Iowa Lightning Girls Basketball Team

The Iowa Lightning girls traveling basketball team organization will hold its annual try-out sessions on Sunday, March 7, 2010. Try-outs will be conducted at Grand View College in Des Moines, IA. Participants should fill out the registration form on the website and send it to the address provided. The Iowa Lightning expects to have in upwards of 20 openings due to graduations of 2010 players.

Algona High student and Iowa Lightning player Kirsten Lipps has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at the University of Nebraska Kearney accepting Coach Carol Russell’sscholarship offer to join the Loper’s squad in the fall of 2010.

Lipps, a 1st Team All-State selection chose UNK over several private colleges because of the challenge Division II basketball presents. “University of Nebraska at Kearney is a great school academically with a first-class women’s basketball program. It will be exciting to compete at this level.” Lipps commented. “I really enjoyed my visit with the coaches and players.

Lipps, a 5' 11" forward, earned 1st Team All-State, Des Moines Register, IGCA & INA, 1st Team Kossuth Keepers and unanimous NCC All-Conference as a junior for the 23-1 Bulldogs. She was named Third Team All-State as a sophomore. Over her past two seasons she has averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds per game. Lipps holds school scoring and rebounding records and shot 61.7% from the field her junior season.

Lipps is a member of the National Honor Society and intends to major in Pre-Med. “She’s a relentless worker who is a very physical player inside,” said Algona High Head Coach Brad Sudol. “Nebraska Kearney is getting a great basketball player, and an even better person.”

Former Iowa Lightning player Jayne Strand has signed a D-1 letter of intent with the University of Northern Colorado. Strand played her first two years of college ball at Kirkwood Community College. While at Kirkwood Strand helped lead her team to consecutive Junior College National Championships. She was a three-sport athlete for the Cyclones of Ames HS, earning four letters in cross country and three each in soccer and basketball. She was a three-time all-conference selection in cross country and an honorable mention all-conference pick in basketball as a senior. She was also a multiple time honor roll selection and a two-time academic all-conference pick.

"Jayne will bring a wealth of knowledge on what it takes to win," said White. "She is an aggressive player who should contribute immediately to the success of our program and blend nicely with the freshman we have this year."

Former Iowa Lightning player and now St. Ambrose University sophomore Ali Dolphin capped a fantastic season by being named to the 2009 NAIA Division II Women's Basketball All-America second team today. She is the 14th different Queen Bee to be recognized as a women's basketball All-American since 1984.

Earlier this month, Dolphin, a 5-9 forward from Marshalltown, Iowa, was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Player of the Year after averaging 17.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.5 steals and 1.3 blocks while starting all 31 games for the Queen Bees.

She finished in the top-20 nationally in steals (8th), offensive rebounds (10th), assists (10th), assist-to-turnover ratio (14th), scoring (18th) and rebounding (19th).

With two years remaining in her collegiate career, Dolphin is already 24th on SAU’s all-time scoring list with 1,100 career points.

Dolphin joins former Iowa Lightning teammate Becca Hurley in being named the second Iowa Lightning alumni who has earned NAIA All-American honors in 2009. Hurley was named to the first team NAIA All American team and plays at Northwestern College in Orange City, IA.

Re-printed from the Southwest Iowa News

Abby Mendlik, a senior at Denison High School, signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to play college basketball at the University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. SF has an enrollment of 1,275 students and is a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). The purple, black and white Cougars went 18-13 overall and 9-9 in the GPAC this past season under first-year head coach Travis Traphagen. The 18 wins were the most for USF since 2002-03 when the Cougars advanced to the NAIA Final Four.

Mendlik, a Class 3A second-team all-state selection by the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association and a third-team all-stater by the Iowa Newspaper Association this past winter, averaged 9.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 3.2 steals per game for a Denison-Schleswig squad that went 21-3 overall and got to within one game of the state tournament. Mendlik, a 5-foot, 8-inch point guard, also was a Hawkeye 10 Conference first-team selection, and was recognized by the Monarchs as a tri-most valuable player after her senior season.

“It’s a relief. It was pretty stressful,” said Mendlik in reference to making her college choice. Mendlik had narrowed her selections to Buena Vista University in Storm Lake and Sioux Falls. “It was a hard choice. I liked the coaches at BV a lot. It’s closer to home, and I knew a lot of girls that played there, but I just love the town of Sioux Falls, it’s just awesome,” said Mendlik, the daughter of Gary and Brenda Mendlik of Denison, who plans on studying Biology in college.

“The coaches at Sioux Falls are really great and very supportive,” she added. “It was a very tough decision. I didn’t want to make the wrong decision because you just never know, but I think Sioux Falls will be the right place for me.”

USF will graduate only one senior from its 2008-09 16-member youthful roster, which also included just two juniors, five sophomores and eight freshmen .To date, Mendlik will only be the second player from the state of Iowa to fill a spot on the USF roster. The other is sophomore-to-be Elizabeth Hildreth, a 6-2 forward from Norwalk High School. Both Hildreth and Mendlik played AAU ball with the Iowa Lightning, based out of Oskaloosa, IA.

Traphagen said having a player of Mendlik’s caliber will only make Sioux Falls a better all-around team. “With Abby, we have our point guard now. She had a great high school career, but I honestly believe that her best playing days are ahead of her,” said Traphagen. “We want to get up and down the court. If you want to defend 94 feet, it has to start with your point guard and then work its way down to the numbers two, three, four and five players.”

“I watched Mendlik on tape, and she’s exactly what I’m looking for. She’s going to be given an opportunity to contribute right away. I never tell a kid they’re going to come in and start, but she’ll definitely get that chance,” Traphagen stated. “We didn’t recruit Abby during the season, but it’s just one of those situations that worked out. Sioux Falls has a ton to offer kids academically, and with basketball, I think we’re a program on the rise, so I couldn’t be happier that we’re getting a girl like Mendlik,” Traphagen said.

Denison-Schleswig head girls’ basketball coach Adam Mich said that Sioux Falls was a good choice for Mendlik. “She’ll fit right in perfectly with Sioux Falls’ style of basketball. They get out and go, and Mendlik does a great job of starting the fast break. Not only is it a good fit for her basketball-wise, but for school-wise with what she wants to go for,” Mich added.

Abby’s older sister, MacKenzi, also plays college basketball at GPAC-foe Morningside College, which went 38-0 this past season en route to capturing the NAIA Division II national championship.

(Reprinted from the Knoxville Journal Express)

Knoxville — Steph Kingery stepped up her level of play this past season on the basketball court for the Knoxville Panthers.

Her improvement not only helped her become a better player, but it also helped the Panthers post the best record in school history in 5-on-5 basketball. It also helped Steph earn a basketball scholarship to play at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge.

The Tritons offered Steph a scholarship and she jumped at the opportunity. Knoxville Girls’ Basketball Head Coach Jim Uitermarkt commented, “Steph is a coaches dream. She does whatever is asked of her, she’s a team player, whether it’s in or out of season.”

Steph played this past summer for the Iowa Lightning, an AAU team that practiced in Oskaloosa. She credits the summer play with helping her game and her confidence. “Playing AAU ball made me more aggressive. I had to match up with some talented players and I had to step up my game,” she said.

Steph made 60 three-point goals for the Panthers a year ago. Her shooting percentage improved 17 percent for the Panthers from her junior to senior year.“She also became a better rebounder and was more aggressive overall,” Uitermarkt said.

Iowa Central Coach Craig Carlson has posted a record of 56-9 with the Tritons over the past two years. “We like Steph’s ability to hit the three-point shot. We like to run and press and feel she fits our style of play,” Carlson said. Steph will be receiving one of nine basketball scholarships offered by the school this year.

Steph is the daughter of Mike and Lisa Kingery of Knoxville. “I’m excited for her,” replied her father. “This has been her dream through high school.”

Steph commented, “I’m probably better at track but I like basketball better. I’ve played the sport since fourth grade.” “I’m relieved to have selected a college where I believe I’ll have a chance to play,” Steph said. “I didn’t want to walk-on somewhere and I wanted a smaller school. I want to play when I get to college,” she added. Steph plans on pursuing a degree in elementary education.

Former Iowa Lightning member Becca Hurley has been named an NAIA All American. The NAIA released its 2009 All-Americans and Scholar Athletes for women’s basketball and Northwester College sophomore guard Becca Hurley (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) was named to the first team after averaging 20 points and six rebounds this season. Hurley scored in double figures in 30 of the 33 games she played this season. She also led the team with 83 three-pointers, shooting 36% from beyond the arc and dished out a team-best 111 assists and 67 steals.

Becca was also named an NAIA Scholar Athlete. Student-athletes must be nominated by their head coach, have achieved junior academic status and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale to be eligible.

Becca spent two seasons with the Iowa Lightning under the tutorage of head coach Gary Boeyink.

Amy Voss of Newton High School, has accepted a basketball scholarship at Grand View University in Des Moines, IA. The NAIA school is under the direction of Coach Gary Smith and plays in the Midwest Collegiate Conference. Amy will join fellow Iowa Lightning alumni Jackie Kerr (2007), Alicia Onnen (2005) and Jodi Nikkel(2005) who are a part of the current Grand View varsity roster.

Natalie Massey signed a National Letter of Intent during early signing in November with Missouri S & T (formerly University of Missouri, Rolla) where she will be majoring in Engineering. Missouri S & T finished in the final 8 last year in the women's NCAA Division II tournament. Natalie played with the Iowa Lightning during the 2007 season and is a 6'1" forward.

Des Moines, Iowa – January 21, 2009 – East High All-Conference forward Sara Wagner announced today that she plans to sign a letter of intent and plans to accept a full ride scholarship offer to play at Graceland University next fall! Wagner plans to sign an official letter of intent on January 21, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. in the East High Library! Wagner a three-year CIML Metro All-Conference forward has helped lead East High to a CIML best 11-1 record and 4th ranked in the state. Wagner a 5’9 forward is averaging 10 ppg and has been instrumental in the Lady Scarlet’s attack this season!

Wagner played her summer ball with the Iowa Lightning. She took part in several exposure tournaments where she could demonstrate her skills in front of dozens of college coaches and scouts.

"Wagner decided to sign with GU, because she felt very comfortable with the athletic program, loved the academic opportunities, and Head Coach Opie Butler! Sara considered others that showed interest, but settled on GU.

Wagner, who will major in Psychology or Sports Medicine at GU is expected to play forward for the Yellow Jackets. “Sara is an extremely talented player who has a tremendous upside, and will provide the Yellow Jackets with instant offense and great perimeter shooting. Her outside shooting touch and ability to score will enhance Coach Butler’s offense says Head Coach Sam Powell”.

Des Moines East High All-Conference guard Tiffanie Porter signed today a letter of intent commitment to accept a full ride scholarship offer to play for the University of Northern Iowa Women Basketball Team next season. Porter, a two-year CIML Metro All-Conference guard helped lead East High to an historical best 19-5 record and a berth to the Girls State Tournament in 2006-07, after a 20 year absence. Porter a 5’6 guard led the Lady Scarlet’s defense with her blazing speed and quickness."Tiffanie decided to sign with UNI, because she felt very connected with Coach Warren and the players! Tiffanie considered others that showed interest, but settled on UNI because of her admiration and relationship with ex-Des Moines Lincoln legend and Head Coach Tanya Warren, and the academic opportunities UNI presented for her. Tiffanie, who will major in Health Services at UNI, is expected to play guard for the Panthers. “Tiffanie is an extremely talented player who has a tremendous upside, and will provide the Panthers with blazing speed and quickness in the open and half-court. Her speed, athleticism, and ability to score in the open court will enhance the Panthers transition offense and half-court defense, says East Head Coach Sam Powell. Tiffanie is a very special player who Coach Warren and her staff had been watching closely for the last year. Her growth and maturity while competing this summer with Iowa Lighting AAU Program convinced Coach Warren and her staff that she would be a good fit for the Panthers”!