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BULLDOGS
will be young this year
The 2016-17 Hampton-Dumont boys’ basketball team includes the following, front row, from left: Drew Uhlenhopp, Matt Waddingham, Carson Freese, Aldhair Espejo, Ricardo Sanchez, Branden Ho, Francisco Alejo, John Palacios. Middle row: Ethan Spurgeon, Carson Miller, Max Aalbers, Joe Vondra, Chris Harms, Dakota Harms, Brady Angstman, Humberto Sanchez, Alex Thompson. Back row: Mason Johnson, Logan Gooder, Jacob Van Horn, Brady Ringleb, Justin Kent, Cade Klein, Riley Flint, Jovan Velasquez, Wyatt Sutter, Cesar Damas. Not pictured: Cole Franke, Alexis Salinas, Reymundo Velasquez, Erick Hernandez, Samuel Wragge and Malyk Shunk. KRISTI NIXON/HAMPTON CHRONICLE
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BY KRISTI NIXON HAMPTON – Only one returning letter winner is among the Hampton-Dumont boys’ basketball possible starters this season. act, In fact, L o g a n Gooder, t-2 a 6-foot-2 junior who averaged oints 6.2 points and 3.8 ds rebounds e, per game, he is the yer only player ho competed in back who all 20 games last year h the Bulldogs in which finished 9-11. -time H-D head Long-time coach Heath Walton is team “young called his ppy.” and scrappy.” ring and “Scoring nt ball consistent handling,” Walton said were among the team’s chief concerns entering the season in which he hadn’t completely solidified a starting lineup before the Bulldogs’ opener at AGWSR last week. He did, however, list more than half a dozen players who were promising newcomers and saw considerable time on the junior varsity in 2015-16. One of them was senior Justin Kent, who played in 11 varsity contests, the only other player besides Gooder to see the court for any considerable amount of time. He averaged less than a point and rebound per game. Among the others Walton listed are Max Aalbers, Joe Vondra, Ethan Spurgeon, Cesar Damas, Brady Ringleb and Dakota Harms. Vondra started despite a finger injury suffered during football season using a protective covering over the finger in the season’s opener. Last year’s North Central Conference champion, Webster City, graduated nearly all of its lineup as did second-place team Algona. Next in line was Fort Dodge St. Edmond, which has a considerable amount of its team returning. But Walton did not say who could be the NCC favorite, nor where his team could end up. In order to be successful, Walton said his young team must, “understand we will make mistakes.” Walton is four games away from reaching the 100-win plateau. His Bulldogs opened the home season last Friday against North Central Conference opponent Clear Lake and hit the road this Friday against St. Edmond. ■
Hampton Chronicle • Sheffield Press • Pioneer Enterprise
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Wednesday, Dec. 7 & Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016
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The 2016-17 CAL boys’ basketball team includes the following, front row, from left: Manager Marlud Landeros, Eduardo Gomez, Logan Colglazier, Marco Lerma, Sergio Martinez, Cody Turner, Andrew Bell, manager Stephanie Ramirez. Back row: Assistant coach Caleb Rapp, Ben Rapp, Israel Rivera, Nate Rapp, Luke Rapp, Graham Patrick, Nick Turner, Brock Guerrero and head coach Austin Guerrero. KRISTI NIXON/HAMPTON CHRONICLE
CAL alum takes over boys’ program BY KRISTI NIXON LATIMER – Only two years removed from leading the CAL boys’ basketball team in scoring, Austin Guerrero takes over the head coaching job for the Cadets in 2016-17. Guerrero, who is taking online classes at Iowa Central now, oversees 15 players, 10 of which he says will dress varsity. The plus for the first-year head coach is he has four starters back from last year’s team which finished 2-19. The team’s second-leading scorer a year ago, junior Israel Rivera, is among them after he tallied 13 points per game. Also back is Guerrero’s younger brother, Brock Guerrero, as well as twins Ben Rapp and Luke Rapp. Brock Guerrero averaged five points per game while Luke averaged four and Ben, two. The Rapp twins’ brother, Nate Rapp, will compete on varsity after missing last basketball season with a torn ACL. “Our strengths would be our athleticism,
We can’t win games with just one or two kids doing everything. We need to get everyone feeling confident and willing to shoot the ball. Play tough defense is a must. - Austin Guerrero, CAL head coach speed,” coach Guerrero said. “I would also say our kids who have played before have varsity minutes. Our down low play will be our strengths with Nate and Israel, our rebounding should be a strength; I would also say our team chemistry with this group is great.” Coach Guerrero added that the tempo the team plays should be a strong suit. “We can control the pace we want the game to be played at,” Guerrero said. “Midrange shooting with our guards is also a team strength.” In addition to the returning players, Guerrero lists six freshmen among
newcomers who could help the team this season. Among them are Sergio Martinez, Nick Turner and Eduardo Gomez who could see minutes. “We will have eight or nine players who will play consistently,” Guerrero said. “Our ninth spot will be open for anyone who earns it.” Even though CAL has experience, it lacks size. Guerrero says he’s also concerned about his team’s ability to shoot from the perimeter. “Everyone is around the same height,” Guerrero said. “We also lack depth – I would like to have 10 kids so we could sub more
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often, but realistically we only have seven who are ready to play varsity minutes.” Still, coach Guerrero sees his team being able to finish among the top three in the Iowa Star North. “I believe with this team we can get rolling together and we are tough down low and be tough on defense,” Guerrero said. “I think we will stack up with the teams in the conference pretty well. If we could build up the depth a little more, I believe we could even get second.” Among the favorites he lists are Janesville and Tripoli. “We must play hard all game long, force turnovers due to our lack of size and get everyone involved,” Guerrero said. “We can’t win games with just one or two kids doing everything. We need to get everyone feeling confident and willing to shoot the ball. Play tough defense is a must.” The CAL boys opened the season against Riceville on Tuesday, Nov. 29 as Guerrero seeks his first win as head coach. ■
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• MEET THE 2016-17 WINTER SPORTS TEAMS •
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The 2016-17 West Fork boys’ basketball team includes the following, front row, from left: Ian Latham, Mitchell Halloran, Zach Martinek, Thomas Nuehring, Rylan Fleshner, Travis Fekkers, Jake Nierengarten. Middle row: Manager Dakota Reason, Kyle Rooney, Lukas Wogen, Dawson Zeitler, Conner Schulz, Austin Larson. Back row: Assistant coach Trent Trask, head coach Frank Schnoes, Cole Hall, Nathan Meinders, Jayden Engebretson and assistant coach Randy Bohman. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC BURT
West Fork relies on depth again BY KRISTI NIXON SHEFFIELD – Never count the West Fork boys basketball team out. Although the Warhawks have just one returning starter back from their 23-1 overall season and unbeaten and championship season in the Top of Iowa Conference, they have plenty back who are letter winners with plenty of experience. Coach Frank Schnoes’ team, besides returning starter Travis Fekkers, a 6-foot-3 senior guard who averaged 9.1 points and 2.4 assists per game, includes six letter winners with a plethora of time off of the bench from a year ago. Not only does he have a good number of returning letter winners, Schnoes lists a handful of newcomers who are expected to contribute. “We should have good depth at all positions, perimeter shooting,” Schnoes said. “Even though we had most starters
The conference should be more balanced this year, so this will be a challenge for us. I think the top three contenders in the conference should be Osage, Mason City Newman and West Fork. - Frank Schnoes, West Fork head coach
graduate last year, many reserves got valuable varsity experience last year. We are bringing up players from last year’s JV team that had a lot of success.” Even though the seven returning players, as well as the five newcomers average height is 6-2, Schnoes says the area that concerns him most is rebounding. “We don’t have the size that we had the last several years,” Schnoes said. “Also, playing good defense (is a concern). Taking care of the ball and keeping turnovers at a
minimum.” In the early going, Schnoes has only solidified three probable starters including Fekkers: Cole Hall and Zach Martinek, who both saw time in the regular rotation last year. Hall averaged 3.6 points and 3.34 rebounds while Martinek averaged 2.6 points and 1.4 boards a game. Others he listed as contending for a starting spot are returning letter winners Rylan Fleshner, Thomas Nuehring, Dawson
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Zeitler as well as newcomers Nathan Meinders, Mitchell Halloran and Jake Nierengarten. Winning the Top of Iowa Conference is the first goal for the Warhawks. At stake is West Fork’s conference win streak that is still in tact. It has won 114 in a row since West Fork started conference play together. “Every year we have a goal to win the conference championship,” Schnoes said. “The conference should be more balanced this year, so this will be a challenge for us. “I think the top three contenders in the conference should be Osage, Mason City Newman and West Fork.” He still says he expects a winning season and to contend for the TOI East. “Take care of the basketball, not give up easy scores, have a balanced offense (be able to score inside and out) and win the rebound battle,” Schnoes said were keys to his team being successful this season. ■
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The 2016-17 AGWSR boys’ basketball team includes the following, front row, from left: Titan Opperman, Brady Fisher, Alex Hames, Liam Stubbe, Tate Hofmeister, Mason Eilderts, Brent Janssen. Middle row: Lucas Starr, Aaron Roelfs, Alex Stahl, Tyler Rose, Josh Bartling, Keon Huffman, Riley Sicard, Trevor Clawson. Back row: Zach Crain, Tanner Weichers, Caleb Bartling, Sawyer Heitland, Ethan Ubben, Nathan Karsjens, Austin Rekward and Jay Janssen. Not pictured: Jason Seaberg. PHOTO BY SCOTT BIERLE BY SCOTT BIERLE ACKLEY – A cast of seven returning letter winners provides a wealth of experience for the AGWSR boys’ basketball team this winter. Senior Nathan Karsjens leads the list as a three-time letter winner with seniors Mason Eilderts and Jay Janssen two-time letter winners and one for seniors Caleb Bartling, Tate Hofmeister and Brent Janssen along with junior Ethan Ubben. “Hopefully with another year of maturity and improvement in the off-season we can really hit the ground running with kids who have played together and know what their roles will be to make this a successful season,” said AGWSR head coach Russ Banzhaf. Banzhaf, starting his 30th year as a head coach and 14 wins shy of 400 at 386, noted size is another strength of the team. “We have good size and not only in the post but also on the wings,” Banzhaf said. “We have some wings with good length (6-foot-1 to 6-3) and our posts are in the 6-5 to 6-7 range. That size should allow us to get some things done in the post area
Wealth of experience for AGWSR boys’ hoops team offensively.” Karsjens has led the Cougars’ scoring and rebounding the past two seasons, collecting 337 points and 185 rebounds a year ago for averages of 16.9 and 9.3, respectively. The 6-7 Karsjens has been limited in pre-season practices due to a broken hand suffered during football. He was likely to miss the season opener but is expected back soon after that. Karsjens is just 60 points away from the 1,000 plateau with 940. Janssen was second in scoring last season at 9.1 points per game and sank 33 threeballs, while Eilderts averaged 6.6 and was the team leader with 97 assists and 42 steals. Karsjens was first-team all-conference and Eilderts second-team as the Cougars were the league runners-up and ended 17-7 overall.
Shooting is the concern for Banzhaf. “Two things stick out as area’s we need to improve and those would be field goal and free throw percents,” said Banzhaf. “Looking closer at our shooting from the field we need to continue to get the ball inside, drive it to the basket and finish and improve our three-point shooting. The number of times we get to the free throw line has to be higher and who gets to the free throw line will take care of improvement in that area.” Along with the seven letter winners, Banzhaf has a long list of potential candidates for court time with seniors Austin Rekward and Tyler Rose; juniors Aaron Roelfs, Sawyer Heitland, Alec Stahl, Brady Fisher and Keon Huffman, and
sophomore Alex Hames. “We should be very competitive again this year,” he added. “If we can stay healthy we will be able to play with anyone on our schedule.” Banzhaf tabbed defending champion Gladbrook-Reinbeck the NICL West favorite with his Cougars, Grundy Center and West Marshall contenders. “The conference race will be very interesting again this year. G-R will again be the favorite; Grundy Center and West Marshall return a number of players and experience and East Marshall may be the darkhorse,” Banzhaf said. “With all that said, I really like our chances to be in the race for the conference title.” The Cougars’ team averages were 55.5 points on offense and 47.6 on defense with the shooting totals 40.6 percent from the field, 29.2 on threes and 62.3 on free throws. Banzhaf added, “An area that was key to our success last year was our defensive effort. We only gave up an average of 47.6 points a game; if we can duplicate that effort, it will be an important part to our success.” ■
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The 2016-17 AGWSR girls’ basketball team includes the following, front row, from left: Alana Groninga, Miranda Jimmerson, Maddie Brandt, Addi Johnson, Mariah Jimmerson. Middle row: Aubrie Fisher, Tori Brandt, Haley Bakker, Mandy Willems, Ally Finger, Kenzie Kielty. Back row: Natalie Lippert, Whitnie Nederhoff, Rachel Sicard, Hanna Benning, Taryan Barrick and Adri Daniels. PHOTO BY SCOTT BIERLE
AGWSR girls’ basketball is pre-season No. 10 in Class A BY SCOTT BIERLE ACKLEY – Expectations are lofty for the AGWSR girls’ basketball team for the upcoming winter season. With the return of four starters and a No. 10 ranking in Class 1A in the pre-season poll by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, the Cougars are a team to watch. The quartet of seniors Maddie Brandt and Alana Groninga, junior Mandy Willems and sophomore Aubrie Fisher combined to average more than 40 points last season, nearly 20 rebounds while collecting 264 assists and 180 steals. “Maddie and Alana are our go-to girls, but we have a lot of options on this team,” said AGWSR coach Laurie Gann. “The team
chemistry has been great in the pre-season,” Brandt is back with a bucket full of stats. She scored 344 points a year ago for a 15.6 per game average to go with 188 rebounds (8.5 average), 66 steals, 39 assists and 20 blocks. Groninga also averaged double-digit scoring at 10.7 as she sank a team-high 44 three-point goals. Fisher followed with a 7.6 scoring average and Willems 7.4 along with a team-best 99 assists. The Cougars registered a 13-9 record a year ago after a 1-5 start and lost just one senior. Gann noted teammates working for playing time are seniors Addi Johnson and Mariah Jimmerson, junior Ally Finger, sophomore Taryan Barrick and freshman Rachel Sicard.
AGWSR connected on 116 threeballs a year ago and all were made by underclassmen. After Groninga, Fisher sank 31 and Willems 22. “We have good shooters, but we have more size this year and we hope to improve the inside game,” said Gann. “We are looking for our size to improve our rebounding, especially on the offensive boards.” Gann added the Cougars have had some pre-season scrimmages and found things to work on. “We need to have better movement away from the ball, continue to work on defense,” Gann said, “but we are getting better, and focusing on reducing turnovers.” Eyeing the North Iowa Cedar League
West, Gann tabbed Grundy Center, West Marshall and her Cougars the favorites. “Grundy Center and West Marshall are good teams and return some good players,” Gann said, “but we should be right in the hunt.” Grundy was the conference champion at 12-0 a year ago, West Marshall the runnerup at 10-2 and AGWSR took third at 7-5. Brandt was a first-team all-conference pick a year ago and the lone returnee as the other six were seniors, and Groninga was second-team. Brandt is closing in on the 1,000-point and 500-rebound career milestones as she has 795 points and 434 rebounds. Five of the first six games for the girls are in Ackley. ■
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HAMPTON – Likely for the first time in several years, a starting lineup for the Hampton-Dumont girls’ basketball team hadn’t established itself by the second week of practice. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, simply because of the number of girls vying for the five starting jobs. “We are so competitive this year that I am not in a position to name a starting five yet,” second-year head coach Miranda Valley said. “Obviously, we have Nadilee (Eiklenborg) and Cassy (Miller) as returning starters and have continued to work hard to do what they can to secure that spot for themselves. “We have many underclassmen who have pushed some returnees and therefore the returnees have picked up the intensity and their level of play. It has been a lot of fun to watch.” Miller is the lone player back with North Central Conference honors, claiming honorable mention a year ago when the Bulldogs finished 19-3 overall, 13-1 in the conference to win the championship. The 5-foot-5 senior guard has been known for her hard-nosed defense the past few seasons. She averaged 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and assists and four steals per game. “A defensive specialist who has worked hard to improve her offensive game in the off-season,” Valley said of Miller. The other starter back from last season, Eiklenborg, a 5-7 senior guard, averaged 6.4 points and five boards a game. “(Nadilee) will once again be a big rebounder for us and will look to score more consistently,” Valley said. Though she didn’t start, senior 5-10 forward Callie Grover was often the first
player off of the bench a year ago. She was likely to be one of the starters when the Bulldogs opened the season on Tuesday, Nov. 29 against AGWSR. “(Callie) is hard to guard for post players because she can go to the perimeter and score,” Valley said. “We will look for those mismatches again this year and become a bigger rebounder and scorer.” Grover averaged 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds a game. Among other returning letter winners for H-D include seniors Morgan Sietsema and Kiara Donaldson as well as juniors Halie Dombrowski, Dakota Sliter and Makayla Severs. Severs, however, could miss a good portion of the start to this season as she recovers from a separated shoulder incurred during volleyball season. Valley lists nine promising newcomers to the roster, including five freshmen. Two of those are the younger sisters of potential starters Cassy Miller and Callie Grover. Another pair are twins Kaci and Maci Arjes. The fifth freshman, Claire Wragge, is also the younger sister of one of the most prolific rebounders in H-D history (Paige, third all-time). Others include senior guard Taylor Baltes, junior forwards Ally Hanson and Patty Teggatz and sophomore forward Paige Springer. Valley said there isn’t a clear-cut favorite for the conference title this year. “We are in the running for it, for sure,” Valley said. “Other teams I would think would be Humboldt and Clear Lake.” ■
The 2016-17 Hampton-Dumont girls’ basketball team includes the following, front row, from left: Morgan Sietsema, Taylor Baltes, Nadilee Eiklenborg, Cassy Miller, Kiara Donaldson, Callie Grover. Back row: Paige Springer, Ally Hanson, Halie Dombrowski, Dakota Sliter, Claire Wragge, Maci Arjes, Courtney Miller, Kaci Arjes, Briana Grover. Not pictured: Patty Teggatz. KRISTI NIXON/HAMPTON CHRONICLE
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The 2016-17 West Fork girls’ basketball team includes the following, front row, from left: Maddison Shupe, Lexi Bray, Kaitlyn Liekweg, Sarah Dusold. Middle row: Head coach Rodney Huber, Kennedy Maske, Alli Arndt, Sammie Washington, Emily Caspers, Lexi Jones, assistant coach Abbee Dickman. Back row: Alyssa Barkema, Morgan Meier, Payton Kuhlemeier, Jacqlyn Caspers, Rachael Jones, Lauren Trewin and Kenna Weaver. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC BURT BY KRISTI NIXON SHEFFIELD – Four returning starters will bolster a West Fork girls’ basketball team which finished right at the .500 mark a year ago. Among them is three-year letter winner Kaitlyn Liekweg, a 5-foot-6 senior guard who earned honorable mention in the Top of Iowa Conference in 2015-16. Also back is two-time letter winner Maddison Shupe, a 5-8 senior forward as well as 5-10 senior forward Lexi Bray and 5-7 junior forward Lexi Jones. Add to that junior center Jacqlyn Caspers, who stands at 6-3. She is back after moving to Ankeny Centennial her sophomore year. Other returning letter winners for coach Rodney Huber’s team who made some contributions particularly toward the end of the season last year are sophomore forward Morgan Meier, junior forward Payton Kuhlemeier, junior guard Kennedy Maske and sophomore guard Kenna Weaver. “We have a lot of depth,” Huber said. “We have a more balanced team this year, and should be a much better rebounding
Depth, balance key for West Fork girls’ basketball team I think with our size we will be a tough match-up this year. I still see Osage and Rockford being very good this year. - Rodney Huber, West Fork head coach team. We have several girls who can hit the three-point shot consistently and will be a very good inside-out team this year.” Besides the nine returning letter winners, Huber mentions four more promising newcomers to this year’s squad, including junior Alli Arndt, a 5-4 guard, who he calls a good shooter; sophomore centers Rachael Jones and Sammie Washington, who both stand at 5-10; and 6-0 freshman post Emily
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Caspers, Jacqlyn’s younger sister, who Huber says shows promise. “Sammie and Rachael will get in early for a lot of minutes,” Huber said. “Sammie is physical and Rachael is athletic.” Liekweg averaged 9.4 points per game, posted 68 rebounds, 21 assists and 27 steals. Jones came in at 4.9 points per game with 55 rebounds, 16 assists and 28 steals. Bray had solid numbers as well at 7.9
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points and 6.29 rebounds per game with 13 blocks. Huber said he is still looking for that overall team leader. “We need to find facilitators,” Huber said. “(Graduate) Cailey Weaver made a lot of plays for our team last year. We need to find players that can fill that role or getting easy shots for others. “It may have to come through the post. Also think that Kenna Weaver could be strong in this role.” Fifth in the TIC East last year at 8-8 in the conference, Huber believes his Warhawk team could finish top-three this year. “I think with our size we will be a tough match-up this year,” Huber said. “I still see Osage and Rockford being very good this year.” Huber is only five wins away from reaching the century mark for his career. In five seasons at the helm of West Fork, he owns a 58-34 record, but has three previous years of varsity coaching experience. If the Warhawks start the season strong, which Huber says will be key, that milestone may be reached in early December. ■
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Hampton Chronicle • Sheffield Press • Pioneer Enterprise BY KRISTI NIXON LATIMER – Four letter winners, including three starters, return to the CAL girls’ basketball team which finished 0-22 in 2015-16. That experience, mingled with some decent height, should help the Cadets as they seek to improve from last year. Among the returning starters are senior center Stephanie Thielen, who stands at 5-foot-10 and led CAL in rebounding at 8.5 boards per game. “(Her) main focus is to play post,” CAL assistant coach Brittni Miller said. “She was the leading rebounder last year.” Juniors Madi Vanness and Kassidy State are the other returning starters from a year ago. State, who is 5-9, is projected to be a guard. “(She) started to handle the ball more last year,” Miller said, “looking for Kass to starting taking the lead more.” Miller called Vanness a great defensive player. Those three, along with three others, are potential starters for CAL as the Cadets’ season began on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Among the other possible starters is senior Kaylea Rew, who is back after not playing her junior season. “(Kaylea) works extra hard at practice,” Miller said, “(is) aggressive.” Newcomers who are listed with the potential to start are senior Bri Pals and freshman Erin Heldenbrand. Miller points to Pals’ quickness and Heldenbrand’s developing ball handling skills. Head coach Mike Rapp said the team’s strengths are its ability to learn as well as aggressiveness. Four freshmen, including Heldenbrand, are included on this year’s roster. They include Steph Castro, Jenifer Ramirez and Kyra Miller. “We are young,” Miller said, “we have four freshmen with not a lot of experience.” Rapp added, “We lost most of our ball handlers.” Nonetheless, CAL’s coaches say they feel like the team could finish somewhere in the middle of the Iowa Star Conference with Janesville and Riceville the likely team favorites. “We have to box out and rebound,” Miller said of the team’s keys to a successful season. “And we have to take more inside shots.” ■
Wednesday, Dec. 7 & Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016
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CADETS seeking to improve
The 2016-17 CAL girls’ basketball team includes, front row, from left: Kaylea Rew, Stephanie Thielen, Bri Pals. Middle row: Kyra Miller, Stephanie Castro, Jeni Ramirez, Erin Heldenbrand. Back row: Kassidy State, Madi Vanness and Liah Murray. KRISTI NIXON/HAMPTON CHRONICLE
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Wednesday, Dec. 7 & Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016
• MEET THE 2016-17 WINTER SPORTS TEAMS •
Hampton Chronicle • Sheffield Press • Pioneer Enterprise
The 2016-17 Hampton-Dumont wresting team includes the following, front row, from left: Manager Hunter Wilkinson, Noah Walker, Jose Vallejos, Jacob Martzahn, Parker Allen, Dalton Chipp, Abe Scheideman, head coach Nick Bretz. Back row: Manager Daniel Ramirez, assistant coach Josh Bauer, Tristan Mewes, Trey Barz, Isaac Shelton, Caleb Chaney, Josh Kew, Logan Walker, Connor Donaldson and assistant coach Dave Harms. Not pictured: Wyatt Folkerts. KRISTI NIXON/HAMPTON CHRONICLE
Staying healthy a must for H-D BY KRISTI NIXON HAMPTON – Low numbers means the need for a healthy Hampton-Dumont wrestling team in 2016-17. Bulldogs’ head coach Nick Bretz, who enters his ninth season with an even 82-82 dual record, said he believes that his team must stay away from injuries. “Our strength is also our weakness,” Bretz said. “We only have 16 wrestlers out this year, but I don’t anticipate losing any this year. This means that there will be a lot more individual attention and work time between wrestlers and coaches.” Among the upperclassmen is a good
core of leaders. They include three-year senior letter winners Isaac Shelton at 152 pounds and Caleb Chaney (160) and twoyear junior letter winner Parker Allen, who has moved all the way up to 132 pounds from 113 as a sophomore, at least to start the season. Allen could cut to 126 pounds as the season progresses. He holds a 56-36 career record so far. “We return some very solid wrestlers from last season,” Bretz said. “Caleb Chaney, Isaac Shelton and Parker Allen are providing good leadership in the practice room.”
Chaney was 20-19 and Shelton was 11-4 last season to record winning seasons with the latter ending the year early with a concussion. Other returning letter winners are junior Jose Vallejos (120), Dalton Chipp (182) and Wyatt Folkerts (195). All three were near the .500 mark record-wise last year with Folkerts 11-10 and Chipp was 20-23. Four freshmen, three sophomores and a senior transfer make up the newcomers that will help fill out the roster. “We have a lack of depth this year,” Bretz said. “Daily improvement in the practice room and keeping a positive attitude (will
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be key). Staying healthy is a must.” In the makeup of the team’s roster, all but three weights will go unfilled to start the season and Bretz added that two that are open are likely to be filled at some point during the season. Last year’s North Central Conference tournament champion, Webster City, is expected to be the favorite, according to Bretz. Because of numbers, youth involved and the competitiveness of the NCC, Bretz said his team could likely finish in the bottom half of the conference this season. ■
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• MEET THE 2016-17 WINTER SPORTS TEAMS •
Wednesday, Dec. 7 & Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016
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The 2016-17 West Fork wrestling team includes the following, front row, from left: Jacob Retz, Joey Bonjour, Jake Hansen, Tanner Braun, Cody O’Donnell, Cailee Henning, Justin Anderson, Colby McFarland, Edson Ramirez, Kelly Hayes. Back row: Lucas Diggins, Garrett Anderson, Collin Meints, Grant Nuehring, Jordan Clark, Alex Bender, Jarel Arbegast, Treven Timmerman, Spencer Nash, Spencer Proctor. Not pictured: Spencer Nelson and Bryce Groh. KRISTI NIXON/HAMPTON CHRONICLE BY KRISTI NIXON SHEFFIELD – Construction complete. The West Fork wrestling team will field 21 competitors this season, a number that has grown exponentially over the last four seasons under head coach Jared Arbegast. He boasts a pre-season No. 1 ranked wrestler in three-time place winner Jake Hansen, the first in the program’s history. His son, Jarel, is also ranked seventh at 170 in the pre-season despite off-season hip surgery. “I hadn’t even looked at them (the rankings),” Coach Arbegast said of IowaWrestle.com’s ratings that came out on Tuesday, Nov. 22. “That is what the boys were telling me. That’s awesome. “Jacob is going to be at ’38 or ’32, I’m guessing ’32-pounder, I’m not sure if Jarel is going to be a ’60- or ’70-pounder. It all depends on how it goes for him.” Coach Arbegast looks to Hansen, Jarel Arbegast and his other senior, Justin Anderson, to lead the team that now has a new facility to practice in at the Wellness Center in Sheffield. “Justin Anderson did a lot of work in the off-season,” coach Arbegast said. “I’m really excited to have him come on, too. Jacob, Jarel and Justin have really taken a leadership role this year which I’m real excited about. We’ve got a brand new facility and I’ve got 21 kids out for West Fork wrestling – that’s amazing.” Hansen, who was the state consolation champion last year at 132 pounds in Class 1A, has more than 100 career wins, including forfeits, and Jarel Arbegast posted a 21-3 record a year ago while fighting through his hip injury. “Obviously, Jacob and Jarel pretty much
WARHAWK WRESTLING KEEPS GROWING speak for themselves, they’re in their fourth year,” coach Arbegast said. “Jarel is a two-time state qualifier while Jacob is in his fourth year, three-time place winner. Real close to being in the finals last year, hopefully makes it there again this year. “Jarel is the same way. He just didn’t wrestle very well down there (at state) and he is coming off an injury; got back just in time before football. He’s giving it one more shot and it’s probably going to be touch-and-go and probably won’t wrestle as many matches as most people.” Anderson was 20-15 last season. Another wrestler coach Arbegast is looking forward to having a good season is junior Alex Bender, who posted an 18-20 record in 2015-16. “He’s going to either be heavyweight or 220, still on that bubble, but he’s been working hard and gotten a lot stronger in the off-season, so don’t forget about him,” coach Arbegast said of Bender. “He’s going to do very well at 220. Jordan Clark has some possibilities and (Collin) Meints is a strong kid. I see a lot of good things in a lot of them, but we’re still trying to take that next step in our program. I could talk about every one of them and know how excited I am for them, at the end of the day, they’ve got to put in the work on the mat.” Benefiting from athletes who want to keep in shape or not are what coach Arbegast calls an ‘all-star basketball player,’ he adds that a pair of wrestlers are simply out in order to help in weight loss. “I’ve always welcomed kids into
the program,” coach Arbegast said. “Accountability, respect and helping the kids not only just be better on the wrestling mat, but in life. What a great place to do that but in the wrestling room? Because it is hard work and finding people wanting to do hard work in this life is pretty tough.” Among promising newcomers, coach Arbegast lists Kelly Hayes, who moved to the West Fork school system from Mason City as well as Edson Ramirez and Spencer Nash, who he said are both pretty good athletes. “I do have a couple of kids who are good athletes and you never know,” coach Arbegast said. “I don’t know what Kelly Hayes’ record was last year, but he’s wrestled before, which is kind of nice because around here we are pretty green (at wrestling).” Cody O’Donnell and Colby McFarland are both in their second and third year, respectively, in the West Fork program which coach Arbegast said he’s expecting them to win a decent amount of matches. In fact, according to the fourth-year coach, it is possible the Warhawks will fill all of the weight classes with the exception of 106 and possibly 113. “There are a couple of kids looking to improve and get better and that’s pretty exciting,” coach Arbegast said. “Ten of them are sophomores, and hopefully we keep them all out.” Another change in spite of the new facility in Sheffield is that Arbegast and his wrestlers want to compete at the high school in Sheffield this season. Previously
most meets have taken place in Rockwell. “Our boys and I would like to be in the high school because we are a high school sport,” coach Arbegast said. “There is not any seating in here (at the Wellness Center) and people forget that. We might have a JV tournament here, but everything should be here in Sheffield, all of the dates and meets we have are not in conflict with anything. “The boys have been in Rockwell so long, to be honest with you, we want to wrestle there (at the high school in Sheffield).” Osage, says Arbegast, is likely the conference favorite, although he mentions an improved Central Springs team and a Mason City Newman team that was young last year and should be tough if it retained all of its wrestlers. “That’s great – great competition,” coach Arbegast said. “Hopefully, we can be competitive. That’s what I tell the boys all of the time. It’s not about winning or losing, but getting better, improving and working on our skills and learning about life. “It’s exciting and it should be fun. This is our No. 1 goal this year is to have fun. We have a great group of seniors who I want to end having a great year because they’ve been here since I’ve been here, those are the three kids you can’t say enough about.” Coach Arbegast took some time to reflect over the past four seasons of West Fork wrestling. “Four years ago, when we started there were 11 (out),” he said. “Most of it is a tribute to them (the seniors). I want them to have fun, get after it, and we’ll see good things in the end. “Hopefully, we’ll have three or four down at state.” ■
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• MEET THE 2016-17 WINTER SPORTS TEAMS •
Wednesday, Dec. 7 & Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016
Hampton Chronicle • Sheffield Press • Pioneer Enterprise
The 2016-17 AGWSR wrestling team includes the following, front row, from left: Brodie Roder, Keaton Penning, Seth Mazoway, Ali Gerbracht, Trenton Hook. Back row: Dayton Haley, Chance Taminga, Tery Rummans, Caleb Meinders, Lucas Schumacher. PHOTO BY SCOTT BIERLE BY SCOTT BIERLE ACKLEY – Three-time letter winners Caleb Meinders and Tery Rummans headline a short-handed AGWSR wrestling team this winter. Meinders and Rummans are two of just 10 bodies in the Cougars’ wrestling room for pre-season workouts. But the twosome are a solid foundation. Meinders posted a 33-7 record as a junior and was a state tournament placewinner, ending eighth at 220 pounds in Class 1A. He is ranked third at 220 by IowaWrestle. com and second by the Predicament in the pre-season. Rummans manned the 195-weight bracket and was a district qualifier, taking third. He is ninth at that weight class in the pre-season in 1A by IowaWrestle.com. Both plan to return to the same weights
Cougars short on numbers in wrestling room for the final go-around and are state-ranked in a pre-season poll. “The first day of practice we sat down and everyone explained why they were here. Caleb said to be a state champion,” said AGWSR coach Chad Gerbracht. “Caleb is focused and a great team leader. He does all the right things and leads through both his words and actions.” Meinders reached the 100-win plateau during last season’s post-season to stand 105-19 and owns 55 career pins. Gerbracht added, “We always knew Tery had the ability to go and do it, and last
season he did. He is our most athletic kid in the room, we just need to work on his confidence.” Rounding out the team’s returnees are two-time letter winner senior Lucas Schumacher and sophomore Dayton Haley. Schumacher, expected to be at 145, went 12-21 a year ago, and Haley at 152, was 8-17. “Our biggest weakness will be filling weights throughout the year,” Gerbracht said. “With the holes in the lineup it creates a challenge in regards to duals.” The Cougars welcome six newcomers,
including freshman Ali Gerbracht – daughter of the head coach. Gerbracht is well-rehearsed in the sport as she is a fivetime state champion and two-time national champion and all-American in girls’ wrestling. “It is a tough sport to get into for girls,” said coach Gerbracht, “but girls have had success in the past.” The younger Gerbracht is expected to take the mat at 106 pounds. AGWSR started the mat campaign Thursday (Dec. 1) in Conrad against host South Hardin-BCLUW and East Marshall/ GMG, both North Iowa Cedar League opponents. AGWSR then competed in the Gilbert Duals Saturday (Dec. 3). The Cougars’ home opener comes Thursday, Dec. 8 in Ackley against DikeNew Hartford and Waterloo Columbus. Mat time is 6:30 p.m. ■
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