Vote: The Des Moines Register Athletes of the Week for Nov. 5-11, sponsored by Iowa Ortho
This past week saw the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union girls state swimming and diving meet take place in Marshalltown and the high school football state semifinal games were played at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
A total of nine individual and three relay champions were crowned at the girls state swimming and diving meet at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA on Saturday, Nov. 11.
In high school football action, the 8-Player semifinals took place on Wednesday, Nov. 8, the Class A and 4 semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 9, the 1A and 5A games on Friday, Nov. 10 and the 2A and 3A games on Saturday, Nov. 11.
Bishop Garrigan and Bedford advanced to the 8-Player championship game, West Hancock and Woodbury Central will meet for the Class A title, Grundy Center and MFL MarMac will play for it all in 1A and Van Meter and Central Lyon/George-Little Rock will face off in 2A. Bishop Heelan and Williamsburg will decide the 3A championship, Lewis Central and Western Dubuque will tussle for the 4A crown and Southeast Polk will play for its third 5A title in a row when it goes up against Ankeny.
Several outstanding individual performances took place during the high-stakes postseason action.
Here are the Iowa Ortho female and male Athlete of the Week candidates for the week of Nov. 5-11. Register readers vote to determine the winners, who will be announced at the end of the week. You only need to register once, so come back each hour for easy voting.
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Girls
Faith Frantum, Johnston
Frantum shared the IGHSAU's Swimmer of the Year honors with Waukee's Willa Hage at the conclusion of the girls state swimming and diving meet.
Frantum won both the 200 and 500-yard freestyle races at the state meet. She finished the 200 in one minute, 48.57 seconds and the 500 in 4:50.67.
Willa Hage, Waukee
Hage was part of four championship events in helping the Warriors repeat as girls state swimming and diving team champions.
Hage placed first in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:02.43 and she won the 100 breaststroke in 1:02.17. Hage also helped Waukee win both the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays in 1:44.78 and 3:28.36, respectively.
Grace Hoeper, Iowa City High
Hoeper took home both the 50 and 100 freestyle titles at the girls state swimming and diving meet.
Hoeper won the 50 in 23.44 seconds. She finished the 100 in 50.27.
Payden Rafferty, Waukee
Rafferty was part of three championship events for Waukee at the girls state swimming and diving meet.
She helped the Warriors cruise to their third team title in a row with one individual title and two gold medals in relays. Kemp won the 100 backstroke in 55.52 and she was part of Waukee's victorious 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
Abby Tollefson, Marshalltown
Tollefson was the 1-meter diving champion at the girls state swimming and diving meet.
The Marshalltown senior followed up last year's runner-up finish by placing first at the 2023 meet with a score of 504.55 points.
Boys
CJ Phillip, Southeast Polk
Phillip helped Southeast Polk move one step closer to its third state football championship in a row after coming up big in the running game during the Rams' thrilling 30-27 overtime victory over West Des Moines Valley in the 5A semifinals Friday.
Phillip accounted for 70 yards on a go-ahead drive for Southeast Polk in the fourth quarter. After Valley forced overtime, Phillip scored the eventual winning touchdown to end up with 129 yards and three touchdowns.
Derek Weisskopf, Williamsburg
Weisskopf sent Williamsburg into the 3A football championship game with a great night through the air during the Raiders' decisive 35-14 semifinal victory over Solon Saturday.
Weisskopf completed 12 of 19 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns. He added 31 yards on the ground.
Connor Kayser, Ankeny
Kayser led a dominant defensive effort by Ankeny during 10-7 victory over top rival Ankeny Centennial in the 5A football playoff semifinals Friday.
Kayser finished the night with nine tackles and one sack to help the Hawks hold the Jaguars to one score and 304 total yards.
Quinn McGeough, MFL MarMac
McGeough led MFL MarMac to a 41-28 victory over Underwood during the 1A semifinals of the football playoffs Friday.
The Bulldog running back rushed for 139 yards and five touchdowns to help his team reach the 1A championship game.
Ben Gordon, Van Meter
Gordon had a big night running the ball during Van Meter's 35-21 victory over Monticello in the 3A semifinals of the football playoffs Saturday.
The Bulldog running back picked up 208 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries and he added one reception for 33 yards.
The Des Moines Register's Athlete of the Week is underwritten by Iowa Ortho, which is not involved in the writing or editing of this story.
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: Des Moines Register Athletes of the Week for Nov. 5-11
