Among Iowa’s finest, Boothe now South Central Iowa Athlete of the Year

LEON —Athletics have come easy to Central Decatur’s Carter Boothe for years, but that doesn’t mean the work the recent Cardinal graduate puts in has ever waned.

The two-time state champion and five-time all-state athlete (the latter compiled in three different sports), grinded his way to 17 varsity letters and played a varsity sport every season of high school (and baseball in eighth grade).

For these reasons and more, Boothe has been selected as the South Central Iowa Male Athlete of the Year.
Driven

To Jon Pedersen, who coached Boothe in three sports, one early moment of trial and error was as telling as any of Boothe’s drive to compete and improve.

Pedersen, Boothe’s track and field coach recalled pushing Boothe into hurdle practice as a freshman, knowing that as a naturally talented athlete, he could help the Cardinals in that event in the years to come.

“Since we didn’t have a track (current track built in summer of 2016), we practiced in the gym,” Boothe said. “I used to just run over two hurdles until I couldn’t run anymore. I remember falling countless times, skinning the floor. Once I got it down, I really started to (snaps his fingers twice) click.”

Boothe’s stubborn but willing attitude quickly became apparent to Pedersen. It was the first time he’d seen Boothe struggle with an athletic activity after years of success at the youth and middle school levels.

“He was just mad. It wasn’t going the way he wanted it to and he just … I’d say, ‘Let’s stop and we’ll pick it up tomorrow,’” Pedersen said. “He didn’t want to stop. He was mad because it wasn’t easy. He just kept going and going until he was our anchor guy.”

That “anchor guy” ran the final leg for Central Decatur’s winning state shuttle hurdle championships his junior and senior seasons.

The wild part is, Boothe might not even end up being best remembered in southern Iowa athletics for those state championships.

Constant achievement

Numerous school records were thrashed as Boothe proved to be a steadily-improved athlete over four-plus years of varsity football, basketball, track and field and baseball.

An all-state football player as a junior at safety and quarterback, Boothe picked up and demonstrated the leadership qualities he distributed throughout his time as a point guard in basketball and a shortstop in baseball.

His demeanor on and off the field stayed level-headed.

His batting average climbed significantly every season as his stolen bases peaked at 44 ( which tied his father, Curtis’ school record) in his junior year.

Boothe went from a skinny, but tough-nosed safety as a freshman to the all-around leader as a sophomore quarterback and an all-state, touchdown passing, record-holding football player as a junior (namely for his safety play).

On the basketball court he went from Mr. Share-The-Ball to Mr. Do-it-All and led the Cardinals to Pride of Iowa championships in each of his last three seasons of basketball.

And in track and field, determination, played out for all to see, was as evident as in any sport after his back-to-back state titles.

For basketball coach and CD activities director Zach Clark, who has always been close to the Boothe family as Curtis and Missy Boothe used to babysit Clark as a child, the relationship has long been personal.

He as much as anyone has seen the maturation of the extremely accomplished Cardinal.

“He made many highlight quality plays and set a number of individual records, but his greatest impact was how he cared for and lifted up his teammates,” Clark said. “He made everyone better and his teammates love him because they knew he had their back.”

Boothe greatly cherishes the relationships he has formed with his coaches.

Coach Turner DeVore initially placed great expectations upon Boothe in baseball that the five-year starter realized and more.

“It has been incredible to watch,” DeVore said. “I don’t think you know how special it is during the time, but he’s definitely a special athlete.”

Pedersen always demanded more, something that other athletes didn’t love, but Boothe didn’t hesitate to rise to and said he appreciated.

“He didn’t treat me like I was special or anything,” Boothe said. “He always pushed me every single day and treated me like I was a regular guy. I respect him for that.”

Clark maintained an always-close relationship with his star hoopster, who was involved in more ways than could be counted in the school.

“He was able to balance the in-season demands of the current season while also dedicating time to work tirelessly in the weight room and on the other sports he played,” Clark said. “He always volunteered without hesitation for community service activities, such as working at the Special Olympics or officiating youth sports.”

Managing to do all of this while staying in the good graces of all of those around him and not rub others the wrong way is another testament to his character.

Boothe talks admiringly of his time as a child and young adult seeing the Cardinal athletes of the late 2000s and onward, still marvelling and placing a metaphorical pedestal for them to stand on.

He still values the tight-knit community that molded and surrounds him. Being able to go through athletic battles with the likes of teammates such as older former Cardinals like Peyton Pedersen and against foes like Mount Ayr and Interstate 35 is something that still causes the motor inside of Boothe to hum just at the thought of past memorable competitions.

Valuing those around him in the sport of his choosing helped to push his athletic progress as a leader. Seeing it appreciated and the support exuded was just more fuel to the fire.

“I would’t have grown up anywhere else. I like the small town community,” Boothe said. “You know everyone around the school. You get to be close with everyone around the school. Usually everyone around you cares about you.”

The athletic marks, records and banners Boothe has helped hang will exist for varying portions of time. Others, like championships and crossover dribbles for no-look passes will stick out in the minds of many.

Leon has Carter Boothe’s back, and now he represents them again for one last high school honor as the South Central Iowa Male Athlete of the Year recipient.