Above:&nbsp;Tim Hutchins, a member of the Hawkeye Wood Carvers group, stands in front of a tree he carved into a figure of Buddha, using a chainsaw.

Tim Hutchins has been carving things out of wood most of his life.&nbsp;

A military man for 23 years, Hutchins put his time in at Murray Iron Works and the Army Reserve, which were noisy jobs.&nbsp;

So, Hutchins was seeking a quiet, relaxing way to escape the noise of his everyday life. He found peace and quiet when he joined the Hawkeye Wood Carvers group in 1973.

The group was 50 members strong then and full of projects for anyone interested.&nbsp;

The sense of community and unity that the group provided was the icing on the cake for Hutchins. The challenge of the carving and the sense of togetherness the carvers share is what has kept the group going all these years.

The ability to look at a piece of wood and see the object trapped inside was a skill Hutchins has learned to develop over time.&nbsp;

That same skill is what Hutchins would like to pass down to the next generation of wood carvers.

“Everyone is so busy tapping away on their phones,” Hutchins said.

Hutchins has carved different kinds of wood.

Everything from walnut, oak, and willow, to tree stumps using a chainsaw, have been carved by Hutchins. Each type of wood has its own unique properties that the carver has to adjust his skills to create his work.

“Some woods are much easier to work with,” he said.

Hutchins even carved a sign for the Icarian Living History Museum, which was unfortunately stolen from the camp after the land owner sold the property. Hutchins has worked on projects of every kind imaginable.&nbsp;

Hutchins has repaired 100-year-old wooden dolls, carved a guitar body out of wood, and even repaired antique furniture for the Des Moines County Historical Society.

One of the pieces that Hutchins is most proud of is a jewelry box that he made for a doctor in Iowa City. The box consists of 23 different types of wood and has no metal parts. On the lid of the jewelry box is an inset relief of the doctor’s wife.

“His wife looked at it and said ‘That’s me,’” Hutchins said.

This year will mark his 30th consecutive year displaying at the Des Moines County Fair. Hutchins has displayed his works at the Iowa State Fair and has received multiple blue ribbons for his displays there. In addition, Hutchins took part in a carousel horse reconstruction that was displayed at the Iowa State Fair.

The Hawkeye Wood Carvers meet the first Tuesday of every month at the Burlington Public Library. The Carvers meet 10 months of the year, taking June and July off. Hutchins is hoping to renew their interest in the group and add some new members. COVID closed down most public gatherings and it has been challenging to get people to come back to public gatherings.

“I’d like to see 10, or 110 people at our next meeting,” Hutchins said.

There are a lot of ways to spend your time relaxing. Carving may be a newfound way of expressing yourself. Finding the object trapped in a piece of wood with your knife could be something that a younger generation had never considered before. Hutchins enjoys teaching others and looks forward to seeing new faces in the group.

“We had a grandmother bring her grandson in one time. I helped them figure out carving a little. I guess it was on a piece of tree bark,” Hutchins said.

That kind of togetherness and family activity is exactly why Hutchins joined the Hawkeye Carvers. The items the club has created are beautiful works of art, but the bonds formed are just as important. While COVID has stymied the club for a while, Hutchins aims to whittle out a future for the group.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/3/1679616035831.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Tim Hutchins, a member of the Hawkeye Wood Carvers group, stands in front of a tree he carved into a figure of Buddha, using a chainsaw.By Andy SchneiderTim Hutchins has been carving things out of wood most of his life.&nbsp;A military man for 23 years, Hutchins put his time in at Murray Iron Works and the Army Reserve, which were noisy jobs.&nbsp;So, Hutchins was seeking a quiet, relaxing way to escape the noise of his everyday life. He found peace and quiet when he joined the Hawkeye Wood Carvers group in 1973.The group was 50 members strong then and full of projects for anyone interested.&nbsp;The sense of community and unity that the group provided was the icing on the cake for Hutchins. The challenge of the carving and the sense of togetherness the carvers share is what has kept the group going all these years.The ability to look at a piece of wood and see the object trapped inside was a skill Hutchins has learned to develop over time.&nbsp;That same skill is what Hutchins would like to pass down to the next generation of wood carvers.“Everyone is so busy tapping away on their phones,” Hutchins said.Hutchins has carved different kinds of wood.Everything from walnut, oak, and willow, to tree stumps using a chainsaw, have been carved by Hutchins. Each type of wood has its own unique properties that the carver has to adjust his skills to create his work.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/3/1679615281955.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“Some woods are much easier to work with,” he said.Hutchins even carved a sign for the Icarian Living History Museum, which was unfortunately stolen from the camp after the land owner sold the property. Hutchins has worked on projects of every kind imaginable.&nbsp;Hutchins has repaired 100-year-old wooden dolls, carved a guitar body out of wood, and even repaired antique furniture for the Des Moines County Historical Society.One of the pieces that Hutchins is most proud of is a jewelry box that he made for a doctor in Iowa City. The box consists of 23 different types of wood and has no metal parts. On the lid of the jewelry box is an inset relief of the doctor’s wife.“His wife looked at it and said ‘That’s me,’” Hutchins said.This year will mark his 30th consecutive year displaying at the Des Moines County Fair. Hutchins has displayed his works at the Iowa State Fair and has received multiple blue ribbons for his displays there. In addition, Hutchins took part in a carousel horse reconstruction that was displayed at the Iowa State Fair.The Hawkeye Wood Carvers meet the first Tuesday of every month at the Burlington Public Library. The Carvers meet 10 months of the year, taking June and July off. Hutchins is hoping to renew their interest in the group and add some new members. COVID closed down most public gatherings and it has been challenging to get people to come back to public gatherings.“I’d like to see 10, or 110 people at our next meeting,” Hutchins said.There are a lot of ways to spend your time relaxing. Carving may be a newfound way of expressing yourself. Finding the object trapped in a piece of wood with your knife could be something that a younger generation had never considered before. Hutchins enjoys teaching others and looks forward to seeing new faces in the group.“We had a grandmother bring her grandson in one time. I helped them figure out carving a little. I guess it was on a piece of tree bark,” Hutchins said.That kind of togetherness and family activity is exactly why Hutchins joined the Hawkeye Carvers. The items the club has created are beautiful works of art, but the bonds formed are just as important. While COVID has stymied the club for a while, Hutchins aims to whittle out a future for the group.

Hawkeye Wood Carvers are a cut above the rest

Above: Burlington Notre Dame’s girls basketball team had balanced scoring all season, but junior Lauren Krieger (15) emerged as the team leader with 345 points. Krieger goes up against defenders for Iowa City Regina, which qualified for state this year. The Nikes will lose three seniors from its South division runner-up team, so Krieger and the rest of the Nikes will have to regroup.&nbsp;&nbsp;Photo/Chris Faulkner

Burlington Notre Dame’s girls basketball was the picture of balance this past season, and they finished 18-7 overall and second in the South Division at 12-3.

Lauren Krieger emerged as the top scorer for the Nikes with 345 points in 25 games.

But in that 25-game season, the scoring difference between No. 2 Gabby Deery and No. 6 Taryn Stephens was just 111 points or 4.5 points per game.

Deery scored 270 points, Abby Korschgen 258, Anna Engberg 191, Maddy Mosena 190, and Stephens 159.

“Laura was our player that would do whatever it took to win the game,” Notre Dame coach Corey Stephens said. “There were a few games that she didn’t come off of the floor the entire game.”

Krieger will be back as a junior, as well as starters Anna Engberg and Taryn Stephens.

Nadiya Jones, a junior who played in 20 games, returns with some experience.

Notre Dame will lose Deery, Korschgen, and Mosena, who combined for 718 of the team’s 1,494 points. But the Nikes will miss more than the scoring.

“Abby was the voice of the team,” Stephens said. “She helped a lot of the younger players out this season.”

Stephens said Deery “turned her play up since Christmas break. She developed her turnaround jump shot and became a force in the middle.”

As for Mosena, “Maddy was a great defender,” Stephens said. “She might not have gotten a lot of steals, but she got a lot of deflections that turn into steals or points for us.”

The bench consisted of three sophomores and five freshmen.

“I thought that our girls worked hard in practice,” Stephens said of how the team improved during the season. He stressed that “all 16 girls put in the work and pushed each other to be better every single day. That is all I can ask for.”

The Nikes will miss Deery’s and Korschgen’s tall presence underneath the basket.

“We will be smaller. A lot smaller” next season, Stephens said. “Hopefully our underclassmen will develop more over the summer and be able to help out our four seniors next season.”

As with the girls, Notre Dame’s boys basketball team finished second in the South Division at 11-3. They were 17-6 overall.

Notre Dame will lose six seniors, including 6-7 post player and leading scorer Carsen Jones — 290 points, 182 rebounds, and 12 blocked shots for 21 games.

The other two senior starters were Hunter Lillie and Matthew Booten, and Ethan Todd played in 20 games coming off the bench. Lillie averaged eight points a game, Booten six, and Todd just under five. Booten was second in rebounding with 108, and Lillie led the team in 3-pointers with 25 (34 percent).

Also graduating are Owen Gulick, who was injured at the start of the season and just played in four games, and Grant Boal.

Coach Dan Kies will return junior starters Liam Delaney and Spencer Brent.

Delaney averaged 13 points a game and had 81 rebounds, 44 assists, 31 steals, and five blocks. He committed just 14 fouls all season.

Brent took on a starting role when fellow junior Gedi Boal went down with a mid-season injury. Brent scored 133 points and was second on the team in assists with 57.

Other underclassmen who saw considerable action are juniors Caden Schwenker and Dylan Kipp and freshman Shay Stephens, who led the team in a 3-point shooting percentage at 39.4.

Varsity reserves and JV players eligible to return are juniors Lucas Johnson and Max Mansheim, sophomore Jack Drew and freshman Colby Booton.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/3/1679616627282.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Burlington Notre Dame’s girls basketball team had balanced scoring all season, but junior Lauren Krieger (15) emerged as the team leader with 345 points. Krieger goes up against defenders for Iowa City Regina, which qualified for state this year. The Nikes will lose three seniors from its South division runner-up team, so Krieger and the rest of the Nikes will have to regroup.&nbsp;&nbsp;Photo/Chris FaulknerBy Chris FaulknerBurlington Notre Dame’s girls basketball was the picture of balance this past season, and they finished 18-7 overall and second in the South Division at 12-3.Lauren Krieger emerged as the top scorer for the Nikes with 345 points in 25 games.But in that 25-game season, the scoring difference between No. 2 Gabby Deery and No. 6 Taryn Stephens was just 111 points or 4.5 points per game.Deery scored 270 points, Abby Korschgen 258, Anna Engberg 191, Maddy Mosena 190, and Stephens 159.“Laura was our player that would do whatever it took to win the game,” Notre Dame coach Corey Stephens said. “There were a few games that she didn’t come off of the floor the entire game.”Krieger will be back as a junior, as well as starters Anna Engberg and Taryn Stephens.Nadiya Jones, a junior who played in 20 games, returns with some experience.Notre Dame will lose Deery, Korschgen, and Mosena, who combined for 718 of the team’s 1,494 points. But the Nikes will miss more than the scoring.“Abby was the voice of the team,” Stephens said. “She helped a lot of the younger players out this season.”Stephens said Deery “turned her play up since Christmas break. She developed her turnaround jump shot and became a force in the middle.”As for Mosena, “Maddy was a great defender,” Stephens said. “She might not have gotten a lot of steals, but she got a lot of deflections that turn into steals or points for us.”The bench consisted of three sophomores and five freshmen.“I thought that our girls worked hard in practice,” Stephens said of how the team improved during the season. He stressed that “all 16 girls put in the work and pushed each other to be better every single day. That is all I can ask for.”The Nikes will miss Deery’s and Korschgen’s tall presence underneath the basket.“We will be smaller. A lot smaller” next season, Stephens said. “Hopefully our underclassmen will develop more over the summer and be able to help out our four seniors next season.”Notre Dame boysAs with the girls, Notre Dame’s boys basketball team finished second in the South Division at 11-3. They were 17-6 overall.Notre Dame will lose six seniors, including 6-7 post player and leading scorer Carsen Jones — 290 points, 182 rebounds, and 12 blocked shots for 21 games.The other two senior starters were Hunter Lillie and Matthew Booten, and Ethan Todd played in 20 games coming off the bench. Lillie averaged eight points a game, Booten six, and Todd just under five. Booten was second in rebounding with 108, and Lillie led the team in 3-pointers with 25 (34 percent).Also graduating are Owen Gulick, who was injured at the start of the season and just played in four games, and Grant Boal.Coach Dan Kies will return junior starters Liam Delaney and Spencer Brent.Delaney averaged 13 points a game and had 81 rebounds, 44 assists, 31 steals, and five blocks. He committed just 14 fouls all season.Brent took on a starting role when fellow junior Gedi Boal went down with a mid-season injury. Brent scored 133 points and was second on the team in assists with 57.Other underclassmen who saw considerable action are juniors Caden Schwenker and Dylan Kipp and freshman Shay Stephens, who led the team in a 3-point shooting percentage at 39.4.Varsity reserves and JV players eligible to return are juniors Lucas Johnson and Max Mansheim, sophomore Jack Drew and freshman Colby Booton.

Notre Dame teams wrap up successful seasons

Deng Deang scored a career-high 19 points in his first career start to lead Southeastern Community College to a 75-49 victory over Snead State in the first round of the National Junior College Athletic Association men’s basketball national tournament at Hutchinson, Kan., Tuesday morning.

The 14th-seeded Blackhawks (26-8) advance to Wednesday’s 6 p.m. second-round game against No. 3 Odessa (29-3). Odessa has been idle since a 67-66 loss to Midland in the Region V championship game on March 10.

It was SCC’s seventh straight victory. Snead State, the 19 seed, bows out at  25-9.

When starter Isaiah Griffin fell sick, SCC coach Lorenzo Watkins called on Deang to make his first start. Deang responded with 6-for-11 shooting from the field and 7-for-7 from the free throw line. He added seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a blocked shot. His previous high game was 14 points in an 80-73 win over Triton on Dec. 10, Deang’s only other game in double figures.

Griffin is SCC’s second-leading scorer with a 13-point average.

The Blackhawks trailed only at 2-0. They then launched a 13-point run to gain control. SCC led by as much as 13 points in the first half before settling for a 35-31 edge at halftime.SCC scored 10 of the first 12 points of the second half and was never seriously threatened again. The Blackhawks took their biggest lead at 70-42 on two Davion Bailey free throws with about four minutes left to play.

Four other Blackhawks scored in double figures. Jaylen Searles scored 15 points, Bailey had 13 and Jack Wetzel and Jhonny Tovar Mendez each added 12 points. Only four points came from the SCC bench, two each by Javordo Mitchell and former Burlington High School star Amarion  Davis.SCC outrebounded the Parsons, 41-34. Deang and Searles each had seven boards and Wetzel and Mendez grabbed six each. Mitchell had five in his relief role.

John Whitehead III led Snead State and all scorers with 24 points, and Ty Briscoe added 10.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/3/1679420398832.jpeg" alt="Deng Deang" />
 <figcaption>Deng Deang</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsDeng Deang scored a career-high 19 points in his first career start to lead Southeastern Community College to a 75-49 victory over Snead State in the first round of the National Junior College Athletic Association men’s basketball national tournament at Hutchinson, Kan., Tuesday morning.The 14th-seeded Blackhawks (26-8) advance to Wednesday’s 6 p.m. second-round game against No. 3 Odessa (29-3). Odessa has been idle since a 67-66 loss to Midland in the Region V championship game on March 10.It was SCC’s seventh straight victory. Snead State, the 19 seed, bows out at 25-9.When starter Isaiah Griffin fell sick, SCC coach Lorenzo Watkins called on Deang to make his first start. Deang responded with 6-for-11 shooting from the field and 7-for-7 from the free throw line. He added seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a blocked shot. His previous high game was 14 points in an 80-73 win over Triton on Dec. 10, Deang’s only other game in double figures.Griffin is SCC’s second-leading scorer with a 13-point average.The Blackhawks trailed only at 2-0. They then launched a 13-point run to gain control. SCC led by as much as 13 points in the first half before settling for a 35-31 edge at halftime.SCC scored 10 of the first 12 points of the second half and was never seriously threatened again. The Blackhawks took their biggest lead at 70-42 on two Davion Bailey free throws with about four minutes left to play.Four other Blackhawks scored in double figures. Jaylen Searles scored 15 points, Bailey had 13 and Jack Wetzel and Jhonny Tovar Mendez each added 12 points. Only four points came from the SCC bench, two each by Javordo Mitchell and former Burlington High School star Amarion Davis.SCC outrebounded the Parsons, 41-34. Deang and Searles each had seven boards and Wetzel and Mendez grabbed six each. Mitchell had five in his relief role.John Whitehead III led Snead State and all scorers with 24 points, and Ty Briscoe added 10.

Blackhawks coast in the first round

Abbey Bence made an impact on the West Burlington High School girls basketball team, most notably in her final two seasons in which she earned all-state recognition.

But she’ll eventually be making an impact on a larger number of young athletes.

Bence will play basketball for Central College in Pella next winter. While at the D-III school, she’ll major in kinesiology with the end goal of being a physical therapist.

“After dealing with (her) shoulder injuries and having such a positive experience,” Bence said. “I want to do the same for others and give back to my community and help others return to sports.”

Bence suffered a torn labrum in her right shoulder last year, which kept her from throwing the discus for the track team, and she won’t be able to do that this year.&nbsp;

She should be back for softball, as she’s been a four-sport athlete when her health allowed.

Basketball, however, is her true love, and she finished with 1,313 points, now her career scoring record.

“That’s something that’s such an honor to me,” Bence said, of breaking the mark held by Sydney Marlow, “who was such a role model of mine. I didn’t expect it to happen.”

Bence scored 528 points this year alone, for a 24-points-per-game average. Besides earning South Division Player of the Year honors and all-district recognition in Class 2A, Bence was made second-team all-state by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association. Last season, she was on the second team of the Iowa Print Sportswriters Association and the third team for the IGCA.

“It’s a great honor,” Bence said. “Any of the postseason accolades are such an honor to be a part of, to be on the same teams with other girls with so much talent.”

Basketball wasn’t always her favorite sport, as, “I did a lot of traveling softball and volleyball,” she said.

But she grew to love basketball and said, “I have a passion for the game. I love the physicality that comes with it.”

Her favorite memory was her sophomore year when the Falcons made it to state, only to lose in the first round.

After that season and between her junior and senior seasons, she said she did a lot of work on her own to improve her game.

But as with many team sports, even the best athletes are rarely a one-person show.

“I truly couldn’t have done it without my teammates and my coaches supporting me,” Bence said.

Bence noted the contributions of her four varsity teammates.

“McKenna Marlow played with me all four years,” Bence said. “I think we do a good job of seeing each other, finding each other on the court.”

West Burlington’s post player and fellow senior Isabelle Ritter went out as a freshman and sophomore but sat out her junior season.

“I’m really glad she came out her senior year. I’m really thankful to finish my playing career with her,’ Bence said.

The other two starters, juniors Taryn Havener and Isabella Blaufuss flew under the radar.

“A lot of their efforts go unseen,” Bence said. “They’re not always in the spotlight. They really contribute to the team as a whole. I’m excited to see what they both can do next year.”

Coach John Vandenberg contributed to Bence’s success as well.

“Coach always pushes me and sometimes will joke that he never stops yelling at me,” Bence said. “But it’s only because he cares. He taught me how to work hard and pushed me to my breaking point, but I wouldn’t be the player or the person I am without him.”

That’s a common sentiment for good athletes with good coaches. But Bence made sure to praise another coach.

Brendan Freeman was her JV coach her freshman year when she saw little playing time on varsity.

“Since then, he’s always had my back,” Bence said.&nbsp;

Freeman is an assistant varsity coach, “and when Coach Vandenberg is hard on me, he’s always there to pick me up,” Bence said of Freeman.

“He always tells me to keep shooting, keep playing and move on to the next play. He’s one of my biggest role models.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/3/1678805678883.jpeg" alt="West Burlington senior Abbey Bence (20) drives against Danville’s Kenna Furnald in a girls basketball game earlier in the season. Bence’s drives often lead to made baskets, and she closed out her four years — three as a starter — with a school record of 1,313 points. She also earned all-state honors during her junior and senior seasons. Photo/Chris Faulkner" />
 <figcaption>West Burlington senior Abbey Bence (20) drives against Danville’s Kenna Furnald in a girls basketball game earlier in the season. Bence’s drives often lead to made baskets, and she closed out her four years — three as a starter — with a school record of 1,313 points. She also earned all-state honors during her junior and senior seasons. Photo/Chris Faulkner</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerAbbey Bence made an impact on the West Burlington High School girls basketball team, most notably in her final two seasons in which she earned all-state recognition.But she’ll eventually be making an impact on a larger number of young athletes.Bence will play basketball for Central College in Pella next winter. While at the D-III school, she’ll major in kinesiology with the end goal of being a physical therapist.“After dealing with (her) shoulder injuries and having such a positive experience,” Bence said. “I want to do the same for others and give back to my community and help others return to sports.”Bence suffered a torn labrum in her right shoulder last year, which kept her from throwing the discus for the track team, and she won’t be able to do that this year.&nbsp;She should be back for softball, as she’s been a four-sport athlete when her health allowed.Basketball, however, is her true love, and she finished with 1,313 points, now her career scoring record.“That’s something that’s such an honor to me,” Bence said, of breaking the mark held by Sydney Marlow, “who was such a role model of mine. I didn’t expect it to happen.”Bence scored 528 points this year alone, for a 24-points-per-game average. Besides earning South Division Player of the Year honors and all-district recognition in Class 2A, Bence was made second-team all-state by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association. Last season, she was on the second team of the Iowa Print Sportswriters Association and the third team for the IGCA.“It’s a great honor,” Bence said. “Any of the postseason accolades are such an honor to be a part of, to be on the same teams with other girls with so much talent.”Basketball wasn’t always her favorite sport, as, “I did a lot of traveling softball and volleyball,” she said.But she grew to love basketball and said, “I have a passion for the game. I love the physicality that comes with it.”Her favorite memory was her sophomore year when the Falcons made it to state, only to lose in the first round.After that season and between her junior and senior seasons, she said she did a lot of work on her own to improve her game.But as with many team sports, even the best athletes are rarely a one-person show.“I truly couldn’t have done it without my teammates and my coaches supporting me,” Bence said.Bence noted the contributions of her four varsity teammates.“McKenna Marlow played with me all four years,” Bence said. “I think we do a good job of seeing each other, finding each other on the court.”West Burlington’s post player and fellow senior Isabelle Ritter went out as a freshman and sophomore but sat out her junior season.“I’m really glad she came out her senior year. I’m really thankful to finish my playing career with her,’ Bence said.The other two starters, juniors Taryn Havener and Isabella Blaufuss flew under the radar.“A lot of their efforts go unseen,” Bence said. “They’re not always in the spotlight. They really contribute to the team as a whole. I’m excited to see what they both can do next year.”Coach John Vandenberg contributed to Bence’s success as well.“Coach always pushes me and sometimes will joke that he never stops yelling at me,” Bence said. “But it’s only because he cares. He taught me how to work hard and pushed me to my breaking point, but I wouldn’t be the player or the person I am without him.”That’s a common sentiment for good athletes with good coaches. But Bence made sure to praise another coach.Brendan Freeman was her JV coach her freshman year when she saw little playing time on varsity.“Since then, he’s always had my back,” Bence said.&nbsp;Freeman is an assistant varsity coach, “and when Coach Vandenberg is hard on me, he’s always there to pick me up,” Bence said of Freeman.“He always tells me to keep shooting, keep playing and move on to the next play. He’s one of my biggest role models.”

Bence makes an impact for Falcons

Burlington High School senior Merquiche Lewis Jr. was named the Southeast Conference boys basketball player of the year, it was announced earlier this week.

Lewis led the conference in scoring with 533 points in 22 games for a 24.2-point average. He also averaged 9.5 rebounds, 3.27 steals and 2.86 assists. He led the Grayhounds to a 16-7 overall record and a 7-3 mark in the Southeast Conference, tying with Washington for second place.

Four other Burlington athletes were named to the all-conference first team – Mylee Stiefel in girls basketball and wrestlers Braxton Hutchinson, Salomon Cordero and Julian Perez-Hall.

Five of the six players named first team all-conference in boys basketball were unanimous selections — Lewis, Mount Pleasant’s Payton Hagans, Fairfield’s Max Weaton and J.J. Lane and Washington’s Ethan Patterson. Aidan Ashton of Mount Pleasant rounded out the first team.

Hagans averaged 20.7 points and 8.23 rebounds. Weaton averaged a double double – 19.5 points and 13.57 rebounds.

Burlington’s J.J. Martin, who averaged 13 points and 3.1 assists, was named to the second all-conference team, joining Keokuk’s Diego Garcia, Mount Pleasant’s Owen Vansickle, Fort Madison’s Hunter Cresswell and Washington’s A.J. Six and Aden Six.

Burlington sophomore Nehemiah Lewis was selected honorable mention. Eleven Grayhounds were named to the boys basketball all-academic team — Mateo Rascon, Merquiche Lewis, Christos Kantzavelos, Joey Jolin, Carson Ziegler, Thomas Fell, Adam Johnson, Minka Buheyer, Kyanne Dowell, Jaymee McGill and Penelope Taylor.

Stiefel was one of two freshmen to be named first team all-conference, joining Keokuk’s Kendra Boatman. Also named first team were: Camille Kruse of Fort Madison, Kayde Martin of Keokuk and Mount Pleasant’s Andrea Lopreato and Tristian Shull.

Kruse and Lopreato share player of the year honors.

Stiefel led Burlington with a scoring average of 16.7 points.

Second team selections were: Savanna Hollander and Ashlyn Lisk of Fairfield, Fort Madison’s Molly Knipe, Keokuk’s Makenna Altgilbers and Camryn Atterberg and Washington’s Adalyn Long and Alex Murphy.

Burlington’s Lilly Bartles and Ella Schroeder earned honorable mention.

Six Grayhounds were named to the all-academic team – Myah Rehman, Bartles, Schroeder, Emma Rohrer, Saydee Plummer and Zyana Bradford.

Hutchinson, a sophomore, went 37-8 for the season and made the all-conference first team at 106 pounds. Cordero, a junior, was 27-13 at 182 pounds and Perez-Hall, a senior, was 36-8 at 220 pounds.

Also named to the first team were: Cael McCabe (113 pounds) of Fairfield; Aaron Boone (120) of Washington; Caden Greiner (126) of Washington; Zach Westercamp (132) of Fairfield; Tate O’Shea (138) of Keokuk; Nolan Riddle (145) of Fort Madison; Aidan Pennock (152) of Fort Madison; Chase Greiner (160) of Washington; Teague Smith (170) of Fort Madison; Isaac Thacher (195) of Fort Madison; and Cory Arnett (285) of Fort Madison.

Three Burlington wrestlers were named to the second team – 113-pound freshman Lathan Hand (24-16), 160-pound junior Tanner Burchett (26-6) and 195-pound senior Moise Cordero (25-18).

Ten Grayhounds made the all-academic team – Burchett, Moise Cordero, Perez-Hall, Marissa Huff, Melanie Ried, Hannah Wegmann, Daniele Ebert, Analicia Lopez, Brenna Remele and Dilynn Taeger.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/3/1677987834239.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Merquiche Lewis Jr." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Merquiche Lewis Jr.</figcaption>
 </figure>By Joe GerenBurlington High School senior Merquiche Lewis Jr. was named the Southeast Conference boys basketball player of the year, it was announced earlier this week.Lewis led the conference in scoring with 533 points in 22 games for a 24.2-point average. He also averaged 9.5 rebounds, 3.27 steals and 2.86 assists. He led the Grayhounds to a 16-7 overall record and a 7-3 mark in the Southeast Conference, tying with Washington for second place.Four other Burlington athletes were named to the all-conference first team – Mylee Stiefel in girls basketball and wrestlers Braxton Hutchinson, Salomon Cordero and Julian Perez-Hall.Five of the six players named first team all-conference in boys basketball were unanimous selections — Lewis, Mount Pleasant’s Payton Hagans, Fairfield’s Max Weaton and J.J. Lane and Washington’s Ethan Patterson. Aidan Ashton of Mount Pleasant rounded out the first team.Hagans averaged 20.7 points and 8.23 rebounds. Weaton averaged a double double – 19.5 points and 13.57 rebounds.Burlington’s J.J. Martin, who averaged 13 points and 3.1 assists, was named to the second all-conference team, joining Keokuk’s Diego Garcia, Mount Pleasant’s Owen Vansickle, Fort Madison’s Hunter Cresswell and Washington’s A.J. Six and Aden Six.Burlington sophomore Nehemiah Lewis was selected honorable mention. Eleven Grayhounds were named to the boys basketball all-academic team — Mateo Rascon, Merquiche Lewis, Christos Kantzavelos, Joey Jolin, Carson Ziegler, Thomas Fell, Adam Johnson, Minka Buheyer, Kyanne Dowell, Jaymee McGill and Penelope Taylor.Girls basketball&nbsp;Stiefel was one of two freshmen to be named first team all-conference, joining Keokuk’s Kendra Boatman. Also named first team were: Camille Kruse of Fort Madison, Kayde Martin of Keokuk and Mount Pleasant’s Andrea Lopreato and Tristian Shull.Kruse and Lopreato share player of the year honors.Stiefel led Burlington with a scoring average of 16.7 points.Second team selections were: Savanna Hollander and Ashlyn Lisk of Fairfield, Fort Madison’s Molly Knipe, Keokuk’s Makenna Altgilbers and Camryn Atterberg and Washington’s Adalyn Long and Alex Murphy.Burlington’s Lilly Bartles and Ella Schroeder earned honorable mention.Six Grayhounds were named to the all-academic team – Myah Rehman, Bartles, Schroeder, Emma Rohrer, Saydee Plummer and Zyana Bradford.WrestlingHutchinson, a sophomore, went 37-8 for the season and made the all-conference first team at 106 pounds. Cordero, a junior, was 27-13 at 182 pounds and Perez-Hall, a senior, was 36-8 at 220 pounds.Also named to the first team were: Cael McCabe (113 pounds) of Fairfield; Aaron Boone (120) of Washington; Caden Greiner (126) of Washington; Zach Westercamp (132) of Fairfield; Tate O’Shea (138) of Keokuk; Nolan Riddle (145) of Fort Madison; Aidan Pennock (152) of Fort Madison; Chase Greiner (160) of Washington; Teague Smith (170) of Fort Madison; Isaac Thacher (195) of Fort Madison; and Cory Arnett (285) of Fort Madison.Three Burlington wrestlers were named to the second team – 113-pound freshman Lathan Hand (24-16), 160-pound junior Tanner Burchett (26-6) and 195-pound senior Moise Cordero (25-18).Ten Grayhounds made the all-academic team – Burchett, Moise Cordero, Perez-Hall, Marissa Huff, Melanie Ried, Hannah Wegmann, Daniele Ebert, Analicia Lopez, Brenna Remele and Dilynn Taeger.

SEC names Lewis basketball player of the year

Above:&nbsp; Southeastern Community College’s Jaylen Searles (2) drives to the basket in the first half against Illinois Central Wednesday night at Loren Walker Arena. Searles scored 11 points and SCC eked out a 62-61 win. Photo/Joe Geren

Two steals, a tip-in, and two free throws in the final 34 seconds lifted Southeastern Community College to a 62-61 win over Illinois Central in a men’s basketball game at Loren Walker Arena Wednesday night.

The Blackhawks’ Davion Bailey hit a 3-pointer with 44 seconds left to play and SCC called a timeout, trailing 58-61. Upon returning to the floor, Jhonny Tovar stole the basketball and Deng Deang’s tip-in of a missed shot pulled SCC to within a point with 21.1 seconds to play. Timeout was called again.

&nbsp;SCC’s Jaylen Searles stole the ball and called another timeout with 16.4 seconds showing on the clock. Bailey threw the inbounds pass to Isaiah Griffin, who was fouled while shooting. He sank both free throws with 14.1 seconds left to gain the winning edge.

Illinois Central squandered its final possession when Keaundre Cooper was whistled for traveling with four seconds left.

&nbsp;The Blackhawks led by as much as 13 points in the first half and were up 35-25 at intermission. The Cougars scored the first nine points of the second half, tied the score at 36-36, and took the lead for the first time at 50-49 with 5:14 left on the clock.

There was “no energy tonight, the way we came out in the second half, “ SCC head coach Lorenzo Watkins said. “When you’re playing teams like that and give them confidence, I thought they played with a lot of energy and effort. Coach (Tony) Wyslinger always has his guys play hard. They did a great job of hitting shots when they needed to. When you take bad possessions on offense our defense suffers.”

Griffin led all scorers with 16 points. Bailey had 14, Searles scored 11 and Deang and Jack Wetzel each scored eight points Brock Card led the Cougars with 14 points and Lavell McIntosh added 13. Illinois Central fell to 9-17.

&nbsp;SCC (21-8) ends the regular season Saturday at Marshalltown (10-18), then begins Region XI tournament play Wednesday, March 1, hosting Marshalltown at Loren Walker Arena.

&nbsp;“They’re going to be ready to play,” Watkins said of Marshalltown. “If we come out with the same effort and energy we did in the second half they’re going to beat the breaks off us. And our guys know that.”

Despite Marshalltown’s losing record, SCC managed just a 58-56 home win over the Tigers on Jan. 21.

“It was a tough one in here, so it will be a tough game over there,” Watkins said. “Having to play a team twice in four days, five days, it’s going to be hard. That’s what I’m more worried about, how we’re going to respect them playing them on Saturday and then having to play them on Wednesday.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1677177735612.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp; Southeastern Community College’s Jaylen Searles (2) drives to the basket in the first half against Illinois Central Wednesday night at Loren Walker Arena. Searles scored 11 points and SCC eked out a 62-61 win. Photo/Joe GerenBy Joe GerenTwo steals, a tip-in, and two free throws in the final 34 seconds lifted Southeastern Community College to a 62-61 win over Illinois Central in a men’s basketball game at Loren Walker Arena Wednesday night.The Blackhawks’ Davion Bailey hit a 3-pointer with 44 seconds left to play and SCC called a timeout, trailing 58-61. Upon returning to the floor, Jhonny Tovar stole the basketball and Deng Deang’s tip-in of a missed shot pulled SCC to within a point with 21.1 seconds to play. Timeout was called again.&nbsp;SCC’s Jaylen Searles stole the ball and called another timeout with 16.4 seconds showing on the clock. Bailey threw the inbounds pass to Isaiah Griffin, who was fouled while shooting. He sank both free throws with 14.1 seconds left to gain the winning edge.Illinois Central squandered its final possession when Keaundre Cooper was whistled for traveling with four seconds left.&nbsp;The Blackhawks led by as much as 13 points in the first half and were up 35-25 at intermission. The Cougars scored the first nine points of the second half, tied the score at 36-36, and took the lead for the first time at 50-49 with 5:14 left on the clock.There was “no energy tonight, the way we came out in the second half, “ SCC head coach Lorenzo Watkins said. “When you’re playing teams like that and give them confidence, I thought they played with a lot of energy and effort. Coach (Tony) Wyslinger always has his guys play hard. They did a great job of hitting shots when they needed to. When you take bad possessions on offense our defense suffers.”Griffin led all scorers with 16 points. Bailey had 14, Searles scored 11 and Deang and Jack Wetzel each scored eight points Brock Card led the Cougars with 14 points and Lavell McIntosh added 13. Illinois Central fell to 9-17.&nbsp;SCC (21-8) ends the regular season Saturday at Marshalltown (10-18), then begins Region XI tournament play Wednesday, March 1, hosting Marshalltown at Loren Walker Arena.&nbsp;“They’re going to be ready to play,” Watkins said of Marshalltown. “If we come out with the same effort and energy we did in the second half they’re going to beat the breaks off us. And our guys know that.”Despite Marshalltown’s losing record, SCC managed just a 58-56 home win over the Tigers on Jan. 21.“It was a tough one in here, so it will be a tough game over there,” Watkins said. “Having to play a team twice in four days, five days, it’s going to be hard. That’s what I’m more worried about, how we’re going to respect them playing them on Saturday and then having to play them on Wednesday.”

Late rally saves Blackhawks

Above:&nbsp;West Burlington High School senior McKenna Marlow will be spiking the ball for Southeastern Community College this fall. Marlow, shown here in a match at Central Lee this past season, will be pursuing an education career while hitting for the Blackhawks. Photo/Chris Faulkner

McKenna Marlow of West Burlington High School isn't quite following in her sister's footsteps.

Marlow, a senior for the Falcons, will be competing in volleyball next fall. But while Sidney Marlow (West Burlington Class of '21) is a sophomore at Morningside University, McKenna will stay closer to home a hitter for Southeastern Community College just down the road.

“There was a little bit of pressure,” Marlow said of coming up through the program behind her sister.

“I had to step up my game to fulfill her role. She's a great athlete, and I knew that they were big shoes to fill.”

But Sidney's advice to her was “to keep my head high and just play the best version of me every game that I can and to play the best of my ability.”

Marlow, an all-district player, finished her senior year with 258 kills for the Falcons. She led the team in digs with 532 and served a team-high 40 aces.

Marlow wanted to stay close to home, and SCC is giving her a full scholarship as she sets out to eventually become an elementary school teacher.

Marlow plays basketball and runs track as well. “Just being into different sports allows me to grow connections with different people, to stay active,” she said.

Marlow said Coach Maureen Heath helped improve a lot of her skills. “She pushed me to all of my limits,” Marlow said.

“It's going to be challenging,” Marlow said of moving on to the next level, “but I'm always up for new obstacles coming my way. I have a great support system with my family, friends, and coaches.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1676922347375.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;West Burlington High School senior McKenna Marlow will be spiking the ball for Southeastern Community College this fall. Marlow, shown here in a match at Central Lee this past season, will be pursuing an education career while hitting for the Blackhawks. Photo/Chris FaulknerBy Chris FaulknerMcKenna Marlow of West Burlington High School isn't quite following in her sister's footsteps.Marlow, a senior for the Falcons, will be competing in volleyball next fall. But while Sidney Marlow (West Burlington Class of '21) is a sophomore at Morningside University, McKenna will stay closer to home a hitter for Southeastern Community College just down the road.“There was a little bit of pressure,” Marlow said of coming up through the program behind her sister.“I had to step up my game to fulfill her role. She's a great athlete, and I knew that they were big shoes to fill.”But Sidney's advice to her was “to keep my head high and just play the best version of me every game that I can and to play the best of my ability.”Marlow, an all-district player, finished her senior year with 258 kills for the Falcons. She led the team in digs with 532 and served a team-high 40 aces.Marlow wanted to stay close to home, and SCC is giving her a full scholarship as she sets out to eventually become an elementary school teacher.Marlow plays basketball and runs track as well. “Just being into different sports allows me to grow connections with different people, to stay active,” she said.Marlow said Coach Maureen Heath helped improve a lot of her skills. “She pushed me to all of my limits,” Marlow said.“It's going to be challenging,” Marlow said of moving on to the next level, “but I'm always up for new obstacles coming my way. I have a great support system with my family, friends, and coaches.”

Marlow Will Spike Close to Home at SCC

C.J. Walrath and Isaiah Fenton capped off their wrestling careers on the Burlington Notre Dame/West Burlington wrestling team by claiming state championships at 182 and 150 pounds, respectively, Saturday night at the state tournament in Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines.

The Nikes finished second in the team race, a year after winning the team title. Osage won with 170.5 pounds, followed by ND-WB with 106.5. Mount Vernon was third with 99 points, and Manchester, West Delaware, came in fourth at 97.5.

Walrath pinned Brody Sampson of Ballard in 4:43 in the Class 2A 182 finals. Having given up an early takedown, Walrath escaped and began building up a sizable lead before getting the fall in the third period.

Walrath, who will wrestle for the University of Northern Iowa next winter, was 56-0 this season and went 160-1 his final three seasons as a Nike.

Fenton closed out the season at 38-0 after winning a 10-3 decision over Cooper Sanders of Vinton-Shellsburg. Fenton was the No. 2 seed and Sanders was seeded No. 1.

Carter West, the other Nike finalist, settled for second in the 106-pound class with a narrow 2-0 loss to Brayden Bohnsack of Union, LaPorte City. West, a junior, went out at 50-2.

Mediapolis' Josh Glendening lost 3-1 overtime to Jackson Dewald of Westwood, Sloan, in the Class 1A 195-pound title match. Glendening finished at 48-2.

New London's Dominic Lopez, a senior, who recorded a state record 221st victory in the semifinals, lost the 1A 160-pound title 3-1 in overtime to Wyatt Reisz of Logan-Magnolia. Reisz's winning takedown came just as time expired, and the second official confirmed the main official's call. Lopez finished at 57-1 for the season and 221-9 for his career.

Tate O'Shea, a senior for Keokuk, came in second in the Class 2A 138-pound final. Shea, the 3 seed, lost to No. 1 seed McKinley Robbins of Greene County by a 15-5 major decision.

Earlier Saturday, ND-WB sophomore&nbsp;Kaiden Dietzenbach finished third at 126 pounds. Dietzenbach (48-2) decisioned Amare Chavez of South Tama County 7-0 and then decisioned Jerren Gille of Dubuque Wahlert 4-2.

Fort Madison High School's Ike Thacher, a junior, took fourth in Class 3A at 195 pounds. He won his first consolation match Saturday by a medical forfeit from McCrae Hagarty of Waverly-Shell Rock before losing by fall to A.J. Petersen of North Scott in 1:11.

Other results involving local and area wrestlers during the tournament include :

Sophomore Braxton Hutchinson went 2-2 at 106 pounds. Hutchinson, who closed out at 37-8, pinned Daniel Overall of Council Bluffs Lewis Central in 3:58. He then lost 2-1 to the eventual champion Carter Pearson of Southeast Pok. Hutchinson. He edged Brennan Geers of Cedar Rapids Washington 2-0 before losing by fall in 3:25 to Jaymeson VanderVelde of Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln.

Junior Salomon Cordero, at 182, finished at 27-13. He lost by fall to Xander Kenworthy of Ankeny in 1:10 and then lost by fall in 3:14 to Cohan Torres of North Polk.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1676780019845.jpeg" alt="Burlington Notre Dame/West Burlington wrestling Isaiah Fenton is shown at the season opener at the Independence invitational.&nbsp; Beacon File Photo" />
 <figcaption>Burlington Notre Dame/West Burlington wrestling Isaiah Fenton is shown at the season opener at the Independence invitational.&nbsp; Beacon File Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsC.J. Walrath and Isaiah Fenton capped off their wrestling careers on the Burlington Notre Dame/West Burlington wrestling team by claiming state championships at 182 and 150 pounds, respectively, Saturday night at the state tournament in Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines.The Nikes finished second in the team race, a year after winning the team title. Osage won with 170.5 pounds, followed by ND-WB with 106.5. Mount Vernon was third with 99 points, and Manchester, West Delaware, came in fourth at 97.5.Walrath pinned Brody Sampson of Ballard in 4:43 in the Class 2A 182 finals. Having given up an early takedown, Walrath escaped and began building up a sizable lead before getting the fall in the third period.Walrath, who will wrestle for the University of Northern Iowa next winter, was 56-0 this season and went 160-1 his final three seasons as a Nike.Fenton closed out the season at 38-0 after winning a 10-3 decision over Cooper Sanders of Vinton-Shellsburg. Fenton was the No. 2 seed and Sanders was seeded No. 1.Carter West, the other Nike finalist, settled for second in the 106-pound class with a narrow 2-0 loss to Brayden Bohnsack of Union, LaPorte City. West, a junior, went out at 50-2.Other area finalists: Mediapolis' Josh Glendening lost 3-1 overtime to Jackson Dewald of Westwood, Sloan, in the Class 1A 195-pound title match. Glendening finished at 48-2.New London's Dominic Lopez, a senior, who recorded a state record 221st victory in the semifinals, lost the 1A 160-pound title 3-1 in overtime to Wyatt Reisz of Logan-Magnolia. Reisz's winning takedown came just as time expired, and the second official confirmed the main official's call. Lopez finished at 57-1 for the season and 221-9 for his career.Tate O'Shea, a senior for Keokuk, came in second in the Class 2A 138-pound final. Shea, the 3 seed, lost to No. 1 seed McKinley Robbins of Greene County by a 15-5 major decision.Top eight placersEarlier Saturday, ND-WB sophomore&nbsp;Kaiden Dietzenbach finished third at 126 pounds. Dietzenbach (48-2) decisioned Amare Chavez of South Tama County 7-0 and then decisioned Jerren Gille of Dubuque Wahlert 4-2. Fort Madison High School's Ike Thacher, a junior, took fourth in Class 3A at 195 pounds. He won his first consolation match Saturday by a medical forfeit from McCrae Hagarty of Waverly-Shell Rock before losing by fall to A.J. Petersen of North Scott in 1:11.Other results involving local and area wrestlers during the tournament include : Burlington High SchoolSophomore Braxton Hutchinson went 2-2 at 106 pounds. Hutchinson, who closed out at 37-8, pinned Daniel Overall of Council Bluffs Lewis Central in 3:58. He then lost 2-1 to the eventual champion Carter Pearson of Southeast Pok. Hutchinson. He edged Brennan Geers of Cedar Rapids Washington 2-0 before losing by fall in 3:25 to Jaymeson VanderVelde of Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln.Junior Salomon Cordero, at 182, finished at 27-13. He lost by fall to Xander Kenworthy of Ankeny in 1:10 and then lost by fall in 3:14 to Cohan Torres of North Polk.

Walrath, Fenton claim state mat titles for Nikes

Van Buren County’s Bryce Newcomb (21) screens Jackson Hutcheson to give Wyatt Mertens (24) a path to the basket. Mediapolis won the Class 2A district game, 59-49. Photo by Joe Geren

&nbsp;Mediapolis High School never had to play from behind, but Van Buren County didn’t let the Bulldogs get comfortable in the Class 2A, District 11 boys basketball first-round game at Mediapolis Monday night.

The Bulldogs (12-10) advance to Thursday’s semifinal at Albia (13-8.) That winner will face the winner between West Burlington (20-1) and Louisa-Muscatine (12-10) on Feb. 21 for the district championship. The district 11 and 12 champs meet on Feb. 25 for a berth in the state tournament.

Albia “is a well-coached team,” Mediapolis head coach Greg Worrell said. “They’ve got a nice point guard (Drew Chance) that’s a big scorer, 24 points a game. They’ve got a nice big kid inside. They’ve got a couple of nice sophomore guards that are attacking. They’ll be a good matchup.”

Van Buren County ended its season at 5-16. Three of those losses were to Mediapolis. The Bulldogs won 63-58 on Jan. 6 and 66-38 on Jan. 31.

“First time we played them we had a big lead and then they came back and played good defense and came after us,” Worrall said. “Second time we came out we had a great game. We ran them out of the gym and got what we wanted.

“Give them credit,” Worrall said. “They played hard. They played good defense. They run their stuff.”

Mediapolis jumped out to a 12-0 lead on three 3-pointers and a&nbsp; 3-point play, but the Warriors came alive. They scored the next seven points and pulled to within 15-7 at the first quarter break.

With 1:37 left in the first half, Van Buren County’s Jackson Manning scored a layup off a Bryce Newcomb steal and the Warriors trailed just 23-20. But Mediapolis battled back for a 32-22 halftime lead.

Van Buren County cut the deficit to three points again in the third quarter. The Warriors launched a nine-point run and trailed just 34-31 with 4:49 left in the third. Mediapolis managed a 42-38 lead with eight minutes left to play.

Two free throws by Izaak Loeffler a minute and a half into the final period cut the Bulldog lead to 44-42. Mediapolis scored the next seven points and wasn’t seriously threatened again.

Manning led all scorers with 22 points. Anthony Duncan added 10 points for Van Buren County.

Cole Lipper paced Mediapolis with 20 points. Ben Egan scored 14, Max Griffin and Kamden Stotlar each scored seven, and Jackson Hutcheson added six.

The Bulldogs are “sometimes” where Worrall wants them to be at this point in the season.

“You’re dealing with 15, 16, 17-year-old, 18-year-olds, so sometimes they are and sometimes they aren’t,” he said. “I like to think our kids are there more than they’re not. We’re getting better. We’re starting to round into play. In the second half of the season, we kind of hit a little stride where we lost six in a row. Now we’ve got four wins in a row.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1676397482313.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Van Buren County’s Bryce Newcomb (21) screens Jackson Hutcheson to give Wyatt Mertens (24) a path to the basket. Mediapolis won the Class 2A district game, 59-49. Photo by Joe GerenBy&nbsp; Joe Geren&nbsp;Mediapolis High School never had to play from behind, but Van Buren County didn’t let the Bulldogs get comfortable in the Class 2A, District 11 boys basketball first-round game at Mediapolis Monday night.Mediapolis held on for a 59-49 victory.The Bulldogs (12-10) advance to Thursday’s semifinal at Albia (13-8.) That winner will face the winner between West Burlington (20-1) and Louisa-Muscatine (12-10) on Feb. 21 for the district championship. The district 11 and 12 champs meet on Feb. 25 for a berth in the state tournament.Albia “is a well-coached team,” Mediapolis head coach Greg Worrell said. “They’ve got a nice point guard (Drew Chance) that’s a big scorer, 24 points a game. They’ve got a nice big kid inside. They’ve got a couple of nice sophomore guards that are attacking. They’ll be a good matchup.”Van Buren County ended its season at 5-16. Three of those losses were to Mediapolis. The Bulldogs won 63-58 on Jan. 6 and 66-38 on Jan. 31.“First time we played them we had a big lead and then they came back and played good defense and came after us,” Worrall said. “Second time we came out we had a great game. We ran them out of the gym and got what we wanted.“Give them credit,” Worrall said. “They played hard. They played good defense. They run their stuff.”Mediapolis jumped out to a 12-0 lead on three 3-pointers and a&nbsp; 3-point play, but the Warriors came alive. They scored the next seven points and pulled to within 15-7 at the first quarter break.With 1:37 left in the first half, Van Buren County’s Jackson Manning scored a layup off a Bryce Newcomb steal and the Warriors trailed just 23-20. But Mediapolis battled back for a 32-22 halftime lead.Van Buren County cut the deficit to three points again in the third quarter. The Warriors launched a nine-point run and trailed just 34-31 with 4:49 left in the third. Mediapolis managed a 42-38 lead with eight minutes left to play.Two free throws by Izaak Loeffler a minute and a half into the final period cut the Bulldog lead to 44-42. Mediapolis scored the next seven points and wasn’t seriously threatened again.Manning led all scorers with 22 points. Anthony Duncan added 10 points for Van Buren County.Cole Lipper paced Mediapolis with 20 points. Ben Egan scored 14, Max Griffin and Kamden Stotlar each scored seven, and Jackson Hutcheson added six.The Bulldogs are “sometimes” where Worrall wants them to be at this point in the season.“You’re dealing with 15, 16, 17-year-old, 18-year-olds, so sometimes they are and sometimes they aren’t,” he said. “I like to think our kids are there more than they’re not. We’re getting better. We’re starting to round into play. In the second half of the season, we kind of hit a little stride where we lost six in a row. Now we’ve got four wins in a row.”

Mepo Boys Oust Van Buren County

Burlington High School junior John Cottrell finished seventh last weekend in the 100-yard butterfly in the boys' state high school swim meet at the University of Iowa’s Recreation and Wellness Center in Iowa City.

In the preliminaries on Feb. 10, Cottrell qualified for the finals with a seventh-place finish in 51.32 seconds. The top 16 of the 32 swimmers advanced to the Feb. 11 finals. Cottrell’s time was a bit slower (52.04) in the finals, but he maintained his seventh-place position.

Ankeny’s Lance Swanepool won the event in 47.10 seconds.

Cottrell also qualified for the state meet in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard medley relay but didn’t reach the finals in either event. He finished 21st&nbsp;of 32 swimmers in 1:00.84 in the breaststroke preliminaries. Joshua Chen of Ames won that event in 55.42.

Burlington’s Aidan Woodsmall, Will Davidson, Cottrell, and Byers Nealey finished 19th&nbsp;of 24 teams in the medley relay, clocked at 1:42.55. Ames won in 1:33.24.

Keokuk’s Brendan Worster also picked up a seventh-place finish in the state. He qualified eighth in the preliminaries for the 100-yard backstroke in 51.82 seconds, then moved up to seventh with a 51.98 in the finals. Asher Havenhill of Waukee won in 49.20.

Worster also finished 13th&nbsp;of 32 swimmers in the 200-yard freestyle in both the preliminaries and finals. He was clocked at 1:45.38 on the first day and 1:45.60 in the finals. Jacob Pins of West Des Moines Valley won in 1:37.52.

Waukee won the team championship with 304 points. Valley was second at 214 and Ames came in third with 176 points. Keokuk was 18th&nbsp;with 16 points and Burlington was 22nd&nbsp;with 12 points.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1676339736768.jpeg" alt="John Cottrell" />
 <figcaption>John Cottrell</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsBurlington High School junior John Cottrell finished seventh last weekend in the 100-yard butterfly in the boys' state high school swim meet at the University of Iowa’s Recreation and Wellness Center in Iowa City.In the preliminaries on Feb. 10, Cottrell qualified for the finals with a seventh-place finish in 51.32 seconds. The top 16 of the 32 swimmers advanced to the Feb. 11 finals. Cottrell’s time was a bit slower (52.04) in the finals, but he maintained his seventh-place position.Ankeny’s Lance Swanepool won the event in 47.10 seconds.Cottrell also qualified for the state meet in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard medley relay but didn’t reach the finals in either event. He finished 21st&nbsp;of 32 swimmers in 1:00.84 in the breaststroke preliminaries. Joshua Chen of Ames won that event in 55.42.Burlington’s Aidan Woodsmall, Will Davidson, Cottrell, and Byers Nealey finished 19th&nbsp;of 24 teams in the medley relay, clocked at 1:42.55. Ames won in 1:33.24.Keokuk’s Brendan Worster also picked up a seventh-place finish in the state. He qualified eighth in the preliminaries for the 100-yard backstroke in 51.82 seconds, then moved up to seventh with a 51.98 in the finals. Asher Havenhill of Waukee won in 49.20.Worster also finished 13th&nbsp;of 32 swimmers in the 200-yard freestyle in both the preliminaries and finals. He was clocked at 1:45.38 on the first day and 1:45.60 in the finals. Jacob Pins of West Des Moines Valley won in 1:37.52.Waukee won the team championship with 304 points. Valley was second at 214 and Ames came in third with 176 points. Keokuk was 18th&nbsp;with 16 points and Burlington was 22nd&nbsp;with 12 points.

Cottrell Swims to 7th in State Butterfly

Above: Isaiah Fenton of Notre Dame-West Burlington's wrestling team works on 152-pound finals opponent Jay Mosley of Centerville Saturday in a Class 2A district meet at Washington High School. Fenton won by tech fall, 20-5, in 5:27 to advance to state. Fenton will be joined in Des Moines next Thursday by teammates Carter West, Kael Cook, C.J. Davis, Kaden Dietzenbach, and C.J. Walrath. Photo by Chris Faulkner

By Chris Faulkner&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Notre Dame/West Burlington’s wrestling team qualified six wrestlers to state in a Class 2A district tournament Saturday at Washington High School.

Carter West (106), Kaden Dietzenbach (126), Isaiah Fenton (152), and C.J. Walrath (182) all advanced as champions. Kael Cook (113) and C.J. Davis (120) lost in their finals matches but were able to wrestle back and hold second.

The state tournament runs Wednesday, Feb. 15, to Saturday, Feb. 18, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

The Nikes finished second in the team standings with 108.5 points.

ND/WB's West (47-1) slipped into state with a 1-0 decision over Emmitt Nelson of Davis County at 106. The two were scoreless through the first two periods, and West chose down to start the third. But Nelson opted to let West up intentionally. Neither wrestler could gain advantage, and that handed West the narrow victory.

West had drawn a bye in the first round and then pinned Nate Edmonds of Washington in just 45 seconds in the semifinals.

Kaden Dietzenbach (42-1) won at 126 with a pin in 4:18 over previously unbeaten Derrick Bass of Davenport Assumption.He had drawn a bye and then won 17-1 in 2:10 over Robert Howes of Keokuk.

Fenton (35-0) racked up a technical fall in the 152 title match with Jax Mosley of Centerville. He won 20-5 in 5:28. Fenton had drawn a bye in the first round and then needed a mere seven seconds to pin Gavin Kerr of Mount Pleasant.

Walrath (52-0) won both his matches by fall at 182. After getting a bye, he pinned Ryan Messamaker of Centerville in 49 seconds and then pinned Chase Diaz of Assumption in 2:33.

That was his 200th victory of his career.

Cook (40-8) shut out Matt Genobama of Centerville 6-0 for a true second at 113.

He pinned Landon Beckler of Mount Pleasant in the first round in 2:00. He then decisioned Sean Kersten of Assumption 12-7. But he lost to Cael McCabe of Fairfield 5-1 in the title match and had to wrestle back for third.

Davis (47-2) suffered a stunning loss to Aaron Boone of Washington by fall at 120 in the finals. He came back and won a major 10-0 shutout over Rylee Moore of Keokuk to go to state.

Davis drew a bye in the first round. He then won by tech fall, 19-4 in 5:08 over Drake Hamm of Mount Pleasant.

Lyblie Christofferson settled for third at 160 pounds. To start the day, he beat Luke Farley of Davis County by fall in 1:44 but lost to top-seeded Chase Greiner of Washington 9-0.

Christofferson won in the first consolation match, pinning Kaleb Kreinbring of Davenport Assumption in 48 seconds. For third, he trailed early against Ethan Rose of Keokuk but caught him in a cradle for a fall in 3:20. But Greiner lost in the finals, and Christofferson was unable to wrestle back.

At 132, Cole Mincer beat Ramzy Davis of Mount Pleasant but lost to top seed Cadyn Wild of Assumption in 54 seconds. He then pinned Bain Weeks of Centerville in 3:49, only to lose by fall in the third-place match. Davis County’s Deken Sorensen won by fall in 1:15.

Blake Wilson suffered a close loss at 145 in the semifinals. He and Cason Miller of Fairfield were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation. After neither wrestler could get a takedown in the first OT, Wilson took down. Miller earned a two-point nearfall at the end of the first 30-second round. Miller went to the down position but escaped, sending Wilson to the consolations. But he ended up giving up a medical forfeit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1676224974557.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Isaiah Fenton of Notre Dame-West Burlington's wrestling team works on 152-pound finals opponent Jay Mosley of Centerville Saturday in a Class 2A district meet at Washington High School. Fenton won by tech fall, 20-5, in 5:27 to advance to state. Fenton will be joined in Des Moines next Thursday by teammates Carter West, Kael Cook, C.J. Davis, Kaden Dietzenbach, and C.J. Walrath. Photo by Chris FaulknerBy Chris Faulkner&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Notre Dame/West Burlington’s wrestling team qualified six wrestlers to state in a Class 2A district tournament Saturday at Washington High School.Carter West (106), Kaden Dietzenbach (126), Isaiah Fenton (152), and C.J. Walrath (182) all advanced as champions. Kael Cook (113) and C.J. Davis (120) lost in their finals matches but were able to wrestle back and hold second.The state tournament runs Wednesday, Feb. 15, to Saturday, Feb. 18, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.The Nikes finished second in the team standings with 108.5 points.ND/WB's West (47-1) slipped into state with a 1-0 decision over Emmitt Nelson of Davis County at 106. The two were scoreless through the first two periods, and West chose down to start the third. But Nelson opted to let West up intentionally. Neither wrestler could gain advantage, and that handed West the narrow victory.West had drawn a bye in the first round and then pinned Nate Edmonds of Washington in just 45 seconds in the semifinals.Kaden Dietzenbach (42-1) won at 126 with a pin in 4:18 over previously unbeaten Derrick Bass of Davenport Assumption.He had drawn a bye and then won 17-1 in 2:10 over Robert Howes of Keokuk.Fenton (35-0) racked up a technical fall in the 152 title match with Jax Mosley of Centerville. He won 20-5 in 5:28. Fenton had drawn a bye in the first round and then needed a mere seven seconds to pin Gavin Kerr of Mount Pleasant.Walrath (52-0) won both his matches by fall at 182. After getting a bye, he pinned Ryan Messamaker of Centerville in 49 seconds and then pinned Chase Diaz of Assumption in 2:33.That was his 200th victory of his career.Cook (40-8) shut out Matt Genobama of Centerville 6-0 for a true second at 113.He pinned Landon Beckler of Mount Pleasant in the first round in 2:00. He then decisioned Sean Kersten of Assumption 12-7. But he lost to Cael McCabe of Fairfield 5-1 in the title match and had to wrestle back for third.Davis (47-2) suffered a stunning loss to Aaron Boone of Washington by fall at 120 in the finals. He came back and won a major 10-0 shutout over Rylee Moore of Keokuk to go to state.Davis drew a bye in the first round. He then won by tech fall, 19-4 in 5:08 over Drake Hamm of Mount Pleasant.Also for the Nikes:Lyblie Christofferson settled for third at 160 pounds. To start the day, he beat Luke Farley of Davis County by fall in 1:44 but lost to top-seeded Chase Greiner of Washington 9-0.Christofferson won in the first consolation match, pinning Kaleb Kreinbring of Davenport Assumption in 48 seconds. For third, he trailed early against Ethan Rose of Keokuk but caught him in a cradle for a fall in 3:20. But Greiner lost in the finals, and Christofferson was unable to wrestle back.At 132, Cole Mincer beat Ramzy Davis of Mount Pleasant but lost to top seed Cadyn Wild of Assumption in 54 seconds. He then pinned Bain Weeks of Centerville in 3:49, only to lose by fall in the third-place match. Davis County’s Deken Sorensen won by fall in 1:15.Blake Wilson suffered a close loss at 145 in the semifinals. He and Cason Miller of Fairfield were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation. After neither wrestler could get a takedown in the first OT, Wilson took down. Miller earned a two-point nearfall at the end of the first 30-second round. Miller went to the down position but escaped, sending Wilson to the consolations. But he ended up giving up a medical forfeit.Emry Watson didn’t place at 170. He pinned Christian Ossman-Faline of Mount Pleasant in 3:39. But he lost to Brian Snyder of Centerville in 1:44 and then lost in the consolation round.Kynnick Christofferson lost both his matches at 138. Youseff Rezbekallah lost twice at 220.The Nikes had no wrestlers at 195 and 285.Davenport Assumption won the team title with 189 ½. Following Notre Dame-West Burlington's 150 ½ was Fairfield's 120. Centerville was fourth at 106, Washington was next at 90, followed by Keokuk with 85, Davis County with 71, and Mount Pleasant with 34.

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