Winter sports 2015

Nov. 25, 2015 | A supplement to the Britt News Tribune and Forest City Summit

2015-16 Winter Sports Preview

Featuring the Forest City Indians and the West Hancock Eagles

C2 • Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015 • WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE | FOREST CITY SUMMIT

Eagles look to take another step BOB LINK

Winter Sports 2015-16‌

BRITT — West Hancock girls basketball coach Paul Sonius is hoping his team takes the next step in progression — fighting for one of the top spots in the conference and district races this year.

Two years ago Sonius had one of the youngest teams in North Iowa basketball and the Eagles finished with a 6-16 record.

Last year the Eagles were arguably one of the most improved basketball teams in the area. West Hancock played a very strong second half of the season on the way to a 14-8 record and third place in the North Iowa Conference.

With six returning letterwinners, including the team’s leading rebounders and shooters, Sonius is optimistic as the new season begins.

There are 17 athletes out for girls basketball, including three returning seniors: guards Maria Gonzalez and Emily Leerar and center Emily Chizek, who started the entire season last year.

Another guard, junior Faith Hammer, along with sophomores Kelly Leerar and Bridgid Smith round out the veteran roster.

“Our strength is experience, defense and shooting,” said Sonius. “Especially free throw shooting.”

Top new prospects on the squad include junior Anna Chizek, along with sophomores Sidney Burgardt and Katelyn Ohrt.

Sonius said early season workouts have

Photo courtesy of Michelle Kronemann

The 2015-16 West Hancock girls basketball team includes, front row, from left: Bryce Baker, Nicole Lampe, Sydney Zamago, KayLee Martin, Gabby Bell, Jade Oberhelman, Natalie Lemmon, Sydney Hudspeth and Brie Lehoe. Second row: Ryann Hagen, Katlyn Ohrt, Brigid Smith, Cassie Engstler, Maria Gonzalez, Emma Chizek, Emily Leerar, Anna Chizek, Faith Hammer, Kelly Leerar and Sydney Burgardt. Back row: Coaches: Dale Hesley, Paul Sonius and Kevin Wilson.

Sonius pointed to Forest City and focused on rebounding and finding the Bishop Garrigan to be the strong conferfield leader. “We need to find that one point guard who will be our team leader on ence contenders as they both return a strong nuecleus. the floor.”

The Eagles were scheduled to play their season opener against Lake Mills on Tuesday and will play Lake Mills in Britt on Tuesday Dec. 1.

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BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE | FOREST CITY SUMMIT

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW• Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015 • C3

Indians will be pushing the pace Junior Josilin Dillavou and her sophomore sister, FOREST CITY - With Brea Dillavou, saw a lot of playing time last experience at several key year while sophomore positions, Forest City guard Hannah Anderson coach Dusty Meyn said the Indians will be looking was the team’s starting point guard. to push the pace.

Sophomore guard Anna “We are quick and Anderson saw varsity athletic,” Meyn said. action last year while “Look for us to speed senior Abbey Staudt games up with our press. missed the season with an Our goal is to increase injury. Meyn expects both the amount of offensive to contribute. possessions. We shoot Meyn said he likes the ball really well and the way his team plays have a lot of good threedefense. “Last year we point shooters on this held almost every team year’s team.” under their scoring The Indians finished average,” he said. “We last season with a 13-11 bring most of our team record and third in the back so look for that same North Iowa Conference . intensity.”

Leading the seven The third year coach returning athletes are seniors Maggie Mathiasen points to Bishop Garrigan, Lake Mills and Garnerand Sarri Happel.

Hayfield-Ventura to be Happel was an all among the favorites in conference player in her the Top of North Iowa sophomore year, but was Western Conference, sidelined last year after while other potentially having surgery on both BOB LINK, Winter Sports 2015-16 strong teams on the Indian ankles. She is back and The Forest City Indians, from left, front row: Becca Seglem, Kelsey Ferch, Halle Johnson, Anna Andersen and Hannah schedule include Osage, looking foward to her Anderson. Back row: Maggie Mathiasen, Sarri Happel, Callie McQuown, Josilin Dillavou, Abbey Staudt and Brea Dillavou.

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BOB LINK

Winter Sports 2015-16‌

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C4 • Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015 • WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE | FOREST CITY SUMMIT

Exceptional guards; Eagles optimistic BOB LINK

Winter Sports 2015-16‌

BRITT - Coach Brian Peterson smiles as he talks about his senior guards Connor Sonius and Nate Paulus. The two players have each scored more than 1,000 career points for the West Hancock High School boys basketball team.

Both Sonius and Paulus have started since their freshman year. Sonius is the team’s point guard who passes and shoots with great accuracy. He also holds the school’s assist record. Paulus is a long-range specialist and is the school’s three-point record holder with nine in one game.

One year ago the Eagles finished the season with a 22-5 record, placed second in the North Iowa Conference and won the regional tournament, advancing to the State Class A Tournament. The team was defeated in the first round.

“Our guard play is our strength, experience and leadership,” Peterson said.

“Rebounding and post play will be something we’ll be working on. We need to find guys who can replace our seniors from last year.”

Gone from last year are Trevor Nalan, Jordan Savoy and Joey DeHart, all starters and all good rebounders. Nalan was

Photo courtesy of Michelle Kroneman

The West Hancock Eagles, from left front row: April Robbins, Kaitlyn Fuering, Kaitlin Smith, Alyssa Klaus, Josh Kline, Steph Melohn, Leslie Barranca and Alyssa Tegtmeyer. Middle Row: Natalie Wood, Santiago Garcia-Lopez, Jacob Hlavecek, Connor Redenius, Jacob Penning, Jacob Luedtke, MaCoy Yeakel, Gavin Becker and Andi Robbins. Back Row: Chase Eisenman, Ben Eisenman, Dylan Eckels, Nick Hunt, Colton Ruter, Seth Weiland, head coach Brian Peterson, coach Kevin Eisenman, Garrett Fosdick, Alex Hartwig, Connor Sonius, Glen Smith, Lucas Weiland and Nathan Paulus. also a 1,000-plus career points scorer.

The Eagles list seven returning letterwinners.

Dylan Eckels, last year’s sixth man who saw considerable playing time every game, leads the veterans. Colton Ruter and Seth Weiland also played a lot.

Two letterwinners, both who were looking at filling starting positions, are not in practice.

Ricardo Ibarra was a much

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used reserve last year, while Vicente Gonzalez brought quickness to the team. Both suffered football injuries and could

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Other prospects include juniors Nick Hunt, Glen Smith, Garrett Fosdick and freshman

Lucas Weiland.

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BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE | FOREST CITY SUMMIT

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW• Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015 • C5

Indians look to develop experience BOB LINK

Winter Sports 2015-16‌

FOREST CITY — The Forest City High School boys basketball program was hard hit by graduation last spring as 11 seniors including four starters graduated.

There weren’t a lot of familiar faces when veteran coach Dan Rosacker started varsity practice.

Fortunate for Rosacker, there are good numbers, 49 students, out for the sport.

Returning from last year’s team are four seniors including veteran starter Mitch Lambert, who can hit from the outside; Tyler Anderson and Logan Hall, who both played a lot; and Luke Tweeten, who didn’t see as much action as his classmates.

The Indians were 22-3.

The team had a 20-game win streak on its way to the State Class 2A Basketball Tournament, where they were defeated in the first round.

Rosacker, whose personal coaching record is 241-80 at Forest City, said the team will concentrate on “developing varsity experience.”

In addition to the four seniors, Rosacker looks to two juniors and four sophomores to lead the effort to rebuild the program.

Juniors Ben Mitgaard and Jacob Wilson are

strong prospects while Ryan Theel, Sam Snyder, Grady Hovenga and Chris Jermeland, all sophomores, are also strong looking prospects.

“We have good athleticism and perimeter shooting,” Rosacker said. “It will take some time to develop the game experience.”

Rosacker said there will be no lack of talent in the Top Of Iowa Western Division. He points to GarnerHayfield-Ventura, Lake Mills and West Hancock as conference favorites.

BOB LINK, Winter Sports 2015-16

The Forest City basketball team, from left, front row: Tyler Anderson, Jacob Wilson, Jerome Bailey, Nick Bohnstengel, Zach Bueford, Ben Midtgaard and Mitch Lambert. Middle row: head coach Dan Rosacker, assistant coach Ryan Smith, Kjartan Strumann, Colton Shipman, Grady Hovenga, Chris Jermeland, assistant coaches Ryan Eastvold and Paul Jensen. Back row, Sam Snyder, Jerico Baker, Logan Hall, Caleb Hovenga, Luke Tweeten, Ryan Theel and Jason Mielke.

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C6 • Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015 • WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE | FOREST CITY SUMMIT

Eagle matmen young and experienced

Photo courtesy of Michelle Kronemann

The West Hancock wrestling team, from left, front row: Marlud Landeros, Peyton Cook, Morgan Dallman, Hailey Kabrick, Brooke Anderson, Chloe Lamoreux, Jada Erdahl and Makayla Holland. Middle row: Coach Mark Sanger, Rylee Horstman, Rachel Kumsher, Dalton Subject, Nathan Cabrera, Reed Brown, Jordi Rodriguez, Bennett Bruns, Nick Lemmon, Clayton Brown, Brooklyn Buren and Coach Bill Dallman. Back Row: Coach Doug Doughan, Jordan Weiland, Dawson Goodrich, Hunter Hagen, Caleb Eckels, Austin Brouwer, Colton Francis, Cameron Clark, Preston Cink and Coach Dave Brown. Not pictured JJ Holland.

BOB LINK

Winter Sports 2015-16‌

BRITT — JJ Holand and Hunter Hagen had major accomplishments last year for the West Hancock High School wrestling team.

Holland won an individual tournament title early in the season, breaking a two-year dry spell, Hagen became the first regional qualifier in two years. He narrowly missed qualifying for placing third in

the substate.

Hagen, a 182-pound athlete, is a sophomore this year, while Holland, who wrestles at 106, is a junior this year. They will be the team leaders on a young, but somewhat experienced team.

“We have a solid nucleus of young wrestlers that gained a great deal of experience last year,” said coach Mark Sanger. “We have another group of young wrestlers entering the room this

year. We will continue to look for improvement on last year and work ourselves back into a competitive position as a tournament team.”

Returning letter winners include juniors Clayton Brown, Nick Lemmon, Jordan Weiland, and sophomores Dawson Goodrich, Camerson

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“Dual meets will be a challenge for our team this year as we

will struggle to fill all 14 weights,” said Sanger.

“But we will have some individuals who are capable of competing at a high level.”

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Britt News tribune | Forest city summit Winter sports preview • Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015 • C7

Indians to follow Paulson and Gelhaus The Forest City wrestling team, from left, front row: Eric Hamilton, student managers Magan Krein, Sarah Nordskog, Jasmine West, Brandon Finch, Francesca Wasicek, Ally Larson, Johanna Juveland, and Justin Wellik. Second row: Tim Buck, Blake Jacobs, Maverick Freerken, Tristen Springer, Alec Fett, Brett Walton, John Olson, Kameron Rohwedder, Cedric Harris and Dylan Benitez.

Third row assistant coach Andy Eastvold, assistant coach Steve Pickar, Timmy Thompson, Dylan Schleuger, Cody Lunning, Josef Kudej, Pierce Gelhuas, Head coach Steve Staudt and assistant coach Keith Walker. Back row, Alex Paulson, Easton Jacobs, Gabe Staudt, Dylan Jenkins, Zack Wagner, Jacob Trunkhill, Ethan Alsop, Tom West, Noah Paulson and Evan Larson.

Bob Link, Winter Sports 2015-16

finished fifth at state.

Paulson, who is a FOREST CITY - Two senior at North Iowa out of three state qualifers High School, wrestles from last season are back for the Indians in a coop agreement. Gelhaus, in the wrestling room at another senior, is coming Forest City High School this year and veteran head off a good football season where he was among the coach Steve Staudt said his team will look to them team leaders in tackles.

The Indians were 14-18 for team leadership. in duals last year and Alex Paulson finished finished fifth in the North fourth in his weight Iowa Conference. class a year ago while “We will have strong Pierce Gelhaus qualified. senior leadership and Graduate Beau Sorenson Bob Link

Winter Sports 2015-16‌

decent numbers this year,” said Staudt, who has 28 wrestlers in the workout room. “We also have a lot of inexperienced

Triston Springer, and Blake Jacobs.

Sophomores, Alec Fett, Easton Jacobs, Evan Larson, Eric Hamilton,

and Tim Buck.

Staudt said he expects tough competition from Osage, Lake Mills and Webster City.

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Other returning letterwinners include: juniors Maverick Freerksen, Noah Paulson,

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C8 • Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015 • Winter sports preview

Britt News tribune | Forest city summit

Indian bowlers bring experience Bob Link

Winter Sports 2015-16‌

FOREST CITY - With more bowlers reporting for workouts than ever before, Forest City bowling coach Charlie Frascht has his sights set on qualifying for the state bowling tournament.

A field of 14 boys and 12 girls have reported for practice.

“Right now the girls are a bright spot,” said Frascht.

“We have everybody back and they’re a little more focused.”

Last year the Indian girls finished second in the district and fourth in the substate qualifying tournament. “And we didn’t bowl our best in the substate,” continued Frascht.

Top returners for the girls include seniors Jenna Haugen,

The Forest City boys bowling team, front row, from left: Spencer McClement, Chance Manship, Dylan Krutsinger, Nicholas Engebretson, Nathaniel Diekhuis, Mike Nielsen, Chandler Thompson and Eli Johnson. Back row: Trace Ruby, Matt Bruns, Dillion Mai, Billy McCloskey, Hunter O’Toole and Dakota Droessler.

who placed 14th in the substate tournament, Kelsey Sheldahl, Shaely Hoeft, Megan Haugen and Jennifer Brock.

Sophomore Shayne Hoeft, who was team leader last year, and freshman Mandy Anzivino are also starting the year strong.

On the boys team, the Indians finished third in the substate tournament last year.

Tyler Doss, who finished third in the substate and graduated, is now bowling on the Waldorf College team.

Doss’ shoes will likely be filled by Chandler Thompson, who returns after placing ninth in last year’s substate. Other varsity veterans include Brett McClement and Dakota Dressler.

The Forest City girls bowling team, front row, from left: Mikaela Fought, Kelsey Sheldahl, Phoebe Kozitza, Jennifer Brock, Shaelyn Hoeft and Francesca Wasicek.

Back row: Megan Haugen, Brianna Knepp, Shayne Hoeft, Jenna Haugen, Mandy Anzivino and Diana Schinzel.

Bob Link photos, Winter Sports 2015-16

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