Kateryna Lahun and her husband moved to Burlington from the Ukraine about a year ago, escaping the war-ravaged country to make better lives for themselves.

Like other Ukrainians living in Burlington — and across the country — Lahun and her husband have no idea how long they will get to stay. Their status as immigrants remains in limbo — a decision that will be made by the U.S. government.

All they can do is keep working and keep hoping. Both of them work as dental assistants at Community Health Center, and Lahun’s English has blossomed over the past 12 months. She was a dentist in Ukraine and is delighted to pursue the same profession in America.

“I’ve been studying it (English) all my life, but I needed to speak it. I needed to have conversations,” he said. “It was mostly book English that I learned.”

Both she and her husband have family back in the Ukraine they worry about, but the area they moved from wasn’t safe either.

“It was pretty dangerous. We live in a city that was very close to the (Ukraine-Russia) border,” Lahun said.

Her journey to America marks the beginning of a dental career that Lahun has studied for over the past couple of years. She’s only 24 years old.

“I need to go to two years of dental school here to get a license,” she said.

Lahun is filling a dire need in the Iowa medical profession and hopes that her efforts count for something when it comes to her immigration status. Back at their Burlington home, Lahun and her husband have been learning to live in a brand-new culture.

They aren’t used to how much everyone around them smiles — a common refrain among Ukrainians living in the Burlington area. She is more than happy to smile back.

“I really like that there is a lot of space here,” she said. “Big houses, big fields, and I like the people a lot. They’re different from Ukrainians.”

Lahun and her husband met in dental school and have been working together for the past four years. Despite her job, Lahun describes herself as a creative type. She knew she wanted to go into medicine to help people, but she has always possessed a desire to build and craft.

Dentistry was the perfect fit. There’s more building involved than most people realize.

“I love doing (teeth) restorations,” she said.

Friendships have been born in the dental office. Lahun has been so impressed by the locals that she has started a women’s group dedicated to fellowship and shared interests.

“Everyone can support each other, where we can gather and do different things,” Lahun said.

Lahun hosted the group’s first meeting last month and is planning another meeting for Nov. 1 — this time at The Burlington Public Library.

“I started with craft things, painting, just for fun events, but I want to go deeper. I want to do something like sport challenges, because in the group it will be easier to keep a healthy body, healthy mental stability,” she said. “For example, yoga challenges, different sports activities. We can travel together. I want to invite different specialists, like psychologists who can advise people, or we can have small lectures,” she said.

Lahun would also like the group to focus on everyday survival skills, such as cooking. She noted that it has been much harder to find healthy food since moving to America.

“We can cook something and bring it home to eat for a couple of weeks, and then gather together again and cook again. It’s much easier if you do it in a group,” she said.

But the women’s group isn’t just about practicality. It’s a place for women to relax — to be themselves. Lahun noted that it is&nbsp; a group for all women — not just Ukrainians.

“All people have two places they go — home and work. They need a third place where you can just relax, be yourself, and do something for fun,” she said.

There is no formal name for the group right now, and Lahun is still molding the overall concept. But she’s confident the group will help her feel more at home — and she hopes that goes for everyone — even those who already are at home.

As for her future in America, Lahun can only wait to see what happens. She doesn’t dwell on the uncertain waiting.

&nbsp;But like any Ukrainian who has emigrated, she wants nothing more than to stay in America — her new home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/11/1762729481155.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithBurlington BeaconKateryna Lahun and her husband moved to Burlington from the Ukraine about a year ago, escaping the war-ravaged country to make better lives for themselves.Like other Ukrainians living in Burlington — and across the country — Lahun and her husband have no idea how long they will get to stay. Their status as immigrants remains in limbo — a decision that will be made by the U.S. government.All they can do is keep working and keep hoping. Both of them work as dental assistants at Community Health Center, and Lahun’s English has blossomed over the past 12 months. She was a dentist in Ukraine and is delighted to pursue the same profession in America.“I’ve been studying it (English) all my life, but I needed to speak it. I needed to have conversations,” he said. “It was mostly book English that I learned.”Both she and her husband have family back in the Ukraine they worry about, but the area they moved from wasn’t safe either.“It was pretty dangerous. We live in a city that was very close to the (Ukraine-Russia) border,” Lahun said.Her journey to America marks the beginning of a dental career that Lahun has studied for over the past couple of years. She’s only 24 years old.“I need to go to two years of dental school here to get a license,” she said.Lahun is filling a dire need in the Iowa medical profession and hopes that her efforts count for something when it comes to her immigration status. Back at their Burlington home, Lahun and her husband have been learning to live in a brand-new culture.They aren’t used to how much everyone around them smiles — a common refrain among Ukrainians living in the Burlington area. She is more than happy to smile back.“I really like that there is a lot of space here,” she said. “Big houses, big fields, and I like the people a lot. They’re different from Ukrainians.”Lahun and her husband met in dental school and have been working together for the past four years. Despite her job, Lahun describes herself as a creative type. She knew she wanted to go into medicine to help people, but she has always possessed a desire to build and craft.Dentistry was the perfect fit. There’s more building involved than most people realize.“I love doing (teeth) restorations,” she said.Friendships have been born in the dental office. Lahun has been so impressed by the locals that she has started a women’s group dedicated to fellowship and shared interests.“Everyone can support each other, where we can gather and do different things,” Lahun said.Lahun hosted the group’s first meeting last month and is planning another meeting for Nov. 1 — this time at The Burlington Public Library.“I started with craft things, painting, just for fun events, but I want to go deeper. I want to do something like sport challenges, because in the group it will be easier to keep a healthy body, healthy mental stability,” she said. “For example, yoga challenges, different sports activities. We can travel together. I want to invite different specialists, like psychologists who can advise people, or we can have small lectures,” she said.Lahun would also like the group to focus on everyday survival skills, such as cooking. She noted that it has been much harder to find healthy food since moving to America.“We can cook something and bring it home to eat for a couple of weeks, and then gather together again and cook again. It’s much easier if you do it in a group,” she said.But the women’s group isn’t just about practicality. It’s a place for women to relax — to be themselves. Lahun noted that it is&nbsp; a group for all women — not just Ukrainians.“All people have two places they go — home and work. They need a third place where you can just relax, be yourself, and do something for fun,” she said.There is no formal name for the group right now, and Lahun is still molding the overall concept. But she’s confident the group will help her feel more at home — and she hopes that goes for everyone — even those who already are at home.“I want to be social,” she said.As for her future in America, Lahun can only wait to see what happens. She doesn’t dwell on the uncertain waiting.&nbsp;But like any Ukrainian who has emigrated, she wants nothing more than to stay in America — her new home.“I love it here,” she said.&nbsp;

52 FACES:  With a smile  and a dream

Wapello junior libero Mya Wagner earned Player of the Year honors for the All-Southeast Iowa Superconference North Division team, as chosen by the nine division coaches.

The Arrows finished 8-0 in North Division play, and Coach Kenna Greiner received Coach of the Year honors. Wapello went 25-12 and finished its season in the regional semifinals with a 3-2 loss to fourth-ranked Holy Trinity.

For Wagner, the North Division recognition wasn’t the only honor she received. Wagner was named Sports Illustrated Class 1A Player of the Year in Iowa. The honor is determined by fan votes, with Wagner earning roughly 54 percent of the votes.

Sophomore Mila Jordan of Wapello was a unanimous pick for first-team hitter for the North Division, and she was joined by senior teammate Kate Lanz.

Joining them on the first team were: Louisa-Muscatine senior Taylor Morrison, Columbus senior Kennedy Woepking, Hillcrest senior Niva Helmuth, and Pekin junior Paislee Coleman.

Both Wapello setters, freshman Taeya Wagner and junior Annaka Greiner earned first-team honors, with Wagner a unanimous choice. Daniela Diaz, a senior from Columbus, was the other first-team setter.

The first-team defensive specialist was Kaylee Nguyen, an L-M junior. Columbus junior Zai Par was named the utility player.

Hitters: Jessica Del Rio, Sr., Columbus; Carlee Lunsford, Jr., WACO; Quin Smith, Sr., Winfield-Mount Union; Kaelyn Townsley, Sr., Winfield-Mount Union, and Ruth Wittoft, Jr., Hillcrest.

Setters: Madisen Kellogg, Sr., Winfield-Mount Union; Clair Withrow, Sr., Hillcrest.

Libero: Jocelyn Hernandez, Sr., Columbus.

Defensive specialist:&nbsp; Emersyn Schultz, Sr., Highland.

Utility player: Emmalni Marshall, So., Wapello.

Wapello: Macey Kuntz, Jr.; Erica Gilette, Sr.

Winfield-Mount Union:&nbsp; Katie Miller, Sr.; Kellee Milks, Sr.

L-M: Ashlynn Watkins-Schoenig, Jr.; Ella Mullikin, Jr.

Columbus: Hailey Wellington, Sr.; Mady Payne, Jr.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/11/1762729219788.jpeg" alt="2-28.jpg" />
 <figcaption>2-28.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>Greiner is the top coachBeacon/WMS SportsWapello junior libero Mya Wagner earned Player of the Year honors for the All-Southeast Iowa Superconference North Division team, as chosen by the nine division coaches.The Arrows finished 8-0 in North Division play, and Coach Kenna Greiner received Coach of the Year honors. Wapello went 25-12 and finished its season in the regional semifinals with a 3-2 loss to fourth-ranked Holy Trinity.For Wagner, the North Division recognition wasn’t the only honor she received. Wagner was named Sports Illustrated Class 1A Player of the Year in Iowa. The honor is determined by fan votes, with Wagner earning roughly 54 percent of the votes.Sophomore Mila Jordan of Wapello was a unanimous pick for first-team hitter for the North Division, and she was joined by senior teammate Kate Lanz.Joining them on the first team were: Louisa-Muscatine senior Taylor Morrison, Columbus senior Kennedy Woepking, Hillcrest senior Niva Helmuth, and Pekin junior Paislee Coleman.Both Wapello setters, freshman Taeya Wagner and junior Annaka Greiner earned first-team honors, with Wagner a unanimous choice. Daniela Diaz, a senior from Columbus, was the other first-team setter.The first-team defensive specialist was Kaylee Nguyen, an L-M junior. Columbus junior Zai Par was named the utility player.The Second TeamHitters: Jessica Del Rio, Sr., Columbus; Carlee Lunsford, Jr., WACO; Quin Smith, Sr., Winfield-Mount Union; Kaelyn Townsley, Sr., Winfield-Mount Union, and Ruth Wittoft, Jr., Hillcrest.Setters: Madisen Kellogg, Sr., Winfield-Mount Union; Clair Withrow, Sr., Hillcrest.Libero: Jocelyn Hernandez, Sr., Columbus.Defensive specialist:&nbsp; Emersyn Schultz, Sr., Highland.Utility player: Emmalni Marshall, So., Wapello.Honorable mentionWapello: Macey Kuntz, Jr.; Erica Gilette, Sr.Winfield-Mount Union:&nbsp; Katie Miller, Sr.; Kellee Milks, Sr.L-M: Ashlynn Watkins-Schoenig, Jr.; Ella Mullikin, Jr.Columbus: Hailey Wellington, Sr.; Mady Payne, Jr.Final league standingsWapello 8-0Columbus 7-1Winfield-Mount Union 6-2Louisa-Muscatine 5-3Hillcrest 4-4Pekin 3-5Highland 2-6WACO 1-7Lone Tree 0-8

WMS Sports: Wagner named North’s Player of the Year

<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.

<figure>
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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.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1726252360221.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </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.

<figure>
 <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

For John Oliver Jr., racing is in his blood, and not just because his father, grandfather, and uncle are also racers.

It’s almost an addiction to him, and that’s why he races not just one but two cars every Saturday night at his home track, 34 Raceway.

He also races his stock car at Columbus Junction every Friday and Vinton every Sunday.

Oliver Jr. competes in the Modified class at 34, a car owned by Dennis LaVeine, as well as his own stock car, and has been successful in both classes.

Oliver Jr. just finished claiming another Stock Car class points title, the 27th&nbsp;in his career, and he placed second in the Modified class.

He also has more than 280 feature victory trophies along the top shelf of his race shop, and they’ve been in different classes.

He is also vying for a title in the IMCA circuit nationwide. Because the certified tracks are uniform, drivers can build up points without having to race in tracks across the country.

At 50, Oliver Jr. knows he’ll have to quit driving eventually.

“It’s not an old man’s sport,” he said, and it’s not just slower reflexes.

“By the time you work your full-time job, and then you come home, and then you just stay up too late working on stuff,” Oliver Jr. said, and he owns his own business, Oliver Heating and Air.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy to know when to quit.

“They don’t have a counselor for racing,” Oliver Jr. said, meaning, “It’s worse than drugs. At least if you get into drugs, you might be able to get out of it.

“Once racing is in your blood, it’s there. Don’t get into it unless you know you want to.”

“My wife loves racing,” Oliver Jr. said. “Honestly, I’d have probably been out of it a few years ago if she didn’t like racing as much as she does.”

But also, “I’ve driven for multiple people, and it’s been a lot of fun driving for them.”

Oliver Jr.’s grandfather, when he lived in Wisconsin, started racing in the early 1950s. In the 1970s, he moved back to southeast Iowa. That’s about when John Oliver Sr. began racing.

They raced at Lee County Speedway, Keokuk Raceland, and in Memphis, Mo., Oliver Jr. said.

Then Oliver Sr. quit, not returning to the driver’s seat until the 1990s, when his son was graduating from high school. He raced until 2010 when he was 50.

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 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/9/1757536422079.jpeg" alt="John Oliver Jr.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>John Oliver Jr.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerFor John Oliver Jr., racing is in his blood, and not just because his father, grandfather, and uncle are also racers.It’s almost an addiction to him, and that’s why he races not just one but two cars every Saturday night at his home track, 34 Raceway.He also races his stock car at Columbus Junction every Friday and Vinton every Sunday.Oliver Jr. competes in the Modified class at 34, a car owned by Dennis LaVeine, as well as his own stock car, and has been successful in both classes.Oliver Jr. just finished claiming another Stock Car class points title, the 27th&nbsp;in his career, and he placed second in the Modified class.He also has more than 280 feature victory trophies along the top shelf of his race shop, and they’ve been in different classes.He is also vying for a title in the IMCA circuit nationwide. Because the certified tracks are uniform, drivers can build up points without having to race in tracks across the country.At 50, Oliver Jr. knows he’ll have to quit driving eventually.“It’s not an old man’s sport,” he said, and it’s not just slower reflexes.“By the time you work your full-time job, and then you come home, and then you just stay up too late working on stuff,” Oliver Jr. said, and he owns his own business, Oliver Heating and Air.That doesn’t mean it’s easy to know when to quit.“They don’t have a counselor for racing,” Oliver Jr. said, meaning, “It’s worse than drugs. At least if you get into drugs, you might be able to get out of it.“Once racing is in your blood, it’s there. Don’t get into it unless you know you want to.”But his wife, Diane, spurs him on.“My wife loves racing,” Oliver Jr. said. “Honestly, I’d have probably been out of it a few years ago if she didn’t like racing as much as she does.”But also, “I’ve driven for multiple people, and it’s been a lot of fun driving for them.”Following FamilyOliver Jr.’s grandfather, when he lived in Wisconsin, started racing in the early 1950s. In the 1970s, he moved back to southeast Iowa. That’s about when John Oliver Sr. began racing.They raced at Lee County Speedway, Keokuk Raceland, and in Memphis, Mo., Oliver Jr. said.Then Oliver Sr. quit, not returning to the driver’s seat until the 1990s, when his son was graduating from high school. He raced until 2010 when he was 50.“He and my grandpa got me into racing in ‘98,” Oliver Jr. said. He raced at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson as well as at 34.His grandfather never really quit. “I drove for grandpa in the 2000s, and I really didn’t drive for myself much until 2010 or so,” Oliver Jr. said.“It’s 30 laps a night that I don’t have to think about nothing but driving a car,” Oliver Jr. said as to what made him get into racing besides the family connection. “I don’t have to think about the business. I don’t have to think about anything.“So is it a lot of work? Racing is a ton of work. It’s more than sometimes my full-time job,” he said.“But it’s what I enjoy to do right?”Although feature winners get paid, Oliver Jr. said it doesn’t pay the cost of racing.“All, at the end of it, I’ll have to show for it is trophies and coats,” which are the prizes for the season titles.Oliver Jr.’s sponsors are: X-treme Impact, A&amp;B Roofing, LaVeine Sanitation, Cash 4 Junk Cars, B&amp;B Racing Shocks, and Mid-State Machine.His pit crew consists of his wife, his father, Justin “Popeye” Stevenson, and the Timmermans: Devon, Amy, Tasker, and Teager.Corners Are KeyFor those who don’t follow the sport, it may be difficult to go from the middle or especially the back of the pack at the start to work your way up to the front.“You’ve got to have a good handling car to start with,” Oliver Jr. said.&nbsp;“You drive your hardest and try to drive your cleanest, without anybody getting upset, right? You just try to pass whatever cars you can.”Handling the corners is the key.“The IMCA Stock Car class is so even, you’ve got to try to drive faster through the corner,” Oliver Jr. said.That’s where he has the most fun, he said. “You just see how hard you can bury that car in the corner without spinning it out.”That’s why he would never do drag racing.“I’d have to go to the end of the drag strip, slam on the brakes, and come back the other way,” Oliver Jr. said.As for his fellow auto racers, “There’s a lot of drivers I have a lot of respect for that have come up,” Oliver Jr. said. Besides his father and grandfather, he mentioned LaVeine, Darin Thye, and John Schultz.“I grew up watching (Schultz),” Oliver Jr. said. “That guy, no matter what he drove, he was on the cushion, and he was fast.“It’s sad to see that a lot of these people that you grew up watching aren’t racing anymore, but you also understand why,” and that’s where the age issue came up.Oliver Jr. said he’ll never completely get out of racing. He’ll just join a pit crew for another driver.

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