Des Moines Metro Teams Shine at State Meets
Metro-area athletes and teams earned top finishes in Iowa high school cross country and volleyball during the week of Oct. 25-31.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Running
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The Des Moines Register opened a reader vote for its female Athlete of the Week for Oct. 25-31, a week that included the Iowa high school state cross country meet in Fort Dodge and state volleyball qualifying. Four Des Moines metro teams placed in the top five of their classes at state cross country, and eight metro teams qualified for the state volleyball tournament.
Why it matters
The reader vote highlights the performances of metro-area high school athletes across two fall sports during a single week. Recognition of individual and team achievements gives local families and fans a clear view of the region's top prep talent.
Individual 5K times and team point totals from the Iowa state cross country meet were recorded in official meet results. The final Athlete of the Week winner will be determined by reader votes and has not yet been announced.
The players
Des Moines Register
The Des Moines Register is the major daily newspaper serving the Des Moines, Iowa metropolitan area and central Iowa.
Ivory Stoffa
Ivory Stoffa is a Van Meter High School cross country runner who placed third in the Class 2A girls state race.
Emmy Stubbendeck
Emmy Stubbendeck is a Waukee Northwest High School cross country runner who placed third individually in the 5A girls state race.
The details
Readers voted to choose the Des Moines Register's female Athlete of the Week for Oct. 25-31. The week featured standout performances, including Ankeny Christian's Gabbie Quick, who recorded 22 assists in a regional semifinal sweep of CAM, and Dowling Catholic's Caroline Crane, who had 13 kills at 63.2% efficiency in a regional final sweep of Indianola.
Timeline
Oct. 26, 2026: Ankeny Christian swept CAM in a 1A Region 1 volleyball semifinal.
Oct. 27, 2026: Dowling Catholic swept Indianola in a 5A Region 4 volleyball finals match.
Oct. 30-31, 2026: The Iowa high school state cross country meet was held in Fort Dodge.
Season Trajectory
The strong showing by metro-area programs at the Iowa High School Athletic Association state cross country meet and volleyball qualifying shapes the competitive picture for central Iowa's fall sports. Teams that placed high in the state standings and advanced through the volleyball bracket are now positioned for the final stages of their seasons.
Metro-area fans following Iowa prep cross country can track which teams advance from the state meet and which volleyball programs move on through their brackets. Reader votes for the Register's Athlete of the Week are open now, giving followers a direct way to recognize standout performers.
The takeaway
Strong team finishes at the state level reflect the depth of competitive high school running and volleyball programs in the Des Moines metro area. Following local athletes across multiple seasons offers a clearer picture of regional prep talent.
What happens next
Winners of the Des Moines Register's Athlete of the Week reader vote will be announced at the end of the week.
Further reading
For more on local prep distance performances, explore Running coverage across Des Moines.
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