1. City council approved to give The Gathering Place of Monroe $2,400 to provide congregate meals. The meals were previously provided at Monroe City Hall but moved to The Gathering Place in 2024.
The dollar amount doubled from the previous year when the council approved $1,200. The new amount will continue the 28E agreement between the city and
the local meeting center.
2. Due to an increase in costs for carnival rides at Monroe Old Settlers, city council approved $8,500 to be used to fund the activity. The main reason for the cost increase was insurance costs for the provider.
Previously, Joe’s Old Fashioned Fun Carnival Rides charged $5,000 to provide rides during the community event. Representatives from the Old Settlers Committee said this is the first rate increase in
Congrats
decades. Also, unlike other communities, the carnival provider allows Monroe to sell wristbands ahead of the celebration weekend and keep those profits.
Committee members also said they have researched other ride providers but prices were much higher and most of them are already booked that time of year.
3. Engineering costs associated with the city hall
Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of articles exploring the results of the Jasper County Community Health Needs Assessment. Coming in as the second highest priority for Jasper County, shortage of healthcare professionals in not a new issue for the area. From OB services no longer being offered at MercyOne in Newton to more than 85 percent of Jasper County residents receiving healthcare services outside of the county in the past two years, the Commu-
nity Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) shined an even brighter light on the growing problem.
“This is really alarming to me,” Jasper County Health Department Administrator Becky Pryor said.
According to the assessment conducted over the past eight months by MercyOne Newton Medical Center and the Jasper County Health Department, secondary data indicates there are significantly less primary care providers in Jasper County than in Iowa or the United States.
Stay active outdoors in the winter by ice fishing
As the temperature outside falls into single digits, anglers who do their fishing when water is frozen are just getting warmed up. Ice fishing is a seasonal favorite that gives enthusiasts a chance to continue casting their rods, even if it looks a little different, and reel in “the big one” even when it isn’t sunny and warm.
wheelers, five to seven inches is considered safe, and seven to nine inches is needed for side-by-sides.
“Ice conditions can vary drastically throughout a water body so it is important to check ice thickness as you move throughout the day,” Oldsen said. “When we start getting into late season ice, thawing and refreezing can impact the holding capacity of ice. Four inches of cloudy/ honeycombed ice is not as safe as fresh clear ice so, again, check as you go.”
has several important ones, including all of the same rules
“Ice fishing is a great way to get outdoors through the winter months,” Jasper County Naturalist Greg Oldsen said. “One main attraction that many ice anglers share is the ability to access areas of a pond or lake on foot. Those without a boat/canoe/kayak during the open water season are limited to fishing from the bank, but during ice season you can explore as much of the water body as your feet will allow.” Like most outdoor activities there are safety protocols to follow and ice
Finding a spot to fish can depend on how much work a person wants to do. Oldsen said both ponds and lakes can produce quality fish but a benefit of ponds is the smaller amount of water a person has to cover to find the fish. That means there is more time to fish and hopefully more luck bringing them in.
Metro Creative Fishing doesn’t have to just be a warm-weather activity. Ice
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
Along with replacing the roadway with asphalt on Westview Street, the project includes reconstructing the curb and gutter with cement concrete.
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
D.A.R.E. Instructor Detective Dylan Blackford presents the graduation certificate to PCE fifth graders during an end-of-progam event Jan. 17 at the PCM Middle School Auditorium.
Jasper County Naturalist Greg Oldsen
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
Explorer PCM
Worth Mentioning
Send your event to news@pcmexplorer.com
Events at The Gathering Place
Friday, Jan. 24
• 2pm Piano with Jacque Robinson
Saturday, Jan. 25
• 6pm Chili Cook-off and Silent Auction Fundraiser
Monday, Jan. 27
• 10am Video Exercise Class
Tuesday, Jan 28
• 8am Coffee and Prayer
Wednesday, Jan. 29
• 1pm Get Fit, Don’t Fall with Amy S.
Thursday, Jan. 30
• 5pm JAMM
PCM Food Pantry
The PCM Food Pantry at the Monroe Presbyterian Church, 113 S. Main St. in Monroe, is open 9 a.m. to noon and 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays.
TOPS
TOPS 1025 meets at 5:30 p.m. every Monday at the First Reformed Church in Prairie City for weigh-in, with meeting to follow. Go to the north side parking lot at the church and enter in the north door. Call 515-994-2200 for information.
Men’s Recovery meeting
Lighthouse Recovery Ministries hosts a Men’s Recovery meeting at 6:30 p.m. each Monday at Grace Alive Church, 703 W. Second St. in Prairie City. Contact Barb at b.miller@lighthouserecoveryia.com with questions.
PCM Clothing Closet
The PCM Clothing Closet, on the second floor of the Family Life Center at 105 S. Sherman St. in Prairie City, will be open from 3:30 to 7 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday and 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays.
Time to license your cat and dog in Monroe
Pet licenses in Monroe can now be purchased at city hall and are due by April 1. Cat and dog licenses are $10 for altered animals. Unaltered animals are $20. Rabies shots must be current. Licenses not purchased by April 1 will be subject to an extra $10 fee.
Support for those suffering from loss of a loved one at FRC
First Reformed Church in Prairie City will begin its winter/spring session of GriefShare from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1.
If you have experienced the death of a loved one and are looking for support, healing and hope, you are welcome.
The 13-week program consists of discussion; informative videos presented by Christian counselors, authors, pastors and others who share their stories and found hope through faith. In addition each participant will receive a workbook containing five daily exercises each week as well as other resources.
There is a $20 registration fee (scholarships available).
Whether your grief journey has just begun or you’ve been walking this path for a long time, GriefShare can help. Register on line at GriefShare.org or contact Mary Lemmert at 515-205-0835 or at hope2you@aol.com.
Begin your journey from mourning to joy with GriefShare.
What happens to blood after
Each year blood donors help to save millions of lives. Individuals who routinely donate blood may not give it a second thought, but this selfless gesture ensures accident victims and others get a helping hand when they need it most. Recipients of blood donations are there for the culmination of a process that begins with generous donors, who may be curious about exactly what happens to their blood after it’s collected.
According to the American Red Cross, donated blood is kept on ice before being taken to a processing center, where information about the donation is scanned into a computer database. Upon arriving at processing centers, donated blood is spun in centrifuges to separate it into transfusable components, including red cells, platelets and plasma. Each component is then packaged as a “unit,” or a standardized amount
doctors use when transfusing a patient. Blood donations also are tested at a separate laboratory to establish type and check for infectious diseases. The results of these tests are transferred electronically to the processing center within 24 hours, which underscores the efficiency of the donation process. Any blood that tests positive for disease is discarded and donors are notified. If the blood is deemed suit-
able for transfusion, it is labeled and stored. Red cells are stored in refrigerators at 6° C for up to six weeks (42 days), while platelets are stored at room temperature in agitators for up to five days. Plasma can be stored in freezers for up to one year. Blood is available to be shipped to hospitals 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and hospitals typically keep some blood units on-site. — Metro Creative
3 short-term fitness goals that can lead to long-term success
As New Year’s Day 2024 approached, millions of individuals were preparing to make changes they hoped would improve their fitness. In a Forbes Health/One Poll survey of 1,000 adults in the months leading up to the start of 2024, nearly half (48 percent) of respondents indicated improving their physical fitness would be a top priority over the course of the new year.
Fitness-based resolutions are popular every year, but people who aspire to make such changes recognize how difficult it can be to achieve them. In fact, the Forbes Health/One Poll survey found that roughly 44 percent of respondents indicated their resolutions flamed out at the two- or three-month marker. Though there’s no one-size-fitsall strategy for sticking with and ultimately achieving a resolution, identifying short-term goals that can help people stay
motivated can lead to long-term progress. Individuals who want to improve their physical fitness can consider these three shortterm goals and use them as measuring sticks as they pursue more long-term objectives.
1. Aspire for incremental weight loss. Weight loss goals were the fourth most popular New Year’s resolution for 2024 among participants in the Forbes Health/One Poll survey. Though that survey separated fitness goals from weight loss goals, the two are certainly linked. Individuals who aspire to lose 10 pounds undoubtedly recognize that such a goal cannot be achieved overnight, so why not aspire to lose small amounts of weight at predetermined intervals? For example, if the end goal is losing 10 lbs., aim to lose two pounds by the end of January. Incremental progress can motivate individuals to stay the course and ul-
timately propel them toward achieving a more substantial, long-term goal.
2. Exercise for a predetermined number of days each week. Another way to gradually build toward achieving longterm fitness goals is to establish monthly minimum exercise sessions. Individuals accustomed to a sedentary lifestyle can resolve to exercise three days per
week in the first month of their resolution, and then increase that by a day in the second month. A consistent schedule when designing this goal is imperative, which is why it can make more sense to plan for three days per week as opposed to 12 days per month.
3. Resolve to walk a mile per day. Walking is an accessible cardiovascular activity that can
have a profound effect on overall health. Walking also can help condition sedentary individuals’ bodies for more strenuous activity, which is a transition many people aspire to make when setting long-term fitness goals. A daily one-mile walk won’t require a significant commitment of time, but it can help acclimate the body to routine exercise. As the effects of a daily walk begin to take hold, individuals may find it easier to engage in more strenuous physical activities, making this an ideal stepping stone on the way to achieving long-term fitness goals. Short-term goals can help people remain motivated as they pursue more substantial goals that take longer to achieve. Such an approach can be especially useful for individuals resolving to improve their physical fitness at the start of a new year.
— Metro Creative
death of a loved one and are looking for support, comfort is nearby.
and police department project were approved with Veenstra and Kimm Inc. in the amount of $140,000. The scope of the project includes design surveys, conferences and reports, planes and specifications, permits and licenses, estimate of cost, property acquisition, advertisement for bids, costs of plans and specifications, bidding services, bid opening and award of contract, general services during construction, construction staking services, final review services, record drawings and legal services.
The project includes building a combined city hall and police department to the south of the current city hall building.
4. The reconstruction of Westview Street was approved at an estimated cost of $263,000 by council Veenstra and Kimm Engineering Services will conduct the project with a goal of being completed in summer 2025.
The project includes replacing the existing street — which has been sinking and causing increased space between the streets and driveways — with a cement concrete curb and gutter and full depth hot mix asphalt roadway.
the ice.”
Once a location is found, the next big step is to drill a hole in the ice. There are a couple of ways to do it depending on how much of a workout a person wants to get before they even start fishing.
“Hand augers are the cheapest but the most work, so many anglers have opted for either a gas/propane auger or an auger that can be attached to a cordless drill,” Oldsen said. “For those on a really tight budget, you could get away with a hatchet or spud bar (long handled chisel) to chop a hole in
Providers
According to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, there is a rate of 55.54 primary care providers per 100,000 population in Jasper County. That is almost less than half of the state average of 109.71 per 100,000 and less than half of the national average of 113.29. Primary health providers include practicing physicians specializing in general practice medicine, family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics.
More than one-third of those surveyed responded it was difficult to get a healthcare appointment and rated access to healthcare the second highest priority for the county. Healthcare (including access to primary care and specialists) was rated the number one needed improvement.
In line with the issue, perception of the quality of healthcare was rated at 3.3 out of five from those surveyed. The topics which had a rating below the 3.3 average included: inpatient services (hospital) at 3.26, pain clinic (hospital) at 3.14, emergency care (hospital) at 3.09, pediatrics at 3.08, family planning services at 3.07, disability centers at 2.97, nursing home/ long term care at 2.97, urology at 2.83, substance treatment at 2.76, mental health at 2.75 and neurology — specialist (hospi-
The gear used to do the actual fishing is also slightly different from its warm weather counterpart. The biggest difference is the size of the gear, Oldsen said. Most ice fishing rodes are 24” to 36” long and rigged with a two to six pound test fishing line.
“Many anglers also downside their tackle, opting for tiny jigs that mimic macroinvertebrates which many fish eat throughout the winter,” Oldsen said. “The bait of choice for many ice anglers are wax worms while others may use minnows.”
When driving past a pond, oftentimes popup tents can be found dotting the ice. Further
tal) at 2.67.
To address the shortage in healthcare professionals, a Jasper County Community Health Improvement Plan was developed with four main objectives. They include:
1. Expanding education and training opportunities for healthcare positions including funding, accelerated training programs and online by Dec. 31, 2026. Work to complete this task includes working with DMACC in Newton to promote healthcare career opportunities and offer a job fair and explore employer on-the-
north where the ice sticks around for most of winter, semi-permanent structures can be erected to help ice fishers stay warm. While the protection can be beneficial when it is windy or extra cold, it isn’t necessary to have a good time.
“I have spent many days on the ice sitting on a five-gallon bucket and had a wonderful time,” Oldsen said. “When we start having days in the teens and any sort of wind it is sure nice to have a shack to get in and warm up.”
In Jasper County, Oldsen suggested a couple of lakes that are not only popular but have recently been filled with fish. Jacob Krumm Lake and Mariposa Lake both
job training programs.
2. Work on recruitment for careers in healthcare fields with financial, competitive salaries and benefits by Dec. 31, 2026. To do this, MercyOne Newton will work with healthcare recruiters to draw more people to Newton and explore options for OB providers in Newton. Newton Clinic will explore options for medical provider recruitment and retention. Capstone will explore options for provider recruitment and retention and the county will explore marketing to potential health-
make great spots to drill a hole and start fishing, with Mariposa Lake having been restocked about five years ago with the bluegill being “quite plentiful” right now.
For anyone looking to take up ice fishing as a hobby, Oldsen has a few tips to help make it a successful day on the frozen water.
“For someone looking to get into ice fishing I would suggest asking around and find someone with some experience to take them out,” Olsen said. “It is always a good idea to go with at least one other person in case something were to happen.”
He also recommends investing in ice cleats, ice picks and a spud
care employees.
3. Focus on retaining existing healthcare professionals by Dec. 31, 2026. In the county, healthcare agencies will meet and discuss ways to keep existing staff including upward mobility programs. The Jasper County Cares Coalition will explore options for presenters about burn out and leadership.
4. Explore technology and innovation to improve access to healthcare by Dec. 31, 2030. Local healthcare offices will research telehealth and remote options for providing health coverage.
bar to keep safe on the ice. Ice cleats come in handy if there is a little snow cover on the ice making it can becoming quite slick. Ice picks are used to assist a person who has fallen through the ice into the water.
He said they often have a rope tied to them and can be worn around the neck for easy access in an emergency. The spud bar is an essential tool to check ice thickness when exploring a pond/lake.
The spud bar can be used to hit the ice in front while walking to check for thin spots. Two hard blows to the ice without going through means the ice is thick enough for foot traffic.
Ice fishing can be a rewarding hobby and help
itch the scratch often felt by anglers when the weather no longer favors open water fishing. Making sure preparations are made to have a safe outing will lead to a great day on the ice and hopefully a bucket full of fish.
“There are several reasons why I love ice fishing,” Oldsen said. “Being able to get out through the winter months and enjoy my favorite hobby is one reason. I also love catching fish on short rods and light line. There is something very rewarding about catching fish on light gear and short rods. Last but not least is cooking on the ice. For some reason a hot meal just tastes so much better when you’re standing on frozen lake.”
Metro Creative
Lack of medical providers is the second highest concern for Jasper County residents.
11 8am Prayer and Coffee at TGP 9:30am Supervisors, County Courthouse 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 6:30pm Mon Legion Auxiliary 3pm Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group at the PC FRC 6:30pm Kiwanis, Mon City Hall 4:30pm 7, B BB at Pella Christian 4:30pm 8, B BB vs Pella Christian at PCM 4:30pm JV2, B BB vs Knoxville at PCM 6pm JV, B BB vs Knoxville at PCM 7:30pm V, B BB vs Knoxville at PCM 6pm JV, G BB at Van Meter 7:15pm V, G BB at Van Meter
12 Monroe Trash & Recycling Day 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 1pm Get Fit, Don’t Fail at TGP 6pm PC City Council, City Hall 10am V, B Bowling Central iowa Metro League Meet at TBD
13 10m Patty Richards Show at TGP 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 5pm PC Community Bingo Night 5:30pm Community Potluck at TGP 4:30pm JV2, B BB vs EddyvilleBlakesburg,Fremont at PCM 6pm JV, B
15 7pm V, G BB TBD 10 10am Video Exercise Class 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 5:30pm PC Park Board Monroe City Council 7pm PC Ambulance, PC City Hall 3:30pm Good News Club at elementaries 4:30pm JV2, G BB at Gilbert 6:30pm FCA Huddle at HS
6 10am Jasper County Senior Living Panel at TGP 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 4:30pm 7, B BB vs Oskaloosa at PCM 4:30pm 8, B BB at Oskaloosa 4:45pm JV2, G BB vs Roland-Story at PCM 6pm JV2, B BB vs Roland-Story at PCM 7:15pm JV, B vs Roland-Story at PCM
7 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 2pm Piano with Jacque Robinson at TGP 4:30pm JV, G BB vs Roland-Story at PCM 6pm V, G BB vs Roland-Story at PCM 7:30pm V, B BB vs Roland-Story at PCM
2 1pm HS Softball & Baseball Workouts at MS 8 8am HS Large Group Speech Contest at TBD 9am Valentine Cookie Decorating at TGP 3 10am Video Exercise Class 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 7pm PC Fire Dept, PC City Hall 4:30pm 7, B BB at Saydel 4:30pm 8, B BB vs Saydel at PCM 5pm JV, B WR at DCG 6pm JV2, B BB vs W. Marshall at PCM 7:15pm JV, B BB vs W. Marshall at PCM 4 8am Prayer and Coffee at TGP 9:30am Supervisors, Jasper County Courthouse 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 1pm Game Time at TGP 6pm Mon American Legion 6pm V, G BB at South Hamilton 7:30pm V, B BB at South Hamilton 5 Monroe Trash 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 1pm Get Fit, Don’t Fail at TGP 6pm Bingo at TGP 6:30pm Monroe Fire Dept. Meeting 6:30pm FCA Huddle
Email
news@pcmexplorer.com with your calendar item 1 8am HS Robotics League Tournament at Lakewood Elementary 10am JV/V, B WR at Fairfield HS
The PCM
Catch-Up on Mustang Basketball
The boys’ basketball team had a match against Earlham on Monday the 13, and the game was a loss but had some good stats. The final score ended up being Cardinals 62, PCM 58, a very close game. Gavin VanGorp ended with 18 points, and Cutler VandeLune with 17 points. Chase Wagaman ended with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Kash Fischer concluded with 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Alex Wendt ended with 8 rebounds, and Kaleb DeVries ended with 2 assists.
On Tuesday, January 14, the girls and boys faced West Marshall at home. The girls started the night with a big win. The final score of the conference game was 69 to 55. Tori Lindsay finished the game with 20 points. Lila Milani ended the game with 16 points. Libby Winters ended the game with 10 points along with 8 rebounds. Rebecca DeVries ended the game with 5 rebounds. Following the girl’s game were the boys coming back from their loss from the previous night. The ending outcome was PCM 51 and West Marshall 47. VanGorp ended up with 13 points. VandeLune ended with 13 points and 4 assists. DeVries ended with 2 points and 2 assists. Wendt ended with 7 points. Fischer ended with 8 points. A very close game at the end, with 2 seconds left, VanGorp made a 3-pointer to get them out of the tie.
On Thursday, January 16, two varsity games were held at Greene County. The girls’ varsity defeated the Rams 60-22, and the boys’ varsity defeated them 57-48. Friday night was the Mustangs’ last game of the week at Saydel. Both teams came home with wins, with the girls defeating the Eagles 60-30 and the boys 55-52. Both teams will be back in action tomorrow night against the Greene County Rams, with the varsity girls starting at 6 p.m. and the boys following at 7:30 p.m.
Meet a Mustang
Hannah Bennett (10)
Parents: Angela Graham & Eric Bennett
Extracurricular Activities: Archery
3 Words to Describe Yourself: Funny, Sarcastic, & Overachiever
Favorite Class: Drawing
Favorite Quote: “We become what we behold” Best High School Memory: “Getting ready for the homecoming dance”
Dream Job: ER doctor
Favorite Book: Killer instinct
Favorite Movie: The conjuring Favorite Band: Pierce the veil
Matthew Reed (11)
Nickname: Matt
Parents: Brandon & Angela Reed
Employer: Pet Supplies Plus Extracurricular Activities: Trap shooting
3 Words to Describe Yourself: Hardworking, Calm, & Ambitious
Favorite Class: Building Trades
Favorite Quote: “You can’t judge a fish by its ability to climb a try”
Best High School Memory: “FFA banquets”
Dream Job: Create my own electrical business
Favorite Book: One of us is lying
Favorite Show: Dexter
Favorite Artist: Bailey Zimmerman
Get to Know PCM’s Lone Bowler, Keegan Steingrabe
Keegan Steingrabe is a junior at PCM High School. He is the son of John and Misty Steingrabe. He is self-employed with the money he earns from bowling competitively. Bowling has also granted him several scholarships after he first started, and he plans to continue bowling throughout college as well. In three words, Steingrabe has described himself as dependable, ambitious, and optimistic. The class he likes the most from PCM is fitness. One of his favorite quotes is, It is only when we take chances that our lives improve,” by Walter Anderson. His favorite memory from PCM High School so far is spending time with his friends over the summer breaks. Steingrabe’s dream job when he is older is to become an entrepreneur. He doesn’t have a favorite book, but his favorite movie is ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and his favorite music artist is the American rapper, Key Glock. Keegan Steingrabe is the only bowler currently bowling from PCM. He speaks on how he first got into bowling, saying, Ten years ago, I went bowling with my family, and my grandma decided to sign me up for a bowling league.” At first, he was just bowling locally until he started bowling in actual tournaments when he was about ten years old. He’s been bowling ever since and bowls for Southeast Polk because PCM doesn’t have their own team. His team currently has a tournament record of six to zero, but that is not all Steingrabe is hoping to achieve this year. Steingrabe stated, My goals for the season are to average around 220.” He’s also been preparing for the Champion Bowl in Ottumwa on January 18th. Steingrabe explains the tournament, saying, “There are five people on a team, and pretty much one person goes every time, every other frame.” He speaks on his practices leading up to the tournament, saying, Most of the time I’m practicing one-step drills, practicing spares, literally anything to keep my consistency up. Practice makes perfect.” Steingrabe practices around three to five days a week to better prepare for all of his upcoming tournaments. Be sure to support Keegan at the rest of his tournaments this year. Good luck, Keegan!
If you didn’t know, I am on the dance team. Now don’t misinterpret me. I love the dance team, but at times it can be really stressful. Right now in particular it is very stressful as we are preparing for our winter show on the 25th and nationals. As if matters could not get worse, our coach got influenza and has been really sick. So we have been without our coach for two weeks. I feel really bad that she has been sick; the good news is she came to one of our practices last week. Also, if you don’t know me, I love knowing what to expect and who to expect. So when our coach hasn’t been there and we are having the old PCM dance team coach fill in, it stresses me out. Now again, don’t get me wrong. I love the coach filling in as she has known me since I was little, but when I do not know what to expect, it throws me off. On top of that, practices have been rough with relearning all our summer routines and doing our state routines for the first time in a month. Also not to mention how we are learning three other dances on top of that. I am also lacking sleep because our practices are in the mornings at six. Most nights I haven’t been getting home till later because of events and after-school activities. To add to that my younger brother is just starting his first basketball season in middle school. He has played tournament ball since he was little, but nothing like this. So, as you can imagine, I want to be there for as many games as I can to support him. So I will have all the games that I need to go to be there for him. I am also preparing for the golf season to start, so after school, I try to play golf in my golf simulator to get some practice in. So as you can imagine, for a teenage girl trying to manage school and after-school activities, golf, and the dance team can be very stressful. But while it is so stressful, it is also worth it all. Because at the end of the day, I only have two and a half years left in high school. Then I will be in college. I won’t be on a dance team, I won’t live nearby to go to all my brother’s high school games, I might not play golf in college, and I won’t have a full day at school. So whenever I am feeling stressed out, I just try to remind myself that whatever happens, happens. That I can’t control the past, but I can change the future to be more positive. Also to remember I only have so much time left at home and being a teenager.
Piper Clark Web Editor
Peyton Lathrum & Libby Winters Staff Writers
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Kayla VanderLinden!
PCM girls’ basketball huddles up before their big game against West Marshall last Tuesday.
Photo by: R. Parsons
Mustangs’ road win over Saydel on Jan. 17.
PCM girls claim battle between ranked rivals
Mustangs win three times in HOIAC play
MONROE — PCM and West Marshall played even for three of the four quarters of their girls basketball game on Jan. 14.
But a significant advantage in the third quarter led the Class 3A No. 10 Mustangs to a 69-55 home win over the 3A No. 11 Trojans during a Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference contest.
West Marshall led 19-18 after one and outscored the Mustangs 16-15 in the fourth.
PCM won the second 15-13 but dominated the third 21-7 in the victory.
Tori Lindsay led PCM with 20 points, five rebounds, six assists and five steals. She was 6-of-11 from 3-point range.
Lila Milani added a season-high 16 points with two assists. She was 4-of-6 from 3, and the Mustangs buried a season-high 11 treys in the game.
Lindsay, who scored 17 points in the team’s road win over West Marshall earlier this season, put in seven points above her season average, while Milani was 10 points over hers.
Libby Winters pitched in 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals, Addison Steenhoek registered nine points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals and Kyra Naeve finished with six points and six assists.
Steenhoek was 3-of-5 from the freethrow line and Rebecca De Vries posted six points and five boards off the bench.
The Mustangs (13-2, 9-1 in the conference) shot 44.6 percent from the floor, made 8-of-13 from the foul line and connected on 11-of-25 from 3. They turned the ball over 13 times and totaled 20 assists on their 25 field goals.
PCM scored its fourth straight win over the Trojans, and the Mustangs now lead the series 7-6 since 2006.
The victory completes the season sweep of West Marshall. PCM defeated the Trojans 56-44 on Dec. 3.
Bella Borgos led West Marshall (113, 8-2) with a game-high 29 points. She
was 5-of-12 from 3 and 6-of-8 from the foul line and added six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Lily Zahnd totaled 10 points and 12 rebounds, and the Trojans shot 45.5 percent from the floor, made 7-of-20 from 3 and buried 8-of-12 from the foul line.
West Marshall out-rebounded the Mustangs 34-24 but turned the ball over 19 times.
PCM 63, Saydel 20 DES MOINES — Three Mustangs scored in double figures and PCM buried a season-high 12 treys during a 63-20 road win over Saydel on Jan. 17.
The Mustangs held the Eagles to single digits in all four quarters, made nearly half of their attempts from the floor and controlled the boards in the HOIAC contest.
PCM improved to 22-1 against Saydel since 2013.
The Mustangs led 17-3 after one and won the second and third 21-7 and 14-3, respectively.
Lindsay led the Mustangs with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals. Steenhoek added 12 points, three rebounds and four assists.
PCM was 12-of-28 from 3. Lindsay made 4-of-7, while Steenhoek sunk 3-of7.
Winters collected 11 points, five boards and five steals, Milani posted five points and three assists and Naeve totaled five points.
The Mustangs got plenty of production from their bench. De Vries led the way with five rebounds, but Bailey Wheeler and Holly Wood each grabbed four boards, Katelynn Fagg chipped in three points and two assists, Darbey DeRaad and Kenna Grier each put in three points and Camden Webb dished out three assists.
PCM shot 48 percent from the floor, made 3-of-5 from the free-throw line and turned the ball over 16 times. The Mustangs out-rebounded Saydel 33-25. Paige Rummans highlighted Saydel’s night with 14 points, 14 rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
PCM GIRLS | 7
PCM boys rally past rivals Saydel, Greene County
DES MOINES — A big fourth quarter and eight 3-pointers led the PCM boys basketball team to a season sweep of Saydel on Jan. 17.
The Mustangs lost an early lead but rallied to a come-from-behind 65-58 road win over the Eagles during Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference play.
It was the third straight conference win for PCM, which improved to 23-2 against Saydel since 2013.
Kash Fischer put in a career-best 18 points off the bench. He added seven rebounds and three assists and was 2-of-3 from 3-point range.
Four Mustangs scored in double figures.
Gavin Van Gorp posted 14 points, six rebounds and two steals, Chase Wagaman chipped in 11 points, six boards and two blocks and Cutler VandeLune totaled 11 points an five rebounds.
Wagaman was 3-of-4 from the freethrow line and Kaleb DeVries finished with three rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
Joe Shaver put in five points in his first career start and Alex Wendt collected four points, three rebounds and two assists off the bench.
PCM (7-7, 6-4 in the HOIAC) shot 48 percent from the floor, made 8-of22 from 3 and connected on 9-of-16 from the free-throw line. The Mustangs turned the ball over only five times, too.
Gage Moreno led the Eagles with 16 points, while Brady Hicks added 15 and Adam Mein scored 11.
Saydel was 13-of-18 from the foul line and canned seven treys.
PCM led 15-12 after one quarter, but the Eagles (5-8, 3-7) rallied with a 21-15 advantage in the third. The Mustangs won the game with a 24-14 surplus in the fourth.
PCM 57, Greene County 48 JEFFERSON — Three Mustangs scored in double figures, PCM tied a season best with 11 treys and the visitors sunk 16-of-22 from the foul line during a 57-48 road victory over Greene County
on Jan. 16. PCM trailed the makeup game by four after one and was outscored by two in the fourth in the HOIAC contest. The Mustangs rallied with a dominant middle two quarters and scored their third straight win over the Rams. The Mustangs are now 22-10 against Greene County since 2009. VandeLune totaled 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. He was 4-of-4 from the foul line and 4-of-8 from 3.
DeVries put in a season-best 13 points and grabbed two boards. He was 4-of-6 from the foul line and connected on 3-of6 from long range.
Van Gorp registered 12 points, five rebounds and two assists, Wagaman grabbed two rebounds before leaving the game with an injury and Brevin DeRaad had two boards in his first career start.
Van Gorp was 3-of-4 from the foul line and made three triples and Fischer connected on 4-of-6 from the foul line.
Easton Van Veen contributed three points, three rebounds and two assists, Shaver grabbed six boards, Pete Kiernan chipped in five points and two rebounds and Fischer tallied six points and four rebounds off the bench.
The Mustangs, who were missing Wendt due to an illness, shot 35.7 percent from the floor, were 11-of-31 from 3
and turned the ball over only eight times. Isaac Carman led Greene County with 15 points and 12 rebounds and Nick Madsen put in 12 points.
The Rams (3-11, 1-9) shot 42 percent from the floor but hit only 3-of-20 from 3 and 3-of-10 from the foul line.
PCM 51, West Marshall 47 MONROE — PCM only outscored West Marshall in one of the four quarters on Jan. 14.
But the Mustangs dominated the second frame and edged the Trojans, 51-47, on a late 3-pointer from Van Gorp. West Marshall led by four after one and had a four-point advantage in the second half, but PCM’s 19-7 dominance in the second pushed the hosts to the HOIAC win.
PCM is 12-4 against West Marshall since 2006 and has won 10 of the past 11 games in the series. The two teams split the season series this winter after the Trojans won 57-46 in the season opener in State Center.
VandeLune led the Mustangs with 13 points, two rebounds, four assists and two steals and Van Gorp pitched in 13 points and three steals.
Wagaman finished with eight points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, Wendt posted seven points and five boards and Fischer put in eight points.
DeVries registered four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
PCM shot 35.6 percent from the floor, made 6-of-20 from 3 and buried 13-of-16 from the free-throw line.
The Mustangs turned the ball over only four times and had a nine-point advantage in 3-point makes.
Lucas Barnes led West Marshall with 13 points, while Noah Desotel added 10 points. The Trojans (8-5, 6-4) lost by four and were 10-of-16 from the foul line.
Earlham 62, PCM 58
MONROE — Wagaman posted a double-double, but PCM couldn’t overcome a slow start during a 62-58 home loss to Earlham on Jan. 13.
PCM Explorer
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM freshman Libby Winters, left, had 11 points, five boards and five steals in the
PCM Explorer
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM junior Alex Wendt (34) posted four points, three rebounds and two assists in the Mustangs’ road win over Saydel on Jan. 17.
PCM wrestlers down pair of HOIAC foes
MONROE — Seven Mustangs went 2-0 and the PCM wrestling team registered eight pins during a Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference home triangular against South Hamilton and Greene County on Jan. 16.
PCM went undefeated in contested matches during a 65-12 win over the Hawks and edged the Rams 40-36 following three pins and three forfeit victories.
The Mustangs recorded five pins and one technical fall in a win over South Hamilton. PCM was 6-0 in contested matches and 5-2 in forfeits.
Kaiden Valcore (215), Kaden Clark (285), Harrison Brinegar (150), Tucker Wheeler (157) and Finn Wilson (190) all won by fall, while Kaliber Fry won 22-4 at 126 pounds against the Hawks. The forfeits were accepted by Bentlee Sloan (132), Charlie Sitzmann (138), Zach Richards (144), Sawyer Bouwkamp (165) and Jeffery McDanel (175).
PCM was 4-3 in contested matches against Greene County, but the Rams had a 4-3 advantage in forfeits. Clark (33-3), Sloan and Brinegar accepted the forfeits, while Fry, Bouwkamp (175) and Wilson all won by fall and Sitzmann posted a 22-10 major decision.
None of Greene County’s contested wins came by fall.
The Rams won once by decision, once by major decision
Troy Hyde/ PCM Explorer
PCM senior Cutler VandeLune, left, scored in double figures in all four games last week. He led the Mustangs with 13 points, two rebounds, four assists and two steals against West Marshall on Jan. 14.
and once by technical fall.
In a matchup of ranked wrestlers, 2A No. 9 Brent Dennhardt of Greene County defeated 2A No. 8 Wheeler 16-0.
Wilson was 2-0 with two pins, Sloan finished 2-0 with two forfeits and Clark, Fry (299), Sitzmann, Brinegar and Bouwkamp (15-9) also were 2-0.
The Rams defeated South Hamilton 58-12 in their dual.
Wheeler, Clark lead Mustangs to eighth at Perry Invitational PERRY — Clark and Wheeler both finished second at their weights and eight Mustang grapplers scored 91.5 points at the Perry Invitational on Jan. 18.
PCM finished eighth in the
15-team field, edging Carroll by 3.5 points and trailing Spencer by 14.
Wheeler and Clark were the only PCM wrestlers to finish in the top three. Sloan and Richards both finished fifth and Fry was sixth in their brackets.
Class 2A No. 7 West Delaware won the tournament with 225.5 points. Class 2A No. 2 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (189) came in second and the rest of the top five featured 3A No. 3 Carlisle (176), 2A No. 8 West Marshall (166) and 3A No. 10 Dowling Catholic (164).
Greene County (127.5) led the next set of five in sixth and the rest of the top 10 included Spencer (105.5), PCM (91.5), Carroll (88) and Webster City (84).
PCM Girls
The Eagles (8-7, 3-7) shot 22 percent from the floor, missed 10 of their 11 attempts from 3 and connected on just 3-of-15 from the foul line. They also committed 21 turnovers.
PCM 60, Greene County 22
JEFFERSON — The Mustangs continued their dominance against Greene County during a makeup game on Jan. 16.
PCM shot 50 percent from the floor, turned the ball over only 10 times and dominated the second half during a
Class 2A No. 8 Wheeler and Clark both were 2-1 for the day.
Wheeler (33-6) placed second at 157 after a 23-8 technical fall and a 9-2 decision. Clark was second at 285 following two first-period pins.
Class 2A No. 7 Clark lost the championship match, 4-1, in SV-1 to 3A No. 3 Brady Hagan of Dowling Catholic.
Wheeler’s championship loss came by technical fall against 2A No. 3 Liam Weber of West Delaware.
Sloan (20-14) and Richards both were fifth and went 2-2 at 132 and 138, respectively.
Sloan’s two wins came by pin and one of his losses came in the semifinals against 3A No. 11 Jayden Zachary of Dowling. Richards (19-12) won once by
PCM Boys
CONTINUED FROM 6
The Mustangs trailed the non-conference game by 10 at halftime, but PCM won the third 17-7 to force a 45-all tie after three. Earlham (8-4) edged its hosts with a 17-13 surplus in the fourth.
Van Gorp finished with 18 points, four rebounds and two assists and Wagaman added 10 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks to lead the Mustangs.
VandeLune registered 17 points and three boards, Fischer chipped in eight points, five re-
60-22 road win in HOIAC play.
The Mustangs claimed their seventh straight win over the Rams and improved to 25-2 against Greene County since 2009.
Lindsay led PCM with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals and Milani added 11 points and two assists.
Steenhoek posted nine points, seven boards, two assists and two steals, Naeve registered eight points, two rebounds and three steals and Winters put in four points, grabbed two boards and swiped two steals.
Fagg led the reserves with five points, two rebounds and two assists, while Grier chipped in three points and two rebounds, De Vries grabbed three boards and Wheeler pulled down two rebounds.
Webb dished out two assists and Wood swiped two steals. The Mustangs were 6-of-15 from 3 and 6-of-8 from the foul line.
PCM led 34-15 at halftime and outscored the Rams 26-7 in the second half. It out-rebounded the hosts 28-20.
Makenna Ebersole led the Rams (0-15, 0-10) with 10 points and nine rebounds. Greene County shot 19.4 percent from the floor, made 3-of-17 from 3 and turned the ball over 18 times.
fall and once by technical fall and one of his losses came to West Marshall’s Kinnick Geers in the semifinals.
Fry, who is ranked 11th in 2A at 120, was 1-3 at 126 and placed sixth. He lost to 3A No. 9 Kyler Simons of Dowling in the semifinals and medical forfeited his final two matches.
Brinegar and Valcore both placed eighth and went 2-3 at their weights.
One of Brinegar’s losses at 150 came in the quarterfinals against 3A No. 11 Mason Lucas of Carlisle and one of Valcore’s defeats at 215 was in the quarterfinals against 2A No. 6 Jeryn Funke of West Delaware.
The eighth Mustang in the field was Wilson, and he was 1-2 at 175.
bounds and two assists and Wendt grabbed eight boards.
DeVries posted three points, three rebounds and two assists, DeRaad pulled down three boards and Kevin Thomas dished out two assists.
The Mustangs shot 36 percent from the floor, made 11-of-32 from 3 and connected on all nine of their free throw attempts. They turned the ball over 11 times.
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM senior Kaiden Valcore wrestles in the Mustangs’ home tournament last weekend. Valcore scored a win by fall during a home triangular on Jan. 16 and placed eighth at 215 pounds at the Perry Invitational on Jan. 18.
Van Gorp
Lindsay
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM freshman Katelynn Fagg, left, led the Mustang reserves with five points, two rebounds and two assists in the win over Greene County on Jan. 16.
