Home Care In Central City, IA

Wildcats will feature multiple 4-year starters after going 8-2 last season

Ryan Pleggenkuhle

CENTRAL CITY — Encounter challenges early and reap the benefits late.

This is the approach Central City football coach Matt Miers and his team are taking into the 2023 season.

Coming off an 8-2 campaign that ended in the second round of the 8-Player playoffs, the Wildcats will host WACO (last year’s 8-player state runner-up), the team that ended their 2022 season, for a scrimmage Friday.

“It's going to be a good test because it’s going to show us where we need to improve,” Miers said. “Whether it's making sure we’re aligned correctly on defense or improving our technique, it’s going to show us some areas that we need to focus on to get better.”

Next Friday, No. 3-ranked Central City will officially open its season at home against fourth-ranked Winfield-Mt Union, a playoff team from last season with two Division I recruits (Cam Buffington, an Iowa commit, and Abram Edwards, an Army commit) returning.

Why the daunting matchups out of the gate?

“When I talked to our captains when we were picking our list of non-district games, they wanted a tough schedule,” Miers said. “They want to be challenged. I said, ‘Well, you got it. You got what you want.’ Which is good. I’d rather have them say that than, ‘We want to play someone we can 35-point.’

“Our whole goal is to be playing our best football by the end of the season.”

Read More: Iowa high school football preseason rankings: The Gazette’s 8-Player poll

Central City’s decision-making captains are seniors Jayden Hanson, Aiden Klostermann, Mekhi Benton, Daiton Price and junior Matt Klostermann.

Hanson will operate the offense; one he expects to be very “multiple.”

“I’d describe our offense as multiple threat because we have big guys up front that block really well for run plays, and I have plenty of time in the pocket when we have a pass play,” Hanson said. “We have so many pass and run formations that it's going to be hard for the other team to rep all of our sets.”

Joining Hanson in the backfield are Aiden and Matt Klostermann, also known as the “Kloster Bros,” according to Matt.

Aiden was Central City’s leading rusher in 2022 with 1,224 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’s also the only returning player who had more than 100 receiving yards last season.

The Wildcats are putting more emphasis on the passing game and his role as a receiver in 2023.

“I think the biggest thing for us is just catching the ball,” Aiden Klostermann said. “I'm on the same page with him (Hanson) on passing. If we can get that completion percentage up, that’d help a lot.”

As Aiden takes on increased receiving work this year, Matt will assume more ball-carrying duties — a role he’s excited for.

“Him (Aiden) just sitting at the wing, catching more, it’s just more ideal,” Matt Klostermann said. “And then me sitting in the backfield with him, running the ball and hammering it down, it works well.”

Among the linemen opening holes for Hanson and the Klostermanns will be Benton, Price and Nolan Gates.

“We’re definitely a running team and I think we've got a great line coming back,” Miers said. “All three of those guys were starters last year and got all-district honors.”

With a roster of 26, many of the same offensive leaders also will play a significant role on the other side of the ball.

Benton, described by Matt Klostermann as a 6-foot-4 “beast,” will help anchor the defense on the edge.

“You put him up against anybody and he just bull-rushes them,” Matt Klostermann said. “It’s like in Madden when you push the right tackle-stick forward and run right through the person; that’s basically what he does.”

Aiden Klostermann will support the defense in the backfield, Hanson also will roam the edge, while Matt Klostermann will play linebacker alongside senior Christopher Greif.

Miers thinks highly of his seasoned and versatile defensive unit.

“I would say our strength is probably on the outside, our defensive ends,” Miers said. “We’ve got five starters that have basically been starters since their freshman year, so this is their fourth go-around. That experience pays off in close games.”

With several four-year starters on the roster, the expectations are sky-high for the 2023 Wildcats.

“We want to start strong, finish strong,” Aiden Klostermann said. “Our goal is just to have a great season and make it further than last year.”

“I think they know they have a chance to have perhaps the best football season in the history of Central City if things go right,” Miers said. “I think they're hungry for that.”

A closer look at Central City

Coach: Matt Miers (9th season, 35-41)

Last year: 8-2 (lost in second round of playoffs)

Returning starters: QB/DB Jayden Hanson, RB/DB Aiden Klostermann, RB/LB Matt Klostermann, TE/DE Mekhi Benton, OL/DB Nolan Gates, FB/LB Christopher Greif, OL/LB Daiton Price, OL/DL Braxton Davis

3 keys to success: Increase completion percentage; Learn and grow from difficult early schedule; Stay injury free

Big game: Aug. 25 vs. Winfield-Mount Union

Superintendent Leisa Breitfelder to prioritize school improvement plans, explore facility and child care needs in the communities

Grace King

CENTRAL CITY — The new shared superintendent of Central City and North Linn school districts wants every child to feel “cared for” in school.

One of Leisa Breitfelder’s first friends when she was in kindergarten had cerebral palsy, which is caused by abnormal brain development or damage that affects a person’s ability to control their muscles.

“I was his peer helper,” said Breitfelder, 44. “I was able to go with him to his physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy appointments and do group projects with him in class. It gave me a passion for helping kids be the best student they possibly can be.”

That feeling of inclusion for students often stops after elementary school as students with different needs are pulled out of general education classes, Breitfelder said.

“It changes how students feel about themselves and how other students see them,” she said.

In her previous role as executive director of student services in the Linn-Mar Community School District, Breitfelder said she worked to create more opportunities for students in general education and special education classes to learn together.

Students in special education sometimes have paraprofessionals or associates — educators who work with students to help them understand classroom instruction and provide administrative support to teachers.

“When you walk into a classroom and see an adult sitting next to a student, their peers aren’t going to be approaching that student as easily,” Breitfelder said.

To overcome that challenge, Breitfelder said paraeducators were taught how to “cue” other students to talk to their special education peers. Students also were taught about their peers’ disabilities and ways they are the same and different from each other.

“It warms your heart when you walk in to a classroom and you know there are students with disabilities in there, but they’re doing group work and you can’t tell who has the disability and who doesn’t,” Breitfelder said.

As a first-time superintendent, Breitfelder plans to create this same sense of belonging for students in Central City and North Linn schools.

Karla Christian, chief human resources officer for Linn-Mar schools, said Breitfelder did a “fantastic job” using her creativity to make sure the needs of students in special education were met. Breitfelder also introduced more training for paraeducators at Linn-Mar, Christian said.

“It’s so important for paraeducators to know they are valued as much as teachers,” Christian said. “She made sure they had the training they needed and wanted and brought them together as a cohesive group of special education teachers and associates.”

Jeri Ramos, information technology director at Linn-Mar, said Breitfelder considered how each decision she made would benefit students and provide them a better sense of belonging.

“She’s one of the most humble leaders I have ever met,” Christian said.

There are about 469 students in preschool to 12th grade at Central City and 536 at North Linn. Breitfelder, who started her new role July 1, will earn a salary of $155,000 plus benefits.

A school improvement plan called Marzano High Reliability Schools will begin to be implemented at Central City and North Linn this year, Breitfelder said. The plan, which has indicators showing what schools should work on to achieve a high reliability level, also is used in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Linn-Mar schools.

In Central City, the school building is undergoing a facility needs assessment by Axiom Consultants, an engineering firm in Iowa City. Breitfelder said she expects the report back at the end of August.

The report will rate aspects of the building in three categories: what needs immediate attention, projects for down the line and areas that are in good shape, Breitfelder said.

Once the needs assessment comes back with an estimated cost of the projects, Breitfelder said district officials can consider how to move forward with funding.

Renovations to North Linn’s middle and high school building were recently completed after voters overwhelmingly approved a $11.5 million general obligation bond in September 2021.

Air-conditioning was added, restrooms were upgraded and brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and lighting, ceiling tiles, water piping and windows were replaced.

One of Breitfelder’s priorities for North Linn is to investigate why students are open enrolling out of the district. She said it could be because of the lack of child care options in the community.

“Families are taking their students in to the larger districts while they are going to work, dropping them off at day care, then they get started in preschool, and we don’t get the students back,” she said.

In addition to being an educator in the Linn-Mar district, Breitfelder has experience as a special education director and a consultant with the Grant Wood Area Education Agency. She has 21 years of experience in education.

Breitfelder also has experience as a school board member in the Springville Community School District. She recently resigned from the school board because of her new superintendent job.

Amy Hosek, who served with Breitfelder on the Springville school board, said Breitfelder’s knowledge as an educator helped guide many of the board’s decisions.

“She’s got a lot of drive,” Hosek said. “I think she’ll be an asset wherever she goes.”

Comments: (319) 398-8411; [email protected]

Wildcats erupt for 6 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning, sideline Springville 8-2 in a 1A regional quarterfinal

Jeff Linder

CENTRAL CITY — Dave Johnson doesn’t take this run of quiet consistency for granted.

“A lot of people — myself included, in all honesty — had no idea what this team could do,” said Johnson, softball coach at Central City.

“I didn’t think 30 wins was a possibility. For this team to accomplish that, it’s beyond my wildest expectations.”

The Wildcats broke free with six runs in the bottom of the second inning and sidelined Springville, 8-2, in a Class 1A softball regional quarterfinal Wednesday night at Central City High School.

Avery Wise scattered five hits, striking out 10 and walking none. That enabled the Wildcats (30-11) to reach the 30-win plateau for the sixth consecutive non-COVID season.

“We always have a lot of fun,” senior Cami Ellis said. “That kind of team chemistry helps us get all of those wins.”

Read More: Photos: Central City eliminates Springville in 1A regional quarterfinals

Two more, and that quiet consistency would get a lot louder. The Wildcats host Calamus-Wheatland (26-15) in a regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday.

Central City combined six hits and four errors by the Orioles (14-22) into that six-run second.

Savannah Koch opened the rally with a double, then moved to second base on Avary Besler’s sacrifice bunt.

RBI hits by Sloane Smith, Ali Fritscher, Wise and Lucy Smith followed, then Koch closed it with a sacrifice fly.

“We had a lot of energy,” Ellis said. “We wanted to come out and be tough both on offense and defense.”

And Wise (16-6) was a stopper in the circle. Her change-up was strong “in the second half of the game,” she said.

Johnson expanded on that:

“We have two freshman pitchers (Wise and Koch) that have worked extremely hard. They’ve both risen to the occasion, and I was prepared to use both of them tonight,” he said.

“One thing I asked for was for Avery to limit her free passes. Things were rolling, so we stuck with it.”

The youngsters’ progress was a necessity in the aftermath of all-stater Sara Reid’s graduation.

Springville edged within 6-2 on single tallies in the third and sixth innings, but the Wildcats answered with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth.

The Orioles finished with six errors.

Central City 8, Springville 2

Class 1A Regional Quarterfinal, at Central City

Springville 001 001 0 — 2 5 6

Central City 060 002 x — 8 8 2

Ashlynne Zaruba, Molly Stamp (2) and Alivia Hoyt. Avery Wise and Bailee Weber. W — Wise (16-6). L — Zaruba (5-6).

Comments: [email protected]

Here is a look at scores from across the state in Week 1 of the Iowa high school football season:

Friday's Scores

A-H-S-T-W, Avoca 64, Tri-Center, Neola 27

AC/GC 20, Ogden 19

ADM, Adel 49, Newton 21

Albia 21, Centerville 13

Ankeny 39, Ankeny Centennial 38, 2OT

Aplington-Parkersburg 23, Union Community, LaPorte City 7

Ar-We-Va, Westside 46, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 44

Assumption, Davenport 34, Solon 7

More:Iowa high school football: Recap, highlights from Week 1 action across the state

Atlantic 47, Clarke, Osceola 33

B-G-M 96, Meskwaki Settlement School 12

Ballard 20, Pella 17

Bedford 63, Moravia 20

Benton Community 49, Vinton-Shellsburg 0

Bettendorf 30, Pleasant Valley 10

Bishop Garrigan 34, St. Edmond, Fort Dodge 26

Bishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City 22, Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 19

Boone 15, Knoxville 14

Boyer Valley, Dunlap 56, Griswold 12

CAM, Anita 42, Audubon 12

Carroll 20, Greene County 0

Cedar Rapids Xavier 41, Waverly-Shell Rock 6

Cedar Rapids, Jefferson 33, Muscatine 24

Central Lee, Donnellson 35, Van Buren, Keosauqua 8

Central Lyon 48, Emmetsburg 8

Central Springs 32, Newman Catholic, Mason City 8

Chariton 21, Davis County, Bloomfield 7

Charles City 26, Oelwein 14

Cherokee, Washington 51, Marcus-Meridian-Cleghorn/Remsen Union (MMCRU) 23

Clarinda 46, Shenandoah 7

Clarksville 60, North Iowa, Buffalo Center 12

Clear Lake 34, Forest City 0

Collins-Maxwell 60, GMG, Garwin 28

Colo-NESCO 48, Murray 12

Columbus Catholic, Waterloo 37, Beckman, Dyersville 0

Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 28, Sioux City, West 13

Creston 36, Winterset 17

Davenport, Central 21, Clinton 13

Davenport, West 13, Davenport, North 6

Decorah 32, Waukon 6

Denison-Schleswig 38, Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson 14

Denver 42, New Hampton 14

Des Moines, Roosevelt 42, Des Moines, Lincoln 32

Dubuque, Hempstead 28, Cedar Rapids, Washington 7

Earlham 25, Central Decatur, Leon 7

East Marshall, LeGrand 7, BCLUW, Conrad 0

East Mills 54, West Harrison, Mondamin 36

East Union, Afton 53, Sidney 30

Easton Valley 61, New London 22

Edgewood-Colesburg 68, Central Elkader 14

Epworth, Western Dubuque 61, West Delaware, Manchester 27

Fairfield 38, Mt Pleasant 14

Fort Madison 15, Burlington 12

Gilbert 14, Dallas Center-Grimes 13

Gladbrook-Reinbeck 34, Don Bosco, Gilbertville 21

Glenwood 28, Sioux City, East 24

Glidden-Ralston 32, Woodbine 28

Grand View Christian 27, Martensdale-St. Marys 26

Grinnell 14, Center Point-Urbana 3

Grundy Center 7, Dike-New Hartford 6

Hampton-Dumont-CAL 42, Iowa Falls-Alden 20

Hinton 10, Gehlen Catholic, Le Mars 0

Hudson 24, North Tama, Traer 2

Humboldt 20, Spencer 3

IKM-Manning 19, East Sac County 15

Independence 50, North Fayette Valley 22

Indianola 31, Urbandale 0

Iowa City West 35, Iowa City Liberty High School 28

Iowa Valley, Marengo 60, Lone Tree 14

Janesville 42, Northwood-Kensett 28

Johnston 23, Waukee Northwest 17

Joliet Catholic, Ill. 48, Iowa City High 13

Kee, Lansing 52, Tripoli 12

Kingsley-Pierson 27, Alta-Aurelia 7

Lake Mills 14, AGWSR, Ackley 7

Lamoni 74, Twin Cedars, Bussey 22

Le Mars 41, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 13

Lenox 54, Stanton 14

Lewis Central 21, Harlan 20

Linn-Mar, Marion 64, Dubuque, Senior 7

Lisbon 42, Durant-Bennett 0

Logan-Magnolia 29, Missouri Valley 8

MFL-Mar-Mac 33, Crestwood, Cresco 0

Madrid 28, Woodward-Granger 27

Maquoketa 17, Anamosa 6

Maquoketa Valley, Delhi 33, Cascade,Western Dubuque 12

Marion 15, Clear Creek-Amana 0

Mason City 32, Marshalltown 3

Mediapolis 33, Columbus Community, Columbus Junction 7

Midland, Wyoming 48, English Valleys, North English 6

Montezuma 47, Southeast Warren, Liberty Center 28

Mormon Trail, Garden Grove 50, Melcher-Dallas 14

Mount Ayr 39, Nodaway Valley 12

Mt Vernon 35, Monticello 6

Nevada 31, West Marshall, State Center 0

North Butler, Greene 51, Belmond-Klemme 0

North Cedar, Stanwood 38, Highland, Riverside 6

North Linn, Troy Mills 23, Alburnett 7

North Mahaska, New Sharon 22, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 6

North Polk, Alleman 43, Bondurant Farrar 39

North Scott, Eldridge 34, Central Clinton, DeWitt 7

North Union 26, Okoboji, Milford 20

Northeast, Goose Lake 40, Bellevue 16

Norwalk 52, Carlisle 32

OA-BCIG 33, Estherville-Lincoln Central 14

Oskaloosa 28, Washington 14

PCM, Monroe 22, Sigourney-Keota 15

Panorama, Panora 28, West Central Valley, Stuart 17

Pekin 20, Eldon Cardinal 2

Pella Christian 49, Des Moines Christian 35

Perry 33, Des Moines, Hoover 18

Prairie, Cedar Rapids 20, Cedar Falls 17

Regina, Iowa City 44, West Liberty 6

Riceville 46, Rockford 0

Ridge View 7, Akron-Westfield 6

Riverside, Oakland 40, West Monona 0

Roland-Story, Story City 40, South Tama County, Tama 0

Ruthven-Ayrshire 48, Siouxland Christian 8

Saint Ansgar 25, Osage 24

Sheldon 26, Sibley-Ocheyedan 6

Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids 20, South O'Brien, Paullina 9

South Central Calhoun 34, Pocahontas 14

South Hamilton, Jewell 20, South Hardin 14

South Sioux City, Neb. 46, Sioux City, North 37

Southeast Polk 24, Valley, West Des Moines 18

Southeast Valley 26, Manson Northwest Webster 8

Southwest Valley 34, Red Oak 31

Spirit Lake 30, Algona 22

St. Mary's, Remsen 28, Harris-Lake Park 7

Starmont 14, South Winneshiek, Calmar 9

Storm Lake 45, Saydel 34

Sumner-Fredericksburg 18, East Buchanan, Winthrop 12

Tipton 54, Louisa-Muscatine 0

Treynor 41, St. Albert, Council Bluffs 0

Unity Christian 29, MOC-Floyd Valley 25

Van Meter 21, Underwood 14

Wahlert, Dubuque 48, Camanche 12

Wapsie Valley, Fairbank 12, Jesup 0

Waterloo, West 56, Waterloo, East 12

Waukee 35, Ames 7

Wayne, Corydon 42, Colfax-Mingo 8

Webster City 35, Fort Dodge 28

West Bend-Mallard 44, Newell-Fonda 16

West Burlington 46, Wapello 6

West Fork, Sheffield 14, Clayton Ridge, Guttenberg 12

West Hancock, Britt 55, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura 6

West Lyon, Inwood 14, Sioux Center 2

West Sioux 51, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 7

Western Christian 27, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 6

Westwood, Sloan 22, Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 20

Williamsburg 42, West Branch 14

Wilton 13, Mid-Prairie, Wellman 0

Winfield-Mount Union 44, Central City 36

Woodbury Central, Moville 27, Lawton-Bronson 24

POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS

Keokuk 17, Ottumwa 8, Weather Delay

Thursday's Scores

Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 49, Eagle Grove 6

Nashua-Plainfield 46, Postville 0

Friday's Iowa high school football Round of 16 playoff scores:

CLASS 5A

POD A

Southeast Polk 49, Linn-Mar, Marion 9

Cedar Falls 30, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy 26

POD B

Dowling Catholic, W.D.M. 45, Sioux City, East 0

Ankeny 21, Johnston 9

POD C

Valley, W.D.M. 31, Pleasant Valley 21

Waukee 21, Prairie 10

POD D

Ankeny Centennial 35, Waukee Northwest 7

Bettendorf 32, Iowa City, City High 21

More:Here are next week's quarterfinal pairings for Iowa high school football playoffs

CLASS 4A

POD A

Western Dubuque 41, Newton 2

North Scott 35, Decorah 7

POD B

Lewis Central 42, LeMars 10

ADM 42, Denison-Schleswig 0

POD C

Glenwood 21, Norwalk 0

Bondurant-Farrar 23, Pella 6

POD D

North Polk 17, Ballard 14

Xavier, Cedar Rapids 17, Indianola 10

CLASS 3A

POD A

Creston 35, Harlan 27

Webster City 27, Nevada 7

POD B

Solon 50, Fort Madison 7

West Delaware 58, Assumption, Davenport 45

POD C

Williamsburg 23, Humboldt 0

Mount Vernon 50, Independence 6

POD D

Sioux Center 28, Algona 21

Bishop Heelan, Sioux City 22, Clear Lake 19

CLASS 2A

POD A

Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 49, Roland-Story 0

Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 43, Clarinda 8

POD B

Van Meter 56, Union, LaPorte City 0

PCM 36, Mid-Prairie, Wellman 0

POD C

West Lyon 29, Western Christian, Hull 20

Spirit Lake 48, New Hampton 6

POD D

Monticello 45, Jesup 0

Mediapolis 27, Camanche 0

CLASS 1A

POD A

Grundy Center 35, Pella Christian 12

Dike-New Hartford 28, Sigourney/Keota 18

POD B

Underwood 42, AHSTW 0

OABCIG 35, Treynor 14

POD C

Sumner-Fredericksburg 9, Emmetsburg 7

Columbus Catholic, Waterloo 35, South Hamilton 24

POD D

MFL MarMac 21, West Branch 0

Regina, Iowa City 33, Wilton 18

CLASS A

POD A

Saint Ansgar 33, Lake Mills 0

East Buchanan 38, Lisbon 7

POD B

Woodbury Central 35, MMCRU 28

Logan-Magnolia 22, Akron-Westfield 16

POD C

West Hancock 49, Starmont 10

Wapsie Valley 26, Maquoketa Valley 0

POD D

Madrid 42, Central Decatur 0

ACGC 29, Lynnville-Sully 8

EIGHT-PLAYER

POD A

Winfield-Mount Union 34, Moravia 6

Don Bosco, Gilbertville 26, WACO 20

POD B

Bedford 44, Exira-EHK 28

Lenox 33, Audubon 8

POD C

CAM, Anita 36, West Bend-Mallard 34

Bishop Garrigan, Algona 21, St. Mary’s, Remsen 18

POD D

Clarksville 50, Iowa Valley 8

Gladbrook-Reinbeck 36, Central City 12