The week of Jan. 18-24 saw several competitive girls wrestling meets and basketball games featuring teams from the Des Moines Metro area.
In wrestling, the Colfax-Mingo Girls Tournament, Atlantic Invitational and other tournaments featured teams from the metro area. In basketball, the top game featuring teams from the metro area saw Class 5A No. 1 Johnston take down No. 2 Waukee Northwest, 60-54, on Jan. 20.
There were several impressive individual performances by female high school wrestlers and basketball players from the Des Moines area during the week.
Here are the Des Moines Register’s female Athlete of the Week candidates from the Des Moines metro area for the week of Jan. 18-24. DesMoinesRegister.com readers vote to determine the winners, who will be announced at the end of the week.
Katie Muller, Dowling Catholic
Muller turned in a monster game for the Class 5A No. 3 Dowling Catholic basketball team during a 79-41 rout of No. 6 West Des Moines Valley on Jan. 20.
She finished the game with 27 points on 10 of 15 shooting from the field and a sizzling 7 of 9 effort from 3-point range. She also dished out seven assists and snared six rebounds for the Maroons.
Lizzie Beam, Ankeny Centennial
Beam put on a flawless shooting display for the 5A No. 11 Ankeny Centennial basketball team during a 71-26 drubbing of Urbandale on Jan. 20.
She scored 27 points after making 10 of 11 field goals, 3 of 4 3-pointers and 4 of 6 free throws. She also pulled down three rebounds.
Ava Smid, DCG
Smid was a force inside for the 4A No. 4 Dallas Center-Grimes basketball team during a 52-35 victory over 3A No. 5 Williamsburg on Jan. 22.
She posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. She also dished out five assists and had one steal and block apiece.
Sophia Carnes, Saydel
Carnes, the No. 9 wrestler at 105 pounds according to IAwrestle.com, earned an individual championship at the Colfax Girls Tournament on Jan. 24.
She placed first 105 after going 3-0 at the tournament. All three of her victories came by fall, with her final pin coming against Kenley Koenig in one minute, 19 seconds during the championship match.
Avah Blakeman, Des Moines Public Schools
Blakeman placed first at 120 for the Des Moines Public Schools wrestling team at the Atlantic Invitational on Jan. 24.
She improved to 27-7 on the season after going 3-0 during the tournament. All three of her victories came by fall, with her final pin coming in just 51 seconds over Raccoon River-Northwest’s Toni Wilen in the championship round.
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Vote for the Register female Athlete of the Week for Jan. 18-24
Reporting by Joe Randleman, Des Moines Register / Ames Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
