Being a freshman on varsity is not easy. However, freshman Drew McKowen accomplished being one of two freshman starters this year on the Kennedy boys varsity basketball team for the first time since 2019.

“I do feel a lot of pressure being a freshman on varsity,” McKowen said. “It is a huge jump from the physicality I played against last year, and everyone is more competitive. It makes me step my game up from the 8th grade level to the varsity level.”

McKowen doesn’t only have to play up to the physicality of varsity, he also has to live up to the legacy that his father and brother have created in basketball at Kennedy. McKowen’s dad is the head coach of the Kennedy boy’s basketball team where he has been coaching since 2013, and was recognized as Most Valuable Coach (MVC) Coach of the Year in Nov 2025. His older brother, Trey McKowen (‘25) was a four-year varsity basketball player for Kennedy. He was also an All-State player and Iowa Class 4A Player of the Year in 2024.

“I have a lot of goals for this season, but one of the main ones is to be the best player I can be,” McKowen said. “Also, I want to do whatever I can for the team to win and make it as far as we can in the postseason.”

Charlotte Houghkirk is a freshman with many responsibilities all-year round. Houghkirk is on the Kennedy varsity dance team as well as a member of the marching band. 

On top of cheering on the sidelines with the dance team, Houghkirk performs with the dance team during their halftime performance at all home games during football season. Right after her performance, she quickly grabs her clarinet and runs back onto the field to perform with Kennedy’s marching band. 

“Being in both activities is definitely challenging at times and is also very tiring,” Houghkirk said. “But at the end of the day, all of these things don’t matter because of how rewarding it is to be able to do it with my favorite people.”

Houghkirk’s responsibilities extend far beyond football games. Both dance and marching band seasons run through fall, winter and spring sports seasons. Houghkirk’s determination to do both dance and music shows how willing she is to pursue both interests, making her a standout amongst freshmen. 

Grady Farley is a freshman offensive lineman (primarily left guard) on Kennedy’s varsity football team. During his season, Farley gave up 0 sacks and passed out of every game with an 80% Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade. 

Farley started every game of his freshman season, which is rare at Kennedy. Farley also achieved the title of All-District and All-Metro in only his first year as a Cougar. 

“My biggest accomplishment here at Kennedy so far is starting all 9 season games and making All-District and All-Metro as a freshman,” Farley said. 

 Farley also participates in track and field, planning to throw for Kennedy in shot put during the spring season. 

“My goals in the future are to become an All-State offensive lineman for Kennedy and win State in shot put,” Farley said. 

Quinn Wagner is a freshman tri-athlete at Kennedy who participates in softball, basketball and track.

In softball, Wagner made the varsity team as an eighth grader. She had a total of six at-bats during the season and four pre-season at-bats, which brought her batting average up to .375, with 14 games played total. Wagner also base ran a lot throughout the season.

“My biggest accomplishment in softball specifically, is making varsity as an eighth grader,” Wagner said. “It really proved to myself that my hard work did in fact pay off, and it’s an honor as this is a 5A school with a really solid softball program.”

Wagner’s stats for basketball and track are unknown, yet those seasons are just beginning. For basketball in the upcoming season, Wagner made the JV1 team.

“For basketball, making JV1 was about all I could ask for,” Wagner said. “Basketball isn’t my main sport, but I’m still very competitive, so being able to practice with that team and varsity pushes me to be better.”

Going forward, Wagner hopes to keep improving and pushing herself in all sports that she does. 

“My goal in general going forward is to just continue to surround myself with good people and continue to make new connections throughout the year,” Wagner said.