b'Jalen Smith School Spotlight: Dowling Catholic High School Wide Receiver (West Des Moines, IA)Class of 2024 D owling Catholic High School is a private, Cath- by Demetrius Hollins IIolic high school located in West Des Moines, Iowa. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines and provides education for stu-Mankato West Senior dents in grades 9 through 12. Dowling Catholic High Mankato, MN Schoolhasastrongreputationforitsacademicpro-grams,athletics,andextracurricularactivities.They havebeenplayingIowaHighSchoolfootballsince HT: 60 1972. The Dowling Maroons have qualified for state al-WT: 185most every year since they started playing football in 1972. The Dowling Catholic football program has a very long history of winning state championships. The Dow-60 185 lbs WR Jalen Smith from Mankato West Highling Catholic Maroons were the first Iowa High School School in Mankato, MN. Last season Jalen displayed ato win seven straight state championships by winning crazy amount of speed and route running ability. Ac- Gridiron Football Grade:7.4 of 10 state championships from 2013-19. After the 2019-20 cording to 247sports.com Jalen is ranked top 5 playersseason, the Maroons have been looking to win anoth-in Minnesota. erchampionship.LastseasontheDowlingMaroonsadvancing to the state championship but ended up los-started off slow by losing their first game but after los- ing to their rival Valley High School in the final minute by Demetrius Hollins II ing their season opener they went on a dominating runwith 2-point conversion. We asked Coach Wilson about with winning 10 games in a row. The Maroons werewhat him and the team learned about themselves based Eathan Triplett close to grabbing another state championship but end- on how last season ended.ed up losing in the semifinals. This season they come in with high hopes and determination to win anotherWe did not feel we maximized our team a year ago.We Athlete championship. lost the first game then won 10 in a row then lost in the TheDowlingMaroonsarecoachedbyTomWilson,semifinals. It wasnt so much the loss but how we went who is entering his 19th season as the head coach ofabout our business when we lost.We didnt maximize Class of 2024 us. That is our job. HC Tom Wilsonthe Dowling Maroons football team. We were able to Ethan Triplett is a 61, 180 pound, class of 2024 running back and safetyinterview Coach Wilson and talk about this upcomingEach team has a motto or slogan they go by. The teams Belt Valley High for the Belt Valley High School Huskies in Belt, Montana. Although list- season. motto is implemented by the coach but is executed by belt, Mt ed as just a running back on the roster, Ethan is a dynamic playmaker,the team. We asked Coach Wilson about their teams someone you want to find any way to get the ball in his hands. WhenEvery season and every team has something they focusmotto or slogan.he touches the ball, hes almost guaranteed to pick up a large chunkon once the previous season is over and they go into of yards, and if he can make a couple men miss or find an open lane,the off-season. We asked Coach Wilson about what him HT: 60 hes gone and nobody can catch him, as he runs a 4.50 40-yard dash.We have had the same slogan for many years.Team Ethan averaged 9.5 yards per carry in 2022, accumulating 419 rushingand his team are focusing on going into this season. First. Never changes. It is the mindset of how we run WT: 185yards on just 44 carries, and adding 36 receptions for 603 yards throughour program. HC Tom Wilsonthe air. Ethans coaches run the triple option with him sometimes, heWe just focus on getting better. That may sound like runs screens and regular routes, and takes carries as well. This led tocoachspeak but it is truly how we run the program.We Ethan being named both an all-conference and all-state running backtry to get the kids to understand that we gain nothing byWe asked Coach Wilson about his top players to look and cornerback (for his stout play on the other side of the ball) and Beltout for this season. Heres his players:Gridiron Football Grade:6.8 of 10 Valley remaining undefeated and winning a state championship. looking ahead or looking behind.It is right now that is64 281 lbs IOLKyle Rakersmost important. HC Tom Wilson 62 200 lbs LBDylan ManningEthan currently holds offers from Carroll College, Montana Tech, Mon- 58 185 lbs RBRaShawd Davistana Western, Rocky Mountain College, and the South Dakota SchoolEach team has a goal of winning a state championship of Mines. He also was granted the opportunity to become a preferredbut only one team is able to actually win the state cham-walk-on at the University of Montana. Off the field, Ethan has main- by Nick Mautone tained a 3.5 GPA. pionship. Last season the Maroons were close to18 19'