Eagles Sports Update
Volleyball Season Highlights:
5/6th Girls
Tuesday, September 6 – Cedar Valley 2, HCS 0
The 5th/6th volleyball team played their first match of the season against Cedar Valley on September 6th. The Eagles lost in 2 sets, 18-25 and 9-25. The girls served well and were successful on getting some passes to the setter for a hit. They kept their heads up despite some strong serving by Cedar Valley in the second set.
Tuesday, September 13 – HCS 2, INCA 0
On September 13th the 5th/6th girls got their first win of the season against Isaac Newton in 2 sets with a scores of 25-21 and 25-10. Strong serving and hustling after the ball paid off well for the girls.
Thursday, September 29 – Cedar Valley 2, HCS 1
The 5th/6th grade volleyball team played Cedar Valley on September 29th. The girls came out strong, but ended up falling to the Huskies in three sets, 25-22, 21-25, 14-25. The first set show cased the girls serving well and working hard to control the ball to set it up for a hit. The girls are showing good improvement every game!
Thursday, October 6 – Lutheran Interparish 2, HCS 1
The 5th/6th volleyball team played Lutheran Interparish on Thursday and were challenged to overcome quite a few obstacles throughout the match. With the start of the first game came the realization that they were playing with a heavier ball, deeper serving line and higher net! The girls persevered despite the physical and mental challenges that accompanied these surprises and learned to adjust the way they played to accommodate these changes. They lost the first game to LIS, but showed much improvement in the second game which allowed them to maintain a lead throughout most of that game. An unfortunate injury during the second game contributed to a loss of momentum, and the Eagles ended up losing the second game to LIS as well. However, success is not determined by wins and losses, and the Eagles learned some valuable lessons in tonight’s game, making it a success. They saw firsthand that when we allow discouragement to overtake our minds, our playing ability goes down too! The Eagles fought through this discouraging mind game, and due to great serving from all the players, they were able to win the third game!
Saturday, October 22 – Trinity Lutheran Tournament
The 5th/6th volleyball team participated in the Trinity Lutheran volleyball tournament last Saturday. The first match of the day was against Isaac Newton. The Eagles played strong and came up with the win in three sets 25-18, 16-25, and 15-9. Makayla Hajek really helped the team with her great serving this match. The girls worked hard on controlling the ball. They were also excited and encouraged by all the Eagle fans cheering them on to victory. The second match of the day saw the Eagles playing the host team of Trinity Lutheran. The first set featured a come from behind win with some clutch serving by Sela Carmouche. They ended on a high note the first game with a great pass from Makayla Hajek to Lydia Hunter, who set up a beautiful set for Sarah Robinson to hit it over for the win, 25-23. Set 2 was close, but the Eagles fell to Trinity with a score of 18-25. Trinity Lutheran also took the deciding third match for the win.
Tuesday, October 25 – Trinity Lutheran 2, HCS 1
On Tuesday, the 5th/6th volleyball team played their final match of the season against Trinity Lutheran. Set one was a close game, but Lydia Hunter came through with her consistent serves to finish set one with a win, 27-25. The Eagles lost sets two and three with a score of 19-25 and 8-15. Throughout the game the girls showed better ball control and put a lot of effort in getting the ball to the setter, with many attempts made to hit the ball on the third contact. Way to go girls!
7/8th Girls
Thursday, September 8 – HCS 3, Pathway 0
On Thursday, September 8th the Eagles 7/8th Volleyball team faced Pathway Christian in the first home game of the season. The Eagles won the first set 25-13. The second set came down to the wire when the score was tied 24-24, but the Eagles were able to score 26 points to win by two. In the third set of the night Haley Tackaberry was able to serve nine times leading the Eagles to victory with a score of 25-8. Way to go Eagles!
Tuesday, September 13 – HCS 3, INCA 0
7/8 Eagles Volleyball defeated the Patriots 3-0 on September 13.
Set 1 was close until Middle Hitter Dayna Wichhart fired up her teammates with a strong kill to lead her team to a 25-18 victory. Set 2 was dominated by the team’s Setter Hailey Tackaberry delivering 17 straight serves to lead her team to a 25-3 victory. The Eagles continued strong into set 3 with a 25-16 victory.
Tuesday, October 4 – HCS 3, Pathway 1
7/8 Volleyball Girls defeated Pathway Christian 3 out of 4 sets to win the match on Tuesday, October 4th. Kalin Rotzoll and Chloe Lybeck both contributed a number of successful serves to contribute to the team victory.
Thursday, October 6 – HCS 2, Lutheran Interparish 1
On Thursday, October 6th the 7/8th Grade Volleyball team won a tough battle against a strong Williamsburg team 2 out of 3 sets. The match consisted of lengthy volleys and intense scoring as the Eagles won the first two sets, 26-24 and 26-24. Naomi Miller had an exceptional game and earned her team a number of points with aggressive hits and saves at the net. The Eagles battled the 3rd set but lost a close 12-15.
Tuesday, October 18 – HCS 3, INCA 0
Thursday, October 20 – HCS 2, Central Lutheran 1
Saturday, October 22 – Trinity Lutheran Tournament
Tuesday, October 25 – HCS 3, Trinity Lutheran 1
The 7th/8th Grade Volleyball Girls finished the 2016 season undefeated! The girls ended the year 9-0, including a tournament championship this last weekend at Trinity. The tournament including challenging opponents with matches being decided in the final set versus both INCA and Trinity. The team displayed great character, teamwork and leadership during the season. The 8th grade volleyball players this season were: Evie Hajek, Chloe Lybeck, Naomi Miller, Haley Tackaberry, Whitney Traetow, and Dayna Wichhart. What a great record to finish their 8th grade season! GREAT JOB EAGLES!!
Soccer Season Highlights:
5/6th Team
Monday, September 12 – HCS 2, Trinity Lutheran 1
The Eagles started their season with a 2-1 win on September 12th against Trinity Lutheran in Cedar Rapids. Corey Holman got the Eagles on the board with 13:58 remaining in the first half. Off a Zander Edkin corner, Holman played a nifty shot that found the back of the net that gave HCS a 1-0 lead. Just one minute later Holman had his second goal of the game with the assist coming from Idara Ituk. The half ended with the Eagles holding the 2-0 advantage. It was a defensive battle the entire 2nd half with Trinity scoring a late goal in the waning minute. The match ended seconds later with the Eagles 2-1 victory.
Tuesday, September 13 – HCS 5, Central Lutheran 0
The HCS 5/6 soccer team used great ball control and a solid defensive effort to thwart the Central Lutheran Cougars on Tuesday afternoon. The Eagles kept constant pressure on the Cougars, scoring 5 goals in the 1st half. Zander Edkin started the assault with a breakaway run and goal. After a Central Lutheran hand ball in the box, Edkin had his second goal off of a PK. The Eagles pressure was relentless and goals number 3 and 4 came from assists by Corey Holman, one to Brock Sherman and the other to Trey Schweitzer. The Cougars had yet another hand ball in the box, resulting in a beautiful PK sneaking in under the crossbar by Zachary Ahrens. The half ended in a 5-0 lead for HCS. A 5-0 halftime lead allowed the Eagles to pull some starters and use the 2nd half to experiment with moving players to different positions. The defense remained steadfast and the match ended with the Eagles winning 5-0. The win moves HCS to a 2-0 start to the season! GO EAGLES!
Tuesday, September 20 – HCS 8, LIS 0
The Eagles soccer teams took on the Lutheran Interparish Panthers on Tuesday evening. The 5/6th Eagles battled the heat to come away with a victory over the Panthers. The Eagles scored 8 goals, which were scored by Zachary Ahrens, Trey Scweitzer, Zander Edkin, Trey Montgomery, Liona Rocca, and Brock Sherman.
Thursday, September 29 – INCA 3, HCS 0
Tuesday, October 4 – HCS 3, INCA 0
JV SOCCER – EAGLES AND PATRIOTS BATTLE TO A TIE! Coming off their 3-0 defeat to Isaac Newton Christian Academy just 5 days earlier, the Heritage Eagles bounced back and fought the Patriots to a 3-3 tie. HCS was determined to have a better showing than their previous meeting and it showed Tuesday afternoon. The Eagles started the scoring with excellent ball movement. Trey Schweitzer started the HCS run with a pass to Zander Edkin. Edkin then made a couple INCA defenders miss and placed a perfect pass at the foot of Corey Holman. Holman took the pass and found the back of the net with a great shot, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Minutes later it was Edkin in the mix again when he gave a nice feed to Brock Sherman. Sherman hit a nice shot to get it past the INCA goalie and the Eagles lead 2-0. Trey Montgomery had 6 first half saves in goal for HCS. The Patriots snuck one by Montgomery to narrow the margin going into half, 2-1. The second half was as tightly contested as the first. INCA scored 2 goals on the 2nd half HCS goalie, Holman. Holman also had 3 saves for the half to keep HCS in the mix. With 3 minutes remaining and down by a goal, the Eagles made a great run and Montgomery found himself in position to tie it all up. The Patriots goalie made a good save off Montgomery’s first shot but couldn’t keep possession and Montgomery’s follow knotted the scoreboard for a final score of 3-3.
7/8th Team:
Monday, September 12 – HCS 2, Trinity Lutheran 1
The Heritage Varsity Soccer team started the year with a pair of victories over Trinity Lutheran (2-1) and Central Lutheran (7-0). Cory Hollman and Trey Montgomery teamed up in goal to keep Trinity off the scoreboard for almost the entire game. The Trojans only managed a goal when the outcome was no longer in doubt. Spencer Hollman and Adu Habte provided all the fire power needed as the Eagles downed Trinity 2-1. Ethan Bailey, Cael Austin, Cale Dawson, and Jordan Robinson turned in great defensive efforts to thwart and confound the Trojan offense.
Tuesday, September 13 – HCS 7, Central Lutheran 0
In Newhall on Tuesday the Eagles had little trouble dispatching Central Lutheran as Hunter Schau set a school record with 5 assists in a 7-0 rout of the Cougars. Schau also scored along with Sam Young, Eli Young (2), Adu Habte (2), and Spencer Holman. Zander Edkin and Sam Young also had assists for the Eagles who had 21 shots on goal. Corey Holman and Trey Montgomery teamed up for 5 saves and a clean sheet against the Cougars who managed little offense from a stout Heritage defense led again by the Austin/Bailey back line and supported by Caleb Turnbough, Jordan Robinson, and Cale Dawson.
Tuesday, September 20 – HCS 4, LIS 2
The 7/8th Eagles came out strong with an early lead in the first half. The Eagles had some great opportunities on goal, with Corey Holman, Adu Habte, and Sam Young each putting the ball in the back of the net. The Eagles finished the night with a score of 4-2 for the win. Go Eagles!
Thursday, September 29 – INCA 2, HCS 1
Tuesday, October 4 – INCA 2, HCS 0
Thursday, October 6 – HCS 0, INCA 0
If you’ve been around Heritage Christian School for any length of time you know the INCA-HCS rivalry is real. It may not be the Battle for the Boot or the Cy-Hawk Trophy but its every bit as intense at the middle school level as it is in upper divisions. The past three year record indicates just how close the soccer series is with Heritage holding a slim 4-1-3 series lead.
After losing back to back games to INCA (1-2 and 0-2) over the past two games to fall to 3-0-2 the Eagles needed a win or a tie to preserve their 4th consecutive winning season.
Playing inspired, scrappy defense lead by Cael Austin, Ethan Bailey and Mason Slaymaker on the back line; tremendous midfield support by Spencer Hollman; and outstanding goal keeping by Trey Montgomery (12 saves) the Eagles frustrated and thwarted every INCA attack.
Offensively the Eagles had chances created by Adu Habte, Sam Young, Eli Young and Hunter Schau but ultimately couldn’t get anything past an equally tough Patriot back line.
The Eagles end their season 3-1-2 and we thank our departing 8th graders for their leadership over the past several seasons. Our 8th graders this season were Cael Austin, Ethan Bailey, Spencer Holman, Christopher Nair, Gianna Rocca, Mason Slaymaker, and Eli Young. Thank you parents, students, alumni and fans for making your way across eastern Iowa to support this great group of young men and women. We’re excited for next year and await #WhatsNext
Cross Country Highlights:
Twelve Heritage 5th-8th grade students participated in the Trinity Invitational Cross Country meet on Monday, October 3. The students ran hard and cheered each other on. While there were not enough HCS students in each division to compete as a team, we did have three athletes finish in the top 10 in their division. Kalin Rotzoll and Amanda Weih placed 3rd and 10th respectively in the 2-mile race. Eno Ituk placed 9th in the 1 mile race. Way to go Eagles!