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Missed opportunities motivate MHS matmen
By ROSS THEDE TIMES-REPUBLICAN
The Marshalltown boys’ wrestling team kept its streak alive by advancing at least two matmen to the state tournament for the seventh year in a row, but head coach Luke Cross had much greater aspirations for the Bobcats.
That thirst will have to get quenched this season.
Marshalltown returns eight wrestlers from its season-ending district lineup along with a handful of others with varsity experience in hopes of doing more than just satisfying the streak. The Bobcats sent then-juniors Xayvion Anderson and Lucas Bantz to state last winter, but three losses in third-place matches prevented Marshalltown from making a lot more of the opportunity.
Neither Cross nor his Bobcat wrestlers have forgotten that.
“On paper things look pretty good,” said Cross. “We have some question marks, like who’s going to be the starter in a couple places, but for good reasons. We have some quality wrestlers stacked up against each other.
“I think we’ve got a pretty solid lineup. I think we’ll win a lot of duals.”
While dual state isn’t necessarily a goal for Cross, it can be a reflection of the gains made by individual wrestlers within the team format. If enough Bobcat wrestlers are winning their matches, Marshalltown can claim a dual win, too.
“I don’t get into duals a ton,” he said. “Right now I’m just trying to build the right culture in our room
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Marshalltown High School’s seven varsity sports are pictured from the 2023-24 season, featuring (clockwise from left) state-qualifying boys wrestler Xayvion Anderson, girls basketball standout
Frankie Long, the school’s first-ever girls wrestling state qualifier Genevieve “Gigi” Lantigua, girls bowler Ariana Villagomez, Class 4A’s leading 3-point shooter Kyle Smith, 3A boys state bowling individual champion Aiden Cowan, and state-qualifing swimmer Sam Greazel
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE
The Marshalltown boys’ wrestling team has a lot of lineup spots with competition as the Bobcats look to begin ths season on Dec. 5 against Ames. Pictured are: front row (from left) Josue Corral Coronado, Ashton Wright, Nicholas Million, Ignacio Macias, Nicholas Wise, Kager Kremer, Lucas Bantz and Eli Hernandez; back
Anthony Chavez Ordaz, Colby Cross, Jaxson Hinkle, Xayvion Anderson, Johan Gomez, Dalton Zednichek, Zack Kirkland, Carson Wright and Cooper McLeod.
Bobcat girls closing in on right combination
By JAKE RYDER
TIMES-REPUBLICAN
Even with a key component missing, Marshalltown girls basketball should look more cohesive on the court this winter.
“We feel really good coming into the season,” MHS head coach Brian Murphy said. “We feel like we already have an established identity, which it felt like we were trying to find for a lot of the first half of last year. I think we feel good about where we’re at and knowing the areas that we’ve got to hit hard and have already been hitting hard over the summer.”
Leading the returning group is sophomore center Frankie Long, a first-team All-Iowa Alliance Conference North Division selection as a freshman after averaging five points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game for the Bobcats. MHS also returns all four of their honorable mentions from that All-Alliance North team in senior Ellie Hughes and juniors Kinsley Bowie, Sydney Kapayou and Millie Heitmann.
Bowie led the team in scoring at 5.2 points per game last season; Hughes added 4.2 points and 6.1 rebounds, Heitmann 3.9 points and 4.2 rebounds
and Kapayou put up 3.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest.
“What’s fun is, when that whole group comes back, there’s just a general consensus keeping them together,”
Murphy said. “The first thing is just keeping the girls healthy — Kinsley Bowie was battling a hip issue last year and had hip surgery
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and now looks better than ever; Millie was constantly battling things last year and she’s played a full season of Iowa Attack [club basketball] and that’s really made a big difference with her ball handling. Syd’s another one who just couldn’t get healthy last year and finally, she’s at full strength.
“We’ve got a good com-
bination of players that are both showing growth, and also just getting healthy and starting the season at the point where we want to be.”
On the subject of good health, one blow the Bobcats took in the offseason was a torn ACL for Amairra Johnson during the club basketball season. Johnson was another contributing
deep right now — Morgan Hilderbrand is a freshman coming up and we’re excited about what she’ll bring — she’s ready and capable to step in on the varsity floor. A very different type of player than Amairra, but certainly somebody that we trust to get in there and give us a good look.”
The Bobcats were 6-16 overall last season, including a tough skid with just one win in their final 11 games — the season ended in a 34-15 loss to Des Moines North in a 5A Region 1 quarterfinal.
MHS’s defense ranked in the top half of 5A last season at 43.4 points per game — but the Bobcats’ struggles were on offense, ranked 38th out of 40 5A teams last year at 28.8 points per game.
freshman in the vein of Long, averaging 3.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals last season. Johnson had surgery on the injury in August and is not expected to play for MHS this season.
“That’s obviously had a big impact on our depth,” Murphy said. “We were eight strong last year and now we’re probably about seven
“We know what end of the floor we need to focus on,” Murphy said. “Our offense is what was holding us back last year. So our challenge to anybody who touches the floor this year is to not only be a threat on offense, but to be assertive and aggressive, and to look for your own shot. And from what we saw this summer, from some of our early scrimmage work, we’ve already seen a number of girls take a jump. We’re looking
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE
The Marshalltown girls’ basketball team brings back six players with varsity experience in hopes of exceeding last season’s win total.
Pictured are: front row (from left) Rubi Buenrostro, Mallory Meyerann, Niah Lott, Amairra Johnson, Morgan Hilderbrand and Kinsley Bowie; back row: Ellie Hughes, Millie Heitmann, Frankie Long, Jorja Janssen and Sydney Kapayou.
New-look Bobcat boys putting in the work
By ROSS THEDE TIMES-REPUBLICAN
The Marshalltown boys’ basketball team has the luxury of bringing back its leading scorer and rebounder from a season ago.
Unfortunately for head coach Michael Appel, Kyle Smith is the only starter returning for the Bobcats.
Appel is looking forward to delving deeper into his bench this season in search of the right combination for Marshalltown to compete in the Iowa Alliance Conference despite graduating four starters from a season ago.
The Bobcats were the most veteran squad in the Alliance’s North Division last winter, and now they’re the youngest. The other four teams in the league all return either three or four starters from last year’s squads, leaving Appel and his club looking at an uphill climb.
“We’ve got a group that’s pretty young, a lot of guys that haven’t played or had a lot of experience at the varsity level,” Appel said at the onset of his seventh season at the helm of his alma mater. “A lot of it is just setting those standards and expectations of how we have
to approach every day and how hard we have to work to get better, and the guys have been really good about understanding that and working extremely hard so that’s great to see.
“It’s a great group of kids that work hard, no egos, they understand it’s a team concept and it’s been really
fun so far.”
Smith, a 6-foot-3 junior, will be the obvious centerpiece of this Bobcat contingent. Last winter he averaged team-highs of 13.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while starting alongside four seniors: his brother Cory, Treshaun Brooks, Carter Giannetto
and Rogelio Ceren. The first player off the bench most nights was senior Jacob Thiessen, so most of Marshalltown’s minutes on the court have graduated.
“Obviously Kyle is going to be our guy that can score the ball and a lot of our offensive stuff is going to be ran through him,” Appel
said. “Our guys understand if he’s open we need to get him the ball.”
Smith led all of Class 4A last season with 77 3-pointers made while shooting at a clip of 36.3 percent. He made just 22 field goals from inside the arc, which is an area of the game he’s been working on according
to Appel.
“Kyle’s gotten a lot better developing his skills at the offensive end as far as being able to score it and not just being a guy who can shoot,” he said. “He can score it off the dribble and he’s been working hard with that. The guys have a good understanding of how we’re going to use him, and he’s going to allow them to get opn as well, but Kyle’s a good weapon to have and our guys have a great understanding of that.”
The two returning players who saw steady minutes on the varsity court include senior LaMar Johnson and junior Jacob Hayes. Hayes started four games and Johnson two, so they’re looked upon as Appel’s veterans due to their experience.
“They’ve been great, they’ve been vocal leaders and leading by example, and their attitude and effort have been good,” he said. “I think Jacob is ready to accept the challenge of being a starter and playing more minutes and then also being a guy that’s going to impact winning for us. He’s a guy that’s very coachable, we can coach him up and he’s going
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE
The Marshalltown boys’ basketball team will be the youngest of five in the Iowa Alliance Conference’s North Division, featuring just one returning starter from a year ago. Pictured are: front row (from left) Drake Gersema, JJ Schoenfelder, Jamison Niehouse, Adam Boone, Dominyc Clure and LaMar Johnson; back row: Kyle Smith, Levi Bell, Jacob Hayes, Will Swartz, Arion Hancock, Talon Halsted and Zane Moore; not pictured: Tyler Dorothy.
MHS girls’ wrestling numbers on the rise
By ROSS THEDE TIMES-REPUBLICAN
Isaiah Cox hit the ground running when he arrived at Marshalltown High School, recruiting every girl he could to take up wrestling.
Now he’s got to equip his recruits with the basic fundamentals of the sport in hopes that they have some success and stick with it throughout their prep careers.
Cox moved to Marshalltown from Ot tumwa, where he helped get the girls’ wres tling program off the ground. Now he’s at the helm of a Bobcat squad that has 36 par ticipants, up from 21 a year ago, in hopes of continually growing the sport.
“I want to build the numbers,” said Cox. “Right now we’ve got 36 girls out, which is a great start. We’ve got a lot of new girls and we’re slowly getting everybody developed and showing them what wrestling is about and getting them up to speed. It’s a lot of basic stuff they’re learning and we’re trying to get that stuff down pat.
“It’s small victories. Nothing is going to be easy. We’ve got a lot of new people so we’ve got to be patient.”
Cox inherits a program that celebrat ed its first state qualifier a year ago when then-junior Genevieve “Gigi” Lantigua advanced to state as the fourth-place finisher in her regional bracket. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union has since expanded the state tournament to two classes, meaning twice as many girls can qualify for state.
speak, because she’s been there and experienced state already,” Cox said, “but that still doesn’t set her apart from other girls. She still has things to learn and things to improve on. It’s also important that she’s elevating the other girls, lifting them up and making them want to go to state.”
Lantigua finished last season with a 1310 record after going 0-2 at 170 pounds in the Bobcats’ state tournament debut. She’s off to a 5-2 start this season at 155 pounds after a dual tournament in Nevada and an invitational at Urbandale.
Cox has high hopes for what he calls his core group, consisting of Lantigua, Addyson Lovelace, Ava Kusserow, Madylin McDonald and Nintee Tarr.
“They have a good understanding of how to do moves,” he said. “They’re ahead of the curve.”
Kusserow was 15-13 last season and off to a 4-2 start at 130 despite a nagging injury. Lovelace (4-3) was 11-17 last winter, McDonald (3-3) went 12-14, and Tarr was 22-11, finishing one spot shy of state qualification. Tarr, a sophomore, will be one to watch when she returns to the lineup in a couple weeks.
“She’s going to shock a lot of people,” Cox said. “She’s doing all the right things and I feel like she wants it. That’s a person I’m really excited for.”
Cox said those opportunities are out there for his Bobcats, but he constantly reminds them of the idiom that suggests “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
“You can’t rush something like this,” he said. “We want to make wrestling fun and interesting and challenge the girls, make them competitors.”
Cox coached five girls from Ottumwa to state last winter, so he knows what it takes.
He says Marshalltown has the makings of a
strong girls’ wrestling program, as long as the numbers stay up and the wrestlers return and learn year after year.
They can start by learning from Lantigua, one of the seven seniors in the wrestling room at MHS.
“She has that chip on her shoulder, so to
Through just two meets, Cox sees immense potential in freshmen Natalie Nickey (100) and Mariah Hernandez (235).
“We went to Urbandale and there were a lot of good schools there, a lot of great competition,” Cox said. “It was good for our girls to see that it’s challenging and we’ve got to step up our game a little bit. From the first dual to then, they improved so much.”
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE
Marshalltown’s girls’ wrestling team hosts a quadrangular meet tonight at 6 p.m. at the Roundhouse. The Bobcats’ starting lineup includes: front row (from left) Madylin McDonald, Ava Kusserow, Julietza Ruiz, Gabby Mateo Merida and Maelee Corona; back row: Mariah Hernandez, Kaylee Krueger, Allanna Robinson, Morgan Million, Genevieve Lantigua, Addyson Lovelace, Natalie Nickey and Adele Beek.
State-power Bobcat boys are ready to roll
By ROSS THEDE TIMES-REPUBLICAN
For a sport that has only been state-sanctioned for 15 years, the Marshalltown boys’ bowling team has already established a long-standing tradition.
The Bobcat program has claimed two state team championships as well as four individual titles in the sport’s short time in Iowa, so expectations remain un-
MHS girls bowlers aim North
By ROSS THEDE
TIMES-REPUBLICAN
Marshalltown girls’ bowling coach Dustin Peterson has been looking forward to this season since the last one ended.
The Bobcats return five bowlers from last year’s varsity lineup that placed fourth in the Iowa Alliance Conference’s North Division tournament, and Peterson is eager to see how much ground his squad can make up this time around.
Marshalltown’s five
leading scorers all return in hopes of moving up the chart when the time comes for the conference and state-qualifying meet.
The latter was when Peterson started pointing toward this season.
“Our junior class, especially Sydney (May), has really stepped up this year taking a leadership role with this team,” Peterson said after the Bobcats placed sixth at the state-qualifying meet they hosted on Feb. 12.
“With her and Devin [Peterson], the two of them
don’t just lead by example but through encouragement and just trying to build up the team. I’m looking forward to what comes next.”
Coach Peterson’s lineup looks to consist of up to four seniors — Kenedy Lammert, Delaney Legg, Sydney May and Devin Peterson — as well as returning juniors Camillya Thomas and Ariana Villagomez. Bailey Damman will work her way onto the varsity roster to start the season as
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changed as the new season dawns at Wayward Social.
Marshalltown returns its entire varsity lineup from last season and has added to it in the quest for the team’s 11th straight trip to the state team tournament.
Last year’s Bobcat contingent placed eighth in Class 3A, but a day later Aiden Cowan claimed the 3A individual championship — the fourth in program history.
Cowen was one of four sophomores in last year’s starting lineup for the Bobcats, who will only benefit from practicing alongside a state champion every day.
“I think it brings the confidence up for everyone around him,” MHS head coach Nathan Clark said.
“He’s a good teammate, very coachable, so that helps. Everyone wants to beat him or
PHOTO COURTESY OF STALZER PHOTOGRAPHY
The Marshalltown boys’ bowling team has qualified for each of the last 10 state tournaments. Taking its shot at advancing this season will be: front row (from left): Korben McKibben, River Woosley, Cayden Slifer, Maxx Boylan-Burleson, Porter Niedermann, Austin Taylor and Karson Hinders; back row: Austin Green, Michael Smith, Jayden Beichley, Aiden Cowan, Gage Grieves, Carter McCready, Zackary Morris and head coach Nathan Clark.
PHOTO COURTESY OF STALZER PHOTOGRAPHY
The MHS girls bowling team has set its sights on a conference championship this season. Taking aim for the Bobcats this winter are: front row (from left) Delaney Legg, Bailey Damman, Ariana Villagomez, Ray Massa and Aubrey Webber; back row: Camillya Thomas, Sydney May, Kenedy Lammert, Devin Peterson and head coach Dustin Peterson.
Bobcat boys swimming poised to make a splash
By JAKE RYDER TIMES-REPUBLICAN
Marshalltown boys swimming brings some familiar faces back to the pool this winter.
All five of last year’s Bobcat state qualifiers are back in the water as MHS hopes to wield that experience to great success for the 202425 campaign.
Four of those five returning qualifiers are part of an experienced, eight-deep senior class, including multitime state qualifiers Lincoln Barker, Charlie Gilbertson, Sam Greazel and Michael Lechnir. Hayden Daters was a state alternate last season as a junior.
“They’re a good bunch of kids,” MHS head coach Mike Loupee said of his seniors. “They’ve been through the program now and are hard-working, good, positive leaders. We’re excited to see how some of these guys go through this last hurrah, and we’re hoping for some big things to see them finish their careers with some strong success.”
Lechnir, Greazel, Gilbertson and Barker were 19th at state last season in the 200 medley relay; Lechnir, Gilbertson and Barker were also joined by now-junior Kade Randall at last
year’s state meet in the 400 freestyle relay, placing 21st in Iowa City.
While the pieces are all there for the relays, there may be some reorganizing in order, especially for the 200 medley relay where Barker anchored the race.
“He’d anchor that and then crawl out of the water just to go back in for the 200 freestyle,” Loupee said. “That didn’t serve him well for state-qualifying — anytime you ask a swimmer to swim back-to-back at that level of competition, that’s asking a lot. In a perfect world we’d have Lechnir anchor that medley instead of swimming backstroke leading it off — we’re looking at a couple possibilities to see if we can insert a backstroke for there. We’ll look for that relay to be competitive.”
There’s plenty of competition for the 4x1 relay as well, and Loupee wants to see MHS return to form in the 200 free relay as well.
“That was not as strong as it has been in years past, and we didn’t qualify that last year,” Loupee said. “A goal of ours is to find four guys that are quick enough to see if we can qualify that as well. … I think Kade Randall is ready to take a big step forward on the state stage as well.”
Gilbertson was an individual qualifier in the 100yard butterfly, Barker in the 500 freestyle and Greazel in the 100 breaststroke. None of the trio were able to climb out of the prelims — Greazel had the best finish in 26th for Friday’s preliminary round of the breaststroke.
“They certainly expect a return, and they don’t just want to show up — they want to score,” Loupee said. “They want to improve their state finishes from last year.”
Loupee will also be having an eye on an incoming freshman class with a mixture of experience levels. Joe Greazel and Thomas Stanley will be making their Bobcat debuts after finding success as part of the Blue Wave swim team at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA; but
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T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER
The Marshalltown boys’ swimming team will feature: front row (from left) Malakai Remeliik, Parker Christen, Aaron Hunter, Joe Greazel, Logan Anderson, Elliot Kodis and Adam Bouhssine; middle row: Armando Estrada, James Czerniewski, Daylyn Davis, Jacob Seberger, Henry Dieleman, Kade Randall and Thomas Stanley; back row: Hayden Daters, Sam Greazel, Michael Lechnir, Zander Stupp, Lincoln Barker, Landon Stanley, Charles Gilbertson; not pictured: Isaac Seberger and Adrian Fonseca.
to listen and he’s going to try to improve each and every day.
“LaMar is an unbelievable kid, great student, and he brings energy and effort every day in practice. He’s a guy who’s going to defend and rebound the ball. He’ll be asked to guard one of the better players the other team has, he’s versatile and can guard a guard or a power forward. He’s going to be a guy who understands his role and does whatever he can to help us win.”
Marshalltown will potentially play with a 10-man rotation this season depending on how it goes on the court. Seniors Adam Boone and Will Swartz will contribute, with Boone flashing his 3-point shooting skills when opportune and Swartz standing at 6-foot-6 in the middle of the lineup.
Swartz and fellow senior Arion Hancock (6-5) along with junior
Talon Halsted (6-5) will make up a three-man rotation as the Bobcats’ center throughout the season, and Appel said that’s a luxury he wasn’t necessarily anticipating.
“Arion is a new addition and he’s a big body who surprised us because we hadn’t seen him play,” Appel said. “He’s a guy that’s going to help us. He’s going to impact the game and play minutes for us.
Having a true big man, we’re a lot bigger than last year at that position and that helps a lot.”
Hancock was a starting offensive lineman for the Bobcat football squad, while Halsted saw time at wide receiver and tight end.
“They’ve been battling back and forth and we can throw any of them in at any given time,” Appel said. “They’re all figuring out how they can impact and help us, understand their roles. They all bring something different.”
Sophomore Drake Gersema will insert into the starting lineup as the Bobcats’ point guard, handling the ball to allow Smith
to start off the ball and get open through the offensive plays. Appel said Gersema is ready for the challenge.
“As a freshman he didn’t turn the ball over a lot in JV,” he said. “He’s really solid with the ball in his hands. Obviously at the varsity level it’s going to be more physical, more aggressive, but he works at it a lot and we feel like he’s ready.”
Fellow sophomore Jamison Niehouse, an all-district linebacker in the fall, will be one of the first players off the bench, Appel said.
“He’s an athlete, he can move well laterally, he can jump and defend — he’s got that athletic ability,” Appel said. “The varsity experience for him will be just being in the right spots on the floor. He’s learning and he’s coachable. You talk to him once and the next time he’s got it, so he’s learning, and he has the ability to drive and score the ball and he’s a good shooter to.”
Sophomore Zane Moore (6-2) is a part of the rotation as well de-
pending on need.
“That sophomore group’s working hard, getting bigger and stronger and maturing more,” Appel said. “We’ve got about 10 we rotate through and Zane’s one of them.”
Senior guard Dominyc Clure, junior guard Tyler Dorothy, and sophomores Levi Bell and JJ Schoenfelder round out the varsity roster.
“It feels young because they are young, and it’s the inexperience too,” Appel said of his squad. “It’s a mix because we had so many seniors last year that played so it’s a combination of both.”
Marshalltown finished last season with a 9-13 record, going 4-4 in the Alliance North to tie with Waterloo East for second place behind Ames (8-0). The Little Cyclones graduated the league’s leading scorer but return the other four starters. East and Fort Dodge also bring back four starters, while Mason City has three starters back.
“We’re probably the most inexperience dteam in our conference from what I’ve looked at,” Appel said. “It is what it is. But after you get playing a few games I don’t know how much that matters in the big scheme of things.
“We haven’t looked a ton at other teams, we’re really at this point focusing on ourselves and how we can get better every day.”
The Bobcats’ schedule tips off with three games in the first week, starting at home against Des Moines Lincoln on Tuesday, Dec. 3, and following with trips to Newton and Des Moines East to begin a four-game road swing.
“It’s not ideal to play three games your first week, but that could be good, too, because you’ll get a lot of game experience and film,” Appel said. “We should be able to make some corrections going into that next week.
“It’s three games against three teams we should be able to compete with if we play the right way.”
Mustang girls have room for expansion
By JAKE RYDER TIMES-REPUBLICAN
LE GRAND — There’s room to grow for East Marshall girls basketball.
The Mustangs return just one starter from last year’s 6-17 squad; the graduating class included DMACC softball signee and T-R Girls Basketball Player of the Year Morgan Neuroth, who averaged 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and two steals per game for the Mustangs.
“That will change the team in every way,” Mustangs second-year head coach Sean Thurm said. “We have a season with a lot of learning ahead of us. … We’ve got potential for further growth and potential to be better than expected.”
Senior Makayla Hala is the lone returning starter, averaging 1.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game last year for the Mustangs. Alivia Neuroth averaged 2.4 points and 2.3 rebounds as a sophomore, and senior Delaney Ryan and sophomore Ashtyn Wheater will be expected to take big
steps forward for East Marshall this year.
“We will see what we have each night,” Thurm said. “Hopefully, with more experience as the season progresses, we will develop more consistency as individuals and as a team. … For us to be successful, we need consistent double-digit scoring from 3-4 different girls on a nightly basis.”
East Marshall was 0-8 in the NICL West in the 2023-24 season. Thurm said he hopes to turn that around and deliver the Mustangs’ first conference win since 2019.
The Mustangs opened the season at home against Colo-NESCO on Nov. 25. The West schedule begins at South Hardin on Dec. 10. Thurm projects AGWSR to be the favorite in the West — the Mustangs will take on the Cougars in Ackley on Dec. 17.
“We lack the experience to compete at a high level early in the season,” Thurm said. “Individual player development will be evident as the season goes on. We’re young, and not afraid to fail.”
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be just as good as him so it helps others’ motivation.”
It’s the kind of added boost that could help get the Bobcats over the hump as they pursue the goal of getting back to state for the 14th time in program history.
“It’s very possible, I think we have a good chance at actually making a run at a state title so that’s kind of exciting,” Clark said. “Everyone returned from last year and there’s a new freshman that’s pretty good, too, so we’ll see what happens there. I’m pretty excited.”
The junior quartet of Cowan, Jayden Beichley, Carter McCready and Porter Niedermann return to the lineup after leading the Bobcats in scoring average last year. Cowan’s totals got a boost by winning state, but he closed out the regular season having knocked down an average of 198.75 pins per game. Only one of his games at state came up below that mark.
Beichley averaged 192.45 pins per game, highlighted by a second-team all-Iowa Alliance Conference North Division series of 632. McCready (185.7) and Niedermann (168.35)
helped MHS finish third at the Iowa Alliance Conference North Division meet, as did Zackary Morris (156.61) and Cayden Slifer (148.2).
Clark pointed to freshman Korben McKibben as a pivotal addition to the lineup, while junior Gage Grieves will contribute at some point along the way.
“I’ve coached most of the varsity team since they were in seventh grade and they’re all in 11th grade now so they pretty much all understand my philosophy and how we go about things,” said Clark. “I don’t have to repeat myself anymore than I should have to.”
The Bobcats open the season on the road against Alliance North champion Waterloo East on Tuesday at Cadillac XBC.
“It’s pretty much Waterloo East, who we bowl tomorrow, and everyone else is pretty much the same level,” Clark said of the conference. “Basically I’d like to start out on a good note, but I really don’t care if we win or lose as long as we’re doing what we need to do and try our best.
“The only tournament that really matters is the state qualifier. We use these as learning moments to get better throughout the season.”
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for that individual growth from everybody, which will raise the floor for our entire offense.”
Murphy sees Ames as the favorite in the Alliance North, though he thinks the Bobcats line up well in terms of overall returning experience compared to how many spots other teams in the division will be looking to fill.
“Mason City graduated almost their en-
tire starting lineup, Waterloo East brings back a lot of girls but lost their starting point guard, Fort Dodge we were right there with for a lot of last year,” Murphy said. “We feel we stack up in the conference. If we’ve made the growth that we feel like we’ve made, we should be right in the middle of things.”
Marshalltown’s season opener was at South Tama on Nov. 26. The home opener is Dec. 3 against Des Moines Lincoln, and Alliance North play begins at Mason City on Dec. 13.
PHOTO COURTESY OF STALZER PHOTOGRAPHY
The East Marshall girls’ basketball team has a lot of opportunities for this year’s players to step forward. Pictured above are: front row (from left) Ayla See, Marisa Cahalan, Delaney Ryan, Makayla Hala, Alicia McKinnie, Deshawna Green, Mya Gould and Addy Denham; back row: head coach Sean Thurm, Saydee Braye, Alivia Neuroth, Ashtyn Wheater, Hayden Braye, assistant coach Jason Condon, Sydney Hull, Kiela Wolf, Camillya Thomas and assistant coach Kyle Hoing.
Mustangs
trying to make the climb in NICL West
East Marshall boys basketball will seek improvement from last year’s 7-15 overall record.
The Mustangs were 2-6 in the NICL West to finish fourth out of five teams in the division.
Leland Hamilton-Youngbird led East Marshall in scoring last year at 12.1 points per game for his junior season; Jackson Bidwell put up 11.1 points per game and added three rebounds per contest.
East Marshall will have to fill the shoes left by their top rebounders, Landen Neuroth and Carter Lavender, who contributed almost nine rebounds each per game for the Mustangs.
The season kicks off at home against DikeNew Hartford on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
EM/GMG matmen eye another round
A trio of East Marshall/GMG boys wrestlers will look to break through to state after close calls last year.
Drew Wheater, a 2023 state qualifier as a sophomore, was third at districts as a junior and bumps up from 175 to 215 pounds for his senior season.
Jordan Meling was also third at districts as a 120-pound sophomore and starts this winter at 144. Xavier Slifer placed fourth at districts at 126 last season and is up to 138 to start this year.
The home opener for the Mustangs is Dec. 19 against Sumner-Fredericksburg and Oelwein. EM/GMG’s home dual tournament is scheduled for Jan. 25.
WEST MARSHALL TROJANS
Borgos leads Trojan girls into action
West Marshall girls basketball returns several contributors from last season’s team that finished fourth in the Heart of Iowa Conference.
Bella Borgos leads the group of senior Trojans after averaging 20.8 points per game as a junior. Borgos also averaged 3.6 steals and 3.1 assists per game. Lily Zahnd also returns after averaging 9.1 points and 11.1 rebounds last season.
The Trojans were 14-8 overall last year and were clipped by Williamsburg, 53-52, in an opening-round regional game.
The home opener for West Marshall is Dec. 3 against PCM.
State savvy back for West Marshal boys
Four of five state qualifiers from last year are back for West Marshall boys wrestling this winter.
Jon Gonzalez and Shane Hanford seek to improve on last year’s podium performances — Gonzalez was 4th as a freshman in Class 2A at 113 pounds; Hanford was fourth at 138 pounds in his junior campaign.
Kinnick Geers returns for his junior season, and Ben Gonzalez his senior season, after both went 0-2 at state last year.
The Trojans’ lone home meet is Dec. 19 in a triangular with Perry and South Hamilton.
Trojans hoping to hit the target
By ROSS THEDE TIMES-REPUBLICAN
STATE CENTER — The West Marshall boys’ basketball program is going to leave the past behind it as it gears up for the 2024-25 campaign. The Trojans haven’t reached a double-digit win total since 2019, so dwelling on that won’t do this year’s squad any good. Head coach Kory Hobbs enters his third season at the helm in State Center with an open mind and an experienced returning roster. West Marshall brings back two regular starters and a handful of others with some starting experience or a lot of games played from last winter’s 5-16 contingent.
Hobbs is hoping the additional year of experience
will go a long way toward having a Trojan team that can be competitive in the Heart of Iowa Conference.
“The team has a very positive outlook going into this season with high expectations for themselves regardless of previous seasons,” Hobbs said. “This year’s team has the potential to be pretty solid and be extremely competitive as things continue to gel.
“Realistically, this team could finish top three or four in our conference in my eyes. In order for that to happen, guys are going to need to find specific roles that utilize their talents. Taking pride in the boring aspects of the game will get them to where they want to be as well.”
The Trojans bring back
their most prominent big man in Cash Johnston, a 6-foot-2 senior who averaged team-highs of 9.9 points and 6.6 rebounds last year on his way to gaining all-Heart of Iowa honorable mention selection. Fellow senior Lucas Barnes, at 6-3, contributed 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in a sixth-man role last winter.
AJ Dee (6-foot-1) started in nine games last season and brings back with him 5.1 points per game, while fellow seniors Caden Pfantz, Jace Eich, Noah DeSotel and DJ Ridout got regular amounts of playing time. Evan Siegert, a junior guard, is expected to contribute as well this season.
One of the primary challenges for the Trojans will be getting the ball in the buck-
et. West Marshall averaged 48.4 points per game last season, ranking them 85th out of 97 teams in Class 2A. The Trojans made just 83 3-pointers, which ranked 92nd, while shooting 23.6 percent from distance.
West Marshall will have to make up for the deficit on the glass, where Hobbs believes his team can flourish.
“Having multiple athletic big men as well as multiple physical guards will help drive our team’s energy,” he said. “I think we will have an edge in a lot of our games on the boards.”
There’s an avenue to a good defensive team in the roster, Hobbs said, as long as the team can work together toward understanding its collective goal on that end of the court.
PHOTO PROVIDED
The West Marshall boys’ basketball team brings back a lot of experience from last year’s 5-16 squad. Pictured above are: front row (from left) Connor Kemmerer, Caden Pfantz, Ethyn Clark, Jace Eich, Tyson Bunting, DJ Ridout and Evan Siegert; back row: Cash Johnston, Ryder Gile, AJ Dee, Beckham DeSotel, Lucas Barnes, Brice Keigan and Noah DeSotel.
Wittkop set the mark for West Marshall girls wrestlers
By ROSS THEDE
TIMES-REPUBLICAN
STATE CENTER — Averie Wittkop left an indelible mark on the West Marshall girls’ wrestling program by becoming the school’s first girls state placewinner.
It’s a mark she wanted future Trojans to aim for, and first-year head coach Randall Kasal thinks he’s got the squad to do it this go-round.
West Marshall returns three of its seven state qualifiers from a season ago, when Wittkop finished fifth at 170 pounds to put her picture on the wall in the halls of the high school. Kasal, a two-time state qualifier himself for the Trojans, is eager to see who the next one will be.
“We have a solid lineup that is eager to compete with anyone,” said Kasal. “Look for us to surprise some bigger schools and make some noise in our new [Class] 1A classification. Our girls have their own personal goals they are working towards every day, so when they compete everyone is ready to contribute up and down the lineup.”
Returing state qualifiers Jenna Randall, Kylee Schuler and Elizabeth Kalinay give the Trojans a headstart, but the race is far from run. Randall, who went 31-16 last year, was 0-for-2 in the state meet last sea-
year, leaving 235 open for the Trojans, but it’s all about getting the best out of each individual for Kasal.
“Number one, we are focused on putting in our best work daily while staying healthy and managing weight properly,” said Kasal. “We will have veterans (Ava) Shibe, Schuler, (Madelyn) Thompson and (Lillian) Fischer packed into the middle of our lineup, lower weight leadership from Randall and a force at 190 in Kalinay.
“Look for those six to lead the charge along with surprises from some new and familiar faces who are eager to get out there and compete.”
Shibe (16-26), Schuler, Thompson (2419), Fischer and Kalinay are all seniors, while Randall was a state qualifier in her freshman campaign. The West Marshall roster consists of six seniors, one junior, eight sophomores and six freshmen, meaning the future begins now for the Trojans.
the other freshman are part of a group of eight swimmers that are new to competitive swimming.
“To not have that experience and then jump in this pool is a real eye opener,” Loupee said. “But I and coach [Ray] Dulaney have been unduly impressed with their willingness to work and to be coached. I should have filmed them from day one, because to see them even two weeks later, the difference is phenomenal already. We’re excited to see how far they’ll come in their first year.”
Bobcat fans wanting to see the team in action at
son, as was Schuler (26-16) at 140.
Kalinay was one match short of joining Wittkop with a podium finish. She went 35-
home will have limited opportunities, as MHS has just four total home meets on their schedule this season.
After a home opener with Ames to kick off the season on Nov. 26 and the Bobcat Relays almost two weeks later on Dec. 14, the boys won’t be back in the home pool competing again until Jan. 9, 2025 against Des Moines Lincoln — the final home meet will be Jan. 23 against Ottumwa.
“Our goal is to only lose one dual meet this year, and that’s a lofty goal as we’ll have a couple that are going to be very close,” Loupee said. “But I think we’ve got a lot of reasonable, attainable goals, and it’s not going to happen without a lot of hard work.”
CONTINUED | FROM 5
well.
Peterson (fourth) and Thomas (ninth) both earned individual all-conference honors last year.
“We’re returning five from last year’s team and I would really like to win the North,” coach Peterson said. “That’s our focus right now. And just shooting a better average. I have no doubt in my mind that each girl can improve by 20 pins this year.
“I’d like to see us improve our Bakers average too. I think last year we averaged about 125 and I’d love to see that up to 150, 160; that would be great.
13 with a 3-2 showing at state, but she just missed out on a medal at 235.
Kalinay will wrestle down at 190 this
A lot of that’s just concentration and working hard. Bakers is hard to practice for because sometimes it’s more about the feeling and the energy and it’s really hard to practice that when you’re not in a meet.”
May was the team’s scoring leader last season with a 142.5 pins-pergame average, just barely ahead of Peterson (139.3). Thomas (129.55), Villagomez (126.05) and Lammert (119) round out the returning bunch. Sophomores Aubrey Webber and Ray Massa are also on the squad.
The schedule kicks off for the Bobcats with Tuesday’s road meet against Waterloo East at Cadillac XBC.
“Their work ethic in and out of the wrestling room has so far proven they’ll do what’s necessary to insure they reach their goals,” Kasal said. “Our success this season is going to be simply defined by the amount of growth each individual has made, whether it’s a returning veteran or someone new to the sport. To us, the results won’t matter until regionals on January 31st.”
PHOTO PROVIDED
The West Marshall girls’ wrestling team has state meet experience returning for the new season. Pictured are: front row (from left); Elizabeth Kalinay, Hope Shaffar, Jenna Randall and Alivia Frost; back row: Nevia Brown, Madelyn Thompson, Ava Shibe, Lillian Fischer, Kylee Schuler and Bella Sosa.
MARSHALLTOWN BOBCATS BASKETBALL
Tuesday, Nov. 26 at South Tama
Tuesday, Dec. 3 DES MOINES LINCOLN
Thursday, Dec. 5 at Newton
Friday, Dec. 6 at Des Moines East
Tuesday, Dec. 10 at Des Moines Hoover
Friday, Dec. 13 at Mason City
Monday, Dec. 16 SOUTHEAST POLK
Friday, Dec. 20 FORT DODGE
Tuesday, Jan. 7 at Waterloo East
Friday, Jan. 10 AMES
7:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 13 CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 14 DES MOINES NORTH
Friday, Jan. 17 at Des Moines Roosevelt
Tuesday, Jan. 21 MASON CITY
Monday, Jan. 27 GRINNELL
Tuesday, Jan. 28 at Fort Dodge
Friday, Jan. 31 WATERLOO EAST
Tuesday, Feb. 4 at Ames
Friday, Feb. 7 at Ottumwa
6:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8 at Des Moines North 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 11 at Des Moines Lincoln 6:15 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 14 DES MOINES EAST 6:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 3 DES MOINES LINCOLN
Thursday, Dec. 5 at Newton
Friday, Dec. 6 at Des Moines East
Tuesday, Dec. 10 at Des Moines Hoover
Friday, Dec. 13 at Mason City
Monday, Dec. 16 SOUTHEAST POLK
Friday, Dec. 20 FORT DODGE
7:45 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 7 at Waterloo East 7:45 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 10 AMES
7:45 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 13 CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 14 DES MOINES NORTH
7:45 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 17 at Des Moines Roosevelt 7:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 21 MASON CITY
Thursday, Jan. 23 at Waterloo West
Tuesday, Jan. 28 at Fort Dodge
Friday, Jan. 31 WATERLOO EAST
Tuesday, Feb. 4 at Ames
Friday, Feb. 7 at Ottumwa
7:45 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8 at Des Moines North 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 11 at Des Moines Lincoln 7:45 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 14 DES MOINES EAST 7:45 p.m.
MARSHALLTOWN WRESTLING SCHEDULES
MHS BOYS WRESTLING
Thursday, Dec. 5
AMES, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 7 at Williamsburg Duals, 10 a.m.
Thursday, Dec. 12 DES MOINES LINCOLN and WATERLOO WEST, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 14 at Saydel Invite, 10 a.m.
Thursday, Dec. 19 at Ottumwa, with Cedar Rapids Xavier, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 21 at Dike-New Hartford Invite, 10 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 4 at West Des Moines Valley Invite, 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 9 at Des Moines East, with Des Moines North/Hoover and Norwalk, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 11
ALLIE MORRISON DUALS, 10 a.m.
(Cedar Falls, Johnson, North Polk, Sioux City East, Webster City)
Monday, Jan. 13 at Mason City, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 17 at Bettendorf Invite, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 18 at Bettendorf Invite, 9 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 23
............................................ FORT DODGE, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 25 at Des Moines Lincoln Invite, 10 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 30
......................................... WATERLOO EAST, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1 at Iowa Alliance Conference Invite, 10 a.m. at Des Moines East
Saturday, Feb. 15
.................................................... Districts, 10 a.m.
MHS GIRLS WRESTLING
Monday, Nov. 18 at Nevada Quad, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23 at Urbandale Invite, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26 .............................. BENTON, BGM, WEST MARSHALL, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 5 ........................... AMES, WEST DES MOINES VALLEY, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 7 ..................................................at BGM Invite, 9 a.m.
Saturday, Dec. 14 ...............................................at Marion Invite, 9 a.m.
Thursday, Dec. 19 at Ottumwa, with Cedar Rapids Xavier, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 21 at Boone Tournament, 9 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 9 at Des Moines East, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 11
BOBCAT INVITE, 10 a.m. in MHS Auxiliary Gym (BGM, Knoxville, Waterloo Columbus, West Fork)
Monday, Jan. 13 at Mason City, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 17 at Ankeny Invite, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 21 at Iowa Alliance Conference Invite, 5 p.m. at Des Moines East
Thursday, Jan. 23
............................................ FORT DODGE, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 31 ...................................................... at Regionals, TBD
State-savvy Spartans want another shot
By JAKE RYDER
TIMES-REPUBLICAN
GRUNDY
CENTER —
Grundy Center boys basketball returns four starters from last year’s state-qualifying team, and will likely be late bloomers once again in Class 2A.
Third-team all-state forward Jalen Kirkpatrick leads the returning group.
The 6-foot-6 senior averaged 16 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season.
The other three returning starters, and seven of the eight returning letterwinners, just wrapped up a third-consecutive state title in football.
SAVVY | 15
Grundy Center expecting a challenge in pursuit of NICL West repeat
Spartan girls graduated four starters from state qualifier
By JAKE RYDER
TIMES-REPUBLICAN
GRUNDY CENTER — Grundy Center girls basketball will have a different look this winter.
The Spartans graduated four starting seniors from last year’s state tournament qualifying team, including second-team all-stater Ellery Luhring and all-district standout Carlie Willis, providing openings for the next wave of girls to step up and seize an opportunity.
Kali Aldrich is the lone returning starter, averaging 3.8 points, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game as a sophomore.
In total, the Spartans return just over a quarter of its offensive output from last season, and will also need to replace four of its top five rebounders from last season.
There is a good chunk of returning experience from last year’s rotation, including sophomores Maddy Hendershot and Ava Mundt, junior Karlee
CHALLENGE | 15
PHOTO PROVIDED
Grundy Center girls basketball will undertake a new look after graduating four starters from last year’s squad. This year’s roster includes: front row (from left) Teresa Noble, Erin Richtsmeier, Kennedy Scott, Paige Venenga, Skylar Reding, Kali Aldrich and Karlee Lynch; back row: Taitlyn Thran, Trinity Jirovsky, Caturella Brown, Contessa Dirks, assistant coach Maddie Kuester, head coach Matt Lindeman, assistant coach Tiffanie Saak, Ava Mundt, Raelyn Steinmeyer and Maddy Hendershot.
PHOTO PROVIDED
The Grundy Center boys’ basketball squad returns four starters and a lot of experience from last year’s state tournament qualifier. Pictured above are: (from left) Preston Martens, Dayton Myers, Ryker Thoren, Brayden Wallis, Ryder Slifer, Jalen Kirkpatrick, Tiernan Vokes, Brody Zinkula and Judd Jirovsky; not pictured: Pete Lebo and Brayden Davie.
Rebel girls ready to achieve their potential
By JAKE RYDER TIMES-REPUBLICAN
REINBECK — Glad brook-Reinbeck girls bas ketball is set up well for another season of improve ment this winter.
The Rebels posted their best winning percentage since the 2011-12 season with a 15-10 record last year, and are returning five players with starting expe rience from that squad that reached the regional semi finals.
“The last couple of years, I think a lot of people have said that we’ve got a lot of young kids that are real ly good,” G-R head coach Amber Gerringer said. “And that was true, and now they’re upperclassmen that are hopefully going to be really good. That’s really promising for this season.”
The returning group is highlighted by all-dis trict forward Kennedy Brant, who averaged a dou ble-double as a sophomore with 13.3 points and 12.2 rebounds per game as well as 3.2 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.1 blocked shots per game.
Elly Sieh, also entering her junior year, averaged 13.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last year and was a first-team all-NICL West selection.
G-R senior Lily Dripps returns as well after scoring 6.6 points and grabbing 6.6 rebounds per game as a junior.
“I just hope these girls continue to improve in their skill sets,” Gerringer said. “And then every year when we figure out what that group looks like and what the rotations are going to be, I hope they can find that mesh and just be a
good group together.”
The Rebels finished third in the NICL West last year with a 4-4 record and bowed out to Riceville in the postseason. The IGHSAU has Gladbrook-Reinbeck ranked 15th in their Class 1A preseason rankings.
“I think we’ve been really close to turning that corner,” said Gerringer, entering her fourth season at the helm for the G-R girls.
“We’ve had a lot of really close games with really
good teams and I think just being able to put together four really solid quarters, play in the full court a little bit more, play a little faster, be more efficient shooting, all of that can come together to make us 10 points better this season.”
Being 10 points better could also mean improving defensive pressure for Gerringer, who has emphasized defense with the Rebels since joining the program.
“We like to try and get after it a little bit, and I
think we have the personnel to do it this year,” Gerringer said. “Hopefully we can cause a little bit of havoc, a little chaos in the full court, create some turnovers, and have a good time doing it.”
G-R opens the season at home against Waterloo Columbus on Dec. 3. NICL West play begins at Grundy Center on Dec. 10.
“We’re going to make a run at things,” Gerringer said. “This year should be 50-50 games all the
way through [in the NICL West], we’ve definitely shown that these last couple of years, splitting games with a lot of teams. We’d like to come out on top, but it’s never a gimme in the conference.”
FOR ALL YOUR HEATING, COOLING & PLUMBING NEEDS Lon Larsen - Owner 319-345-2711 516 Main Street • Reinbeck
T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER
The Gladbrook-Reinbeck girls’ basketball team is hoping for a breakout season now that its talented youngers have grown into upperclassmen. Pictured are: front row (from left) Brinn Schneider, Olivia Riffey, Dylan Mathern, Lily Dripps, Kennedy Brant and Elly Sieh; middle row: Mailea McLean, Avery Boyer, Kinzie Hemann, Leila Thesing, Kailey Larsen and Ayla Bear; back row: head coach Amber Gerringer and assistant coaches Tyler Morgan and Justina Brant.
G-R seeking third straight trip to state
By ROSS THEDE TIMES-REPUBLICAN
REINBECK — Fresh off its first appearance in the 8-Player state football semifinals, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck boys’ basketball team opened last season with a 4-3 record through its first seven games. The journey still reached its destination of Des Moines and the Class 1A state tournament.
The Rebels will have two weeks to prepare for their first basketball game this time around, and that’s after playing in the 8-Player state championship this year. This season’s final stop is yet to be determined.
It’s a season of things old, new, borrowed and blue for Gladbrook-Reinbeck as the Rebels get set to take aim at another trip to state. G-R was eliminated in the state quarterfinals last winter at Wells Fargo Arena — for the second year in a row — and there’s plenty of optimism back on the hardwood in Reinbeck.
After the departure of head coach Scott Kiburis, the Rebels have turned to one of the school’s all-time leading scorers to pick up his clipboard. Brett Bengen, a 2009 G-R grad and an assistant coach, will take the reins of his alma mater for the first time this winter.
Bengen inherits a roster that lost just one starter from last season and two reserve guards who played in every game as well. So while Isaac Clark, Austin Vaverka and Austin Gehring won’t be around this season, the Rebels remain hopeful to fill their shoes from within.
Seniors Michael Boyd, Drew Eilers and Austen Mathern and junior Hudson Clark are back in the starting lineup for the Rebels, while senior guard Brandon Mathern is expected to contribute once again.
Boyd and Eilers, both two-way starters for the state finalist G-R football team, are the two leading scorers and rebounders back from last year’s 21-6 Rebel basketball squad. Boyd averaged 14.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, while Eilers got 12.3 points and 10.3 boards per contest.
Austen Mathern made 8.8 points per
game, while Clark contributed 5.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals from his off-guard spot in last year’s starting lineup.
“We have the potential to be a very solid team offensive and defensively,” said Bengen. We return four of five starters from last year’s team that finished second in conference. We can’t be satisfied with what happened last year, we have to always be striving to get better every day.
“We come into tthis season with a lot of experience on the varsity floor and a group of seniors who have played a bunch of basketball together.”
The Rebels will get an early measurement against another one of the state’s top teams from a year ago. G-R’s second game of the season will be its NICL West Division opener at Grundy Center, a 2A state basketball qualifier last winter that also returns four starters. The Spartans swept the Rebels — by a combined four points — on their way to claiming the NICL West title, while G-R found its footing after a slow start and settled for second with a 5-3 mark in league play.
One of the driving factors for the Rebels was their ability to shoot from distance.
G-R ranked 14th in 1A with 173 3-pointers made, though 62 of those graduated with Isaac Clark, Gehring and Vaverka.
Seniors Hunter Roberts and Cameron Sieh and junior Trevor Mathern will be looked to for contributions as well.
“We’ll need to add depth with some older guys and be able to mix in some of our younger players,” Bengen said. “We need to have all five guys on the floor understanding and recognizing what we are trying to accomplish both offensively and defensively.”
Savvy
CONTINUED | FROM 13
Tiernan Vokes averaged 10.4 points and five rebounds last season; Brayden Wallis contributed 8.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists and Brody Zinkula had 4.2 points and 2.8 assists per game.
“We have a lot of talent coming back,” GC head coach Brent Thoren said. “However, football success will probably again lead to a slow start.”
Grundy Center lost two of its first three games last season, then won 19 of its next 20 to reach the 2A state tournament, where it fell in the quarterfinals to eventual runner-up Hudson, 55-51.
Ryker Thoren and Judd Jirovsky, a senior and junior, respectively, were varsity contributors last winter that will likely take another step forward this season.
Brayden Davie and Pete Lebo are two more football standouts that will carry that athleticism onto the hardwood.
Brent Thoren indicated depth, es-
Challenge
CONTINUED | FROM 13
Lynch and senior Paige Venenga. Seniors Skylar Reding and Kennedy Scott are also returning letterwinners for the Spartans. Grundy Center head coach Matt Lindeman, entering his 12th year as Spartan head coach, tabbed junior Erin Richtsmeier, sophomores Caturella Brown, Raelyn Steinmeyer, Teresa Noble and Contessa Dirks and freshman Trinity Jirovsky as players that could find a role on the floor this season as well.
The Spartans finished 21-3 overall last season, bowing out at Wells Fargo Arena
pecially at the guard position, as a focal point for the Spartans to work on. In the meantime, he said the Spartans will lean on its defense, which was a top-10 unit in 2A allowing just 46.7 points per game to the opposition.
That defensive mentality — another carry over from football season — combined with athleticism and lots of experience in competitive situations have the Spartans on paper as a potential contender in 2A once again.
The Spartans ran the table in the NICL West with an 8-0 record, finishing ahead of Gladbrook-Reinbeck and South Hardin sharing runner-up honors at 5-3; Thoren expects those three teams to also be the main chasers for this year’s West title.
GC’s schedule opens at home against Denver on Dec. 3, followed by a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal with the Pirates in Hudson on Dec. 6. The NICL West schedule begins back at Grundy Center, with Gladbrook-Reinbeck coming to town on Dec. 10.
to Panorama in a 2A state quarterfinal. Grundy was also undefeated in the NICL West, though this year’s division race may be a barnburner with a ranked Gladbrook-Reinbeck team and athletic, experienced squads from AGWSR and South Hardin likely to give the Spartans a run for their money.
The Spartans had the ninth-best scoring defense in 2A last season at 36.8 points allowed per game.
Grundy Center kicked off the season on Nov. 25 with a win at home against BCLUW. The Spartans open division play at home against Gladbrook-Reinbeck on Dec. 10.
Boyd Eilers Clark
Comets chasing the crown in Iowa Star South
By ROSS THEDE TIMES-REPUBLICAN
CONRAD — The dominant post pres ence of players like Grace Farnsworth and Savannah Moeller gave the BCLUW girls’ basketball team a lot of opportunities, and the Comets capitalized last year with a run ner-up finish in the Iowa Star Conference’s South Division.
The return of those post players and a handful of guards with game experience has the Comets hopeful for another run at the conference crown — and beyond.
The 6-foot-1 Moeller and 5-10 Farn sworth give BCLUW a size advantage in its conference. The result last winter was a 10-2 result in divisional play and a run ner-up finish — one game behind Col lins-Maxwell (11-1). Those Spartans grad uated three all-conference selections from that squad, so the Comets hope to get into the mix thanks to their height and experi ence.
Farnsworth finished as the conference’s fourth-leading scorer and top rebounder in helping BCLUW earn second place in the team’s second season in the Iowa Star South. She finished the conference season averaging a double-double of 13.4 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, leading the
rebounds per game. Morgan Bergman, a 5-7 forward, earned herself 2.6 points and 3.5 boards as well as one of the team’s post players.
When defenses adjust to try and take away the Comets’ size, BCLUW will need to knock down some outside shots to relieve that pressure. Last year’s squad finished 24.7 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, and the impetus again will rely on sharper shooting from the back court.
Senior Klayre Gallentine made 18 3-pointers in conference play and 40 overall last season, earning second-team all-conference honors alongside then-senior Sydney Anderson.
Gallentine will be asked to deliver from deep again, along with returning senior guards Kalia Stover, Brinna Benson and Abby Kemp.
Those cold winter nights from behind the 3-point line, however, will make life harder on the BCLUW attack.
The Comets can offset the occasional struggles in shooting by stopping the other team from scoring. BCLUW ranked 58th in Class 1A last year by allowing just 40.43 points per game, and the addition of senior Raegan Crawford should contribute to further improvement on the defensive side of the ball.
PHOTO PROVIDED
The BCLUW girls’ basketball team returns a lot of its roster from a year ago in hopes of competing for the Iowa Star Conference’s South Division title. Pictured are: front row (from left) Abby Kemp, Kalia Stover, Klayre Gallentine, Morgan Bergman and Raegan Crawford; back row: Star Palermo, Brinna Benson, Layla Follett, Lucy Walters, Callie Legg, Adelynn Zoske, Cambria Wayman, Addison Moeller and Chloe Switzer; not pictured: Savannah Moeller and Grace Farnsworth.
BCLUW COMETS
Hollingsworth, Wedgwood headline for Storm girls
South Hardin-BCLUW girls wrestling returns two state qualifiers from last season.
Taya Hollingsworth was one win away from the podium at 145 pounds last year but was unable to make weight for her “blood round” match, resulting in a loss by forfeit. The two-time state qualifier begins her junior season ranked eighth at 145 pounds in Class 1A by IAwrestle.
Leila Wedgwood went 1-2 in her first appearance at the state tournament. She begins the 2024-25 season ranked seventh at 125 pounds in 1A.
The Storm are scheduled to be among the teams competing at this year’s Girls Battle of Waterloo, scheduled for Dec. 19 at Young Arena.
SH-BCLUW boys trying to break through to state
South Hardin-BCLUW boys wrestling looks to get a representative back at the state wrestling tournament after being shut out last season.
Beau Towne came the closest to punching his ticket last year with a third-place finish at districts in the 150-pound bracket as a freshman.
Zaden Eggers, who had a winning record before injury cut his sophomore season short before the district tournament, bumps up from 132 pounds to 165 to start his junior season.
The Storm will start the season in Conrad on Dec. 5 in a quadrangular with Columbus, East Marshall-GMG and West Marshall.
Comet boys chasing wins outside of conference
The BCLUW boys’ basketball team will have a new look this season after graduating six of its top seven scorers from a 5-17 team a year ago.
The Comets essentially graduated their starting lineup, save for the 11 returning starts for Owen Myers and Wyatt Gould. The 6-foot-3 Myers got two starts last winter, while Gould, a 5-10 guard, started nine times last season.
Gould, a junior, is the team’s top returning scorer after getting 60 total points last season, but Myers, a senior, averaged 6.3 points over just 10 games due to injury.
Other returners for BCLUW this season include Aiden Frank, a 6-foot junior guard who played in every game a year ago.
The Comets got four of their five wins last season during Iowa Star Conference South Division play, so it’s going to take some non-conference victories to get BCLUW to double-digit wins for just the second time since 2012.
MHS BOWLING & BOYS SWIMMING
MARSHALLTOWN GIRLS AND BOYS BOWLING
Tuesday, Nov. 26 at Waterloo East, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 3 FORT DODGE, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 10 at Ottumwa, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 17 AMES, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 7 at Mason City, 3 p.m.
Cadillac XBC
Wayward Social
Champion Bowl
Wayward Social
Comet Bowl
Saturday, Jan. 11 at Louisa-Muscatine Invite, 1 p.m. Rose Bowl, Muscatine
Tuesday, Jan. 14 DES MOINES LINCOLN, 3 p.m.
Wayward Social
Saturday, Jan. 18 at Ottumwa Bakers Tournament, 1 p.m. Champion Bowl
Thursday, Jan. 23 DES MOINES NORTH, 3 p.m. Wayward Social
Tuesday, Feb. 4 at Des Moines East, 3 p.m. Bowlerama Lanes
Thursday, Feb. 6 WEST DES MOINES VALLEY, 3 p.m. Wayward Social
Monday, Feb. 10 (B) at Iowa Alliance Conference, 10 a.m. Bowlerama Lanes, Des Moines
Tuesday, Feb. 11 ........... (G) at Iowa Alliance Conference, 10 a.m. ....... Bowlerama Lanes, Des Moines
Monday, Feb. 17 ........... (G) State Qualifying, TBD
Tuesday, Feb. 18 (B) State Qualifying, TBD
Tuesday, Feb. 25 Boys State Team, Girls State Team Cadillac XBC, Waterloo
Wednesday, Feb. 26 State Individual Tournament Cadillac XBC, Waterloo
MARSHALLTOWN BOYS SWIMMING
Tuesday, Nov. 26 AMES, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 5 at Des Moines Roosevelt, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 7 at Boone Toreador Relays, 10 a.m.
Saturday, Dec. 14 BOBCAT INVITE, Noon
Thursday, Dec. 19 at Fort Dodge, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 2 ........... at Newton, 5:30 p.m. ................................... Newton YMCA
Tuesday, Jan. 7 ............ at Mason City, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 9 DES MOINES LINCOLN, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 16 at Des Moines East, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 23 OTTUMWA, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 25 at Iowa Alliance Conference, Noon Mason City HS
Tuesday, Jan. 28 at Indianola, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8 State Qualifying Meet, TBD
Friday, Feb. 14 State Meet
Saturday, Feb. 15 Stat Meet University of Iowa
Redhawks bring back leading scorer from best season in seven years
The North Tama girls’ basketball team is coming off its best season since 2016 and brings back its top scorer from that squad. Second-team all-Iowa Star Conference pick Ava Breakenridge returns to lead the Redhawks in pursuit of back-toback double-digit winning seasons under head coach Harold Youngblut.
Breakenridge, now a senior, scored 13.6 points per game to go along with team-highs of 2.2 assists, 3.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. She was second on the team in rebounding (5.5).
Volleyball standout Kruiz Ewoldt, a junior, started in nearly half the games last year and brings back 3.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. North Tama went 10-11 last season with a 5-7 record in the Iowa Star North.
North Tama boys poised to climb Iowa Star standings
Incoming head coach David Schmit inherits a North Tama boys’ basketball lineup that returns four starters and two others with regular playing experience from last season.
The Redhawks went 8-12 overall and 6-5 in Iowa Star Conference South Division play led by then-junior Josh Dostal. A first-team all-conference selection, Dostal averaged team-highs of 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season. Kayler Morris, then a sophomore, was an honorable mention all-conference pick as well after putting up 12.3 points and a team-leading 2.3 steals per game.
North Tama got contributions from Tyrus Luker, Chaz Hall, Brayton Cibula and Kayvin Morris as well.
NT girls wrestling ready to follow Blake’s lead to state podium
Top-ranked Briar Blake leads North Tama girls wrestling back on the mats this winter.
Blake was a bronze medalist at 170 pounds last season. With the newly-formed two-class system in girls wrestling, Blake enters the season as the top-ranked girl in Class 1A at 170, according to IAwrestle.
Addison Hochstetler, a returning state qualifier from last season, is ranked 11th at 140 pounds. Hochstetler and Blake both won their respective brackets at a season-opening tournament at BGM High School on Saturday, Nov. 23.
North Tama’s Knaack
can climb the medal stand
Both state qualifiers for North Tama boys wrestling are back on the mats this winter.
Kolt Knaack was sixth at 144 pounds in the Class 1A state tourney — his only three losses last season came at state. Maxon Monat is back for his junior season after making his state debut as a sophomore, where he went 0-2 at 113.
Drayke Dvorak and Gavin Rausch also return for the Redhawks this year after posting winning records last year. Dvorak was third at districts last winter.
NORTH TAMA REDHAWKS GMG WOLVERINES
Wolverines have the height to compete
The GMG girls’ basketball program graduated three of its top four scorers from a season ago in which the Wolverines finished fourth out of eight teams in the Iowa Star Conference South Division.
There will be opportunities abound for this year’s roster, led by junior captains Macie Sanders, Rhianna Murty and Makayla Pendleton. Pendleton and Murty both played in all 22 games last season, when the Wolverines went 11-12 with a 6-6 divisional record. Pendleton averaged 5.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, while Murty got 2.5 points and 6.4 boards per contest last winter.
This year’s GMG roster will include six freshman and five juniors, with no sophomores or seniors. Skyler Murty and Arianna Pierce enter as 5-foot-9 freshmen, joining Pendleton as the tallest players on the squad, for first-year head coach Devon Diederichs.
GMG boys getting the call to arms
Three starters return to the roster for the GMG boys’ basketball team, which will go into the winter without Jabari Woodbury for the first time in a long time.
The career 1,000-point scorer is gone for the Wolverines, but the cupboard isn’t bare. Junior Rider Kupka earned second-team all-conference honors last winter after averaging 10.1 points per game, and senior Colin Teske put up 9.0 points per game a year ago. Grady Dieleman added 8.0 points and 3.7 rebounds a night to anchor the trio of returning starters from last year’s 1112 team.
Those 11 wins were the most for a GMG boys basketball team since 2015. In order to duplicate the feat, the Wolverines will need instant contributions from its former reserves. Junior Jonas Buchanan pitched in with 3.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last year, and sophomore Ethan Klemesrud played in 19 games for head coach Tammy Woodbury.
MESKWAKI WARRIORS
Meskwaki girls can gain from experience
The Meskwaki girls’ basketball team returns four players with starting experience a season after finishing third in the Iowa Star Conference’s South Division, and another impactful freshman class has joined the ranks.
The Warriors went 10-9 overall last season, highlighted by a non-conference win over neighboring South Tama, while a 7-5 record in the ISC South trailed only Collins-Maxwell (11-1) and BCLUW (10-2).
Returning to the roster this season looks to be a strong young core with a senior leader in Sophie Shuckahosee. The 5-foot-6 guard/forward finished as the team’s third-leading scorer a year ago at 7.0 points per game and the fourth-leading rebounder at 4.2 boards per contest.
The Warriors welcome back a pair of sophomores who already have starting experience, including last year’s leading scorer and rebounder Dorothy Bear. Bear averaged 10.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game on her way to second-team all-conference honors as a freshman.
Isabella Kapayou contributed in all statistical categories while starting in five games last winter.
Warrior boys trying to reverse course
The Meskwaki boys’ basketball program is trying to rebound from three-straight seasons of struggle after advancing to within one win of making the state tournament in 2021.
The Warriors have won a combined four games over the last three years, but most of last winter’s roster returns after graduating just one senior.
Kingston Davenport, a 6-foot-4 senior, was named as an honorable mention to the all-Iowa Star Conference’s South Division squad last season.
Meskwaki drags a 13-game losing streak into the new year, having lost its last 29 conference games. The Warriors went 1-18 last season, recording their lone win against Melcher-Dallas.
STC trying to shed streak
By ROSS THEDE TIMES-REPUBLICAN
TAMA — Eleven differ ent players found their way into the starting lineup for the South Tama girls’ bas ketball team last season as the Trojans searched for answers to solving their lack of achievement in re cent years.
The program has a 3-102 record over the last five years and a 43-game losing streak dating back to a season-opening triumph at home over Marshalltown in 2022. The Trojans were winless last year at 0-22, finishing 0-16 in the WaMaC Conference.
South
Tama tasked with reloading
Head coach Dina Keahna is looking at a roster with a lot of experience, but not a lot of success, as the new season is set to begin. Entering her fourth year at the helm, Keahna has a number of players who have contributed in the past, but now those pieces have to form together to create something more than the STC Roundhouse has known for the Trojan girls in quite some time.
Gone to graduation is Kayla Heck, who led South Tama in scoring last winter at 8.6 points per game, but the Trojans will
lean on their numbers to provide the strength this season. Aubrey Dolezal, Olivia Hala and Madison Hitchcock each started at least half of the games last year, while Janette Cervantes started eight of the 11 games she played in before an injury derailed her junior campaign.
Hala, a sophomore, averaged 3.8 points and 2.4 rebounds per game last year, while Cervantes got 2.2 points and team-highs of 4.2 boards and 1.7 steals while she was on the court.
Keahna is expecting additional contributions from Azalee Morgan, a junior, and Jaslene Lasley, a sophomore, among those experi-
enced Trojan returners.
Newcomers include Rylee Ridout, a junior who was North Tama’s third-leading scorer (6.6 ppg) and top rebounder (9.7 rpg) last season, and Sade Kapayou, a sophomore who led the Meskwaki girls in 3-pointers made (18) last winter. Kapayou was a third-team all-Iowa Star Conference South Division selection for the Warriors after averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest.
Freshmen guards Cahysia Kapayou, Dyan Keahna and Scout Ridout are among the team’s top prospects, according to coach Keahna.
By ROSS THEDE TIMES-REPUBLICAN
TAMA — None of South Tama’s five state wrestling qualifiers from a year ago have returned to the room for this season, so it’s up to a new group to pave the way to Wells Fargo Arena this winter for the Trojans.
Head coach Nate Van Dyke has a number of matmen with varsity experience and a few others who will get that true test this season. The Trojans went 20-7 during dual meet action last year, but that’s a big number to shoot for without any of the combined eight state qualifiers who are no longer in the lineup.
Lost from last year’s
squad are three-time qualifiers Gavin Bridgewater and Amare Chavez, two-time qualifier MaCael Bear, and one-time qualifiers Cyrus Mathes and Cael Graff.
Returning for the Trojans will be a big group, headlined by senior all-conference performer Clayton Babinat. Babinat placed fourth at the WaMaC Conference meet last season at 132 pounds, and he has moved his 30-23 record up a weight to 138 this year.
Marcus Bear, a junior, returns with a 27-15 record and will remain at 175.
Ramiro Saquic Xirum will slot down from 120 and wrestle at 113 this season after going 13-16 last year.
Cody Blocker weighed in
Trojan boys basketball has spots to fill
primarily at 150 last season, but the all-district football standout has his sights on 144 after going 2-10 in varsity action a year ago.
Kinzer Jaennette (16-19) will fill the 150 weight class for the Trojans, while Anthony Thompson (16-30) plugs in at 157. They’re part of a smaller senior class for STC, whose roster features a large group of juniors and a vast class of freshmen.
Manuel Cervantes (2-9) slots in at 215 and fellow sophomore Kyle Youngbear (3-7) takes over at 190.
Van Dyke will turn to newcomers in the lineup at 132 with sophomore Eli Cruikshank, freshman Isaak Schroeder at 126 and Laykr Peska at heavyweight.
An 8-win season was a strong step in the right direction for the South Tama boys’ basketball program, but that senior-laden roster looks a little different this year.
The Trojans graduated 10 seniors from last year’s 8-14 campaign that accumulated six wins in WaMaC Conference play, four of them in the West Division alone — the most overall and divisional wins since STC won the West in 2017-18.
In addition to the mass graduation, the Trojans also lost their leading scorer and rebounder — then-freshman Emerson Bridgewater — to transfer.
Through all the departures, South Tama is missing 95.1 percent of last year’s scoring — 73.3 percent to graduation and 21.8 percent to Bridgewater’s exodus. Only 46 points (4.9 percent) of last year’s scoring total is back this winter.
The Trojans’ top returning scorer is Cyrell Etzen, who totaled 27 points in five games played last season as a sophomore. Seniors Jerome Kapayou and Ian Vore both
started in one game last year, but STC doesn’t return a lot of experience otherwise.
The South Tama boys’ wrestling team returns eight letterwinners from last year’s squad in hopes of filling the void left by the graduation. Pictured, from left, are: Manuel Cervantes Ramiro Saquic, Kyle Youngbear, Cody Blocker, Anthony Thompson, Kinzer Jaenette, Clayton Babinat and Marcus Bear.
PHOTO PROVIDED
The South Tama girls’ basketball team will try to reverse a rocky trend this season. Pictured above are: front row (from left) Olivia Hala, Scout Ridout, Daelia Lasley, Jaslene Lasley, Chaysia Kapayou and Dyan Keahna; back row: Janette Cervantes, Rylee Ridout, Paige Croskey, Aubrey Dolezal and Madison Hitchcock.
Trojan girls’ wrestling squad ready for battle
By JAKE RYDER TIMES-REPUBLICAN
TAMA — A young, but experienced South Tama County girls wrestling team is ready to take on the competition in the newly-formed Class 2A for girls wrestling this year.
Thirteen girls return to the STC mats this winter, including three state qualifiers — heavyweight Kinley Jimenez, 155-pounder Abigail Chyma and Autumn Elsbury, last year’s runner-up at 170 pounds.
Chyma is the only senior of the group,
but the returning letterwinner group all got plenty of mat time last season.
“Although underclassmen dominate the lineup, we’re battle-tested with some of these girls having upwards of 50 matches as freshmen,” STC head coach Jason Arp said.
“We’ve just gotta stay healthy, practice hard and learn from each match, win or lose.”
Many eyes are on Elsbury in the preseason — she’s the top ranked 170-pounder in IAwrestle’s Class 2A preseason rankings after falling to Naomi Simon of Decorah, now wrestling at Iowa, in last year’s 170-pound
finals. Iowa City High junior Molly Carlson is ranked second in the preseason list. Elsbury is also ranked 16th nationally at 170 pounds by FloWrestling.
Chyma and Jimenez went 0-2 in the 155 and heavyweight bracket at last year’s state tournament, respectively. In the preseason 2A rankings, Chyma is rated 10th, Jimenez seventh.
Arp said the Trojans’ goals include winning 75 percent of duals and having at least the three returning state qualifiers punch their tickets again this winter, if not more.
Livia Smith was fifth at 100 pounds at last year’s state-qualifying meet; Brooklyn Mitchell placed sixth at 145 pounds.
Keylee Holloway (120 pounds), Ava Perkins (130), Paisley Bro (140), Ioleta Kingbird (145) and Emma Slifer (190) all return this season with winning records from last year.
STC, which is in a co-op with East Marshall and GMG, kicked off the season with a home tournament on Nov. 21 and will also host a Class 2A state-qualifying meet on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.
PHOTO PROVIDED
The South Tama girls’ wrestling program already has one state champion to its name, and the Trojans have excellent numbers to try and pursue more success. Pictured are: front row (from left) assistant coach Danny Elsbury, Isabel Sabin-Perez, Alyssa Kriegel, Liv Smith, Ava Hendricks, Edith Mora-Martinez, Maylee Rucker, London Jaenette, Keylee Holloway, Jayva Gomez, Abby Wilson, Mallory Ostroski and head coach Jason Arp; back row: cssistant coach Logan Arp, Taylor Johannsen, Willow Cole, Kyla Bessman, Paisley Bro, Abigail Chyma, Brooklyn Mitchell, Autumn Elsbury, Ava Perkins, Kinley Jimenez, Ruby Gomez, Ioleta Kingbird, Ximena Carrera-Robles and Emma Slifer.
and that will translate to winning duals. Last year I thought we should have won more duals — we lost a few by five points or less — but when I start putting value on those things it starts to degrade my efforts and makes me start to feel negatively. So I focus on the individuals mostly just because I know at the end of the season that’s where we’re going to be evaluated.”
That’s why last year’s result was a bit underwhelming, Cross said.
At the Class 3A District 6 meet held at the Roundhouse, Marshalltown fans watched as Anderson secured his second trip to state as a district champion and Bantz punched his ticket for the first time as a third-place finisher.
Returning matmen Johan Gomez and Colby Cross suffered defeat in the match for third place, leaving them on the outside looking in at state qualification.
They’ll get another shot this season, starting with a home dual against Ames on Thursday, Dec. 5.
“So far the older guys have been great leaders, especially Xayvion,” coach Cross said. “I can’t say enough about him. He’s been amazing, and the kids look up to them. He’s personable and he cares about them.
“There’s a good blend of humor and hard-nosed work ethic. They know how to have fun ... and when it’s time to go, they go hard.”
to 144.
“Nobody’s going to touch him,” coach Cross said. “He should finish high on the podium this year at state.”
Dalton Zednichek (32-11) will move up to 175 in hopes of breaking through to state, and Cross knows it was certainly possible last year.
“I think he had a lackluster performance at districts last year and he knows it,” Cross
“On paper things look pretty good. We have some question marks, like who’s going to be the starter in a couple places, but for good reasons. We have some quality wrestlers stacked up against each other.”
—
Luke Cross
Marshalltown boys’ wrestling coach
Jaxson Hinkle has secured a spot at heavyweight after going 2-6 in varsity competition last year, while some other returners will have to battle to get their spots back.
Carson Wright (29-16) and Kyan Gilbertson will face off to earn a spot at 157, while Kager Kramer and newcomer Cooper McLeod are contesting for 150. Kramer broke his collarbone last season and didn’t finish the year, while McLeod is the son of a former Iowa State wrestler whose family moved in from Muscatine.
The Bobcats have a healthy amount of competition throughout their lineup, but a lot of starting spots are spoken for. Anderson, who was one match win away from making the podium at state last year, will weigh in at 165 pounds this year. He was 40-6 a year ago at 157.
Colby Cross (16-12) and Anthony Chavez will clash for a spot at 138. Bantz (34-12) moves up fron 125 to 132, and Nicholas Wise (32-9) climbs up two weights
said. “He should have been one of those guys punching his ticket to state and he’s kicking himself for falling flat, so he’s worked hard and he’s currently ranked in state.”
Gomez (29-6) will move down to 190 after competing at 215 last season, when shoulder and elbow injuries hampered his progress. He was a state qualifier as a sophomore and narrowly missed out on last year’s advancement. Ignacio Macias should take over at 215.
The lowest four weights will potentially be filled by freshmen: Nicholas Million at 106, Ashton Wright at 113, Usher Bollas at 120 and Yandel Manning at 126. Jose Corral Coronado will compete at 113 as well after putting in the work in junior varsity competition last season.
“The real coaching for them begins after we start competing,” Cross said. “Right now we’re going through all the things that should be taught in wrestling, and then once we compete against Ames I’ll know what to coach. It’s nice that this sport has lots of competitions where you can do that, you get to test the water and see where you’re at before the next meet.”
Central Iowa Farm Store 203 Iowa Ave W Marshalltown, IA 50158 641-753-3996 www.centraliowafarmstore.com
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