Author Archives: Jim Ecker

By Jim Ecker The lane that leads into the Xavier High School parking lot is cleverly called the Avenue of the Saints, but it also could be called Championship Alley. The private school on the northeast side of Cedar Rapids has won … Continue reading →

By Jim Ecker Metro Sports Report Swimmers at Washington, Jefferson and Kennedy can stroll down the hallways at their school and jump in the pool for practice. Not at Linn-Mar. The Lions don’t have a pool. Linn-Mar practices at Coe College, which requires … Continue reading →

By Jim Ecker Metro Sports Report Marion native Dan Kellams gives readers a rare treat with his new book on former Marion High School coach Les Hipple, well worth the time for anyone interested in the school or the city itself. Kellams, a … Continue reading →

By Jim Ecker Metro Sports Report Lee Santee has been an assistant swimming coach at Jefferson High School for 39 years. That’s a remarkable achievement, but he didn’t think it was worthy of any special honors. “I thought I was only … Continue reading →

By Jim Ecker Metro Sports Report Chris Cruise has helped Cedar Rapids Washington win eight state titles in boys swimming during the past 25 years as an athlete, assistant coach and head coach, but that eighth title in 2008 was the best of … Continue reading →

By Jim Ecker Jim.Ecker@MetroSportsReport.com Ashley Piper had never heard of Colorado Christian University prior to last summer, but she’s learning fast. Piper has signed a national letter-of-intent to play basketball at the NCAA Division II school in Lakewood, Colo., next … Continue reading →

By Jim Ecker Jim.Ecker@MetroSportsReport.com There were skeptics when Kennedy jumped from No.9 to No.4 in the Class 4A rankings Tuesday, but maybe the folks who vote in the AP poll knew what they were doing. Jake Manning scored 17 points and … Continue reading →

Metro Sports Report Prairie scored only eight points in the second half Tuesday night and lost a non-conference girls basketball game to fourth-ranked Pleasant Valley, 67-34, at Prairie. Prairie trailed by eight points at halftime, 34-26, but got outscored 33-8 … Continue reading →

Metro Sports Report Kennedy jumped from ninth to fourth in the Associated Press boys basketball rankings Tuesday, just in time to host seventh-ranked Washington tonight. The Cougars (5-0) and Warriors (4-1) tangle at Kennedy at 7:30. Linn-Mar (6-0) continues to … Continue reading →

By Jim Ecker Jim.Ecker@MetroSportsReport.com John Richardson is a man with two high schools, and not just any two schools. It’s Xavier and Kennedy, the northeast Cedar Rapids neighbors, the Battle of 42nd Street and all that jazz.  Richardson is a full-time student at … Continue reading →