
Bailey and Braylyn Birmingham (Photo courtesy of Johnson Photography)
The Norwalk sister combo of Bailey and Braylyn Birmingham have both been named first team All-State in Class 4A by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association. The IGCA announced its All-State basketball list on Monday, recognizing eight first-teamers and 24 players in all five classes.
Bailey Birmingham, a senior, is a first-team all-state selection for the second straight year. She led the entire state in scoring as a junior and finished her career with 1,668 points. As a senior, Bailey averaged 16.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest, leading the Warriors with 66 made 3-pointers and 66 steals. She will play college basketball at Northwest Missouri State.
Braylyn Birmingham was the state’s top freshman scorer this season, averaging 20.5 points, 4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while adding 63 steals. She got to the free throw line for 204 attempts, making 160, and shot 52 percent from the field.
Playing their only season together at any level, the Birminghams helped Norwalk finish 23-2 overall and make the program’s first state tournament appearance in 18 years. The Warriors lost to eventual champion Cedar Rapids Xavier in the 4A state semifinals. Earlier this month, Bailey and Braylyn Birmingham were also named to the IGCA’s Class 4A Central All-District Team.
DICKINSON RELAYS
The Norwalk boys track team opened their indoor season at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on Monday for the Dickinson Relays. The Warriors posted several school records and one Blue Standard as junior Kaiden Kunze qualified for the Drake Relays in the long jump.
Kunze placed second in the event with a personal-best mark of 23 feet, 6.75 inches. Sophomore Logan Atherton missed the high jump Blue Standard by one inch, leaping 6 feet, 6 inches for second place. Senior Tony Anania placed third in the mile with a time of 4:21.91 and the Warrior 4×200 relay placed fourth with Kadan Borcherding-Johnson, Gavin Dehmer, Daniel Roche and Kunze.
The Norwalk boys will compete at Iowa State University on Thursday.