Local athletes cited for awards

Jamestown High School’s Nikki Iverson, Carissa Finck, Zane Braun and Landon Swangler, along with Jamestown College’s Giuli Varriano and J.J. Koerber, were all honored as athletes of the week by the Jamestown Optimist Club.

Iverson, a senior on the Blue Jay gymnastics team, won one event and placed second on two others during the Aberdeen quadrangular on Dec. 3. Iverson won the beam with a score of 9.2, was second on the bars with an 8.8 and second in the all-around with a 35.35. Her all-around score was on of her top three career scores.

Finck, a freshman goalie on the JHS girls’ hockey team, stopped 43 of 45 shots against Fargo South in a 2-1 loss Dec. 1, and followed that up with 31 saves in a 7-1 Blue Jay victory over Devils Lake Dec. 5.

Braun, a freshman Blue Jay wrestler, finished the Knights of Columbus Wrestling Tournament in second. He pinned two of his three opponents on his way to the finals.

Swangler, a junior on the JHS wrestling team, also placed second at the Knights of Columbus Wrestling Tournament. Swangler pinned all three of his opponents on his way to the finals.

Varriano, a senior on the Jimmie women’s basketball team, scored 19 points in the Jimmies’ 78-68 win over Dickinson State. Varriano, a Fargo native, was 8 of 10 from the field, including 1 of 1 from the three-point line and 2 of 4 from the free throw line. She also racked up 10 rebounds and three steals.

Varriano followed that performance the following day with 13 points in the Jimmies’ win over Minot State. Varriano went 4 of 8 from the field, 1 of 1 from the three-point line and 4 of 4 at the charity stripe, while collecting nine rebounds, one assist and a steal.

Koerber, a junior on the Jimmie men’s track and field team, ran the Midland Warrior half marathon in a career best time of 1:16.13 to qualify for the NAIA National Outdoor Track & Field championships. Koerber is originally from North Branch, Minn.

Tags: sports, optimist, athletes, iverson, finck, braun, swangler, varriano, koerber