NDN-SS Fall Sports Preview

SPORTS

Aug., 28 2020

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Newton Daily News

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Newton football seeks quick turnaround under new coach practice,” Swedenhjelm said.

“Offensively, we have to clean up a lot of execution stuff.

Andy Swedenhjelm has We still make a lot of mental already made a handful of mistakes. We’ll get there. I am changes to the Newton foot- pretty happy so far.” ball program Newton scored 25 points in his first seaper game last year but that son as head number dropped to less than coach.

16 in the four-game losing Ultimately, streak that ended the season.

Swedenhjelm Defensively, they allowed hopes the big30 points per game but the gest change number grew to nearly 37 in comes in the the final four games. win column The Cardinals will have a after the Car- Swedenhjelm lot of new faces on this year’s dinals went varsity roster. They’ll break in 3-6 last seaa new quarterback, two new son. running backs and the top If the Cardinals do turn it seven receivers from last year around, it will come against a also are gone. really tough schedule featurThe defense graduated the ing seven games against teams top four tacklers, too. who were all .500 or better last “It’s been a blast so far,” year.

Swedenhjelm said. “They “We are just taking it week don’t ever prepare you for a by week. I’m not at all con- pandemic and a natural disascerned about who ter all at the same we play later in the time. But we are Fall Sports lucky. We have a season. Our focus is PCM right now,” really good group Preview Swedenhjelm said. of kids.”

The Cardinals Taking over at started last season 3-2 but quarterback will be junior Zay ended on a four-game losing Arguello. He was impressive skid. They went 5-4 in 3A in in the scrimmage against the 2018 and 7-2 in 4A in 2017.

Eagles, running for two long Newton hosted Pella Chris- touchdowns and hooking up tian in a scrimmage on Aug. with junior Keith Moko for 21. That was the Cards’ first a long TD on the first play of opportunity to see what they 7-on-7 drills. had and continue to get better.

Arguello is big and elusive What Swedenhjelm found and should force opposing deout was that the defense is fenses to honor his ability to further along than the offense. break off big runs.

“The defense looks solid.

“I think he’s one of the top They are tough to go against in athletes in the state,” SweBy Troy Hyde Newton News

Troy Hyde/Newton News Newton junior Zay Arguello (5) is the new Cardinals’ quarterback this season as Andy Swedenhjelm, right, takes over the program as new head coach. Trent Powers, center, also moves into a new role as quarterbacks coach.

denhjelm said. “He’s fast and physical. That adds an extra dimension to our offense. We are excited about him.”

The two new running backs are junior Nate Maki and senior Cade Cupples. The top six yardage gainers last year graduated but Maki did have 87 yards on 24 carries and caught one pass for 23 yards.

Maki also could be the team’s kickoff returner after

averaging 24.5 yards per return last fall.

Moko is Newton’s No. 1 option at wide receiver. Senior Jack Suttek is another option at receiver. “(Moko) had a 38-inch vertical in our combine drills the other day,” Swedenhjelm said.

“He works really hard. He and Zay work together all the time.”

Newton’s offensive line

could have all seniors in the starting lineup. At the scrimmage, the Cardinals went with four seniors and junior center Dallas King to start the game.

Positions are not yet finalized, but the other starters against the Eagles were seniors Lane Arrowood, Gabe Abrams, Nelson Lopez and William Muckler.

FOOTBALL | 4B

Eleven seniors hope to boost Newton volleyball “If we can get through the preseason practices, the matches might be a piece of cake comThe last time Newton volley- pared to what we have already ball coach Kim Florke had a large dealt with,” Florke said. number of seniors, the Cardinals “We missed two practices the went 26-13 and first week because of the storm. won the Little And we spent a lot of time over at Hawkeye ConferBerg while they re-did our gym.” ence championFlorke doesn’t feel behind ship. though because of the high numThat was in ber of seniors.

2013 and Newton In fact, they are starting prachad seven seniors tices with six on six stuff and not that season. It also the fundamentals to boost the was the last time team’s energy levels earlier in the Cardinals fin- M. Callaghan practice. ished with a win“We do the mental drills at ning record. the end when they are tired. That Florke hopes to repeat that helps us with our fundamentals memory in 2020 and she will and will help in four- or five-set have 11 seniors to work with in matches that we have during the her second year back after a five- season,” Florke said. year hiatus.

The top returning senior on “Year two has been much eas- this year’s team is setter Kate Calier. They knows the drills better laghan, who led the Cardinals and they know what I expect from with 127 kills, 368 assists, 230 them,” Florke said. “We’ve been digs and 28 aces last year. She able to advance so much further was second to her twin sister Meg than we ever could before. They Callaghan in blocks with 23. just know the expectaMeg Callaghan taltions.” lied 104 kills and a Fall Sports team-high 37 blocks The 2020 season is expected to be Florke’s last year as a middle Preview final year with the hitter. program as she plans Getting the Calto retire from both teaching and laghan twins back when there coaching. was a little uncertainty is big for The start of the final year of her the program.

17-year career as head coach has “It’s huge for us. Having our been rather memorable. setter back is like having the quarAside from the COVID-19 terback back,” Florke said. “They pandemic, the Cardinals have hold us together. We are very worked through a nasty storm, happy they decided to stay for gym renovations, equipment their final year. I believe Kate Caltroubles, a fire alarm and a bat laghan is an all-state setter. Meg is camping out on the floor in the an excellent middle blocker.” high school gym.

The team’s other middle hitter

By Troy Hyde Newton News

Newton News file photo Newton senior Kate Callaghan led the Cardinals in kills, assists, digs and aces last season. She is one of 11 seniors returning for Newton in 2020.

Newton High School 2020 Varsity Volleyball Schedule Aug. 25 — Newton tournament - Berg Middle School, 4:30 p.m.

Aug. 27 — ADM quadrangular, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 1 — Grinnell, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 3 — North Polk triangular, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 8 — Oskaloosa, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 15 — Pella, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 17 — Des Moines Christian tournament, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 22 — Norwalk, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 28 — R-S tournament, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 29 — Pella Christian, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 3 — Newton tournament - Berg Middle School, 8:30 a.m.

Oct. 6 — Indianola, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 13 — Dallas Center-Grimes, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 15 — DCG tournament, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 21 — Class 4A Regionals, TBA, 7 p.m.

Home matches in bold.

is senior Jerrica McGuire. She was third on the team last year with 70 kills and also had 10 assists, 41 digs, 19 blocks and 22 aces.

The outside hitters are senior Kynnedei Terpstra, junior Alyssa Shannon and freshman Kadance Ahn, who will play all the way around. The right-side hitter is expected to be senior Tess Brunsmann.

Terpstra finished with 67 kills, 54 digs and 14 aces last year.

Brunsmann had 14 kills a year ago.

The back row specialists include returning starter Lainey Hull, Katie McConnell, Haley Fuller and Riley Davidson, who are all seniors. Hull collected 40 digs last year.

“This group has stuck together. They know we can’t play every kid, but they are working hard in practice,” Florke said. “They are doing the right things. I’m proud of the fact that they are all still here as seniors.”

VOLLEYBALL | 2B

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2B |

www.newtondailynews.com | Friday, Aug. 28, 2020

Aquagirls ready for another strong year in pool

By Troy Hyde Newton News A deep crop of seniors, a junior who qualified individually for the state meet and two standout sophomores will give the NCMP Aquagirls a head start on another successful season in the pool.

NCMP is seeking its fifth straight Little Hawkeye Conference title and a group of 10 seniors is jumping in head first to lead the Nedder way.

“We have a great group of returning kids,” said NCMP head coach Sarah Patterson, who begins her 28th season in charge of the program. “I feel good about having those kids back. I need to see a little more training. We have a good squad with decent depth. We’ll see where we can fill some holes from last year.”

Junior Hannah Nedder is back after qualifying for the state meet individually in the 100 butterfly. She also swam on all three relays that qualified for the state meet.

NCMP will have 10 of the 12 swimmers from those three state qualifying Newton High School 2020 Varsity Girls Swimming Schedule Aug. 27 — Des Moines Roosevelt, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 3 — Indianola triangular, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 10 — Ankeny Centennial - DMACC, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 15 — Fairfield/Oskaloosa, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 26 — West Des Moines Valley, 8:30 a.m.

Sept. 29 — Oskaloosa/Perry, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 6 — Waukee, 5 p.m.

Oct. 13 — Boone, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 — Decorah - NCC meet, 11a.m.

Oct. 20 — Indianola - LHC meet, 5:30 p.m.

Nov. 7 — Regional meet, TBA, Noon Nov. 14 — State meet, Marshalltown YMCA, Noon Home meets in bold.

relay teams back this season. Sophomore Lillie Ray also swam on all three relays while sophomore Maylei Ruggles was part of the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.

Juniors Maggie Garrett and Lauren Zaabel were each on a state qualifying freestyle relay last year.

“The goal is always to get all three relays to the state meet,” said Patterson, who begins her 30th year in the district. “We should have a very good medley relay and we should have strong freestyle relays. I’m excited to see who steps up and excited to see my JV kids continue to work hard as a group.”

Nedder swam in her second straight state meet in the 100 butterfly last year and finished 14th. The medley relay team which included Nedder, Ruggles and Ray also were 14th.

Nedder, Ruggles, Garrett and Ray finished 16th in the 200 freestyle relay and Nedder, Ray and Zaabel were 19th in the 400 freestyle relay.

NCMP won its fourth straight LHC title last year, defeating Indianola by 92 points. Patterson hopes a fifth title is in the team’s near future but also wants to regain the championship trophy in the North Central Swim Conference, where the Aquagirls finished second a year ago.

“I look to the seniors every year to help us out because there are only two of us and 36 of them,” Patterson said.

“It’s amazing to watch them grow up and rise to the challenge.”

Zaabel, Ray, Nedder and senior diver Kenleigh Jack all were LHC individual champions last year.

Jack is back as the top diver this year but her season is up in the air because the Grinnell indoor pool is not yet open. Jack finished 14th at regionals last year.

Troy Hyde/Newton News NCMP senior Arabella Eide swims in the intrasquad scrimmage earlier this preseason at the Newton YMCA. The Aquagirls have 10 seniors this fall as they try to win their fifth straight Little Hawkeye Conference title.

Senior Jerica Dafflitto is the team’s other diver.

“Our divers are currently training outdoors at Grinnell. If the Grinnell College pool doesn’t open we’ll have to scramble to find somewhere to go,” Patterson said. “It’s a TBD for now unfortunately.”

The Aquagirls are a bit behind to start the season thanks in part to the major storm that went through Newton a few weeks back. They missed about five practices in all.

“We’ll try to make it up and catch up,” Patterson said. “Swimming is training. So we are a little behind. I added some more pool time, but this year is going to be what it is because

L-S primed for succesful fall campaigns

By Troy Hyde Newton News Twenty percent of Lynnville-Sully’s cross country roster has competed at the state meet. In 2020, veteran head coach Darin Arkema hopes to increase that number as the Hawks have 10 runners this upcoming season.

The girls’ team has a pair of seniors who will support all-state sophomore Greenlee Smock this season. Smock finished 10th at the state meet last fall, while senior Caitlin Alberts was a state qualifier as a sophomore. The other senior is Megan Van Zante.

On the boys’ side, sophomore James Gruver leads the way after placing second at the South Iowa Cedar League meet last season. The only senior is Mason Jansen.

“We don’t have the luxury of natural competition within a team to earn one of the seven varsity spots,” Arkema said.

“However, we need to train and have the mindset like we do. Each person has to be responsible in doing their part to get better in order for the team to get better.”

Smock won the SICL championship in her first season last fall.

She was fourth at the Class 1A state

Smock

qualifier and then claimed a 10th place finish at the state meet a little more than a week later.

Smock begins the new season ranked No. 8 in 1A. Alberts was fifth at the conference meet and 27th at the state qualifier last

year.

The rest of the girls’ varsity includes Van Zante, junior Callista Hackert and sophomores Kinsley Tice and Brooke Conover.

Van Zante was 11th at the conference meet and Tice finished 17th. Conover is out for high school cross country for the first time and Hackert is running for the first time at any level.

The top four returners were all part of the Hawks’ second-place team finish in 2019. Montezuma defeated L-S at the SICL meet but the Hawks edged the Bravettes at the state qualifier, winning on a tiebreaker to place sixth.

“Certainly, being conference champs is something the girls will be striving for, and we return four runners from last season who know it won’t be easy,” Arkema said.

Score Big With

Gruver was the runner-up at the SICL meet last year and finished 24th at the state qualifier. The rest of the boys’ roster includes Jansen and sophomores Gentry Walston, Evan Fikse and Zach Morningstar.

Walston placed 11th at the SICL meet last year, while Morningstar was 16th and Jansen took 17th. The Hawks finished third as a team.

“The boys’ return all five from last year,” Arkema said. “The whole group has to make improvement in order to move up in those standings this season.”

The Hawks, like every other program in the state, are doing their best to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arkema said the athletes are keeping their distance while practicing, and he knows it will take a group effort to get through the season.

“Athletes, coaches, friends, family and teachers are all going to play a part in this,” Arkema said. “I don’t want to coach a team where there is a fear factor. However, making sound judgments to do your part to stay safe and healthy to keep your teammates safe and healthy is necessary.”

LYNNVILLE-SULLY | 3B

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Volleyball Continued from Page 1B Newton is coming off an 11-19 season in 2019. The only team in the LHC it defeated was Grinnell.

Florke expects to fare better than that this season, but the LHC remains a tough conference to compete in.

Indianola starts the season ranked 15th in 5A and Pella is 12th in 4A. “I told the kids on the first day of open gym that I think we can win 20 matches.

There were some matches last year that we should have won,” Florke said. “If Kate Callaghan leads us in kills we will not be successful. That can’t happen. Someone else has to step up. Our hitters are much improved, but we are still looking for more consistency. I think that’s coming.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced every team to be extra careful this fall. And things could go sideways in a hurry.

The Cardinals are developing flexibility with their lineups in case someone has to play somewhere they aren’t used to playing.

“We have to get our kids ready to play another position at a moment’s notice. We really don’t know when and if we’ll have anyone out,” Florke said. “We are prepared that if we have a player go down for two weeks that we have someone to step in and take over.”

Contact Troy Hyde at 641-792-3121 ext. 6536 or thyde@shawmedia.com

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While the storm affected NCMP’s training in the pool, the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been a huge issue yet.

And Patterson feels lucky to coach a sport that doesn’t have a lot of protocols.

“We are lucky. There is no evidence that COVID spreads in water,” Patterson said. “You can’t wear masks in a pool so we don’t have as many protocols. We don’t touch the same ball either.”

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Fall Sports Preview

www.newtondailynews.com | Friday, Aug. 28, 2020 | 3B

Returners, drop to 3A brings excitement for Newton girls XC

By Troy Hyde Newton News

Newton News file photo Newton junior Kelsey Church runs in a meet last season. Church is expected to be one of the Cardinals’ top runners this fall as Newton drops from Class 4A to 3A.

Lynnville-Sully Continued from Page 2B

VOLLEYBALL Lynnville-Sully’s volleyball team has been on an upward climb in the SICL the past few seasons.

The Hawks were 10-9 in 2015. The win total has increased or stayed the same in every season after that and L-S wound up 18-8 last season. The Hawks also moved into the top three in the SICL with an 8-3 record.

In 2020, the Hawks hope to continue their climb toward a conference championship and will have plenty of key returners to help out first-year head coach Kyra Smith.

Smith takes over for Jayme Deal, who resigned this offseason. Smith was Deal’s assistant coach the past several seasons though.

“Coming from the JV/assistant varsity role to the head coach will be a unique transition for me,” Smith said.

“The transition for the girls should be somewhat easy and familiar as most of them had me as a JV coach and know my style and expectations.”

Bringing back six key senior contributors will be something Smith can use to her advantage.

Seniors Korinne Jansen and Krystal Van Dyke ranked second and third, respectively, in kills with 158 and 123.

Van Dyke led the conference and 1A with 144 blocks. Jansen led the team with 33 aces and was second with 334 digs. Van Dyke tallied 54 digs.

Senior Denali Conover tallied 95 kills, a team-best 353 digs and 23 aces, while senior Cayler Noun Harder finished second on the team with 228 assists and 28 aces and was third with 281 digs.

The front-row also gets back senior Cally Gibbs, who had 27 kills, 32 assists, 104 digs, 33 blocks and 10 aces.

The back-row returns senior Jaden Brand, who compiled 138 digs and 15 aces last season.

Junior Aliya James had 32 digs in a reserve role last fall but is expected to be the team’s libero in 2020.

FOOTBALL Lynnville-Sully’s football team will

The last time Newton’s girls’ cross country team raced in Class 3A for the postseason, the Cardinals nearly advanced to state as a team.

Newton will be back in 3A this fall and with five varsity runners back from last year, head coach Rachelle Tipton feels good Malow about her team’s chances.

But dropping down a class won’t be easy and certainly doesn’t guarantee the Cardinals an easy route to Fort Dodge.

“It feels like it will be a bit easier. Our conference is loaded with great 3A schools so it won’t be any easier there,” said Tipton, who begins her eighth season as head coach. “It can be easier when we get to districts though. Not having to race against the big 4A schools will be good for us.”

The top five runners from last season are back. Senior Ashay Malow and junior Kelsey Church are expected to be in the first two positions, while senior Willow Oswalt, junior Morgan Stalzer and sophomore Kate Muckler should battle for the next three spots.

Tipton has four seniors on this year’s roster, including Malow, Oswalt, Sydni Followill and Lexi Pollock.

“Ashay looks good. I’m excited to see her final season,” Tipton said. “Kelsey Church has been trying to push up. She’s had a good offseason, too.

“The returners all stand out right now. They’ve all been working hard and pushing.”

Tipton said freshmen Taylor Maki and Desirae Gifford and juniors Kathia Rosario and Heather Perry will push for varsity in the final two positions.

The rest of the roster includes junior Amor Hilburn and soph-

have the largest roster in at least a decade in 2020.

Head coach Mike Parkinson starts his 10th season in the program and will have 48 players to help the Hawks rebound from a 1-8 campaign.

“The guys want to right the ship.

They are working hard. They want a different year than last season,” Parkinson said. “The ball just didn’t bounce our way.”

The Hawks will try to bounce back with seven seniors, including Payton Van Wyk, who will anchor the offensive line and lead the defense at linebacker.

The young players include sophomore Conner Maston, who takes over full-time at quarterback. Sophomore Kyle Squires and freshman Corder Noun Harder will handle most of the duties at running back.

Van Wyk headlines the offensive line and is joined by senior Lane Mathis and juniors Chance Stock, Gage Elscott and Miles Mintle. Senior Isaac Johnson, junior Owen Norrish, sophomores Lane Fisk and Malcolm Hay and freshman Davis Utech also are in the mix for snaps.

Stock, Mathis, Elscott, Mintle, Norrish, Utech, senior Dakota Seastrom and junior Bryce Bird are all in competition for snaps on the defensive line.

The rest of the offensive lineup includes senior Blake Rea, junior Ryan Annee and sophomore Mathias Torres at wide receiver and Seastrom at tight end.

Van Wyk is the top returning defensive player after collecting 36.5 tackles, nine tackles for loss and one interception last year.

Stock had 22.5 tackles and one sack, Johnson had 18 tackles and Elscott chipped in 12 tackles.

The other linebackers are expected to be Fisk, Hay, Squires, Torres and sophomore Gabe Wearmouth.

The secondary includes Rea, Maston and Noun Harder. Parkinson said the defensive back group is an “open book” right now.

Contact Troy Hyde at 641-792-3121 ext. 6536 or thyde@shawmedia.com

omore Aryssa Hinderberger. Rosario was the eighth or ninth best runner last year, according to Tipton. The top seven runners on each team make up the varsity lineup.

The roster of 13 runners is pretty normal, according to Tipton.

“My expectations and the girls’ expectations are to place in the top half of all meets we compete in this season,” Tipton said.

Malow qualified for the 4A state meet as a sophomore. She was 17th in the Little Hawkeye Conference meet and finished 30th at the 4A state qualifier as a junior.

Her time in the 4A state qualifier would have put her 17th at the 3A state qualifier in Pella.

The top 15 finishers advance to the state meet.

The Cardinal girls placed sixth in the LHC meet last season. The 2020 season will begin with Dallas Center-Grimes ranked No. 2 in 3A, Pella ranked No. 14 and Grinnell 15th.

DCG won the conference title last year followed by Indianola and Norwalk.

“We think we can compete with a lot of teams in our conference, but it’s a tough league,” Tipton said. “Norwalk is getting better.

Indianola is a 4A school, too.”

Tipton said the last time Newton competed in a 3A state qualifier, the Cardinals tied for third in points but lost the tiebreaker to drop to fourth. That was around five years ago. The top three teams at each state qualifier advance to the state meet.

“We know we can run with these teams. We do run with these teams,” Tipton said. “So it will be easier to know what we are up against when we get to districts.”

Newton High School 2020 Varsity Girls XC Schedule Sept. 8 — Grinnell, 5:15 p.m.

Sept. 15 — Oskaloosa, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 22 — Newton - Woodland Park, 4 p.m.

Oct. 5 — Norwalk, 5 p.m.

Oct. 8 — Fort Dodge, 5 p.m.

Oct. 12 — Pella - LHC meet at Central, 5 p.m.

Oct. 22 — State Qualifier, TBD, 4 p.m.

Oct. 31 — State Meet, Fort Dodge, Noon Home meet in bold.

There will be many challenges and obstacles to deal with this fall because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tipton said she will roll with the punches and deal with whatever is thrown at her.

It’s not going to be a normal season for anyone. The team has tried to keep their distance in practice and each girl is bringing their own water bottle.

Tipton said the team is trying to avoid going into the school but if they do, everyone masks up.

“I would love to see a bigger team and have more girls out but in a year like this, it helps having the number of girls that I have,” Tipton said. “You don’t have as many things in play with a smaller roster.”

On top of the pandemic, the Cardinals also are a week behind on the calendar after having optional practices the first official week of practice because of the derecho that went through Newton and turned the city upside down.

The team’s first official practice was Aug. 17. There were three optional practices the week before.

“It was hard last week even finding a route that was safe to run so we didn’t require anything,” Tipton said. “In a normal year, I would have felt behind. But it’s not a normal year so we are just kind of rolling with it. We have to realize there are bigger things than cross country sometimes. And it helps that our first meet is now not until Sept. 8.”

The meet on Sept. 8 is scheduled to be held in Grinnell, but schools will lower the number of teams at each event this fall to make it easier to work through COVID-19.

Tipton had not yet gotten word that her team would even be going to Grinnell as of Aug. 17.

That’s just another obstacle all programs will deal with in 2020.

Contact Troy Hyde at 641-792-3121 ext. 6536 or thyde@shawmedia.com

Good Luck Local Sports Teams

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4B |

Fall Sports Preview

Newton boys XC seeks state after drop to 3A

By Troy Hyde Newton News With five varsity returners back this season, Newton boys’ cross country coach Steve Weeks hopes 2020 is the year the Cardinals send someone to the state meet.

Dropping down to Class 3A for the postseason is another reason to be excited.

“We bring back most of our scoring from last year. We are Garton quite primed,” Weeks said. “Our goal is to get some individuals and maybe even our team to state this year.”

The Cardinals welcome back juniors Jackson Mace-Maynard and Treycen Garton at the top of the varsity lineup.

Mace-Maynard was eighth at last year’s Little Hawkeye Conference meet. He placed 31st at the team’s 4A state qualifier but his time would have put him 11th in the 3A state qualifier at Pella. The top 15 finishers advance to state.

Garton was 19th at the conference meet and 33rd at the state qualifier. He also would have been in the top 15 of the 3A state qualifier in Pella.

Junior Brennan Amos also is back after being a primary scorer last year.

Amos finished 32nd at last year’s LHC meet.

Another varsity returner is sophomore Jared Smith. Weeks said the front runners for the final three varsity spots include juniors Derek Beiner and Hunter Kennedy and senior Anthony Bestell. Beiner ran on the varsity squad at last year’s 4A state qualifier.

“I’m always pleasantly surprised somewhere. There is always a lot of improvement,” Weeks said. “Having five guys back from last year and moving from 4A to 3A has been a huge boon for confidence.”

Being in 3A still won’t be easy, but the Cardinals will know early how they stack up to some of the best programs in the state.

Dallas Center-Grimes begins the season ranked No. 1 in 3A. Pella is No. 8 and Grinnell is ranked 15th. Four individual runners in the LHC start the season ranked in the top 30 of 3A. Newton finished sixth at the conference meet last season.

“We’ve basically already been running against the best 3As in the Little Hawkeye Conference,” Weeks said.

“We can start identifying early in the year where we are with some of the good 3A schools. That should help us when we get to the end of the season.”

Weeks wants his squad to improve the mental side of the sport this season. When things get tough, he wants Newton High School 2020 Varsity Boys XC Schedule Sept. 8 — Grinnell, 5:15 p.m.

Sept. 15 — Oskaloosa, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 22 — Newton - Woodland Park, 4 p.m.

Oct. 5 — Norwalk, 5 p.m.

Oct. 8 — Fort Dodge, 5 p.m.

Oct. 12 — Pella - LHC meet at Central, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 22 — State Qualifier, TBD, 4 p.m.

Oct. 31 — State Meet, Fort Dodge, Noon Home meet in bold.

them to find a way to push through.

That’s how his program can take the next step.

“We need to help the guys identify that they need to remove their own limits,” Weeks said. “We tell ourselves that this stinks or that we don’t want to do this anymore. Then we let up. We need to get through the barrier and push through it as a team.”

Aside from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cardinals dealt with a huge storm that ravaged the town the first week of practices. Newton cross country teams had voluntary practices when the season began on Aug. 10.

The first official practice was moved to Aug. 17.

“We got out in the neighborhoods and helped with clean up. I think that helps build character,” Weeks said. “I love sports, but sometimes there are things that are more important in life.

It was important to help each other and our neighbors.”

Cross country practices have been fairly easy to navigate through the pandemic. Weeks said when meets begin, things will get trickier.

“We have chosen to go to meets that are limiting numbers so we can help manage it better,” Weeks said. “We are allowed 10 meets a year and we have trimmed it down to six this fall. We are going for quality over quantity.”

Contact Troy Hyde at 641-792-3121 ext. 6536 or thyde@shawmedia.com

Newton News file photo Newton junior Jackson Mace-Maynard is back this season to lead the Cardinal boys’ cross country team, which drops to Class 3A for the postseason in 2020.

www.newtondailynews.com | Friday, Aug. 28, 2020

Football Continued from Page 1B Seniors Shane Bathke, Cade Smith and Brody Cazett also are battling for playing time.

Abrams and Lopez, who both played guard in the scrimmage, are each listed at 300 pounds.

Most of the linemen will play both ways. The only one not rotating in on defense right now is King.

Abrams had 16.5 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss a season ago.

“We should have good competition on both sides of the ball,” Swedenhjelm said. “We are rotating a lot of guys on defense to build depth.”

The linebacking core includes juniors Jaden Shannon and Braydon Chance, who are expected to start inside, and senior James Gulling provides depth to the position.

The outside linebacker spots are being contested by three players — senior A.J. Holdefer and juniors Moko Breyten Schwenker and Reese Hammons.

The secondary has lots of depth and is the position group that does have some returners.

Moko’s 31 tackles ranked fifth last year and he also had one sack and one interception at cornerback.

Arguello and junior Adam Mattes are both back at safety and could be part of a four-person rotation with senior Josh Meyer and Hammons.

Arguello ranked sixth last year with 29.5 tackles and added one sack.

Mattes, who is the backup quarterback on offense, had 20 tackles last year.

Meyer was primarily the team’s kicker in 2019, making 27-of-28 in PATs. Joining Moko at cornerback are expected to be Maki, Suttek and senior James Wenndt.

“We are running a different defense than we have the last few years,” Swedenhjelm said. “We made quite a few changes to that side of the ball.”

The changes on offense are there, too, but may not be recognized much on the surface.

“We have overhauled a lot of the terminology so we can add some wrinkles to it later on down the road,” Swedenhjelm said.

The schedule for Newton starts out with a bang as the Cardinals play on the road against a PCM squad expected to contend for the 2A title.

Also on the schedule are two teams who are getting preseason love in the 3A rankings in Grinnell and Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Oskaloosa (6-4), Marshalltown (5-4) and Clear Creek-Amana (5-4) were all above .500 last year, while Benton moves up to 3A after going 8-2 in 2A last season.

The three teams Newton defeated in 2019 — Boone, Ottumwa and South Tama County — are not on this year’s schedule.

“We just have to take advantage of the opportunity in front of us,” Swedenhjelm said. “Today, we had the chance to scrimmage Pella Christian.

They gave us a great look. Next week is now our next opportunity.

“There will be a lot of things this year that will be out of our control, but we can’t let the schedule bother us. We will focus on what we can do

Newton High School 2020 Varsity Football Schedule Aug. 28 — PCM, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 4 — Marshalltown, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 — Grinnell, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 18 — Cedar Rapids Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 — Clear Creek Amana, 7:30 p.m. (HC) Oct. 2 — Benton, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 9 — Oskaloosa, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 16 — Playoffs, First Round, 7 p.m.

Home games in bold.

to get better and go from there.”

Every team in 2020 will make the playoffs because of the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the Iowa High School Athletic Association to cut the regular season down to seven games.

The approach for the Cardinal coaching staff is to get better each week and hopefully be playing their best football when the playoffs start.

The Cardinals also are doing what they can to limit exposure to the virus.

The coaches were all wearing masks at the scrimmage against PC, and the Abrams kids are buying in to being extra careful.

“They are taking a lot of this stuff seriously. We talk to them about hygiene and social distancing,” Swedenhjelm said. “It’s a work in progress. Teenagers like to be around each other.

“We are getting a two-piece shield for our helmets to help. We are trying to do everything we can do to mitigate risk. I think we have a good team, and I don’t want something that we can control causing issues with us later on down the road.”

Some other changes Swedenhjelm made this fall deal with fundraising and helmet decals.

The Cardinals will no longer sell cards as a fundraiser. Instead, they are moving toward a community service day every season.

Unfortunately, Newton had a major natural disaster, which helped with deciding what the players did for their community service day, which was Aug. 22.

The Cardinal helmets will look different in 2020, too.

The helmets will feature the Cardinal head made popular by former coach Ed Ergenbright, a black plain stripe that was featured on the helmets before 2010, a CFLA JJ sticker in support of the CFLA and former coach John Jenkins who passed away this past offseason and digit decals that were used in the 1980s and 1990s.

The idea behind the helmet changes is to educate the current players about what it means to be a Newton football player.

“We all sat down last night and the kids put the decals on themselves,” Swedenhjelm said. “We are trying to teach them responsibility and taking pride in their stuff.

“As we did each decal, we talked about the significance of each one and what they meant to the history of Newton football. Our kids need to realize Newton is a strong program.

We need to start bringing that back and understanding the legacies that came before us and how we can build it back up and make our own legacy.”

Contact Troy Hyde at 641-792-3121 ext. 6536 or thyde@shawmedia.com

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