2015 fall sports tab

2015 Fall Sports Tab WEST HANCOCK AND FOREST CITY HIGH SCHOOLS

A supplement to the Britt News Tribune and Forest City Summit | August 26, 2015 | Page C1

C2 • WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26, 2015

BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE, FOREST CITY SUMMIT 2015 FALL SPORTS

FOREST CITY FOOTBALL

Indians rely on speed and athleticism BOB LINK

Fall Sports 2015

FOREST CITY — This year’s Forest City football team starts the new year with limited experience because the team was filled with strong leadership from seniors last year.

The team does have a few key players who started or played a lot last year who will step into leadership positions this season, interim coach Dan Rosacker said.

Rosacker has had limited experience at varsity football and limited time to prepare.

But that hasn’t stopped Rosacker, or his field of 75 players, from staying optimistic about the new season.

Rosacker, who agreed to be the interim coach when former Indian coach PJ Hedrington resigned citing personal reasons, has head coaching and varsity football experience, but he has not been a head football coach.

But Rosacker and the school administration, who commended him as an interim coach for the year, think he knows kids, athletics and football well enough to put the pieces together to organize a competitive team.

“It has gone good,” he said one week before the first regular season game. “I have a good coaching staff around me.”

Looking at the team, he said, “We have a lot of speed and athleticism and right now we’re trying to get guys lined up in the right positions.”

on the 2014 All-District team. Anderson caught 16 passes and had a 20.6 yardsper-catch average in district play. He had three touchdown receptions in league play with the longest at 65 yards. The team’s leading scorer, Anderson was also among the team’s leading defenders.

Other seniors included on this year’s roster include Timmy Thompson, Pierce Gelhaus, Logan Hall and Mitch Lambert, who suffered an injury early last fall and was sidelined most of the season.

Gelhaus and Thompson finished the season with 17 and 16 tackles respectively.

The veteran juniors include Jacob Wilson, Kyle Brown, Jericho Baker, RichBOB LINK, Fall Sports 2015 ard Gildemeister, Colton Shipman and The 2015 Forest City football team, front row, from left, Josef Kudej, Nathaniel Diekhuis, Ben Midtgaard.

Andrew Kuhn, Sam Swanson, Will Kirschbaum, Eric Hamilton, Chandler Thompson, Jaxon Wilson was a running back last year with 49 carries and 219 yards. He was Jones, Dylan Benitez and Triston Springer. Second row, Brandon Finch, assistant coaches also the Indians’ second leading receiver Ken Baker, Steve Staudt, Keith Walker; head coach Dan Rosacker; managers Laura with 14 catches, 163 yards receiving and Buffington, Johanna Juveland and Alyssa Buffington; assistant coaches Brad Bengtson, Adam Bengtson, Austin Pink, Steve Rollefson and Jason Sopko. Third row, Dakota Droessler, two touchdown receptions.

Brown, Midtgaard and Baker had their Billy McCloskey, Dillon Mai, Dylan Schleuger, Richard Gildemeister, Caleb Stevens, Cedric best numbers on defense. Gildemeister Harris, Billy Boyken, Zach Johnson, Ethan Alsop, Zach Pardoe, Cameron Anderson and Dylan Jenkins. Fourth row, Jacob Balsley, Jacob Wilson, Spenser Larson, Kyle Brown, Pierce had just over 30 carries last season and Gelhaus, Easton Jacobs, Shaden Tweeten, Nicholas Bohnstengel, Timmy Thompson, Jacob gained 136 yards with an average of 4.4 yards per carry.

Jurgensen, Ben Midtgaard, Wyatt Steffensen and Brennan Hertzer. Back row: Logan Hall, Among the seven newcomers to the Jericho Baker, Colton Shipman, Tyler Anderson, Evan Larson, Ryan Saarie, Zach Lehmann, varsity, sophomore Sam Snyder is the Mitch Lambert, Christ Jermeland, Riley Bruns and Sam Snyder. Not pictured Tim Buck. leading prospect to start as the Indian quarterback.

The Indians will open the regular seaAmong the returners, Tyler Anderson, There are 12 returning letter winners, five seniors and seven juniors, out for this a junior receiver, led the district with 330 son at 7:30 p.m. Friday, playing a nonyards receiving, which landed him a spot conference game against Algona. year’s team.

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BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE, FOREST CITY SUMMIT 2015 FALL SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26, 2015 • C3

WEST HANCOCK FOOTBALL

Eagles talent runs deep BOB LINK

Fall Sports 2015

BRITT – Last year the West Hancock football team washed away the bitter taste of a 0-9 record from the prior year to finish the season with a 5-5 record.

The team was also second place in the district and advanced to the first round of the Class 1A State Football Playoffs.

The Eagles are optimistic about an even better performance this year.

“I think our goals can be as lofty as we want to set them,” said veteran coach Bob Sanger. “We have good talent and pretty decent depth. We just have to see how they react in game situations. But in the past that hasn’t been a problem with this group.”

Sanger is starting his 48th year as head coach of the Eagles. He has a 314147 record at West Hancock and the former Britt High School.

The Eagles have 47 players out for football with 17 returning letter winners and 12 players who started on last year’s team.

To say the Eagles have “a lot of experience” is somewhat of an understatement. The team’s top four rushers and four of its five top total yardage gainers return on offense. On defense, the top three tacklers return.

“Our running game will be solid, but can improve,” Sanger said. “We’ll have a good passing game with a lot of choices.

BOB LINK, Fall Sports 2015

The West Hancock football team, from left, front row: managers Weston Schmid and Kolby Goepel, JJ Holland, Reed Brown, Caleb Eckels, Gavin Becker, Bennett Bruns, Lucas Weiland, Dalton Subject, Santiago Garcia and Jacob Hlavacek, Second row, from left: managers, Logan Leerar and Casey Lamoreux, Jordan Weiland, Jordi Rodriguez, Nate Paulus, Josh Kreitlow, Clayton Brown, Ben Eisenman, Connor Twedt, Tre Hobscheidt, Nick Lemmon, Zach Clark, Glen Smith and Preston Cink. Third row, from left: assistant coach Kevin Eisenman, head coach Bob Sanger, Dallas Pearson, Jacob Luedtke, Austin Brouwer, Brice Kudej, Dakota Peterson, Chase Eisenman, Victor Martinez, Ricardo Ibarra, Levi Eden, MaCoy Yeakel, Connor Sonius, Sam Smith, Vicente Gonzalez and assistant coach Mark Sanger. Back row, from left; Alex Hartwig, Abraham Guido, Dalton Bates, Alex Schleuger, Bryce Buren, Nick Hunt, Dylan Eckels, Hunter Hagen, Colton Francis, assistant coaches, Paul Francis and Ryan Johnson.

It’s not a sure thing, but I feel good about it.”

Senior quarterback Connor Sonius will lead the charge. Sonius completed 51 percent of his passes last season. He threw for 588 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.

In the backfield, Dalton Bates ran for 981 yards and caught three passes for

1,023 total yards of offense. He scored 14 touchdowns and averaged four yards per carry. His longest touchdown run was eight yards.

Jordan Weiland, who is more of a breakaway runner, ran for 790 yards.

Weiland averaged 5.6 yards per carry and had nine touchdowns, with his longest score on a 63-yard run. Weiland was also

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a defensive leader with 55 solo tackles, 34 assists and three sacks.

Sonius, Bates and Weiland were AllDistrict first team in 2014.

On defense three district team member return for the Eagles. Defensive end Dallas Pearson was first team all district and linebacker Ricardo Ibarra was named to See WH FOOTBALL, C8

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C4 • WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26, 2015

BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE, FOREST CITY SUMMIT 2015 FALL SPORTS

FOREST CITY VOLLEYBALL

Indians returning key players Working the net, Forest City players have a volley during an early season practice.

BOB LINK

Fall Sports 2105

FOREST CITY — Lacy Jerome is hoping this year’s Forest City volleyball team, which “looks very similar” to last year’s team, can produce the same kind of results.

If that happens the Indians will be in the thick of the conference race and the state tournament playoffs.

The Indian team is coming off one of its most successful seasons in many years, finishing with a 35-8 record, as they won the Forest City Tournament, placed second in the North Iowa Conference Tournament and advanced to the regional championship.

In the game to move on to state, Forest City lost a heart breaking five-game set, 3-2 to Iowa Falls-Alden.

The Indians lost seven players, mainly back court players. But Jerome is optimistic about the abilities of the players out for the sport.

The Indians will have six returning letter winners and eight girls who have played together on a regular basis.

“A number of girls have played a lot this summer,” she said. “They’ve made really good strides in filling in the positions of players who graduated.”

Leading the returners are front line players seniors Maggie Mathiasen, Sarri

BOB LINK, Fall Sports 2015

– no other Indian player had more than 12. She also had 24 aces.

Two juniors, Ryleigh Lillquist and Josilin Dillavou, also return with limited BOB LINK, Fall Sports 2015 varsity experience. New faces on the varsity will include Hannah Anderson, Brea The 2015 Forest City volleyball team, from left, sitting, Hannah Vaughan, Kaitlyn Bruns, Dillavou and Kaitlyn Bruns.

Brea Dillavou and Maggie Mathiasen. Standing, middle row, Sarri Happel, Callie Maxwell, After an early season scrimmage in St. Ryleigh Lillquist and Josilin Dillavou. Back row, Emily Koch, Alannah Olson, Haley Ansgar, Jerome said she was pleased with Niederkofler and Hannah Anderson. what she saw. “We did some things good, Happel totaled 256 kills and Vaughan 118. other things bad,” she said. “We had a Happel and Hannah Vaughan. Another couple of good blocking games and we Mathiasen also had 43 aces – second on senior, Emily Koch, was statistically also mixed up hitting the ball well.” the team; with 271 digs and 28 blocks, one of the leading setters in the state a The Indians open the volleyball season both stats were third among Indian playyear ago. on Thursday, Aug. 27 when Eagle Grove ers a year ago.

Mathiasen led the Indians with comes to Forest City.

Koch totaled 1,089 assists in 2014 398 kills, averaging about four per set.

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BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE, FOREST CITY SUMMIT 2015 FALL SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26, 2015 • C5

WEST HANCOCK VOLLEYBALL

Eagles have foundation, youth BOB LINK

Fall Sports 2015

BRITT – With six returning letter winners from last year, West Hancock volleyball coach Erin Brown will have a foundation to build this year’s team.

Last year the Eagles were 7-19.

Gone from the 2014 team are seven players, including several that led the team in different categories. Macey Harms, the Eagles’ top hitter, Mallory Becker, the Eagles’ leading setter, and multipurpose player Whitney Burgardt have graduated.

Brown is working with 22 players in grades 9-12. Her roster includes two veteran starters.

Seniors Emma Chizek and Cara Francis give the team a strong foundation in the front court.

Francis totaled 79 kills, 88 digs and 12 blocks and 12 aces.

Chizek had 40 kills, 20 digs and 20 blocks.

Seniors Monica Loeschen and April Robbins, along with

BOB LINK, Fall Sports 2015

The West Hancock volleyball team, from left, front row: Andi Robbins, Jade Oberhelman, Gabby Bell, Brooklyn Buren, Rylee Horstman, Natalie Lemmon, Katlyn Ohrt, Sydney Hudspeth, April Robbins, Payton Cook and Ryann Hagen. Back row, volunteer Logan Brown, manager Cassie Engstler, assistant coach Jessica Ohrt, Sydney Burgardt, Nicole Lampe, Emma Chizek, Brigid Smith, Brooke Anderson, Monica Loeschen, Kaitlynn Feuring, Cara Francis, Kaylee Hudspeth, Sydney Zamago and head coach Erin Brown. sophomores Brigid Smith and Ryann Hagen, were also on the varsity team last year.

Loeschen had 25 digs and 13 blocks. Robbins had 24 digs playing in 29 sets last year, while

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Hagen’s varsity playing time was limited.

“Everyone is a little rusty yet,” said Brown during the second week of practice. “It will take some time to get things

figured out. So far we’ve been focusing on agility and fundamentals.”

The Eagles will open the regular season Thursday night when Lake Mills visits.

BOB LINK, Fall Sports 2015

Going to the net — West Hancock’s Brigid Smith goes for a spike after being set by teammate Ryann Hagen.

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C6 • WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26, 2015

BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE, FOREST CITY SUMMIT 2015 FALL SPORTS

WEST HANCOCK CROSS COUNTRY

Gonzalez, Hudspeth to lead Cardinals

Rebekah Larson.

“Maria and Kaylee will be our leaders,” said Coach GARNER – When Jeff Short. “They’re lookthe Garner-Hayfielding good … but the big Ventura-West Hancock thing for us is that we need cross country team takes more numbers. As for the the course this year, two kids we do have, they’re all veteran West Hancock runners will likely be lead- hard working kids.”

In one very important ing the charge. change for girls cross Maria Gonzalez, country teams this fall, who finished 12th in the their course is going to be regional track meet last lengthened, making the year, was two places girls event the same disaway from qualifying tance as the boys. individually for the state The girls races will go cross country meet. While Kaylee Hudspeth, who ran from 4K to a 5K event. That will make the distance 3.1 strong at the end of cross miles instead of the previcountry and throughout ous races of 2.5 miles. the spring track season, On the boys side GHV looks to continue her returns a strong team as steady improvement. they finished fourth in Other top prospects the State Class 2A Cross for the Cardinals are Country Meet last fall.

Morgan Graham and BOB LINK

Fall Sports 2015

BOB LINK, Fall Sports 2015

The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura-West Hancock girls cross country team from left, front row: Kaylee Hudspeth, Maria Gonzalez, Morgan Graham and Rebekah Larson. Back row, Paige Rasmuson, Kayla Leerar, Emma Whelan, Hannah Wellik and Nicole Upmeyer.

“Maria and Kaylee will be our leaders. They’re looking good … but the big thing for us is that we need more numbers. As for the kids we do have, they’re all hard working kids.”

Jeff Short, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura-West Hancock cross country coach

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BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE, FOREST CITY SUMMIT 2015 FALL SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26, 2015 • C7

FOREST CITY CROSS COUNTRY

Indian runners young and experienced BOB LINK

Fall Sports 2015

FOREST CITY – After three seasons of growing numbers, the Forest City cross country team will be looking to take the next steps of scoring fewer points and becoming more competitive at larger meets.

Scott Jackson, who has been an assistant in the program for five years (and the Forest City girls track coach) will be the new Indian boys and girls cross country coach as Steve Kappos retired after last season.

Jackson said he has 19 boys and 11 girls out for cross country.

“We’re young, but we have experience,” said Jackson. “In the boys, we’ll have eight to 10 guys competing for the varsity positions.

We have a situation where teammates are making teammates better.”

Jackson says the team will be solid. “We have a lot of work to do,” he said. “But watching the early season progress, I feel we’re going to get better and better.”

Leading returners for the boys are Noah Segerstrom and Grady Hovenga.

Segerstrom, a junior, consistently ran the fastest times for the Indians one year ago. Hovenga, a sophomore, consistently got closer and closer to his

teammate as last season came to an end. Hovenga also had a good spring, running distance events for the Indian track team.

Other returners include seniors Nathan Theel, Luke Tweeten, Caleb Hovenga and sophomores Matthew Petersen and Tanner Greenwood.

New prospects in the sport include sophomore Brandon Finch, who is also playing football, is a strong prospect for the varsity, while Jackson says freshman Gus Walsh could be stepping up for some varsity action later in the year.

On the girls team, two of Forest City’s top three runners graduated.

Autumn Busta and Morgan Kingston ended their careers as team leaders in the sport.

Morgan Hobbs and Thone Golwitzer, both sophomores, are top returners for this year’s squad.

The only senior on the team, Maddie Walter, and the only junior, Caitlyn Owen, are among top prospects.

In addition to Hobbs, the sophomore prospects include Stephanie Nettleton, Sydney Pederson, Kaitlyn Krones, Jana Robson and Carena Lechuga.

The freshman team

BOB LINK, Fall Sports 2015

Front row, from left, Jesse Brock, Caitlyn Owen, Morgan Hobbs, Sydney Pederson, Anna Weaver, Maddie Walter, Jana Robson, Stephanie Nettleton, Kaitlyn Krones, Carena Lechuga, Thone Golwitzer and Jacob Welton. Second row, Gus Walsh, Tanner Greenwood, Randy Vaughan, Brandon Finch, Coach Greenwood, Coach Jackson, Coach Hovenga, Sam Redinger, Cole Anderson, Seth Gayther and Jacob Buffington. Third row, Ryan Theel, Caleb Hovenga, Nathan Theel, Matt Petersen, Grady Hovenga, Noah Segerstrom, Sterling Stecker, Kjarten Strumann, Corey Behrens and Luke Tweeten. members include Anna Weaver and Maria Vazquez.

Jackson said the area will have some extremely strong teams as defending

state champ Osage returns several runners, while the boys competition, GarnerHayfield-Ventura is ranked third and Osage eighth in

pre-season polls.

“I’m really looking forward to the first meet of the season,” said Jackson.

The Indians will run at the

Newman Catholic Invitational on the Mercy West Campus on Sept. 1. “We’ll be able to see just where we stack up.”

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C8 • WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26, 2015

BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE, FOREST CITY SUMMIT 2015 FALL SPORTS

Sophomore quarterback Sam Snyder throws a pass at a Forest City Indian practice session.

VETERANS PROVIDING GOOD DEPTH WH Football: From C3 the district’s second team.

Sam Smith, an end, was an honorable mention selection on the district.

Veteran linemen Victor Martinez, Brice Kudej and Abe Guido are back from last year’s starting lineup.

Defenders Nick Hunt and Vicente Gonzalez along with fullback Colton Francis started for the Eagles in different games last season.

Sanger said the team has a lot of members that can play, which gives it good depth.

“We’ll be able to get people in and out of the game, keeping them fresh,” said Sanger.

The Eagles open the season Friday night against non-district rival Garner-HayfieldVentura.

Bob Link Fall Sports 2015

BOB LINK, Fall Sports 2015

West Hancock’s Gavin Becker rolls out during a drill at a recent practice.

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