STATE CHAMPIONS
PCM Dance Team brings home first place in hip hop, third in pom from state competition
‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas’
Holiday events take over Prairie City and Monroe Dec. 13 - 15
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
The holiday spirit is in the air and Monroe and Prairie City are ready to celebrate the season. From Santa Claus to shopping, Dec. 13 and 14 are full of fun activities throughout the communities.
Santa Claus will be at the Monroe Fire Department from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 14 to hear all of the kid’s Christmas
wishes. The annual event features a photo opportunity, popcorn, music and treats. The City of Monroe is looking to see whose lights shine brightest with a holiday lights contest. To enter, stop by Monroe City Hall and register the home address for the display. Judges will take a look Dec. 24 to 26 and give out a first place award of
County VA administrator on paid leave pending investigation
Commission will likely determine any action at upcoming meeting next week
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer
on paid administrative leave pending an
investigation, but the alleged misconduct has not been made public. It is likely the veterans affairs commission will hold a closed session after its regularly scheduled meeting this week to discuss the matter.
If any action is to be taken to discipline or terminate administrator Alyssa Wilson, then the commission will have to do so when it returns to open meeting following the closed session discussion. Until then, the veterans affairs department is still operational with the shared benefits coordinator,
Josh Price, helming the office.
Dennis Simon, director of human resources for Jasper County, declined to give a comment on Wilson’s administrative leave, saying he cannot speak on employee issues that are under internal investigation. However, Simon explained that in the administrator’s absence veterans are still about to receive assistance.
“Josh has completed all his documents and they’ve been sent to national, and we’re waiting on them to sign off,” Simon said. “He’ll get is PIV (Per-
sonal Identity Verification) card and he’ll be able to process the claims inhouse. He’ll be able to do everything that the administrator was doing.” Newton News has learned that Price’s accreditation was approved. When his PIV card is finished, he will be able to process claims without the need of another county veteran service officer (VSO). Until then, veterans will work with another county VSO to get everything processed in the system.
SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL PARTY PLANNING
Supervisors to form celebration committee for U.S.’s 250th birthday in 2026
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer
Jasper County wants to throw a party. But not just any kind of run-of-the-mill celebration will do. No, no. Supervisors want to make sure the United States of America’s 250th birthday is a real treat for Jasper County citizens, which is why they reached consensus about creating a steering committee for the 2026 Fourth of July festivities.
Within the next week or so, the board of supervisors will vote on the creation of this celebration committee to solicit donations and fundraise for the big event. Volunteers in subcommittees will also be needed to develop the idea itself as well as activities for an Independence Day that is only just two years away. Supervisor Brandon Talsma discussed the idea during a Dec. 3 work session. To his knowledge the county did a lot of decorating and
other activities in celebration of America’s bicentennial in 1976. Talsma thought it would be fun if the county took the initiative to form a committee of county officials for the park. For instance, Talsma said maintenance director Adam Sparks — who regularly prepares the courthouse for holiday celebrations — showed interest in being part of the committee, as did county conservation
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer
The Jasper County Board of Supervisors is expected to create a celebration committee for the 250-year anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
The PCM Dance Team performs its first place hip hop dance at the Iowa State Dance Team Association State Championship Competition Dec. 6 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The dancers earned top prize out of 11 teams in the division. The team also brought home a third place trophy for its pom routine in the 12-team Class VIII category. Both dances earned Division I ratings for the performances.
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
Holiday event in Monroe and Prairie City will feature a change to meet Santa Claus. In Monroe, Santa will be at the fire station from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 14. In Prairie City, the head elf will stop by the Holiday Shindig from 5 to 7 p.m. at Sacred Willow Farms.
The administrator of Jasper County Veterans Affairs has been placed
Events at The Gathering Place
Thursday, Dec 12
• 10am Focus Group meeting
•12:30pm PRE-PLANNING SERVICES presented by Noah Henkenius with Coburn Funeral Homes and Andy Algreen, Realtor
Friday, Dec. 13
• 2pm Piano with Jacque Robinson
Saturday, Dec. 14
• 10-2pm Annual Cookie Walk/Santa and Kid’s Crafts - Santa will be in his workshop from 11am to 1pm
Monday, Dec. 16
• 8am Coffee & Prayer with Pastor Ann
• 10am Video Exercise Class
• 1:30pm PCM Jazz Choir
Tuesday, Dec. 17
• 1pm Game Time
• 6pm BINGO
Wednesday, Dec. 18
• 9am Preschool Winter Concert
• 1pm “Get Fit, Move More!” with Amy S.
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.
Prairie City Holiday Shindig
The Prairie City Celebration Committee is hosting a Holiday Shindig from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Sacred Willow Farms. Enjoy crafts, hot cocoa and cookies, write letters to Santa and visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Take a guided tour of the holiday light contestant’s homes. Voting can be done in person at city hall, at the event or virtually on the Celebration Committee’s Facebook page.
Good News Club Monday
Good News Club for K-5th grade meets after school Monday at the Monroe Elementary Art Room and Prairie City Elementary Gym. Activities include games, songs, bible lessons and snacks. For more information contact Sheryl Plate at 641-5213120 or Jane McConeghey at 641-891-2733.
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.
Alzheimers and Dementia Support Group
The Prairie City First Reformed Church hosts an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group that meets at 3 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at the Prairie City First Reformed Church. This support group is for family members and caregivers of those living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
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.
Community Meal Wednesday
A Community Meal will be served beginning at 5 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month at the Monroe United Methodist Church. All are invited to share our free meal and fellowship.
Second Saturday Stewardship – trail maintenance
Lend a helping hand to clear a trail from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 14 at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. Volunteers will use hand tools to clear woody plants and will learn about Iowa’s native ecosystems and wildlife. Warm up afterward with hot chocolate and cookies. To register, email nancy_corona@fws.gov or call 515-994-3400. Volunteers are re -
quired to sign a volunteer agreement and a volunteer under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian fill it out and sign the form. Volunteers ages 16 or older are permitted to use hand tools. Volunteers are required to wear closed shoes suitable for field work, dress appropriate for the weather and bring a refillable water bottle.
Go ‘mutts’ for these holiday pet gifts
Pet parents try to ensure their companion animals never want for anything. People will go to great lengths to pamper their pets with the best care, food and accessories. According to the American Pet Products Association, consumers in the United States spent $147 billion on pets in 2023. And it’s not just the essentials that have people opening up their wallets for pets. A 2022 YouGov survey found that 57 percent of owners buy holiday gifts for their pets and 40 percent host birthday celebrations.
With the holiday season on the horizon, there’s a good chance that beloved pets are on gift lists this year, particularly for Gen Z pet owners. A study of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by Talker Research for Newsweek found that Gen Z spends an average of $148.50 on their pets each month, the highest of all surveyed. For those shopping for gifts their pets will enjoy, these options could have tails wagging.
• Treat dispenser: It isn’t possible to be home with their pets all of the time. A dispenser that can be programmed to offer treats at certain intervals or connected to an app that enables a person to release one at the push of a button can be a nice gift to surprise stay-at-home pets.
• Puzzle toy: Pets need to keep their brains working; otherwise, they may get bored and into trouble. A puzzle toy that has treats or kibble hidden behind panels helps pets remain mentally sharp.
• Pet booties: When the weather gets chilly, walking dogs outdoors on the ice and snow can be painful on their paws. A pair of booties can protect the delicate pads of pets’ feet from ice melt products, snow and sharp objects.
• New bed: Upgrade a pet’s bed to something even more lush and comfortable. A fleece blanket and a dedicated pet pillow can help pets feel even more pampered.
• Safety belt: Guarantee that trips in the car to the dog park or other excursions are safer by gifting a safety pet harness that works like a seatbelt in a
vehicle.
• Grooming package: Everyone wins when a pet is washed, dried and primped to perfection. Professional groomers have the skills to tame excess fur and trim nails so pets smell wonderful and remain comfortable.
• New toys: Whether a pet is a parakeet or poodle, gifts of new toys can be engaging for animals who have grown bored with their old ones. Be sure to wrap up clever gifts for pets so that every member of the family has something to enjoy come the holidays.
File Photo
Finish up the day of clearing trail with a cup of hot chocolate and cookies at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.
Explorer PCM
Holiday
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$50, second place award of $30 and third place award of $20.
Jersey Freeze will be open just for the weekend for its Winter Ice Cream Extravaganza. Get your favorite frozen treat one more time this year from noon to 7 p.m. Dec. 13 to 15.
The Gathering Place of Monroe is hosting a Holiday Cookie Walk full of homemade small food gifts for family and friends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 14. Kids and adults of all ages are invited to pick up
a sweet treat and even make a fun holiday craft to hang on the Christmas tree at kids crafts from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Prairie City is holding a Holiday Shindig from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at Sacred Willow Farms. The event features a special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus, crafts by Twice Blessed, letters to Santa and hot cocoa and cookies. At 7 p.m., a guided tour of the holiday light contest entries will take from Sacred Willow Farms. Community members can vote for their favorite display at the Holiday Shindig, Prairie City City Hall or on the Prairie City Celebration Committee’s Facebook page.
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director Keri Van Zante, who is wellversed in fundraising and organizing fun events in Jasper County. Of course, the celebrations would
Leave
“So they can still get services here,” Simon said, noting it is his understanding they will not have to go to Polk County or another adjoining county for claims processing. “The office is open. Josh is there. He is responding to phone calls, emails and walk-ins. So still open for business.”
Over the past year, there has been a great deal of friction between Wilson and the commissioners that have unraveled at public meetings. In May, a number of veterans flocked to their first ever veterans affairs commission meeting in support of Wil-
not have not be reserved for only the Fourth of July. In fact, Talsma suggested activities could be planned a month or so before.
“Two years is not that far out,”
Talsma said. “Ideally, this committee would do some fundraising and try to get decorations done, maybe some events throughout the course of June
son, whom they said needed additional support to run the office.
While many defended Wilson for her work in helping veterans, others suggested there is a movement or conspiracy to oust her from her position. Prior to Wilson taking on the job, there was some initial hesitancy from officials regarding her status as a non-veteran. Many veterans have condemned that sentiment.
Regardless, the issues between the commission and Wilson came to a head in a June. Commissioner Ed Spangenburg, who was unhappy with the number of Wilson’s unreturned phone calls, placed responsibility on her if veterans decide to kill themselves after having no
leading up to the Fourth of July … It’ll be another 50 years before we hit another big milestone like this.”
All of the money that would go toward this celebration would only comprise of donations. Talsma stressed no tax dollars would be used.
“It would be privately fundraised,” he said during the work session. “If this is something we’d like to do I’d like to get the ball rolling on this because obviously we’re talking about a year or so for fundraising alone … It’s not a four-man job. It’s going to be a pretty big process. Thoughts?”
Supervisors Thad Nearmyer and Doug Cupples were both receptive to the idea. Nearmyer asked if the coun-
one to answer the phone.
Again, local veterans came to Wilson’s aid to express their disgust with the commissioner’s comments, and the daughter of a Vietnam veteran wrote a letter condemning the things Spangenburg said. Over time the bickering had quieted, especially when a third party provided input to Wilson and commissioners.
In recent meetings, some progress had been made when it came to tracking Wilson’s work and how she is supposed to conduct at-home visits. Both of which were major issues for commissioners, who stressed the need for productivity and satisfactory evidence that concludes she, indeed, needs more help in the office.
ty would collaborate with the City of Newton or other entities since the celebrations would likely take place in the county seat. Talsma said it depends on what the county’s committee decides to do.
“If we want to do something with the Fourth of July Parade or, hey, we got a bunch of fundraising done and want to help with the fireworks display, then yes,” Talsma said. “But if it’s just activities that are taking place on the courthouse lawn, (then no) that’s 100 percent underneath our jurisdiction.”
The board of supervisors is expected to formally create the steering committee — at the earliest — by the Dec. 10 meeting.
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer
Jasper County Veterans Affairs Administrator Alyssa
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
Santa’s mailbox will be on hand from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Sacred Willow Farms in Prairie City.
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
Head to The Gathering Place of Monroe for cookies, crafts and games from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 15.
Opinion
Prepare to file your application for college financial aid
By Rob Denson Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation board member
Families who will have students in college for the 2025-2026 school year should take the first step in the financial aid process now.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, for 2025-2026 is now available.
Students and their parents should fill it out as soon as possible to ensure the best consideration for available college funding, which may be limited. For incoming freshmen, submitting earlier rather than later may also mean more opportunity to compare financial aid offers from multiple insti-
tutions before the final decision must be made. The information on the FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for federal financial aid, like work-study and federal student loans, as well as aid from the state and the college itself. These include grants and scholarships that do not need to be repaid.
Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation, which funds college as ISL Education Lending, encourages all students to complete the FAFSA even if they don’t feel they qualify for financial aid. Nearly all students are eligible for some federal student loans, and the college may require the FAFSA to be submitted before awarding scholarships or other aid, whether or not it
Women’s reaction to Trump’s victory
By Steve Corbin
Part 3 of a 3-part series
The first op-ed of this 3-part series (Women’s reaction to Trump’s victory) revealed the feelings of 11 women. Part two portrayed the thoughts of 12 women from across America. In this final op-ed, 13 additional women are expressing their sentiment.
“Last night’s election results were simply devastating because I believed the American people were too intelligent and ethical to elect a president who is crude, rude and incapable of making thoughtful, reasoned and informed decisions on behalf of our entire nation and world. Sadly, I now believe our nation continues to be misogynistic and racially prejudiced; kindness and integrity have taken a back seat to self-interest.” – Molly
“I’m most worried about America’s children – early childhood programs, public schools and health care – and children in other countries that we won’t be helping in the next four years. With Trump the environmental policies -- or the lack thereof – are also in great danger of causing catastrophic damage.” – Sabrina
“It is unfathomable how this despicable, immoral, vile person and his party with their Project 2025 plan is the better choice for our country and its’ citizens. I am beyond disappointed, sickened, sad and angry because their plans directly impact my child and many loved ones.” – Elizabeth
“My heart is broken for the future generations who will ask `why they must fight battles that had been won many years prior.’ My sad answer is not everyone listened and too many chose to follow a narcissistic snake who cares only about himself.” – Mabel
“For me, the election emphasized the fact that as a nation we are lacking in empathy. This quote from FreedHearts sums it up: `If you think you love freedom, but you don’t care if it applies to everyone, what you actually love is privilege.’” – Christy
“Fires, hurricanes, droughts, floods and other climate-related phenomena are more deadly, more expensive, more extreme – a signal that we are currently experiencing the consequences of human induced climate change and that we have teetered past the tipping point and are careening towards an uncertain future. I mourn the acceleration of suffering across the globe that will be perpetuated by a willfully ignorant administration, and I fear for our children who
will inherit this planet in chaos.”
– Susan
“We, as Americans, have asked ourselves `how did the German people allow such a vile and evil man to rise to power.’ Well, America, we now know how.” – Jeri
“I’m disheartened, sad and angry that over half the population of this nation, including over half the women, would vote for a hate-filled bully, liar, rapist and seemingly, abandon everyday values and morals in the name of the economy. As a retired economist, I absolutely fear what’s going to happen to this nation in the four years to come with his plans for tariffs, spending and tax cuts for the rich.” – Corinne
“After voting in 18 presidential elections, why should I think outcomes might be different? Let’s not give up hope that the young will keep working for the betterment of all.” – Jo
“My young adult granddaughters and gay adult sons are faced with living through the last hurrah of the white man as demographics are changing to reflect the end of their centuries of rule in this country. I can only suggest to my family and others to live life to the fullest while at the same time remembering the responsibilities that come with recreating the country after it implodes.” – Katie
“I am disheartened. The hope of America and her high ideals do not and should not include plans to further marginalize vulnerable communities, to further strip women of their rights, nor to deport millions of immigrants, and yet that is what the majority of Americans have chosen –to my great dismay.” – Kelly
“I cannot believe 53 percent of white women voted for Donald Trump considering all of his misogynic statements. I also cannot believe how many voters fell for all his lies and crude and vindictive rhetoric.” – Ann
“There is no way to sugarcoat the threats to democracy, the environment, and family well-being that lies ahead of us. We have to look for and cultivate the `green shoots’ (Jennifer Rubin’s term) that can turn us toward greater care and respect for science, truth, and one another.” - Alice Your reaction to 36 women expressing their opinion regarding the presidential election outcome can be expressed in a letter to the editor to your preferred newspaper. What are YOUR thoughts about the 2024 election outcome with Trump becoming America’s 47th president? Contact Steve Corbin at Steven.B.Corbin@gmail. com
has an income requirement.
The student as well as contributors - the student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or the student’s parent’s spouse - complete the FAFSA.
To get started:
• Locate or create a studentaid.gov account for every contributor who will be completing the FAFSA. If you already have an FSA ID, you can use that account username and password to access the account. Otherwise, start with your name and Social Security number at https://studentaid.gov/fsaid/create-account. (Contributors without a Social Security number can still create an account to complete their portion of the FAFSA).
• Gather 2023 state and federal tax returns, income records and other financial information.
• Log in at https://studentaid. gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa to start the form.
After completion, you will be able to direct the FAFSA to be sent to your college. Freshmen for 2025-2026 can send the FAFSA to multiple institutions. Each college will then use the results to determine financial need, or the gap between the cost of attendance and available savings and earnings. If you need help with the FAFSA, contact your college’s financial aid office or set up an appointment at no cost with ICAN at www.ICANsucceed. org. ICAN can also help new college students compare financial aid offers from multiple institutions.
Filling out the FAFSA is just one of the many steps to the college planning process. ISL, a nonprofit that helps families pay for college, offers several additional online resources and award programs.
To learn more about programs that can help pay for college, visit www.IowaStudentLoan.org/Scholarships.
YOUR VIEW
‘Tis the season!
One of the reasons I love Thanksgiving is it’s the beginning of a season (not just a day) for being grateful! I firmly believe that being thankful is a healthy way to feed our souls and goodness knows there are a lot of things out there to appreciate, one of the greatest of which is people. I honestly think we don’t spend enough time letting folks know just how much they mean to us, even to the point of taking them for granted at times.
Every week we meet people who
It doesn’t look good
Representative Jon Dunwell should be honest about his election day visits to precincts aside from his own.
Why did Mr. Dunwell climb in his car and drive to at least three different precincts to loiter, chat with poll workers and shake hands with people standing in line to vote? He says he was not campaigning, but was he? Whether he was campaigning
RSVP is alive and well in Jasper County!
RSVP stands for Retired Senior Volunteer program. We have more than 120 members who donate thousands of hours back into the community. Shoutout to all our amazing volunteers! We prepare taxes at no-cost for qualifying clients. We greet you at the hospital or comfort you at the cancer clinic. We read with students in the schools; we write pen pal letters; we are at Head Start preschool. We are at the Jasper County Historical Museum, the Jasper Genealogical Society, and at local thrift stores. We assist at Jasper County Elderly Nutrition,
build us up with their dependable work ethics and positive attitudes, even when sometimes what they do is not the most fulfilling. Right now I’m thinking of some of my favorite people simply because they are a prime example of the things I’m writing about, and that is the staff at the Newton Redemption Center (formerly Oldham’s Redemption Center) owned by Steve Terlouw. Under the conscientious management of Caleb Penning (his 17 years on the team is evident), he and his colleagues do a terrific job of collecting, counting and eliminating metal and glass beverage contain-
in a precinct or not, Mr. Dunwell is the incumbent candidate who has received considerable coverage in the local press. People know him and his standing in the community. He doesn’t need to wear or distribute election materials to be campaigning. Neither candidate should be at any precinct on election day, other than their own, to vote. Mr. Dunwell’s presence at the polls for no apparent purpose may or may not be in violation of the law, but it doesn’t look good. This is obvious to everyone. It’s too bad that Mr. Dunwell doesn’t get it.
sing at local care centers and help monitor the emergency sirens. And, we offer a service called Jasper County RIDE that provides free transportation to medical appointments.
Jasper County RIDE is a no-cost, vital service that helps our community regain health, sustain health and age-in-place longer. We take clients to out-oftown appointments as well as intown. We have a record high 171 clients — which is great! However…we only have 22 volunteer drivers. These drivers are amazing folks who not only transport people to medical care, but they offer conversation, sometimes calm nerves and provide support for our clients.
We need more Jasper County RIDE drivers to help us meet the need for medical transportation
ers every week of the year. Mark, Trey, Randy, Stephanie and Garrett are shining stars who attack their jobs with efficiency and enthusiasm and it’s for this reason I want to recognize them today.
Some people may say it’s a nasty job, but they do it admirably. I hope this might encourage you to let them know the next time you bring your beverage containers to 325 E. 12th St. S. because without a doubt they’re prime examples of everyday heroes who rise to the occasion.
Big Way-to-Go, team! Bravo! Barry Hurto Newton
It is also unfortunate that Mr. Dunwell sees being called out for his conduct as “harassment” and blames Democrats. Regardless of the party he should know as an elected representative, he needs to exercise good judgment and avoid conduct that calls his integrity into question. He has failed at both tests.
Mr. Dunwell needs to bear this in mind. He should also remember that he represents all the people of District 38, not just those who voted for him.
Robert Holley Newton
in Jasper County. If you are 55 or older, have a valid driver’s license and enjoy helping others — then this may be the program for you! Interested? Stop into the Iowa State Extension Office in the southeast corner of the DMACC Building — that’s where we are located: 550 N. Second Ave. E. in Newton, Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays 8 a.m. to noon. Or pick up a packet to become an RSVP member and Ride Driver — it’s free to join! Or chat with us about becoming a RIDE driver and the other volunteer opportunities we have at RSVP. Call the Extension office and ask for Sarah or Jasmine at 641-792-6433. Volunteering is good for the mind, body and soul. Consider joining us! Sarah Patterson Newton
The PCM
PCM Mustangs Take Home State Dance Champion Title
The ISDTA (Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association) competition was last week. On December 6 the PCM dance team took the stage for state. The morning of state the team had a firetruck sent off from the high school. The girls performed two routines; hip hop and pom. They performed their pom in HyVee Hall and hip hop in Wells Fargo Arena. The first routine was in the morning and the second was at night. After doing both they received awards. They got division one ratings and placed in the top three for both routines. The team placed first for hip-hop. They are now state champions in Division Five hip hop. This was a huge accomplishment for the team. It has been a while since the PCM dance team has placed first so everyone was overjoyed. A few of the girls on the team were crying because of how happy they were. To add to the joy this team was feeling, this first-place trophy is coach Lainy’s first as the head coach of the team. Then they got third for pom which is also a great accomplishment. The team has been working countless hours to do the best they could. The girls learned the two routines they performed at state in the summer. Ever since they have had morning practices before school and a few weekend practices. To prepare for state they go to Rock On where they get judged and get feedback. They take that feedback and put it into their routines. Then the dance team has a dress rehearsal where anyone in the community could come and watch them do their routines. Then after all that it is finally time for state. In anticipation of state, freshman Johanna Thomas and senior Addison Shannon were interviewed about how they feel. Thomas said ¨I’m nervous and excited¨ when asked about state dance coming up. When Shannon was asked about how she thinks about it being her last state she said ¨ I’m sad but I know we have the show and nationals to go, I will be sad but I’m confident that we are going to do good”. When talking about the dances they were most looking forward to, Thomas said hip hop. Shannon on the other hand said pom. Then both girls said what their favorite team traditions are. With it being Thomas’s first year on the team she said her favorite tradition so far was “our dress-up practices for state week”. Shannon said after four years on the team her favorite thing the team has done was “coming to state on Thursday to watch other dances and going to Dunkin Donuts”. The PCM dance team might be done with state but they aren’t done with their season yet. The girls still have their annual show and on top of that, the team is going to nationals in Florida. This is not a new thing but the last time the team went to nationals was in 2012. The girls have been doing countless fundraisers to make it to Florida. The dance team will fly out in mid-February. Until then they still have a lot of work to do to prepare for the show and nationals.
PCM Girls Basketball off to a Hot Start
Kenna Grier Staff Writer
The girl’s basketball team cruised past the Saydel Eagles 60-30 last Friday night to start the first home varsity double-header game of the season and stay undefeated. The team had complete control on both sides of the floor, shutting down the Eagles early in the game. Senior Addi Steehoek led the team with 16 points and five assists. Freshman Libby Winters pulled down the most rebounds with four offensive and three defensive, ending the night with a total of seven rebounds. Junior, Tori Lindsay had 11 points, with an impressive 57% field goal percentage. Junior Kyra Naeve finished the night with eight points, and Sophomore Lila Milani put in six points. Lindsay and Winters both had three steals. Senior Rebecca DeVries chipped in two points and five rebounds. Freshman Camden Webb and Sophomore Bailey Wheeler each contributed two points and an assist, with Wheeler also grabbing a steal. Sophomore Lilly Knapp ended the night with two points and a rebound, and Junior Lexi Fagg swiped one steal. Junior Jayden Fridley and Sophomore Kenna Grier both pulled down one rebound. The team played an overall amazing game, with Head Coach Samantha Allison-Rodriguez commenting on how the team has improved since their first game, “I think we’re getting better every day. That’s the goal we’ve been working on all season.” When asked about what the team needs to improve on, she said, “Consistently getting three stops in a row. Three stops in a row will get us a whole lot of wins this year.” She adds, “I think we’re really active. If we talk on defense and stay active, really good things happen, so we’ll keep working on consistently getting after it on the defensive end.” The team has a very promising season ahead of them and is working hard every day to continue their electric start.
SEMESTER TEST INFORMATION
WEDNESDAY, DEC 18
THURSDAY, DEC 19
FRIDAY, DEC 20
December Students of the Month
Stella Starvers
Nickname: Stell
Parents: Sam & Missy Stravers
Employer: Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe
Future Plans: Grandview for Nursing
Extracurricular Activities: Volleyball, Track, ELP, Key Club, Big Little, NHS - Vice President
3 words that describe her: Kind-hearted, Hard-working, Positive Favorite Class: English Advice for Underclassmen: “Do what makes you happy” Best High School Memory: TeePeeing Dream Job: Nurse Practitioner
Wednesday, December 18
1st Period Tests: 8:05-9:40
3rd Period Tests: 9:50-11:10
LUNCH: 11:15-11:55
5th Period Tests: 12:00-1:30 7th Period Tests- 1:40-3:15
Thursday, December 19
2nd Period Tests: 8:05-9:40
4th Period Tests: 9:50-11:10
LUNCH: 11:15-11:55
6th Period Tests: 12:00-1:30 8th Period Tests- 1:40-3:15
Tad Wilson
Parents: Adam & Kim Wilson
Future Plans: Attend Iowa
State University
Extracurricular Activities: Football & Track
3 Words that describe him: Quiet, Respectful, & Tall
Favorite Class: Shop
Advice for underclassmen: “Enjoy It!” Best High School Memory: Senior Football Season
Favorite Movie: Top Gun
Favorite Musician: Tyler
Childers
Favorite Book: I survived series Dream Job: Business Owner
Friday, December 20: Make-Up Day
Students who have an excused absence and miss a semester test on Weds. or Thurs. will be able to make up their semester test on Fri. Students are to see the teacher to find a time to make the test up on Fri. (This is a 2hr early out.) Students who know about their absence in advance need to have it approved from the office, then see the teacher to schedule a make-up time. Students MAY NOT change their semester test schedule for convenience
Hi! My name is Addyson Pederson, and I am a sophomore here at PCM. I am currently the editor and anchor for ThunderTV. Hence the name, I will be talking about all my adventures I have been on, such as traveling. I have been to 2 different countries and 20 states. To start off this series, I will be talking about my favorite place I have traveled to, which is Jamaica. I traveled to Jamaica in the summer of 2023. The reason for going was for my mom’s wedding, and we stayed there for about a week. We had to drive to Kansas City’s airport the night before we flew out because our flight was at 6:00 in the morning. I and my family stayed in a hotel near the airport, along with many friends and extended family. We were all up at 4:00 a.m. ready to get on a bus to head to the airport. When we arrived at the airport, it was pretty empty. So we were able to get through security and to our gate quickly. We were on our plane and ready to fly to Miami, Florida, for our layover. Our flight was about 3 hours long but went by fast because I slept. Although I did make sure to wake up to see the beautiful skyline of Miami. We then got on our plane to fly from Miami to Montego Bay, Jamaica. The views were absolutely gorgeous as we entered Jamaica. We landed and went through customs since we were in a new country, but soon enough we were on a bus on our way to our resort in Negril. The bus ride was roughly 2 hours, but it was crazy because they don’t really have driving rules, so it was very hectic. Our resort was so gorgeous, and I went straight to the ocean as soon as I got my stuff put away. Activities we did in Jamaica consisted of lots of sand volleyball, which was so fun getting to play with people from all around the world. We went on a boat and got to go snorkeling in a reef; we even saw an octopus! Spent lots of time in the ocean, collecting lots of starfish, and of course enjoying the amazing Jamaican food. Of course, the main reason we were there was for my mom’s wedding, which was so fun, but yet emotional for me. Our time in Jamaica went by very quickly, and it was so sad to leave. We flew back to Charlotte, North Carolina, and almost missed our flight back to Kansas City, but we made it! I will never forget the time I spent in Jamaica, and I will always cherish it. I hope to go back soon, because it is truly one of my favorite places. I’ll catch you with another vacation story soon!
Kayla VanderLinden Staff Writer
T he PCM dance team with their 3rd and 1st place finisher trophies
Rylee Parsons Newspaper Editor
PCM wrestlers open season with sweep in home quad
By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer
MONROE — Freshman Mason
Hjortshoj simply didn’t want to let his team down.
With the Mustangs clinging to a seven-point lead with two matches to go, a win from Hjortshoj would lock up the dual victory against Van Meter on Dec. 3.
Another freshman, Bentlee Sloan, was in a similar situation in the opening dual against conference rival Greene County.
Both Mustang grapplers came through in the first big matches of their young careers, and it helped the PCM wrestling team go 3-0 for the night during a home quadrangular.
“They did well. They learned. It’s different than middle school and AAU,” PCM head wrestling coach Rusty Vos said about the talented freshmen class. “Mason Hjortshoj looked great tonight. I’ve seen him wrestle for many, many years and that’s the best he’s wrestled to me.
“The lights turned on for Bentlee Sloan, and he looked great in those first two matches but then he made a mistake. That’s all right. He learned and apologized for it.”
The mistake from Sloan came after his only loss of the night in the Van Meter dual. He threw his head gear as he exited the mat and cost PCM a team point. That’s why the margin was seven and not eight, but the hosts downed the Bulldogs 42-36.
PCM opened its season with a 42-33 win over the Rams and then downed Ogden 54-24. The three freshmen in the starting lineup finished 7-2 in their nine matches.
“I think they did great, but it’s not super surprising,” said Tucker Wheeler about the freshmen class. “Maybe a few of them surprised me. I’m excited for them and to see how much better they can get.”
Wheeler, Kaden Clark and Kaliber Fry all begin the season in the IAwrestle rankings. All three grapplers went 3-0.
Clark was 3-0 with two pins and Fry and Wheeler both won once by fall and once by technical fall. All three accepted a forfeit against Greene County.
The Mustangs dominated their contested matches. Two of the duals were close mostly because PCM gave up at least 18 points in forfeits in all three duals.
“I really like how hard the kids fought,” Vos said. “They got into some tough positions but fought through them. They’ve been working pretty hard in the room the last few weeks.
“The practices have been hard and they didn’t like it, but I told them it would pay off, and it did tonight. We’ll see how it goes moving forward. Hopefully we can stay at that level and keep getting better.”
PCM was 4-3 in contested matches against Greene County and each team took three forfeits. All four contested wins came by pins from Hjortshoj (144), Jeffery McDanel (165), Sawyer Bouwkamp (190) and Sloan (138).
The Mustangs led 36-33 before Sloan’s pin sealed the team win. Fourth-ranked Wheeler (157), 12th-ranked Fry (126) and fifthranked Clark (285) all took forfeits.
In the 30-point win over Ogden, PCM was 9-1 in contested matches but gave up the three forfeits. The Mustangs were open at 106, 113, 120 and 132.
All nine contested wins against Ogden came by pins from Hjortshoj, Wheeler, McDanel, Bouwkamp, Clark, Fry, Sloan, Danson Drake (175) and Kaiden Valcore (215).
Hjortshoj, Wheeler, Bouwkamp, Clark and Drake all won by first-period fall.
“It’s nice to compete against someone new and not busting the same face in practice,” Clark said. “The team wrestled really well. I think some of them surprised and others underperformed to be honest. It’s OK. We have plenty of time before we need to peak.”
Clark’s season ended early last
year due to a wrist injury. He made it through football season almost completely healthy and is dealing with a few bumps and bruises but showed no signs of hinderance in the season openers.
One of Clark’s wrestling partners in the room is Valcore, who showed big improvement from last season. He was 3-23 last year but picked up two wins on Dec. 3.
“I’m so proud of that kid,” Vos said. “He’s worked really hard and looked great today.”
The Mustangs were 7-2 in contested matches against Van Meter. They led 33-0 before three straight forfeits at 106, 113 and 120 and another at 132 got the Bulldogs back in the dual.
Van Meter got within 37-30 with two matches to go. The final PCM win came from Hjortshoj, who needed just 2 minutes, 19 seconds to secure the pin and clinch the team victory. He was 3-0 with three pins and two first-period pins in his varsity debut.
Getting a lead with the dual on the line against Van Meter was crucial for Hjortshoj, who admitted to being nervous before the match.
“It was really important to get a lead in that one,” Hjortshoj said. “I was super nervous before the match and the team was nervous because it was close. Getting an early lead just helped everyone relax a little bit.
“I feel like we did really well today. We were sloppy in a few places, but we’ll clean that up in practices and be back at it on (Dec. 6).”
The Mustangs produced four pins, two technical falls and one major decision in their seven contested wins against Van Meter.
McDanel completed his 3-0 night with a third straight pin after Wheeler won by a 19-4 technical to open the dual. Drake scored a 32-second pin at 175, Bouwkamp accepted a forfeit at 190 and Valcore posted a 13-4 major decision win at 215.
WRESTLING | 7
PCM girls stay unbeaten, move
By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer
MONROE — PCM head girls basketball coach Sami Allison-Rodriguez won’t tell her players not to shoot the ball from beyond the arc.
The roster simply features too many girls who can light it up from outside.
The Mustangs began the game around 1-of-10 from 3-point range, but they finished the first period with four treys from three different players and the squad’s strong start to open the frame led the PCM girls basketball team to a 60-30 home win over Saydel on Dec. 6.
The Class 3A No. 9 Mustangs remained unbeaten and improved to 2-0 in the Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference thanks in part to balanced scoring, 49 percent shooting from the floor and 11 steals on defense.
“I was proud of the girls tonight,” Allison-Rodriguez said. “Our offense against the zone against Pella Christian was not very good. We were stagnant that night, but we made some really good decisions tonight. We got a little bit better tonight,
which is what the goal was.”
The Mustangs won their 17th straight game against the Eagles. PCM is 21-1 against its conference rival since 2013.
The hosts led Saydel by 10 after one and used a 20-7 surplus in the second to grab an advantage for good.
“We try to put three stops in a row together as much as we can,” Allison-Rodriguez said. “If you can do that, you will do some damage on the offensive end. We work on it in practice, the bench knows what we’re doing and it gives everyone something to focus on.”
PCM (5-0, 2-0 in the HOIAC) scored the first eight points of the game and
Five Mustangs grab all-state football honors
PCM’s impressive run to the state semifinals featured one of the top running backs in Iowa in senior Adrien Robbins, a dominant duo on the defensive side of the ball in seniors Trenner Van Dyke and Finn Wilson as well as senior wideout Riley Graber and up-and-coming offensive lineman Hayden Shannon.
All five players were recognized as all-staters recently by the Iowa Football Coaches Association.
Robbins and Wilson earned first team recognition in Class 2A. The other three gridders were voted as second teamers.
PCM also featured players on the academic all-state squads. In total, eight were recognized.
That group included PCM seniors Robbins, Graber, Tate Birkenholtz, Kaden Clark, Brevin DeRaad, Gavin DeRaad, Harlan Shannon and Tad Wilson.
Academic all-state players must be a senior starter who was recommended by their head coach, must be involved in other extra-curricular activities and feature a 3.7 or better grade point average at the end of his junior year.
The Mustangs finished 11-1 and advanced to the state semifinals in 2A after a dominating season on both sides of the ball.
The defense was headlined by Wilson and Van Dyke.
Wilson was a first-team allstater at defensive utility after compiling 65.5 tackles, three tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and one interception.
Van Dyke was a second-team all state defensive lineman who had a strong case to be a first teamer. He led 2A with 25 tackles for loss and ranked second with 13 sacks. His final season also included 55 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Robbins earned first team allstate honors at running back. He ranked second in 2A with a school-record 2,191 rushing yards, ranked third with 24 rushing TDs and averaged 8.9 yards per carry, which also ranked third in 2A.
Robbins was eighth in 2A with 29 total touchdowns, third with 2,528 offensive yards and led the class with 2,816 all-purpose yards. He added 16 catches for 305 yards and five touchdowns, too.
The standout tailback finished his PCM career with a school-record 5,577 career rushing yards and a school-record 58 career rushing touchdowns.
Graber was a second-teamer at wide receiver after ranking second in 2A with 12 receiving TDs. He grabbed 26 passes and ranked 15th in 2A with 592 yards, averaging 22.8 yards per catch.
Freshman Hayden Shannon earned second-team allstate honors on the offensive line after helping PCM’s offense rank second in 2A with 3,314 rushing yards and a 7.3 yards per carry average.
The Mustangs led 2A with 48 rushing TDs and 79 total touchdowns and compiled a 2A-best 4,997 offensive yards.
up in state rankings
Lila Milani scored back-to-back buckets at the back end of the run.
Saydel countered with the next six though.
That’s when the Mustangs caught fire from deep.
Kyra Naeve and Addison Steenhoek drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the lead to 14-6. Tori Lindsay and Steenhoek each canned a trey later in the frame to push the margin to 21-11 after one.
A 12-3 run to open the second extended PCM’s advantage to 33-14. That run started with a steal and layup from Naeve and included a layup and triple from Lindsay, a three-point play from Libby Winters and a drive by Steenhoek. Steenhoek added a three-point play and another triple later in the frame. All 16 of her points came in the first half.
Lindsay and Winters also reached double figures and Naeve put in eight points.
“We are all unselfish players,” Naeve said. “I don’t think anyone cares how many points they score as long as we get open looks and coach is persistent about
getting the open looks, too.”
Naeve joined PCM’s roster at the holiday break last winter. She’s been much more impactful this year after a full offseason and preseason with her teammates.
“I’m a lot more comfortable this year,” Naeve said. “I feel closer to the team off the court, too. We establish connections better and it’s been easier this year.”
PCM outscored the Eagles 13-4 in the third.
The Mustangs scored the first 13 of the frame to push their lead to 54-18. Naeve opened the third with a 3 and Winters scored three consecutive buckets inside the lane.
Lindsay kicked on the continuous clock when she ended the 13-0 run with a layup.
“We have too many good shooters on the floor to tell them not to shoot it,” Allison-Rodriguez said. “We know if we’re not connecting out there to get it inside. We are starting to learn that sooner. They’ll get better at it.”
PCM Explorer
Robbins
F. Wilson
Van Dyke
Graber
Hay. Shannon
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM senior Kaden Clark, top, went 3-0 with two pins in the Mustangs’ season-opening home quadrangular on Dec. 3. Clark is now ranked fifth in Class 2A at 285 pounds.
Steenhoek Lindsay
Explorer PCM
PCM boys rally past Saydel in intense rivalry matchup
By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer
MONROE — The PCM boys basketball team is 23-3 against Saydel since at least 2013.
All three wins by the Eagles came in the past two seasons. The Mustangs can no longer count on two easy victories anymore.
And that brought out the best in PCM on Dec. 6 during its first of two Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference matchups against Saydel this season.
“Saydel is good now. They haven’t always been good in the past, but that’s not the case now,” PCM head boys basketball coach Tony Ford said. “They beat us a couple times last year. It’s always going to be a good game. I think (Saydel head coach Nick) Noring has done a great job there. We know it’s going to be a hard basketball game to win, and we don’t want to be on the other side of it.”
After the first quarter on Dec. 6, it looked like the Mustangs could be headed for another loss in the series.
But a strong second quarter set up the fans in attendance with a barn burner of a contest and PCM escaped its home gym with a 55-52 conference victory.
The Eagles controlled the first quarter. They jumped out to a 6-2 lead and then scored the final eight points of the frame to go in front 17-8 after one.
The visitors extended their run to 10-0 at the start of the second, but Gavin Van Gorp buried consecutive 3-pointers, Chase Wagaman scored inside and Van Gorp canned another triple before a putback by Alex Wendt closed the margin to 24-21.
Saydel led 25-24 at halftime after PCM’s Kash Fischer drilled a 3 late in the second.
Van Gorp made four 3s in the first half and scored 13 of his teamhigh 16 in the first two quarters.
He also was given some extra motivation when Saydel sophomore Brady Hicks shoved him from behind after Hicks scored a basket inside in the second. No foul was called on the play.
“(Hicks) called me soft. I told the ref, and he didn’t really care either so I took it personally,” Van Gorp said. “There were high emotions and they said some stuff they probably shouldn’t have said. They were talking before the game, too. We kept our composure. We have a lot of experience on this team so we know how to handle those things.”
Wendt’s first career double-double featured 12 points and 12 rebounds. He converted another putback and answered a Hicks 3 with a
Girls Hoops
Saydel (2-1, 0-1) outscored PCM 8-6 in the fourth, but Allison-Rodriguez emptied her bench early in the frame. Camden Webb and Bailey Wheeler each scored points inside the paint and Lillian Knapp added a jumper to cap the scoring.
It was the first career varsity points for Wheeler and Knapp.
Steenhoek led the Mustangs with 16 points, four rebounds and five assists and Winters added 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Lindsay tallied 11 points, four boards, two assists and three steals, Naeve chipped in eight points, two rebounds and two steals and Milani contributed six points and three boards. Rebecca De Vries pulled down five rebounds.
“The balance is great. The other team can try to shut down one player and that’s fine,” Allison-Rodriguez said. “But how do you shut down four of them? It’s harder to defend that.”
PCM shot 49 percent from the floor, made 7-of-25 from 3 and connected on 5-of-10 from the freethrow line. The Mustangs committed one less turnover (17-16) than Saydel.
The Eagles were plagued by 22
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
Members of PCM’s 2004 state championship boys basketball team were recognized between varsity games against Saydel on Dec. 6. It’s the 20th anniversary season of the title team.
hoop inside to close the Mustangs’ margin to 31-28.
Van Gorp tied the game with another triple before Cutler VandeLune scored on a bank and Fischer drilled another trey.
Joe Shaver also made a layup after a Saydel turnover that put the Mustangs (1-1, 1-1 in the conference) in front 38-32.
“We just had to keep believing,” said Van Gorp, who missed the first few weeks of practice recovering from an ankle injury he suffered at the end of football season.
“We had an urge to win this game so we just kept believing and fighting.”
The final points of the period for PCM came from Kaleb DeVries and his three-point play extended the hosts lead to 41-36.
Gage Moreno closed Saydel’s gap to one after three, and the Eagles (1-1, 0-1) went back in front early in the fourth following a pair of free throws from Hicks and a layup from Moreno.
PCM answered Saydel’s run with a 9-0 spurt of its own. The run featured baskets by four different players, including hoops inside from Wagaman, Shaver and Wendt and a 3 from VandeLune.
The back-and-forth nature of the game continued later as Saydel got the next seven to trim its deficit to 50-47.
The Eagles took advantage of back-to-back turnovers by PCM.
Wendt stopped the run with another bucket in the lane and DeVries answered a Hicks 3 with a layup with 47.9 seconds left that kept the Mustangs in front by four.
Leading by two, PCM had trouble getting the ball up the court against Saydel’s full-court pressure.
But Van Gorp eventually got fouled and made 1-of-2 from the line with 16.1 seconds to go.
Van Gorp finished with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists to lead PCM, while DeVries added five points, five boards and four assists.
Fischer tallied six points and
percent shooting from the floor. Paige Rummans led the visitors with 11 points, four rebounds and three steals.
PCM 56, West Marshall 44 STATE CENTER — The Mustangs opened HOIAC play with a double-digit win over West Marshall on Dec. 3.
PCM jumped out to an early lead and then held off a second-half rally from the Trojans during a 56-44 road victory.
The Mustangs handled their first big test of the season thanks in part to balanced scoring and a 29-15 advantage in the first half.
PCM overcame 17 turnovers because it buried eight 3s and connected on 44 percent from the floor.
The Mustangs also limited West Marshall to 33 percent shooting and forced 22 turnovers.
Lindsay and Winters both scored 17 points to lead PCM. Lindsay added four rebounds, seven assists and two steals and Winters swiped three steals. Lindsay was 4-of-9 from long range.
Steenhoek chipped in five points, three rebounds, two assists and four steals, Naeve tallied eight points and two rebounds and Milani registered six points, four assists and three steals.
De Vries collected three points and five rebounds off the bench.
two rebounds, VandeLune scored eight points and Wagaman tallied four points and a career-best 11 rebounds.
Shaver posted four points, two rebounds and two assists off the bench and Gavin Steenhoek registered two rebounds and four assists.
The Mustangs committed only 10 turnovers and out-rebounded Saydel 41-24.
Hicks led Saydel with 18 points and 10 rebounds and Moreno scored 13 points. The Eagles were plagued by 8-of-17 shooting from the foul line.
West Marshall 57, PCM 46
STATE CENTER — PCM finished with small advantages in 3-pointers and free throws made and had one fewer turnover than West Marshall, but the Trojans started fast and made 47 percent of their shots from the floor during a 57-46 home win over the Mustangs in HOIAC action on Dec. 3.
West Marshall led by three after one, nine after two and 19 after three. The Trojans outscored PCM 16-10 in the second and 15-5 in the third.
The Mustangs rallied in the fourth with a 16-8 advantage, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.
VandeLune led the Mustangs with 12 points, two rebounds and two assists. Wagaman tallied nine points and six rebounds.
Fischer’s varsity debut included seven points, two rebounds and two assists, Wendt posted six points and nine rebounds off the bench and Kevin Thomas debuted with five points.
DeVries registered four rebounds and five assists, Van Gorp scored three points and Shaver grabbed two boards.
The win for the Trojans snapped a nine-game skid in the series.
Lucas Barnes led the Trojans (2-2, 1-1) with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks.
Bella Borgos led West Marshall (3-1, 1-1) with 23 points, six rebounds and three assists and Lily Zahnd added six points and 14 rebounds.
PCM 42, Pella Christian 31
PELLA — Winters posted her first career double-double, three Mustangs reached double figures and PCM slowly pulled away from 2A No. 15 Pella Christian during a 42-31 road win on Dec. 5.
PCM led by two after one, went in front by three at halftime and pushed in front by eight after three in the non-conference contest.
Winters scored 16 points and grabbed a career-best 12 rebounds and Steenhoek and Lindsay also hit double digits for points.
Steenhoek tallied 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals, Lindsay chipped in 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and four steals, Naeve grabbed seven boards and De Vries pulled down two rebounds.
The Mustangs shot 34 percent from the floor, made 3-of-15 from 3 and connected on 5-of-12 from the foul line. They turned the ball over 15 times.
Pella Christian (2-3) got nine points, seven rebounds and three assists from Faith Kacmarynski and Rachel Kacmarynski grabbed 10 boards in the loss.
Clark’s pin at 285 came in 1:01 and Fry followed with a 20-4 technical fall at 126.
Hjortshoj and McDanel both were 3-0 with three pins, Bouwkamp and Clark finished 3-0 with two pins and Wheeler and Fry both were 3-0. Sloan and Drake won twice by fall and Valcore scored a pair of bonus-point victories.
“I saw some things we’ve worked on in the room that we’ve never done before and now I’m seeing it out on the mat, which is awesome,” Vos said. “They are listening and learning, and that’s how you get better.”
Clark leads Mustangs at Independence INDEPENDENCE — The Cliff Keen Independence Invitational might be the toughest tournament the Mustangs compete in this season.
The two-day event featured 30 teams, at least five ranked squads, a plethora of ranked wrestlers and even programs from out of state.
And Clark navigated through all of it with a perfect 6-0 day as he was the champion at 285 pounds on Dec. 7.
Wheeler suffered his first losses of the season but finished fourth at 157, Fry was ninth at 126 and McDanel also scored a top-15 finish as the Mustangs placed 20th as a team with 143 points.
PCM entered 10 wrestlers in the tournament. The top 10 finishing teams did not have fewer than 13 wrestlers for the event.
Class 2A No. 5 Clark (9-0) posted six pins in winning the 285 bracket. He was 6-0 with four first-period pins.
Fourth-ranked Wheeler (8-2) dropped his first match of the season to an out-of-state wrestler but then fell 7-1 to Class 1A No. 3 Tieran Boots of Lisbon in the third-place match.
Wheeler’s day also included one pin, two technical falls and a pair of decisions.
Class 2A No. 12 Fry (8-1) finished ninth at 126 but only lost once on the weekend. He was 5-1 with two pins, one technical fall and two major decisions.
McDanel and Bouwkamp both wrestled at 165. McDanel (7-3) finished 13th after going 4-3 with one pin, two technical falls and one medical forfeit. Bouwkcamp (6-2) won three times, scored two pins and ended up 17th.
The other top finishes came from Drake, Harrison Brinegar, Valcore and Sloan. Drake was 18th after finishing 3-3 with three pins at 175, Brinegar was 20th with two pins at 150 and Valcore ended up 21st with two pins and one technical fall victory.
Sloan finished 25th at 138. He was 3-3 with three pins.
Class 1A No. 2 Alburnett won the tournament title with 348 points. The rest of the top five featured 3A No. 4 Carlisle (308.5), Fennimore, Wis. (294.5), 2A No. 7 Burlington Notre Dame (294) and host Independence (253).
Clear Creek-Amana (228.5), Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (224), 1A No. 6 Denver (215), 2A No. 10 Algona (209) and Pleasant Valley (205) completed the top 10.
Kaden Clark
PCM senior Kaden Clark is 9-0 with eight pins this season. The Class 2A No. 5 ranked Clark went 3-0 with two pins in the team’s home-opening quadrangular on Dec. 3 and then finished first and went 6-0 with six falls at the Cliff Keen Independence Invitational on Dec. 7. Four of those came in the first period.
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