final basketball practice her sophomore year in 2011-12,
Maeve tore her ACL. Halfway through her junior season she came back and helped
as much as she could. Maeve continued to work to get her strength back following
her junior season. In her senior season, she has been the first player off the bench
and had a very good senior season, but most importantly, she has been accepted
into the U.S. Naval Academy. This great honor took a lot of work in the classroom,
but also physically recovering from the injury her sophomore season. I look
forward to Maeve being a leader of men and women in the future and have no doubt
of the success she will have.
Nominated by Aaron Feddersen, Girls Basketball Coach, Williamsburg
Haley Bergan, Edgewood-Colesburg
As a first year coach, I needed leaders to step up on the team to help me out, and
Haley responded. She often came to me with ideas and concerns, but was always
very respectful while doing so. She made sure that practice-drills were run hard
and correctly so the team would improve throughout the season. Haley goes above
and beyond, and has been a great asset to the team this year.
Nominated by Jennifer Lange, Girls Basketball Coach, Edgewood-Colesburg
Katlin Hora, Senior, Highland-Riverside
Katlin has been a four-year player for the Highland girls basketball program. She has
always given her best throughout her career. She was seldom our statistical leader
but was always trying to get everyone else involved. She worked hard to get a
starting position her senior season and was voted captain by her teammates. In the
5th game of the year she suffered a career ending knee injury. Even though she
could not play with her teammates she continued to be a great captain and help lead
the team anyway she could.
Nominated by Jody Fink, Girls Basketball Coach, Highland-Riverside
Kelsey Craig, Junior, Highland-Riverside
Kelsey has been a 3-year player for Highland. She worked very hard to get varsity
minutes and it looked great until she injured her knee during a scrimmage. She had
torn her meniscus in two places ending her season. However, Kelsey continued to
help lead the team. Her junior year dealt her a lemon but she made lemonade out of
it and for that we are very proud of her.
Nominated by Jody Fink, Girls Basketball Coach, Highland-Riverside
Kelsey Rolfes, Junior, Spencer
Kelsey epitomizes what the award stands for. She has great character and is a role
model for all the players in our program. She loves the game and since 4th grade
has spent countless hours playing. In the spring of her 8th grade year she suffered
an ACL tear. She spent the summer rehabbing and was able to play basketball and
run track her freshman season. Unfortunately, during her sophomore basketball
season she suffered the same injury to the same knee. Once again she rehabbed all
summer. Three games into her junior season she was sidelined for five games with
a hamstring injury. This award is about overcoming great odds. Kelsey has
overcome two knee injuries and has never waivered in her commitment to the team.
She was determined to play this season and she did, playing in all 16 games after the
Christmas break. She has exhibited the "You Can" spirit.
Nominated by Don Martindale, Girls Basketball Coach, Spencer
BOWLING
“YOU CAN” ATHLETE
Taryn Pepping, Senior, North Scott
I have had the pleasure of coaching Taryn for 4 years. She is the true meaning of
sportsmanship, respect and commitment. Taryn was bowling very well at the state
competition her freshman year but gladly sat out during the bakers round to allow
the seniors to finish their final competition in high school. Her commitment goes
above and beyond and is a great asset to any team. Taryn is a composed and
confident young lady and treats those around her with respect. She is the type of
athlete, team player and individual I look for to represent my program and school.
Nominated by Marie Tharp, Head Bowling Coach, North Scott High School