Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The Your Prep Sports Alumni News is a weekly segment that recognizes the accomplishments of graduates from YPS area schools that are continuing their careers as student athletes at the collegiate level.

Alumni News is a way for readers to keep tabs on former area standouts as well as honoring those athletes that continue to excel at the next level.

Cooper Kabela

It was quite a week for the former West Branch standout and current Cornell College junior forward.

Kabela became just the second Cornell player since 2013 and first since 2017 to be named to the Mid-West Conference first team on Thursday when the league announced its postseason honors.

On Friday Kabela became the 23rd player in program history eclipse the 1,000-point mark scoring 21 points in an 89-75 season-ending loss to St. Norbert.

Kabela ranked in the top 10 in the MWC in five statistical categories this season, leading the Rams with 18.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while helping Cornell to a 14-12 finish, its first winning season in 10 years.

Shelby Gunnells

Solon graduate and North Dakota State University senior earned Field MVP honors at the Summit League indoor championship on Saturday in Fort Wayne, Indiana after helping the Bison win the Summit League team title for the 13th consecutive season.

Gunnells won her first career conference title on Friday winning the shot put with a mark of 55-7 ½.

The indoor title was the seventh top-five shot put finish for Gunnells at a Summitt League Championship meet.

Gunnells added a third-place finish in the weight throw on Saturday with a career-best toss of 64-10 ½ which ranks seventh in school history.

Adara Opiola

West High graduate and current Northern Iowa senior third basemen went 2-for-4 with a triple and a home run in a 9-1 win over Belmont on Saturday.

Opiola had a hit in four of five games over the weekend in Conway, Arkansas helping the Panthers post a 2-3 record.

The senior had five hits, scored four runs and drove in four runs in five games over the weekend.

Seybian Sims

Former West High all-state and had 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting for Kirkwood Community College on Saturday in an 87-64 win over Iowa Central Community Colelge in its regular season finale.

A sophomore forward, Sims and grabbed seven rebounds and had four assists in the win and has scored in double digits in three straight games.

The 6-foot-7 Sims is averaging 7.9 points and 6 rebounds per game while helping the Eagles to a 23-5 record.

If you know of a Your Prep Sports area graduate currently excelling at the collegiate level let us know by sending information to rmurken@yourprepsports.com or @yourprepsports on Twitter.

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