Sports, Saturday, May 29th

By Nathan Bloechl · Saturday, May 29th, 2021 at 9:44 am CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

Girls’ Soccer: Mount Pleasant Falls in Playoff Opener:

Burlington Notre Dame scored early and often, as the Nikes rolled to a surprising 8-0 victory over Southeast Conference champion Mount Pleasant yesterday in a Class 2A First Round matchup at East Lake Park.

The Nikes scored five times in the first half and added three more tallies in the second half to pull away for the win.

Amelia Schwenker led the way for Notre Dame registering five goals while Danville track star Addison Parrott had a goal and two assists.

Emma Pieper made 11 saves for the Panthers, who close their season 9-3 in Auybriana Johnson’s first year as head coach.

Notre Dame improved to 11-6, they’ll now take on Iowa City Liberty in the semifinals of Region 8.

They’ll play that game in Iowa City on Wednesday, June 2nd.

On the top of the bracket, Fort Madison advanced past Burlington. The Bloodhound girls’ will now scrap with top-seeded North Scott in the Quad Cities next week.

Boys’ Golf: Phillips Finishes Tied for 7th:

New London senior Clayton Phillips will end his prep career with a 7th place finish at the 2021 Iowa High School State Boys’ Golf Tournament.

Phillips finished his Day Two around with a 15-over 86 to end the tournament inside the top-10.

He did end the round with a birdie and also registered eight pars.

He ends tied with Kody Hoeger of Edgewood-Colesburg and Brett Klusman of Council Bluffs St. Albert at 22-over in the 36-hole weekend.

Lucas Gunderson of Harris-Lake Park shot a remarkable two-over 73 to bring home the gold.

He finished the tournament seven-over.

Prep Baseball Scoreboard (Friday):

It was a quiet night of prep baseball in the area after rain and cold temperatures washed away most area games.

Here’s the round up from last night:

  • Pekin 10, Winfield-Mount Union 0
  • Highland 15, Louisa-Muscatine 5
  • West Burlington 15, Wapello 5

Prep Softball Scoreboard (Friday):

Similar to baseball, it was a very quiet night of softball. Some area finals last night included:

  • Winfield-Mount Union 1, Pekin 0
  • West Burlington 5, Wapello 2
  • Holy Trinity 9, Danville 8

College Track and Field: Beatty Finishes Tied-13th:

Former Mount Pleasant track and field sensation Sam Beatty finished tied for 13th at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships yesterday in the men’s high jump.

Beatty hit the opening height of 1.92 meters but missed on all three attempts at 1.97m or 6 feet, 4 inches.

Winning the event was St. John Fisher senior Kyle Rollins, who cleared 6 feet, 9 inches and bowed out at just over 7 feet.

Beatty, just a freshman, competes now for Central College in Pella.

Iowa Department of Education awards over $1.6 million in therapeutic classroom grants to six school districts

By Theresa Rose · Friday, May 28th, 2021 at 2:17 pm CDT

DES MOINES — The Iowa Department of Education today awarded over $1.6 million in competitive grants to six school districts to establish therapeutic classrooms for learners whose social-emotional or behavioral needs impact their ability to be successful in their current learning environment.

“This grant supports school districts taking that next step to further support their students being healthy and productive in the classroom,” said Gov. Reynolds. “As we move past the COVID-19 pandemic, Iowa must continue to work collaboratively with schools, mental health regions, and our Area Education Agencies to support students and their whole health.”

“I am proud of the work our schools do every day to expand educational opportunities in new ways to meet the needs of all students,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Ann Lebo. “I commend these schools and their community partners on plans for building and strengthening a continuum of therapeutic supports for students.”

The six districts selected for a one-time Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant include:

  • Ames Community School District
  • Clinton Community School District
  • Eastern Allamakee Community School District
  • Hinton Community School District
  • Mount Pleasant Community School District
  • Washington Community School District

The Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant was established through state legislation signed into law last year and is part of a statewide effort to increase mental health supports for children, youth and families. Therapeutic supports include such things as social-emotional skill building, skills to cope with stress and trauma, mental health treatment and crisis intervention and follow-up.

In determining awards, equity across small, medium and large districts, distribution across Iowa’s Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) regions, the total number of students to be served and planned collaboration between districts, Area Education Agencies (AEAs) and community mental health providers were taken into consideration. Proposals submitted by the six awarded districts will serve nearly 150 pre-K-12 students and will expand mental health supports for youth across five of the state’s MHDS regions and six of the AEA regions.

Grants will be distributed no later than August 1, 2021, for district implementation during the 2021-2022 school year.

College Track and Field: Rich Named All-American

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, May 28th, 2021 at 12:42 pm CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Greensboro (NC) — Former Mount Pleasant track athlete Keegan Rich earned All-American status yesterday the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships.

Rich, now jumping for Nebraska Wesleyan, jumped 22 feet, 9 inches for seventh.

The winner was Brockport State senior Egypt Page who cannonballed a 24 foot, 4.25 inch leap.

Sam Beatty, another Panther alum, is scheduled to compete in the men’s high jump this weekend as well.

Beatty is a member of the Central Dutch track team.

Prep Baseball Scoreboard (Thursday)

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, May 28th, 2021 at 12:28 pm CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Mediapolis 12, Winfield-Union 2 

Mediapolis led 3-0 after two innings and never looked back as the Bulldogs rolled to a win over Winfield-Mount Union last night.

The Bulldogs added four runs in the 4th and five in the 5th as they pulled away for the run rule victory.

The win was Mediapolis’ 13th consecutive against Winfield-Mount Union, who have not beaten the Bulldogs since June 12th of 2012.

The win brought Mediapolis back to .500 at 1-1, while Winfield-Mount Union dropped to 0-3.

Prep Softball Scoreboard (Thursday)

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, May 28th, 2021 at 12:28 pm CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Winfield-Mount Union 14, Mediapolis 0

Jobey Malone had three hits and two runs scored as Winfield-Mount Union clubbed Mediapolis 14-0 in a Super Conference matchup yesterday.

Anna Anderson also had two hits and two runs batted in as Winfield jumped out a 10-0 lead after three innings.

Madie Anderson twirled a gem in the circle, pitching five innings allowing just one hit while striking out 12.

Winfield-Mount Union improved to 2-1.

Mediapolis fell to 0-3.

Girls’ Soccer: Panthers Open Postseason

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, May 28th, 2021 at 12:19 pm CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Mount Pleasant — The Mount Pleasant girls’ soccer team will open their 2021 postseason push tonight when they play host to the Nikes of Notre Dame at East Lake Park in a Class 2A, Region 8 first round tilt.

The Panthers enter the postseason as champions of the Southeast Conference after finishing the regular season 9-2.

Notre Dame enters 10-6.

This will be the team’s second meeting this year, with Notre Dame winning the first just 11 days ago 3-0.

Danville track star Addison Parrott is the top offensive threat for the Nikes with 13 goals on the year.

Ava Rashid has made 87 saves between the pipes for Notre Dame, as well.

Mount Pleasant is paced offensively by Andrea Lopreato’s 26 goals.

Elly Manning is second with 12 goals and eight assists.

Tonight’s game will begin at East Lake Park at 5:00 p.m.

Prep Baseball (Friday)

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, May 28th, 2021 at 12:18 pm CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

KILJ — It’s a busy night in the Super Conference, here’s a look at the baseball schedule this evening:

  • Central Lee at New London (FM 105.5)
  • Washington at Van Buren County
  • Columbus at Mediapolis
  • Cardinal at Notre Dame
  • Winfield-Mount Union at Pekin
  • Wapello at West Burlington

Central Lee-New London has been moved to a 6:00 p.m. start time from New London.

You can listen on FM 105.5.

The rest of the contests are slated for 7:00 p.m. starts.

Prep Softball (Friday)

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, May 28th, 2021 at 12:17 pm CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

KILJ — The softball schedule in the Super Conference is just as busy as baseball, here’s the full schedule:

  • Danville at Holy Trinity
  • Columbus at Mediapolis
  • Central Lee at New London
  • Winfield-Mount Union at Pekin
  • Wapello at West Burlington

All games, including Central Lee-New London, are scheduled for 7:00 p.m.