Katherine Brakeville is the cool substitute teacher — the kind of adult authority figure who exudes a sense of understanding to her students.

Part of it is her look. Sporting dreadlocks, arms decorated with tattoos, and a laid-back demeanor, Brakeville tries her best to fit the part. However, the former snowboarder and current dog musher worries that she’s not nearly as cool as her students might think she is.

“I’m very casual. I still have high standards, but just in a different way. I try to connect with them (the students) on their level, with their language,” she said.

That use of modern lingo sometimes leads to unintentionally hilarious conversations.

“They (my students) are like, ‘Don’t ever say that again,’” Brakeville said with a laugh.

A West Burlington native, the first half of Brakeville’s life was pretty ordinary.

“I worked a lot of production jobs,” she said.

Things started getting more interesting when she became a naturalist in Des Moines County over a decade ago. It was Brakeville’s first foray into teaching, and she loved it. Already an outdoor enthusiast with a snowboarding background, Brakeville became a key member of the Des Moines County Wildlife Rehab Group.

“I stepped away for a little bit. I do have three baby possums living in my basement, though. They’re getting ready to be moved outside,” she said.

Brakeville and her husband moved to Utah for several years after she left her job as a naturalist, and they recently returned to Burlington. Moving from Utah to southeast Iowa was a reverse culture shock, but Brakeville and her family love it here.

“We lived in a very remote, off-grid, beautiful home on 80 acres (in Utah). And by off-grid, I mean we had to snowmobile to the house, and there was only solar power,” she said.

Brakeville worked at an after-school program, a local state park, and the nearby snowboard resort while in Utah.

“If you worked for them, you got free (snowboard) passes, which was one of the perks,” she said.

Brakeville currently works as a long-term substitute teacher for the Burlington School District and also works at Tractor Supply as a side hustle. She’s closing in on her teaching license and would like to work up the education ladder.

When Brakeville is outside of work, she thinks about dog mushing. It’s become an obsession.

“That’s my thing right now. That’s my life,” she said.

Brakeville took up dryland mushing as she was moving back to Burlington, and it looks quite a bit different from traditional mushing. As the name suggests, there is no snow. Competitors ride on wheeled sleds, which can be anything from scooters to bicycles.

Brakeville has three trained dogs who can’t wait to pull her wherever she desires. Dryland mushing is a sprint of around 3 miles.

“I’ve always been involved in dogs, one way or another. I’ve hunted with my dad since I was old enough to walk through the timber by myself. He raised some of the best coon hounds,” she said.

This October, Brakeville will compete in the IFSS Dryland Championships in the one-dog scooter class in Minocqua, Wis., representing Team USA.

Brakeville has been practicing for the past three years, making sure to avoid any major spills as the dogs pull her scooter over 20 mph.

She credits Burlington resident Jon Williams, a well-known dog musher who has spent years running dogs over some of the iciest tundras in the world. She described him as a mentor and perhaps one of the friendliest people on the globe.

“He gifted me some harnesses and told me to get my certification in dog obedience first, because he (Brakeville’s first dog) was unruly. He spent an hour with me one evening just talking (about) dogs. So, I text him periodically about where I’m racing,” she said.

Brakeville said there is an entire hidden community of avid dog mushers who provide assistance and support, some as nearby as the Quad Cities. She can even post her practice times against other mushers to help train for the significant events.

“I have a group of friends, my community, and we’re all pushing each other, asking each other how you’re training, how are you getting your dogs in shape?” she said.

Brakeville will compete against 400 teams from all over the world in October, although these teams are divided into different classes.

Brakeville is competing in the Master’s Group, which has less stringent qualifications than the Elite group.

However, you still need to make a good impression to compete.

“You have to be chosen,” Brakeville said.

Due to the high speeds, Brakeville wears a helmet when she competes. She’s taken a few spills before, and always adheres to the golden dog sledding rule: Don’t let go of your grip on the dogs, no matter what happens.&nbsp;

It only happened once, and Brakeville was grateful the dogs didn’t keep going without her.

“They (the dogs) stopped for a possum, and I shot off the back so fast that I couldn’t keep hold of the rig,” Brakeville said.

No matter how she finishes at the championships, Brakeville is just happy to be a part of it. She will have a vocal contingent cheering her on, including her husband, Matt. Their children may be grown, but they have grandchildren to dote on when they get back home.

Life is pretty swell for Brakeville right now. She loves teaching. She loves mushing. And she’s making considerable advancements in both.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/8/1754077646727.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithKatherine Brakeville is the cool substitute teacher — the kind of adult authority figure who exudes a sense of understanding to her students.Part of it is her look. Sporting dreadlocks, arms decorated with tattoos, and a laid-back demeanor, Brakeville tries her best to fit the part. However, the former snowboarder and current dog musher worries that she’s not nearly as cool as her students might think she is.“I’m very casual. I still have high standards, but just in a different way. I try to connect with them (the students) on their level, with their language,” she said.That use of modern lingo sometimes leads to unintentionally hilarious conversations.“They (my students) are like, ‘Don’t ever say that again,’” Brakeville said with a laugh.A West Burlington native, the first half of Brakeville’s life was pretty ordinary.“I worked a lot of production jobs,” she said.Things started getting more interesting when she became a naturalist in Des Moines County over a decade ago. It was Brakeville’s first foray into teaching, and she loved it. Already an outdoor enthusiast with a snowboarding background, Brakeville became a key member of the Des Moines County Wildlife Rehab Group.“I stepped away for a little bit. I do have three baby possums living in my basement, though. They’re getting ready to be moved outside,” she said.Brakeville and her husband moved to Utah for several years after she left her job as a naturalist, and they recently returned to Burlington. Moving from Utah to southeast Iowa was a reverse culture shock, but Brakeville and her family love it here.“We lived in a very remote, off-grid, beautiful home on 80 acres (in Utah). And by off-grid, I mean we had to snowmobile to the house, and there was only solar power,” she said.Brakeville worked at an after-school program, a local state park, and the nearby snowboard resort while in Utah.“If you worked for them, you got free (snowboard) passes, which was one of the perks,” she said.Brakeville currently works as a long-term substitute teacher for the Burlington School District and also works at Tractor Supply as a side hustle. She’s closing in on her teaching license and would like to work up the education ladder.MushingWhen Brakeville is outside of work, she thinks about dog mushing. It’s become an obsession.“That’s my thing right now. That’s my life,” she said.Brakeville took up dryland mushing as she was moving back to Burlington, and it looks quite a bit different from traditional mushing. As the name suggests, there is no snow. Competitors ride on wheeled sleds, which can be anything from scooters to bicycles.Brakeville has three trained dogs who can’t wait to pull her wherever she desires. Dryland mushing is a sprint of around 3 miles.“I’ve always been involved in dogs, one way or another. I’ve hunted with my dad since I was old enough to walk through the timber by myself. He raised some of the best coon hounds,” she said.This October, Brakeville will compete in the IFSS Dryland Championships in the one-dog scooter class in Minocqua, Wis., representing Team USA.Brakeville has been practicing for the past three years, making sure to avoid any major spills as the dogs pull her scooter over 20 mph.She credits Burlington resident Jon Williams, a well-known dog musher who has spent years running dogs over some of the iciest tundras in the world. She described him as a mentor and perhaps one of the friendliest people on the globe.“He gifted me some harnesses and told me to get my certification in dog obedience first, because he (Brakeville’s first dog) was unruly. He spent an hour with me one evening just talking (about) dogs. So, I text him periodically about where I’m racing,” she said.Brakeville said there is an entire hidden community of avid dog mushers who provide assistance and support, some as nearby as the Quad Cities. She can even post her practice times against other mushers to help train for the significant events.“I have a group of friends, my community, and we’re all pushing each other, asking each other how you’re training, how are you getting your dogs in shape?” she said.Brakeville will compete against 400 teams from all over the world in October, although these teams are divided into different classes.Brakeville is competing in the Master’s Group, which has less stringent qualifications than the Elite group.However, you still need to make a good impression to compete.“You have to be chosen,” Brakeville said.Due to the high speeds, Brakeville wears a helmet when she competes. She’s taken a few spills before, and always adheres to the golden dog sledding rule: Don’t let go of your grip on the dogs, no matter what happens.&nbsp;It only happened once, and Brakeville was grateful the dogs didn’t keep going without her.“They (the dogs) stopped for a possum, and I shot off the back so fast that I couldn’t keep hold of the rig,” Brakeville said.No matter how she finishes at the championships, Brakeville is just happy to be a part of it. She will have a vocal contingent cheering her on, including her husband, Matt. Their children may be grown, but they have grandchildren to dote on when they get back home.Life is pretty swell for Brakeville right now. She loves teaching. She loves mushing. And she’s making considerable advancements in both.“This is my life,” she said.

52 FACES: Mushing through life: Brakeville blazes own trail

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1745866962885.jpeg" alt="Burlington High School's Anna Buxton returns the ball during her singles match against Keokuk High School's Neveah Logan on April 21 at Burlington's tennis courts. Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Burlington High School's Anna Buxton returns the ball during her singles match against Keokuk High School's Neveah Logan on April 21 at Burlington's tennis courts. Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1745867045285.jpeg" alt="Burlington High School's Anna Buxton returns the ball during her singles match against Keokuk High School's Neveah Logan on April 21 at Burlington's tennis courts. Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Burlington High School's Anna Buxton returns the ball during her singles match against Keokuk High School's Neveah Logan on April 21 at Burlington's tennis courts. Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1745867087316.jpeg" alt="Burlington High School's Josie Newell returns the ball during her singles match against Keokuk High School's Aubrey Dade on April 21 at Burlington's tennis courts. Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Burlington High School's Josie Newell returns the ball during her singles match against Keokuk High School's Aubrey Dade on April 21 at Burlington's tennis courts. Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1745867145293.jpeg" alt="Burlington High School's Ava Moffett (2) returns the ball during her singles match against Keokuk High School's Sophia Rule, on April 21 at Burlington's tennis courts. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Burlington High School's Ava Moffett (2) returns the ball during her singles match against Keokuk High School's Sophia Rule, on April 21 at Burlington's tennis courts. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>

BHS Girls Tennis Vs. Keokuk

The YMCA Xcel&nbsp;gymnastics&nbsp;competition team returned from the state meet with a couple of strong team finishes.

The bronze-level team earned a fifth- and a third-place trophy.

All 24 members of the Xcel team qualified for the state meet, and 12 of 14 eligible&nbsp;gymnasts&nbsp;qualified for the USAG Region 4 Xcel Regionals competition on April 25-27 in Madison, Wis. That ends the season, which started in November.

But&nbsp;gymnastics&nbsp;is a year-round program for the Y, and it’s been going on for at least 40 years, according to current Xcel coach Alaina Mathews.

It even outgrew the Y facility 11 years ago; the YMCA&nbsp;Gymnastics&nbsp;and Cheer Center is at 2830 Mount Pleasant Street. It’s Door No. 8 in the series of warehouses.

Mathews started the Xcel competition program in 2019 and became the head coach, with just four girls on the squad. The team has 31 ready to compete next year.

Mathews started&nbsp;gymnastics&nbsp;when she was six. She competed until she was 14, and three years later, she was working in the recreational portion of the program and giving private lessons. A year later, she was working with head coach Tasha Prickett.

Prickett coached the Junior Olympic/Development team for the majority of the 30 years she was with the Y program.

“I love the sport of&nbsp;gymnastics,” said Mathews, who also manages the facility.

“Gymnastics&nbsp;can teach so many things: strength training, determination, dedication. It helps develop a great work ethic. It teaches them grit and, self-motivation and confidence.”

There are multiple levels based on age and skill level. Nine were on the gold team, five on the silver team, and 10 on the bronze.

“Pre-team is an invited group of athletes from our other group of athletes that are looking for that next step to get them ready to compete,” Mathews said.

“They show they have the work ethic and desire to go forward in&nbsp;gymnastics. They work on strength training, body shaping, and flexibility.”

The youngest member of the pre-team is five, and an invitation is based on the child’s level of maturity and physical stamina.

To participate in the competitive portion, a girl must be a Y member, but anyone can sign up for the recreational program or get private lessons.

Next year’s roster is full, but there is space on the recreational side for those wanting to learn the sport and improve their skills.

Matthews said they have boys in the recreational program, but there aren’t enough apparatuses for boys to try out for the Xcel team.

“They can work on floor skills and strength skills,” Mathews said.

One of the sites for a meet is in a club’s gym, but the other meets are in sports complexes or convention centers, with between 50 and 100 gymnasts&nbsp;competing.

Mathews said that can be stressful for new competitors.

“It’s really fun to be able to see them start their first (meet) and be absolutely terrified, and then by the end of their season, they’re comfortable in the competition setting,” Mathews said.&nbsp;

“They’re less guarded. Their true ability steps out, and they start to shine out there.”

So even though it is a competitive team looking to score high and win medals, Mathews said, “It’s more than just a sport for us. It teaches them so much about themselves. They learn to be confident and trust in themselves. They learn to push themselves outside their comfort zone and truly see what they are capable of.”

The recreational sessions are held on Mondays, Tuesdays, some Thursdays, and Saturdays.

To sign up for the program, email Mathews at&nbsp;alaina@burlingtony.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1745783466349.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerThe YMCA Xcel&nbsp;gymnastics&nbsp;competition team returned from the state meet with a couple of strong team finishes.The bronze-level team earned a fifth- and a third-place trophy.All 24 members of the Xcel team qualified for the state meet, and 12 of 14 eligible&nbsp;gymnasts&nbsp;qualified for the USAG Region 4 Xcel Regionals competition on April 25-27 in Madison, Wis. That ends the season, which started in November.But&nbsp;gymnastics&nbsp;is a year-round program for the Y, and it’s been going on for at least 40 years, according to current Xcel coach Alaina Mathews.It even outgrew the Y facility 11 years ago; the YMCA&nbsp;Gymnastics&nbsp;and Cheer Center is at 2830 Mount Pleasant Street. It’s Door No. 8 in the series of warehouses.Mathews started the Xcel competition program in 2019 and became the head coach, with just four girls on the squad. The team has 31 ready to compete next year.A Lifelong PursuitMathews started&nbsp;gymnastics&nbsp;when she was six. She competed until she was 14, and three years later, she was working in the recreational portion of the program and giving private lessons. A year later, she was working with head coach Tasha Prickett.Prickett coached the Junior Olympic/Development team for the majority of the 30 years she was with the Y program.“I love the sport of&nbsp;gymnastics,” said Mathews, who also manages the facility.“Gymnastics&nbsp;can teach so many things: strength training, determination, dedication. It helps develop a great work ethic. It teaches them grit and, self-motivation and confidence.”There are multiple levels based on age and skill level. Nine were on the gold team, five on the silver team, and 10 on the bronze.The Y also has a pre-team of 22 girls.“Pre-team is an invited group of athletes from our other group of athletes that are looking for that next step to get them ready to compete,” Mathews said.“They show they have the work ethic and desire to go forward in&nbsp;gymnastics. They work on strength training, body shaping, and flexibility.”The youngest member of the pre-team is five, and an invitation is based on the child’s level of maturity and physical stamina.To participate in the competitive portion, a girl must be a Y member, but anyone can sign up for the recreational program or get private lessons.Next year’s roster is full, but there is space on the recreational side for those wanting to learn the sport and improve their skills.Matthews said they have boys in the recreational program, but there aren’t enough apparatuses for boys to try out for the Xcel team.“They can work on floor skills and strength skills,” Mathews said.One of the sites for a meet is in a club’s gym, but the other meets are in sports complexes or convention centers, with between 50 and 100 gymnasts&nbsp;competing.Mathews said that can be stressful for new competitors.“It’s really fun to be able to see them start their first (meet) and be absolutely terrified, and then by the end of their season, they’re comfortable in the competition setting,” Mathews said.&nbsp;“They’re less guarded. Their true ability steps out, and they start to shine out there.”So even though it is a competitive team looking to score high and win medals, Mathews said, “It’s more than just a sport for us. It teaches them so much about themselves. They learn to be confident and trust in themselves. They learn to push themselves outside their comfort zone and truly see what they are capable of.”The recreational sessions are held on Mondays, Tuesdays, some Thursdays, and Saturdays.To sign up for the program, email Mathews at&nbsp;alaina@burlingtony.org.<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1745783498606.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1745783517806.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1745783556726.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>

Sticking the landing 

The “War on 34” isn’t just a slogan, Southeastern Community College men’s basketball coach Lorenzo Watkins will tell you.

Watkins should know. He’s been a combatant on both sides.

As any Blackhawk fan can tell you, “The War on 34” is the basketball rivalry between SCC and Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. Both schools are located near U.S. Highway 34. It has been heralded as the fiercest rivalry in junior college basketball.

This year’s battles will ignite on the western front. The Blackhawks will deploy to Indian Hills on Jan. 18. The Warriors invade SCC’s Loren Walker Arena on Feb. 15.

Indian Hills head coach Terry Carroll, who later coached at SCC, found Watkins at Craddock High School in Portsmouth, Va., in 1991 and lured him to Ottumwa. Watkins became a two-time All-Region XI guard and played on the Warriors’ first team to qualify for the national tournament, finishing fourth.

“My mom and dad were in the military,” Watkins said. “They got stationed in Korea, so I stayed in Virginia and graduated from high school. My mom, dad, and two sisters went to Seoul, Korea. Coach Carroll came out to Portsmouth, Va., and watched me play. I got recruited to play at Indian Hills.”

After Indian Hills, Watkins played two seasons at Idaho State, averaging 14.1 points a game. As a player, however, he had no plans to enter coaching.

“Did I want to get into coaching?” he asked. “Nope. I was always in criminal justice programs and really wanted to work in like a juvenile detention center to try to help kids get through some stuff. Pat Lacy, who is with the detention center in Mount Pleasant and with the one here in Burlington, was my college roommate (at Indian Hills). We always talked about doing it and he’s been doing it for 30-plus years now. We played basketball together at Indian Hills.”

Lacy is currently the division manager for the Eighth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services.

Watkins’ coach at Idaho State muddled the plans.

“My head coach, Herb Williams, said, ‘Hey, what do you think about staying on, helping us out (as a graduate assistant) and see how you like it?’&nbsp; I did it, liked it, and then got an opportunity to come back to Indian Hills to work with Coach Carroll” as his assistant.

He also worked as an assistant at some four-year programs and as Carroll’s assistant at SCC.

Watkins was head coach at Indian Hills four years, posting a 94-16 record, and is now in his eighth season as head coach at SCC. His Blackhawk teams have gone 171-56. His current team is 14-1 at the holiday break.

To some die-hard fans, going from Indian Hills to SCC may be heresy.

“I’ve been here 16 years,” Watkins said, “and it was probably the hardest thing to do as a player, as an assistant coach, as a head coach at Indian Hills. Now you come to the biggest rival. It was tough. I have life-long friends still over there, some that I went to school with over there, some that helped me get my career going.

“Once I got over here,” Watkins continued, “the thing with Coach Carroll, they looked at him and said, ‘We’ve been rooting against you for ages. Not just rooting, we’ve been hating you.’ That War on 34, that was for real. That wasn’t just a slogan. It was real.”

“I really, really appreciate the open arms of people here,” Watkins said. “That’s what Burlington’s about. I have life-long friends here now, and that’s why we continue to stay here.”

Watkins is looking for more than just basketball skills on the recruiting trail.

“Everybody talks about you’ve got to get the most talented kids,” Watkins said. “I think a lot of it is looking at the kid as a person. How are you going to fit into the community? I want a kid who will sacrifice.”

He added: “They’ve got to come from a winning program. Everybody is teaching these kids about being offensive-minded. So then, when I get them, some of them shut down. Some of them can’t understand that you’ve got to sacrifice one end of the floor for the other. If you want to have success, you’ve got to change a little bit, your mindset. Some things have to be a little bit more important, defending, rebounding the ball, taking care of the ball. Those things don’t need any talent. It’s commitment and determination.”

“It’s about sacrifices,” Watkins said. “The guy to the right of you and the guy to the left of you is as good or better than you. Now, you have to coexist. So, what are you going to sacrifice to win? That’s what it’s about. I have to get these guys to understand that.”

The most important victory for the basketball players is the diploma.

“To me, to see our guys graduate and move on, that’s my gratification,” Watkins said. “We’re going to win games. Yep. I’d love to win every game and the national championship every year. Nothing’s going to change my work ethic, but my success comes from going into these kids’ homes and seeing where they come from and where they have an opportunity to go. We’re going to give you every opportunity to be successful on and off the floor.”

He continued: “If I ever get to a point where it’s just win, win, win, win, then I’m going to find something else to do.”

Watkins and his wife Sara have four sons and a daughter. Their son Mason is in the midst of a successful high school basketball career at West Burlington High School. Since SCC and the high school normally have games on different days, Watkins is able to follow Mason’s career.

Sara, a native of Eldon, played softball for Indian Hills.

Watkins has had offers to coach elsewhere.

“But why?” Watkins asked. “I love coaching here. I love the town. I love raising our kids here, and I have great friends. I don’t need anything else.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/1/1736010152652.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Joe GerenThe “War on 34” isn’t just a slogan, Southeastern Community College men’s basketball coach Lorenzo Watkins will tell you.“It’s real,” he said.Watkins should know. He’s been a combatant on both sides.As any Blackhawk fan can tell you, “The War on 34” is the basketball rivalry between SCC and Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. Both schools are located near U.S. Highway 34. It has been heralded as the fiercest rivalry in junior college basketball.This year’s battles will ignite on the western front. The Blackhawks will deploy to Indian Hills on Jan. 18. The Warriors invade SCC’s Loren Walker Arena on Feb. 15.Indian Hills head coach Terry Carroll, who later coached at SCC, found Watkins at Craddock High School in Portsmouth, Va., in 1991 and lured him to Ottumwa. Watkins became a two-time All-Region XI guard and played on the Warriors’ first team to qualify for the national tournament, finishing fourth.“My mom and dad were in the military,” Watkins said. “They got stationed in Korea, so I stayed in Virginia and graduated from high school. My mom, dad, and two sisters went to Seoul, Korea. Coach Carroll came out to Portsmouth, Va., and watched me play. I got recruited to play at Indian Hills.”After Indian Hills, Watkins played two seasons at Idaho State, averaging 14.1 points a game. As a player, however, he had no plans to enter coaching.“Did I want to get into coaching?” he asked. “Nope. I was always in criminal justice programs and really wanted to work in like a juvenile detention center to try to help kids get through some stuff. Pat Lacy, who is with the detention center in Mount Pleasant and with the one here in Burlington, was my college roommate (at Indian Hills). We always talked about doing it and he’s been doing it for 30-plus years now. We played basketball together at Indian Hills.”Lacy is currently the division manager for the Eighth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services.Watkins’ coach at Idaho State muddled the plans.“My head coach, Herb Williams, said, ‘Hey, what do you think about staying on, helping us out (as a graduate assistant) and see how you like it?’&nbsp; I did it, liked it, and then got an opportunity to come back to Indian Hills to work with Coach Carroll” as his assistant.He also worked as an assistant at some four-year programs and as Carroll’s assistant at SCC.Watkins was head coach at Indian Hills four years, posting a 94-16 record, and is now in his eighth season as head coach at SCC. His Blackhawk teams have gone 171-56. His current team is 14-1 at the holiday break.To some die-hard fans, going from Indian Hills to SCC may be heresy.“I’ve been here 16 years,” Watkins said, “and it was probably the hardest thing to do as a player, as an assistant coach, as a head coach at Indian Hills. Now you come to the biggest rival. It was tough. I have life-long friends still over there, some that I went to school with over there, some that helped me get my career going.“Once I got over here,” Watkins continued, “the thing with Coach Carroll, they looked at him and said, ‘We’ve been rooting against you for ages. Not just rooting, we’ve been hating you.’ That War on 34, that was for real. That wasn’t just a slogan. It was real.”But all is well now.“I really, really appreciate the open arms of people here,” Watkins said. “That’s what Burlington’s about. I have life-long friends here now, and that’s why we continue to stay here.”Watkins is looking for more than just basketball skills on the recruiting trail.“Everybody talks about you’ve got to get the most talented kids,” Watkins said. “I think a lot of it is looking at the kid as a person. How are you going to fit into the community? I want a kid who will sacrifice.”He added: “They’ve got to come from a winning program. Everybody is teaching these kids about being offensive-minded. So then, when I get them, some of them shut down. Some of them can’t understand that you’ve got to sacrifice one end of the floor for the other. If you want to have success, you’ve got to change a little bit, your mindset. Some things have to be a little bit more important, defending, rebounding the ball, taking care of the ball. Those things don’t need any talent. It’s commitment and determination.”“It’s about sacrifices,” Watkins said. “The guy to the right of you and the guy to the left of you is as good or better than you. Now, you have to coexist. So, what are you going to sacrifice to win? That’s what it’s about. I have to get these guys to understand that.”The most important victory for the basketball players is the diploma.“To me, to see our guys graduate and move on, that’s my gratification,” Watkins said. “We’re going to win games. Yep. I’d love to win every game and the national championship every year. Nothing’s going to change my work ethic, but my success comes from going into these kids’ homes and seeing where they come from and where they have an opportunity to go. We’re going to give you every opportunity to be successful on and off the floor.”He continued: “If I ever get to a point where it’s just win, win, win, win, then I’m going to find something else to do.”Watkins and his wife Sara have four sons and a daughter. Their son Mason is in the midst of a successful high school basketball career at West Burlington High School. Since SCC and the high school normally have games on different days, Watkins is able to follow Mason’s career.Sara, a native of Eldon, played softball for Indian Hills.Watkins has had offers to coach elsewhere.“But why?” Watkins asked. “I love coaching here. I love the town. I love raising our kids here, and I have great friends. I don’t need anything else.”

52 Faces: Former rival  molds SCC  program

Southeastern Community College’s men’s soccer team rallied from a two-goal deficit and ousted Iowa Central, 4-3, in overtime in the Division 2, Region 11 quarterfinals at Bracewell Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Juan Lagares scored in the 98th&nbsp;minute off a pass from Felix Martin for the sudden victory.

SCC (11-7-2), the tournament’s No. 4 seed, advances to Tuesday’s semifinal round at Norfolk, Neb., facing top-seeded Northeast (17-1-1). Western Iowa Tech (10-6-3) plays No. 2 seed Iowa Lakes (12-1-3) at Estherville in the other semifinal. The Region 11 championship match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, to be hosted by the higher seed.

“It was a really difficult game,” SCC head coach Jorge Sierra said. “It was a good opponent coming in so it was whoever wanted it more. Thankfully for is we wanted it more. We just have to be ready for Northeast Nebraska on Tuesday.

“I feel they (the Tritons) really wanted to advance,” Sierra said. “They wanted to win, same way we wanted to win. This conference is the best one in the country and any team can beat the other on a given day. Thankfully, today it went for us.”

The Blackhawks struck first with a goal by Timeo Cordiez in the 14th&nbsp;minute, Diego Lozano assisting, but Iowa Central tied the score two minutes later. The Tritons scored twice more in the first 23 minutes of the second half for a 3-1 cushion.

Cordiez scored, this time unassisted, in the 80th&nbsp;minute, and Lagares added the tying goal in the 87th minute, assisted by Javier Hernandez. That set up overtime and Lagares's game-winner.

Sierra is expecting pressure from Northeast in Tuesday’s semifinal. “They just beat the No. 1 team (Iowa Lakes) in the country,” Sierra said, “so it’s going to be a difficult game for us. But we’ll be ready for it.”

No. 1 ranked Iowa Lakes fell at home to Northeast, 3-2, on Oct. 23. On Sept. 28, the Lakers visited Bracewell Stadium and tied with the Blackhawks, 3-3.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/10/1730041733126.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Joe GerenSoutheastern Community College’s men’s soccer team rallied from a two-goal deficit and ousted Iowa Central, 4-3, in overtime in the Division 2, Region 11 quarterfinals at Bracewell Stadium Saturday afternoon.Juan Lagares scored in the 98th&nbsp;minute off a pass from Felix Martin for the sudden victory.SCC (11-7-2), the tournament’s No. 4 seed, advances to Tuesday’s semifinal round at Norfolk, Neb., facing top-seeded Northeast (17-1-1). Western Iowa Tech (10-6-3) plays No. 2 seed Iowa Lakes (12-1-3) at Estherville in the other semifinal. The Region 11 championship match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, to be hosted by the higher seed.Iowa Central ended its season at 4-11-2.“It was a really difficult game,” SCC head coach Jorge Sierra said. “It was a good opponent coming in so it was whoever wanted it more. Thankfully for is we wanted it more. We just have to be ready for Northeast Nebraska on Tuesday.“I feel they (the Tritons) really wanted to advance,” Sierra said. “They wanted to win, same way we wanted to win. This conference is the best one in the country and any team can beat the other on a given day. Thankfully, today it went for us.”The Blackhawks struck first with a goal by Timeo Cordiez in the 14th&nbsp;minute, Diego Lozano assisting, but Iowa Central tied the score two minutes later. The Tritons scored twice more in the first 23 minutes of the second half for a 3-1 cushion.Cordiez scored, this time unassisted, in the 80th&nbsp;minute, and Lagares added the tying goal in the 87th minute, assisted by Javier Hernandez. That set up overtime and Lagares's game-winner.Sierra is expecting pressure from Northeast in Tuesday’s semifinal. “They just beat the No. 1 team (Iowa Lakes) in the country,” Sierra said, “so it’s going to be a difficult game for us. But we’ll be ready for it.”No. 1 ranked Iowa Lakes fell at home to Northeast, 3-2, on Oct. 23. On Sept. 28, the Lakers visited Bracewell Stadium and tied with the Blackhawks, 3-3.<figure>
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SCC rallies for regional win

Notre Dame struggled against No. 3 Holy Trinity in volleyball action on Thursday, and the Nikes' late surge down the stretch of the third game wasn't enough to avoid a sweep at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.

The Nikes trailed the third set 15-9, but over the next five servers cut the lead to 18-17. The Nikes then took the lead at 20-19 and soon led 22-20. After trading side outs, Notre Dame led 23-21, but Adalyn Kruse for the Crusaders made a kill to return the serve. Presley Myers served out the set and the match, with Kruse making another kill to end it.

It didn't help that Notre Dame missed six serves in the first two sets. But Holy Trinity missed six serves in the final set.

Notre Dame drops to 18-10 overall, 4-2 in the South and plays in the New London Tournament Saturday.

Holy Trinity remains unbeaten at 5-0 in the South and is 19-5 overall. The Crusaders host Central Lee next Thursday.

“We've got some young players, and we couldn't get in system some times,” Notre Dame coach Susan Reid said.

“We had a pretty good game plan, and when we're in system, that game plan works.”

It's never easy taking on HTC on its home court.

“It's a big environment to play in,” Reid said. “They have some good players, and they're a tough team to play.”

HTC coach Melissa Freesmeier said, “We were doing the little things we've been working on in practice.

But in the third set, Freesmeier said there were “a lot of mistakes on our end that shouldn't have happened. But we still overcame it. We still stayed in the set, and we were able to pull it off.”

Freesmeier said that Notre Dame is a “great ball club. They continue to have a good season.”

So even though it was a three-and-out&nbsp;match, “you know it was a better match than that,” Freesmeier said.

Notre Dame had a balanced hitting attack. Addi Brockway made nine kills, Madelyn Knapp eight and Chloe Wenzel seven. McKenna Kipp added two.

Mallory Lily had 23 digs, Brockway 11, Knapp nine, Elmore five and Bella Drew and Addison Reid two each.

Wenzel made two blocks and also served an ace.

For Holy Trinity, Kruse had 14 kills and Myers 13 to lead the team. Anna Bendlage made 16 assists, and Elizabeth Griffith had 12.

Myers served four aces, and Olivia Bendlage three. Kruse led in digs with 12. Myers had three blocks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/10/1728060843131.jpeg" alt="Photo by Chris Faulkner" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Chris Faulkner</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerNotre Dame struggled against No. 3 Holy Trinity in volleyball action on Thursday, and the Nikes' late surge down the stretch of the third game wasn't enough to avoid a sweep at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.Holy Trinity 25-12, 25-20, 25-23.The Nikes trailed the third set 15-9, but over the next five servers cut the lead to 18-17. The Nikes then took the lead at 20-19 and soon led 22-20. After trading side outs, Notre Dame led 23-21, but Adalyn Kruse for the Crusaders made a kill to return the serve. Presley Myers served out the set and the match, with Kruse making another kill to end it.It didn't help that Notre Dame missed six serves in the first two sets. But Holy Trinity missed six serves in the final set.Notre Dame drops to 18-10 overall, 4-2 in the South and plays in the New London Tournament Saturday.Holy Trinity remains unbeaten at 5-0 in the South and is 19-5 overall. The Crusaders host Central Lee next Thursday.“We've got some young players, and we couldn't get in system some times,” Notre Dame coach Susan Reid said.“We had a pretty good game plan, and when we're in system, that game plan works.”It's never easy taking on HTC on its home court.“It's a big environment to play in,” Reid said. “They have some good players, and they're a tough team to play.”HTC coach Melissa Freesmeier said, “We were doing the little things we've been working on in practice.But in the third set, Freesmeier said there were “a lot of mistakes on our end that shouldn't have happened. But we still overcame it. We still stayed in the set, and we were able to pull it off.”Freesmeier said that Notre Dame is a “great ball club. They continue to have a good season.”So even though it was a three-and-out&nbsp;match, “you know it was a better match than that,” Freesmeier said.Notre Dame had a balanced hitting attack. Addi Brockway made nine kills, Madelyn Knapp eight and Chloe Wenzel seven. McKenna Kipp added two.Emma Elmore made 23 assists.Mallory Lily had 23 digs, Brockway 11, Knapp nine, Elmore five and Bella Drew and Addison Reid two each.Wenzel made two blocks and also served an ace.For Holy Trinity, Kruse had 14 kills and Myers 13 to lead the team. Anna Bendlage made 16 assists, and Elizabeth Griffith had 12.Myers served four aces, and Olivia Bendlage three. Kruse led in digs with 12. Myers had three blocks.

ND falls to HTC

Southeastern Community College's Taryn Havener took on  Northeast Community College on Wednesday at  SCC's Loren Walker Arena. SCC defeated Northeast 3-1. First set 25-20, second set 23-25, third set 25-15, and fourth set 25-21.

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 </figure>Photos by John LovrettaSoutheastern Community College's Taryn Havener took on Northeast Community College on Wednesday at SCC's Loren Walker Arena. SCC defeated Northeast 3-1. First set 25-20, second set 23-25, third set 25-15, and fourth set 25-21.<figure>
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SCC vs. Northeast Community College

West Burlington's ninth-ranked (Class 2A) volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit at No. 5 (1A) Holy Trinity Catholic and sent the match into a fifth set.

But the host Crusaders defeated the Falcons 15-11 in the deciding set to win the two-hour, 10-minute match at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.

West Burlington (14-2) plays Saturday in the Williamsburg Tournament. Holy Trinity improves to 3-2.

HTC won the first set 25-17 and had West Burlington down 20-11 and 22-15 in the second set. But the Falcons stormed back with five service points from Jayonna Hiley – including two from aces – to make it 22-20. West Burlington was serving match point, but Holy Trinity managed to stay alive and finally won 27-25.

West Burlington won the next two sets, 26-24, 25-17, getting big help from Brenna Beggs, who had 11 kills and a couple of big blocks in those two sets.

In the fifth set, through the first five rotations, West Burlington led 6-4. But HTC soon led 10-8 and pulled out the victory.

There were a number of long rallies in the two-hour night. West Burlington finished with 139 digs and Holy Trinity 124.

“I'm very, very pleased with the way they battled,” West Burlington coach Maureen Heath said of the Falcons. “That was a very good match. It didn't go our way, but that's going to make our team grow and grow.

“Everybody got their money's worth, that's for sure.”

Coach Heath praised Beggs for her contribution on the night. Beside Beggs' team-high 17 kills and six blocks, she also served 20 of 20 with two aces and added 15 digs.

Beggs' strength as a middle hitter is her swift windmill motion on her attacks that are hard for opposing defenses to dig up.

“No, I taught myself,” Beggs said. “It's just something I caught on.”

Taryn Snodgrass plays a big part in that as her setter. “We've been playing togther since like the sixth grade,” Beggs said. “We have a good connection.”

Coach Heath praised Snodgrass for her abilities.

“Snodgrass is like a workhorse out there,” Heath said. “You know you're going to get every maximum effort from that girl. She tries to move the ball around, running things down, but with control.”

Jayonna Hiley had 12 kills and served 14 of 14 with five aces, Mady Hamelton had 10 kills, Isabella Callison five and freshman Kaylee Webb four.

Webb came into the game as a middle hitter, “trying to mix things up,” Coach Heath said. “In this big of a game, she was very in tune, she was asking questions, the girls were helping her, I thought she did a great job.”

Hiley had a block and Webb and Snodgrass had one each.

Carli Cline led in digs with 42, Hiley had 31, Hamelton 20 and Snodgrass 15. Baylee Woodsmall added 12.

Cline served 21 of 22 with an ace, Hamelton was 16 of 16 with an ace, Snodgrass 11 of 12 with an ace and Woodsmall 12 of 12.

The Falcons served 94 of 96 on the night.

Holy Trinity is tough to beat at home, especially in the fifth set, but Crusaders coach Melissa Freesmeier didn't take anything for granted.

“When you play a team like West Burlington, and they're going to dig the ball, and they're going to keep the ball in play, they're not going to make a lot of mistakes, we're just going to have to go at them. Our hitters did that in set 5.”

HTC's 6-2 standout in the middle, Presley Myers, had a career high 23 kills and six blocks. Adalyn Kruse had 21 kills and Olivia Bendlage 13. Anna Bendlage made 38 assists. Teagan Snaadt had 33 digs and Elizabeth Griffin 32.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1726584171021.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Falcons rallied from 2-0 deficitBy Chris FaulknerWest Burlington's ninth-ranked (Class 2A) volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit at No. 5 (1A) Holy Trinity Catholic and sent the match into a fifth set.But the host Crusaders defeated the Falcons 15-11 in the deciding set to win the two-hour, 10-minute match at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.West Burlington (14-2) plays Saturday in the Williamsburg Tournament. Holy Trinity improves to 3-2.HTC won the first set 25-17 and had West Burlington down 20-11 and 22-15 in the second set. But the Falcons stormed back with five service points from Jayonna Hiley – including two from aces – to make it 22-20. West Burlington was serving match point, but Holy Trinity managed to stay alive and finally won 27-25.West Burlington won the next two sets, 26-24, 25-17, getting big help from Brenna Beggs, who had 11 kills and a couple of big blocks in those two sets.In the fifth set, through the first five rotations, West Burlington led 6-4. But HTC soon led 10-8 and pulled out the victory.There were a number of long rallies in the two-hour night. West Burlington finished with 139 digs and Holy Trinity 124.Falcons can grow from this“I'm very, very pleased with the way they battled,” West Burlington coach Maureen Heath said of the Falcons. “That was a very good match. It didn't go our way, but that's going to make our team grow and grow.“Everybody got their money's worth, that's for sure.”Coach Heath praised Beggs for her contribution on the night. Beside Beggs' team-high 17 kills and six blocks, she also served 20 of 20 with two aces and added 15 digs.Beggs' strength as a middle hitter is her swift windmill motion on her attacks that are hard for opposing defenses to dig up.Did someone teach her to do it that way?“No, I taught myself,” Beggs said. “It's just something I caught on.”Taryn Snodgrass plays a big part in that as her setter. “We've been playing togther since like the sixth grade,” Beggs said. “We have a good connection.”Snodgrass had 40 assists.Coach Heath praised Snodgrass for her abilities.“Snodgrass is like a workhorse out there,” Heath said. “You know you're going to get every maximum effort from that girl. She tries to move the ball around, running things down, but with control.”Jayonna Hiley had 12 kills and served 14 of 14 with five aces, Mady Hamelton had 10 kills, Isabella Callison five and freshman Kaylee Webb four.Webb came into the game as a middle hitter, “trying to mix things up,” Coach Heath said. “In this big of a game, she was very in tune, she was asking questions, the girls were helping her, I thought she did a great job.”Hiley had a block and Webb and Snodgrass had one each.Carli Cline led in digs with 42, Hiley had 31, Hamelton 20 and Snodgrass 15. Baylee Woodsmall added 12.Cline served 21 of 22 with an ace, Hamelton was 16 of 16 with an ace, Snodgrass 11 of 12 with an ace and Woodsmall 12 of 12.The Falcons served 94 of 96 on the night.HTC shines in Set 5Holy Trinity is tough to beat at home, especially in the fifth set, but Crusaders coach Melissa Freesmeier didn't take anything for granted.“When you play a team like West Burlington, and they're going to dig the ball, and they're going to keep the ball in play, they're not going to make a lot of mistakes, we're just going to have to go at them. Our hitters did that in set 5.”HTC's 6-2 standout in the middle, Presley Myers, had a career high 23 kills and six blocks. Adalyn Kruse had 21 kills and Olivia Bendlage 13. Anna Bendlage made 38 assists. Teagan Snaadt had 33 digs and Elizabeth Griffin 32.

HTC outlasts West Burlington in five sets

Notre Dame swept Van Buren County 25-9, 25-17, 25-22 in volleyball Thursday night at Father Minett Gym.

Madelyn Knapp made 13 kills, and Addi Brockway 11 to lead the winners. Chloe Wenzel added six kills, McKenna Kipp five, Addison Reid four, and Emma Elmore three.

Knapp made 13 digs, Mallory Lillie and Brockway 12 each, and Bella Drew 10.

Elmore served 13 of 14 with an ace, Brockway was 12 of 12 with an ace, Reid was 12 of 13 with two aces, Lillie was 11 of 12 with three aces, and Lexi Korschgen served an ace on her only attempt.

The team plays at Central Lee next Tuesday.

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 </figure>Beacon SportsNotre Dame swept Van Buren County 25-9, 25-17, 25-22 in volleyball Thursday night at Father Minett Gym.Madelyn Knapp made 13 kills, and Addi Brockway 11 to lead the winners. Chloe Wenzel added six kills, McKenna Kipp five, Addison Reid four, and Emma Elmore three.Emma Elmore made 36 assists.Knapp made 13 digs, Mallory Lillie and Brockway 12 each, and Bella Drew 10.Wenzel made four blocks and Reid two.Elmore served 13 of 14 with an ace, Brockway was 12 of 12 with an ace, Reid was 12 of 13 with two aces, Lillie was 11 of 12 with three aces, and Lexi Korschgen served an ace on her only attempt.The team plays at Central Lee next Tuesday.<figure>
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NDHS Volleyball vs. Van Buren 

Indian Hills spoiled Southeastern Community College’s soccer home openers, sweeping the Blackhawks at the Burlington Regional RecPlex Monday afternoon.

Indian Hills won the women’s match 5-1 and the men’s game 6-0. Indian Hills is an NJCAA Division I school; SCC is Division II.

In the women’s match, Kevynn Siefken scored SCC’s lone goal on the rebound of a Myah Rehman shot in the 50th minute. Rehman was awarded an assist. It was the first goal scored this season by SCC, now 0-4.

Siefken and Rehman were freshmen and teammates at Burlington High School last spring.

“We’ve been struggling with injuries the past couple of weeks,” Siefken said, “but we’re slowly getting those girls back, and we know we deserve it. We worked hard, that’s for sure.”

On her goal, she said, “It was good. It was well deserved. That first half was hard-fought, and that second half, we wanted it, and we got it.” 

          In the men’s game, SCC managed just five shots, three on goal. The defense held Indian Hills scoreless for the first 33 minutes. SCC fell to 1-4. 

It was the first time former SCC coach Zac Newton coached against the Blackhawks. He coached SCC to its spring 2021 national championship. Newton is currently in his first year as head coach at Indian Hills. 

“It’s a weird experience,” Newton said of his return to West Burlington, “and then to have the sort of result we had was tough because this place always has a special place in my heart. It’s very, very weird, but it does bring back a lot of good memories.”

The Indian Hills men improved to 5-0; the women are 3-1.

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 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1725582340335.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsIndian Hills spoiled Southeastern Community College’s soccer home openers, sweeping the Blackhawks at the Burlington Regional RecPlex Monday afternoon.Indian Hills won the women’s match 5-1 and the men’s game 6-0. Indian Hills is an NJCAA Division I school; SCC is Division II.In the women’s match, Kevynn Siefken scored SCC’s lone goal on the rebound of a Myah Rehman shot in the 50th minute. Rehman was awarded an assist. It was the first goal scored this season by SCC, now 0-4.Siefken and Rehman were freshmen and teammates at Burlington High School last spring.“We’ve been struggling with injuries the past couple of weeks,” Siefken said, “but we’re slowly getting those girls back, and we know we deserve it. We worked hard, that’s for sure.”On her goal, she said, “It was good. It was well deserved. That first half was hard-fought, and that second half, we wanted it, and we got it.” In the men’s game, SCC managed just five shots, three on goal. The defense held Indian Hills scoreless for the first 33 minutes. SCC fell to 1-4. It was the first time former SCC coach Zac Newton coached against the Blackhawks. He coached SCC to its spring 2021 national championship. Newton is currently in his first year as head coach at Indian Hills. “It’s a weird experience,” Newton said of his return to West Burlington, “and then to have the sort of result we had was tough because this place always has a special place in my heart. It’s very, very weird, but it does bring back a lot of good memories.”The Indian Hills men improved to 5-0; the women are 3-1.

Warriors sweep SCC soccer teams

The Southeastern Community College volleyball team scrimmaged against three other teams on Saturday, and the optimism in the Blackhawk camp is sky-high. 

“I expect us to take it all the way to nationals,” said McKenna Marlow, a sophomore from West Burlington.“I expect us to take it all the way to nationals.,” said Taryn Stephens, a freshman who played for Burlington’s Notre Dame High School last season. 

“That just seems like so much fun. We all want to go so bad. We’ve been working for it.”Read Joe Geren's story in this Friday's print edition of The Beacon.

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 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/8/1724023610717.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Photos by John LovrettaThe Southeastern Community College volleyball team scrimmaged against three other teams on Saturday, and the optimism in the Blackhawk camp is sky-high. “I expect us to take it all the way to nationals,” said McKenna Marlow, a sophomore from West Burlington.“I expect us to take it all the way to nationals.,” said Taryn Stephens, a freshman who played for Burlington’s Notre Dame High School last season. “That just seems like so much fun. We all want to go so bad. We’ve been working for it.”Read Joe Geren's story in this Friday's print edition of The Beacon.<figure>
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Spike in Optimism

By Chris Lee,&nbsp; Beacon columnist&nbsp;

Is it possible to be more productive by doing less?&nbsp;

As a busy working professional and middle-aged father of two grade-schoolers, I’m constantly looking for ways to squeeze more into my life. More accomplishments at work. More activities with the family. More projects around the home. More volunteer work with my favorite nonprofits. More impact on my community.&nbsp;

It’s the American way, right? We equate success with busyness and sleep deprivation. And then we wonder why we’re stressed out, burned out, and just all-around “out of it” all the time.

I don’t think we’re getting it quite right. And I believe nature generally has the answers, if you know where to look. Today, I’m looking at oak trees.

I recall a study on oak trees where researchers investigated methods to increase acorn production. They took three similar stands of oaks and applied experimental treatments to two of them, leaving one as a control. On one stand, they fertilized the trees. On the other hand, they cut down half of them.&nbsp;

Yes, you read that right. In trying to boost acorn production, these crazy fools cut down half the trees in one experimental site. I’m pretty sure this was somewhere in the South, so what do you expect?

Over several years, the researchers then measured acorn production on all three sites. Care to guess what they found?&nbsp;

At the control site, where they did nothing, there was no measurable change.&nbsp;

On the site where they fertilized the trees: again, no measurable change. Oak trees aren’t like corn. Or over-caffeinated working professionals.&nbsp;

On the site where they removed half of the forest, a 60 percent increase in acorn production.&nbsp;

In other words, if you got 100 pounds of acorns from the site before thinning out the forest, you’d be getting 160 pounds after you cut down half the trees. How is this even possible?

Turns out, it’s a consistent rule of nature. Productivity is subject to the law of diminishing returns. Having too many trees on a site results in reduced output across all the trees. Anyone who gardens or farms is aware of this. It’s why you pay attention to row and seed spacing and why you remove the weeds. Plant too densely and productivity suffers.&nbsp;

I’ve concluded that the same applies to life. Too much stuff in our “ecosystem” reduces productivity. There are diminishing returns in our perpetual striving for more and more.&nbsp;

As we seek to be more productive, I believe it’s worth asking what we can subtract from our busy lives, rather than just looking at what we might add.&nbsp;

However, cutting out family time for more time doom-scrolling on social media is not subtraction. Nobody ever said, “I really got a lot done today. I spent a full eight hours on Facebook!”

So you have to focus first on what is really, truly important and worth your time. What oak trees do you want to keep in your forest, so to speak?&nbsp;

At work, maybe it’s time for creativity, making sales calls, or in my case, getting out into the parks and helping our short-staffed field team with construction and maintenance projects.&nbsp;

At home, maybe it’s time with the kids practicing softball, or throwing them in the pool, boating on the river, or taking that summer trip you keep putting off. Maybe it’s just going fishing with Dad, having dinner with Mom, or learning something new to keep the mind sharp.&nbsp;

Once you narrow down what the truly important “oak trees” are in your life, then it’s time to apply the law of subtraction. No, more caffeine won’t do it anymore than fertilizer did for oaks in the study. You have to remove the stuff that gets in the way of the important things. And no, you obviously can’t cut out everything. Unfortunately, we all still have to take off our baseball gloves occasionally to do the dishes and laundry. And there are still reports and menial tasks at work that need to be done.&nbsp;

But you can cut out some of the meetings that you don’t need to attend. You can say no to new tasks and projects that don’t rise to the level of oak tree priority. Heck, you can remove the Facebook app from your phone altogether.&nbsp;

I’ve done all of those things this year.&nbsp;

By Chris Lee,&nbsp; Beacon columnist&nbsp;Is it possible to be more productive by doing less?&nbsp;As a busy working professional and middle-aged father of two grade-schoolers, I’m constantly looking for ways to squeeze more into my life. More accomplishments at work. More activities with the family. More projects around the home. More volunteer work with my favorite nonprofits. More impact on my community.&nbsp;More. More. More.&nbsp;It’s the American way, right? We equate success with busyness and sleep deprivation. And then we wonder why we’re stressed out, burned out, and just all-around “out of it” all the time.I don’t think we’re getting it quite right. And I believe nature generally has the answers, if you know where to look. Today, I’m looking at oak trees.I recall a study on oak trees where researchers investigated methods to increase acorn production. They took three similar stands of oaks and applied experimental treatments to two of them, leaving one as a control. On one stand, they fertilized the trees. On the other hand, they cut down half of them.&nbsp;Yes, you read that right. In trying to boost acorn production, these crazy fools cut down half the trees in one experimental site. I’m pretty sure this was somewhere in the South, so what do you expect?Over several years, the researchers then measured acorn production on all three sites. Care to guess what they found?&nbsp;At the control site, where they did nothing, there was no measurable change.&nbsp;On the site where they fertilized the trees: again, no measurable change. Oak trees aren’t like corn. Or over-caffeinated working professionals.&nbsp;On the site where they removed half of the forest, a 60 percent increase in acorn production.&nbsp;In other words, if you got 100 pounds of acorns from the site before thinning out the forest, you’d be getting 160 pounds after you cut down half the trees. How is this even possible?Turns out, it’s a consistent rule of nature. Productivity is subject to the law of diminishing returns. Having too many trees on a site results in reduced output across all the trees. Anyone who gardens or farms is aware of this. It’s why you pay attention to row and seed spacing and why you remove the weeds. Plant too densely and productivity suffers.&nbsp;I’ve concluded that the same applies to life. Too much stuff in our “ecosystem” reduces productivity. There are diminishing returns in our perpetual striving for more and more.&nbsp;As we seek to be more productive, I believe it’s worth asking what we can subtract from our busy lives, rather than just looking at what we might add.&nbsp;However, cutting out family time for more time doom-scrolling on social media is not subtraction. Nobody ever said, “I really got a lot done today. I spent a full eight hours on Facebook!”So you have to focus first on what is really, truly important and worth your time. What oak trees do you want to keep in your forest, so to speak?&nbsp;At work, maybe it’s time for creativity, making sales calls, or in my case, getting out into the parks and helping our short-staffed field team with construction and maintenance projects.&nbsp;At home, maybe it’s time with the kids practicing softball, or throwing them in the pool, boating on the river, or taking that summer trip you keep putting off. Maybe it’s just going fishing with Dad, having dinner with Mom, or learning something new to keep the mind sharp.&nbsp;Once you narrow down what the truly important “oak trees” are in your life, then it’s time to apply the law of subtraction. No, more caffeine won’t do it anymore than fertilizer did for oaks in the study. You have to remove the stuff that gets in the way of the important things. And no, you obviously can’t cut out everything. Unfortunately, we all still have to take off our baseball gloves occasionally to do the dishes and laundry. And there are still reports and menial tasks at work that need to be done.&nbsp;But you can cut out some of the meetings that you don’t need to attend. You can say no to new tasks and projects that don’t rise to the level of oak tree priority. Heck, you can remove the Facebook app from your phone altogether.&nbsp;I’ve done all of those things this year.&nbsp;Am I still busy? Yep. Ridiculously so. But for the most part, I feel like I’m busy doing the right things. Most of the time, anyway. I still haven’t found time to go fishing with Dad, and I don’t remember the last time I had dinner with Mom.&nbsp;Sorry, guys.&nbsp;But my shoulder hurts from throwing a softball, there are Lego builds in every room of our house, and the swimsuits are rarely dry. And there’s new landscaping around Starr’s Cave Nature Center, a new fishing dock on a pond at Big Hollow, and I’ve got scrapes on my knuckles and dirt under my fingernails to justify why I’ve missed so many county supervisor meetings lately.&nbsp;We all want to do more, and society tells us we should. However, just like corn and oak trees, there are diminishing returns to be considered when trying to squeeze more into a limited space. And we all have limited space. Instead, decide what’s truly important, and start removing what isn’t.&nbsp;And also call your Mom.&nbsp;Chris Lee is the Executive Director at Des Moines County Conservation.&nbsp;

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