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Election Information for Nov. 3 General Election

John Flaherty was a high school freshman football player in Wheaton, Ill., when he went to his first Fellowship of Christian Athletes Huddle.

Later, he and some college football teammates started a Huddle at Luther College in Decorah.

But it wasn’t until 2008, after he had been teaching and coaching at Burlington High School for 18 years, that Flaherty revived the school’s Huddle and became active as a volunteer with the international organization.

He first started with a pregame chapel at The Rock House.

For the next few years, “It was pretty slim pickings,” Flaherty said.

But in 2012, he moved the Huddles to the school and met before the day’s classes started.

The grandchildren of the late Tom Elmore, a longtime coach and athletic director at BHS, wanted to get involved.

Elmore’s wife, Geri, made cookies for the group. “If you’ve ever had a Grandma Geri cookie, you know what I’m talking about,” Flaherty said.

Five years ago, he retired from teaching and coaching, and now he’s an area representative, helping guide adult volunteer leaders in Huddles throughout nine southeast Iowa counties.

FCA was founded in 1954 and serves high schools and colleges, usually meeting at the school to talk about faith and Christianity and how it relates to a student’s athletic endeavors. But you don’t have to be an athlete or even a Christian to take part, and there are no memberships. “You just show up,” Flaherty said.

Flaherty wasn’t even a Christian when he went to his first Huddle at the home of a high school football coach.

He went because his older brother, David, had gone to an FCA camp in Colorado. “He loved it,” Flaherty said.

At the coach’s meeting, “He brought out the Bible, and asked, ‘What do you guys want to talk about?’”

“I grew up in an American Christian family,” Flaherty said. “We went to church, got involved in all the offices; we did all those things. But after church, we pretty much did whatever we wanted to.”

In junior high school, “I had a friend who started talking about a relationship with Jesus,” Flaherty said, “that God is who He says He is. He’s a real being, and He wants to have a real relationship with us.

“It took about three years, but in the middle of my freshman year, I just felt God calling me to say, ‘ This is the time.

“On Jan. 13, 1977, I surrendered my life to Christ.”

Flaherty helped start a Huddle at Luther College, and then it was back to the Chicago area to teach.

There, Flaherty met his future wife, Kelly, who moved to Wheaton, where her parents were living at the time.

They both taught special education classes in the suburbs for the first three years of their marriage.

“She hated Chicago,” Flaherty said. He wasn’t keen on moving to southeast Iowa, but in 1990, they packed up and moved to Burlington.

Flaherty started his teaching career with higher-functioning special needs students.

Mike Richart, the wrestling coach at the time, invited him to an FCA Huddle at The Rock House. But the Huddle folded a year later.

Children came along, and Flaherty got busy raising a family of five children.

Flaherty, who had been an assistant coach for many years, was chosen for the head coaching job in 2005.

The Grayhounds went 0-9 in their first season.

“I go, ‘What am I missing?’ I was missing the one component that had been a part of my life ever since (he became a Christian),” Flaherty said.

So he started a pre-game chapel, but only his sons, Jack and Joe, and Ben Cleveland showed up.

Soon, his daughter, Keegan, asked him, “What about the girls? Girls don’t get anything.”

That’s what prompted the official formation of an FCA Huddle.

When COVID restrictions on gatherings were lifted six years ago, “We filled up camp within two weeks of opening registration,” Flaherty said. “Kids were craving to make connections.”

They were also craving a spiritual connection, he said.

“Kids, as much as I like to say they’re not smart, they’re a lot smarter than you think,” Flaherty said. “They’re just craving so many answers.”

For the older generation, “We chased things earlier in life, because we didn’t have the technology,” he said. “They have the technology,so they get exposed to that earlier, and it seems like by the time they get to middle school, they’re like, ‘This is not what I thought it was going to be.’

“There’s a bigger desire earlier for spiritual knowledge and truth,” Flaherty said.

Longtime KWQC sportscaster Dan Pearson, from the Quad Cities, had left his TV career and got involved with FCA through his region.

“He came down to some pre-season stuff and interviews, and he goes, ‘You know what? You would be a natural,” Flaherty said of the idea of the leader of the Huddle becoming an area representative.

But Flaherty told Pearson that he loved teaching and coaching too much to get involved at a higher level.

In 2014, when Flaherty stepped down from high school coaching, “He kind of came at me a little harder. ‘This would be a great thing for you to do,” Flaherty said of the exchange.

But Flaherty had switched to coaching middle school football.

Finally, in 2021, Flaherty took the plunge. He retired from teaching and decided, “Let’s go for it.”

Flaherty said there are 800 students, and about 25 percent show up weekly. At the different schools around here, about 10-50 students show up each week.

There are FCA Huddles in every school in the area, except for New London and Holy Trinity Catholic. Flaherty said New London is trying to recruit adult volunteers, and he hasn’t connected with Holy Trinity yet.

Because it’s a faith-based organization, “I have to raise my funds for the things we do and spend money on.

“God’s been really good to show me just to be faithful to share the story of what’s going on with FCA, and we’ll find financial partners.

“It just happened two weeks ago. A church called and said, ‘We want to go ahead and be a financial partner with you.”

From a personnel perspective, “We just need people who would be willing to take over their school and be a Huddle coach,” Flaherty said. “My job as a rep is to walk with them and to help them prepare. Then to cut them loose like Jesus did with his disciples.”

By Chris FaulknerBeacon/DMC NewsJohn Flaherty was a high school freshman football player in Wheaton, Ill., when he went to his first Fellowship of Christian Athletes Huddle.Later, he and some college football teammates started a Huddle at Luther College in Decorah.But it wasn’t until 2008, after he had been teaching and coaching at Burlington High School for 18 years, that Flaherty revived the school’s Huddle and became active as a volunteer with the international organization.He first started with a pregame chapel at The Rock House.For the next few years, “It was pretty slim pickings,” Flaherty said.But in 2012, he moved the Huddles to the school and met before the day’s classes started.The grandchildren of the late Tom Elmore, a longtime coach and athletic director at BHS, wanted to get involved.Elmore’s wife, Geri, made cookies for the group. “If you’ve ever had a Grandma Geri cookie, you know what I’m talking about,” Flaherty said.“We just have grown from there.”Five years ago, he retired from teaching and coaching, and now he’s an area representative, helping guide adult volunteer leaders in Huddles throughout nine southeast Iowa counties.FCA was founded in 1954 and serves high schools and colleges, usually meeting at the school to talk about faith and Christianity and how it relates to a student’s athletic endeavors. But you don’t have to be an athlete or even a Christian to take part, and there are no memberships. “You just show up,” Flaherty said.How it StartedFlaherty wasn’t even a Christian when he went to his first Huddle at the home of a high school football coach.He went because his older brother, David, had gone to an FCA camp in Colorado. “He loved it,” Flaherty said.At the coach’s meeting, “He brought out the Bible, and asked, ‘What do you guys want to talk about?’”“I had no clue,” he said.“I grew up in an American Christian family,” Flaherty said. “We went to church, got involved in all the offices; we did all those things. But after church, we pretty much did whatever we wanted to.”In junior high school, “I had a friend who started talking about a relationship with Jesus,” Flaherty said, “that God is who He says He is. He’s a real being, and He wants to have a real relationship with us.“It took about three years, but in the middle of my freshman year, I just felt God calling me to say, ‘ This is the time.“On Jan. 13, 1977, I surrendered my life to Christ.”Flaherty helped start a Huddle at Luther College, and then it was back to the Chicago area to teach.Burlington wins over Chicago.There, Flaherty met his future wife, Kelly, who moved to Wheaton, where her parents were living at the time.They both taught special education classes in the suburbs for the first three years of their marriage.But Kelly was originally from Winfield.“She hated Chicago,” Flaherty said. He wasn’t keen on moving to southeast Iowa, but in 1990, they packed up and moved to Burlington.Flaherty started his teaching career with higher-functioning special needs students.Mike Richart, the wrestling coach at the time, invited him to an FCA Huddle at The Rock House. But the Huddle folded a year later.Children came along, and Flaherty got busy raising a family of five children.Flaherty, who had been an assistant coach for many years, was chosen for the head coaching job in 2005.The Grayhounds went 0-9 in their first season.“I go, ‘What am I missing?’ I was missing the one component that had been a part of my life ever since (he became a Christian),” Flaherty said.So he started a pre-game chapel, but only his sons, Jack and Joe, and Ben Cleveland showed up.Soon, his daughter, Keegan, asked him, “What about the girls? Girls don’t get anything.”That’s what prompted the official formation of an FCA Huddle.When COVID restrictions on gatherings were lifted six years ago, “We filled up camp within two weeks of opening registration,” Flaherty said. “Kids were craving to make connections.”They were also craving a spiritual connection, he said.“Kids, as much as I like to say they’re not smart, they’re a lot smarter than you think,” Flaherty said. “They’re just craving so many answers.”For the older generation, “We chased things earlier in life, because we didn’t have the technology,” he said. “They have the technology,so they get exposed to that earlier, and it seems like by the time they get to middle school, they’re like, ‘This is not what I thought it was going to be.’“There’s a bigger desire earlier for spiritual knowledge and truth,” Flaherty said.The Next StepLongtime KWQC sportscaster Dan Pearson, from the Quad Cities, had left his TV career and got involved with FCA through his region.“He came down to some pre-season stuff and interviews, and he goes, ‘You know what? You would be a natural,” Flaherty said of the idea of the leader of the Huddle becoming an area representative.But Flaherty told Pearson that he loved teaching and coaching too much to get involved at a higher level.In 2014, when Flaherty stepped down from high school coaching, “He kind of came at me a little harder. ‘This would be a great thing for you to do,” Flaherty said of the exchange.But Flaherty had switched to coaching middle school football.Finally, in 2021, Flaherty took the plunge. He retired from teaching and decided, “Let’s go for it.”Flaherty said there are 800 students, and about 25 percent show up weekly. At the different schools around here, about 10-50 students show up each week.There are FCA Huddles in every school in the area, except for New London and Holy Trinity Catholic. Flaherty said New London is trying to recruit adult volunteers, and he hasn’t connected with Holy Trinity yet.Needs to Raise FundsBecause it’s a faith-based organization, “I have to raise my funds for the things we do and spend money on.“God’s been really good to show me just to be faithful to share the story of what’s going on with FCA, and we’ll find financial partners.“It just happened two weeks ago. A church called and said, ‘We want to go ahead and be a financial partner with you.”From a personnel perspective, “We just need people who would be willing to take over their school and be a Huddle coach,” Flaherty said. “My job as a rep is to walk with them and to help them prepare. Then to cut them loose like Jesus did with his disciples.”

52 Faces: Huddle up

Mediapolis and Danville's boys golf teams advanced to the district level of post-season play in their respective classes at sectional meets on Wednesday.

With the top three teams advancing, Mediapolis tied for second with Central Lee in a Class 2A sectional at Tipton, and Danville took third in a 1A sectional at Winfield's Twin Lakes course.

Sam Yonker of Notre Dame-West Burlington advanced to a Class 2A district by finishing as the second-best golfer at Bloomfield, among those not qualifying with their teams.

Mediapolis will host Monday's district meet at the Bulldogs' Heritage Golf Course.

The Bulldogs and Hawks shot 318s and finished behind sectional champion Tipton with a 305.

Max Griffin finished third on Wednesday with a 3-over-par 75. Gannon Gunn was fifth with a 77. Kohen Stotlar and Ephraim Hallgren rounded out the scoring with 83s.

William Worrall added an 84, and Brock Spears added an 86.

Younker shot a 10-over-par 80 at the Bloomfield Country Club.

The Nikes as a team came in seventh with a 364. Hudson Neally shot a 93, Kale Eggar a 95, and Ari Jannings had a 96.

Kohen Dietzenbach added a 97, and Kael Cook shot a 99.

ND-WB coach John Neil said Yonker started off well with a 38 on the front nine.

“He struggled a little more on the back,” Neil said. “After the round, I could see his emotions start to build, and I had to calm him down.” He said Yonker was concerned if he shot well enough to qualify.

“Once they called his name, we all went crazy,” Neil said. “I'm so excited for him. He has put in a ton of work this year, not only with his ball striking but the mental side of the game as well.”

Yonker said, “The course was playing really tough today with the wind and the fast greens, and I sort of limited the damage throughout the day, which was good enough for a spot in districts.”

Danville was just strokes behind runner-up WACO, 366-368. Host Winfield-Mount Union won with a 321.

Alex Holtkamp led Danville with an 87, Mattix Furnald shot a 93, and Graylon Walker and Connor Hulett carded 94s.

Gresham Walker added a 96, and Grant Langan shot a 112.

The Class 1A district for the Bears and Wolves is at Oskaloosa's golf course on Monday, May 18. 

By Chris FaulknerBeacon SportsMediapolis and Danville's boys golf teams advanced to the district level of post-season play in their respective classes at sectional meets on Wednesday.With the top three teams advancing, Mediapolis tied for second with Central Lee in a Class 2A sectional at Tipton, and Danville took third in a 1A sectional at Winfield's Twin Lakes course.Sam Yonker of Notre Dame-West Burlington advanced to a Class 2A district by finishing as the second-best golfer at Bloomfield, among those not qualifying with their teams.Class 2AMediapolis will host Monday's district meet at the Bulldogs' Heritage Golf Course.The Bulldogs and Hawks shot 318s and finished behind sectional champion Tipton with a 305.Max Griffin finished third on Wednesday with a 3-over-par 75. Gannon Gunn was fifth with a 77. Kohen Stotlar and Ephraim Hallgren rounded out the scoring with 83s.William Worrall added an 84, and Brock Spears added an 86.Younker shot a 10-over-par 80 at the Bloomfield Country Club.The Nikes as a team came in seventh with a 364. Hudson Neally shot a 93, Kale Eggar a 95, and Ari Jannings had a 96.Kohen Dietzenbach added a 97, and Kael Cook shot a 99.ND-WB coach John Neil said Yonker started off well with a 38 on the front nine.“He struggled a little more on the back,” Neil said. “After the round, I could see his emotions start to build, and I had to calm him down.” He said Yonker was concerned if he shot well enough to qualify.“Once they called his name, we all went crazy,” Neil said. “I'm so excited for him. He has put in a ton of work this year, not only with his ball striking but the mental side of the game as well.”Yonker said, “The course was playing really tough today with the wind and the fast greens, and I sort of limited the damage throughout the day, which was good enough for a spot in districts.”Class 1ADanville was just strokes behind runner-up WACO, 366-368. Host Winfield-Mount Union won with a 321.Alex Holtkamp led Danville with an 87, Mattix Furnald shot a 93, and Graylon Walker and Connor Hulett carded 94s.Gresham Walker added a 96, and Grant Langan shot a 112.The Class 1A district for the Bears and Wolves is at Oskaloosa's golf course on Monday, May 18.

rea golfers advance to next round of play

Southeastern Community College freshman Carter Ball plans to become a wrestling coach in the future, and he’s already got one admirer calling him “Coach.”

Ball is a 2025 graduate of Wapello High School who posted a 34-8 record in wrestling his senior year. He is currently a member of the first-ever wrestling team at SCC.

&nbsp;His goal with the SCC program is to “get better and learn a lot,” he said. “I want to go back to coaching someday, so I want to learn more every day so I can give back to the kids when I’m coaching them.”

He started his first collegiate season at 1-6, so “it’s not been great,” SCC head coach Gary Woods II said. “But we’ve been wrestling a lot better every match. He’s going to put it together. I’m excited he’s going to help us get some southeastern Iowa (wrestlers) to come in and build this thing. I call him Coach Ball all the time because he knows what he’s doing. It’s just that he hasn’t put it together on the mat yet.

“He’s not been the success he should have been, in my opinion,” Woods said, “but he’s wrestled some hammers. He’s not had the greatest draws at these open (tournaments), but that’s okay as long as he keeps his head on straight. He’s going to be where we need him to be towards the end. He’s a lot of fun to watch.

&nbsp;“He means the world to this team,” Woods said. “I’ve already offered him a scholarship for next year. The wins and losses, I don’t care about so much. It’s about progress and improvement. Since he decided to join Southeastern Community College, he’s really put in the hard work. He’s been going to some of the clubs around here. He puts in some extra practice at other places. He’s putting in the practice time here.”

In any sport, there are major adjustments to go from high school competition to collegiate competition.&nbsp;

For Ball, the biggest adjustment is “definitely the hand-fighting,” he said. “Between high school and college, the hand-fighting gets a lot tougher. Setting up your shots is a whole different deal between the two. (College wrestlers) are much quicker. You don’t find many people you can go out and hook anymore.”

He’s wrestling at a heavier weight than he did at Wapello, but there’s an advantage to that.

&nbsp;“I went up from 165 in high school,” he said. He’s at 184 at SCC. “So I don’t have to cut as much weight as I did then. So I feel better. I can focus on getting better every day instead of cutting weight. That’s on the plus side.”

“I played basketball when I was really little for a couple of years,” he said.&nbsp;

“Then I switched over and never looked back.”

&nbsp;He started wrestling at age 14. “There’s a good youth program in Wapello, called the Tomahawk Wrestling Club,” he said. “It’s a great program for young kids, junior high kids. It’s growing. I’m happy to see it.”

An auto mechanics major, Ball is undecided if he’ll pursue wrestling later on at a four-year school.&nbsp;

“We’ll see how these couple of years go and go from there,” he said.

By Joe GerenWMS SportsSoutheastern Community College freshman Carter Ball plans to become a wrestling coach in the future, and he’s already got one admirer calling him “Coach.”Ball is a 2025 graduate of Wapello High School who posted a 34-8 record in wrestling his senior year. He is currently a member of the first-ever wrestling team at SCC.&nbsp;His goal with the SCC program is to “get better and learn a lot,” he said. “I want to go back to coaching someday, so I want to learn more every day so I can give back to the kids when I’m coaching them.”He started his first collegiate season at 1-6, so “it’s not been great,” SCC head coach Gary Woods II said. “But we’ve been wrestling a lot better every match. He’s going to put it together. I’m excited he’s going to help us get some southeastern Iowa (wrestlers) to come in and build this thing. I call him Coach Ball all the time because he knows what he’s doing. It’s just that he hasn’t put it together on the mat yet.“He’s not been the success he should have been, in my opinion,” Woods said, “but he’s wrestled some hammers. He’s not had the greatest draws at these open (tournaments), but that’s okay as long as he keeps his head on straight. He’s going to be where we need him to be towards the end. He’s a lot of fun to watch.&nbsp;“He means the world to this team,” Woods said. “I’ve already offered him a scholarship for next year. The wins and losses, I don’t care about so much. It’s about progress and improvement. Since he decided to join Southeastern Community College, he’s really put in the hard work. He’s been going to some of the clubs around here. He puts in some extra practice at other places. He’s putting in the practice time here.”In any sport, there are major adjustments to go from high school competition to collegiate competition.&nbsp;For Ball, the biggest adjustment is “definitely the hand-fighting,” he said. “Between high school and college, the hand-fighting gets a lot tougher. Setting up your shots is a whole different deal between the two. (College wrestlers) are much quicker. You don’t find many people you can go out and hook anymore.”He’s wrestling at a heavier weight than he did at Wapello, but there’s an advantage to that.&nbsp;“I went up from 165 in high school,” he said. He’s at 184 at SCC. “So I don’t have to cut as much weight as I did then. So I feel better. I can focus on getting better every day instead of cutting weight. That’s on the plus side.”Ball wasn’t always a wrestler.“I played basketball when I was really little for a couple of years,” he said.&nbsp;“Then I switched over and never looked back.”&nbsp;He started wrestling at age 14. “There’s a good youth program in Wapello, called the Tomahawk Wrestling Club,” he said. “It’s a great program for young kids, junior high kids. It’s growing. I’m happy to see it.”An auto mechanics major, Ball is undecided if he’ll pursue wrestling later on at a four-year school.&nbsp;“We’ll see how these couple of years go and go from there,” he said.

Grit Over Glory 

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>
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 <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>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/10/1730041771982.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>

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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 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </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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