Prep Football: Striegel Not Focusing on Wins, Losses This Year

By Nathan Bloechl · Wednesday, August 25th, 2021 at 11:56 am CDT

(Photo Courtesy: Chad Drury / ottumwacourier.com)

Mount Pleasant — The Mount Pleasant football team is not putting pressure on wins and losses this year, per head coach Shawn Striegel.

Instead, the veteran head coach is aiming for creating a culture of togetherness.

The Panthers, who graduated several stalwarts from team’s of years past, will open the season Friday night at home against Fairfield with one goal in mind “play together.”

“If you put too much expectation on winning, I think that you fail. Even when you win you fail. My big focus is doing things together. It’s something that we started doing a while ago. Being a team, fighting for each other and being selfless, those are more important” Striegel told KILJ.

Striegel believes if his team can do that, they’ll be able to compete with anyone in a crowded — and new — 4A District.

They’ll turn the offensive keys over to incumbent senior Carson Coleman, who started one game last year at Fort Madison.

Coleman brings confidence, toughness and tenacity to the quarterback position.

“He believes in the team and he believes in the team more than himself and that works perfectly for his confidence. He demands that we all hold each other accountable and he’ll do the same for himself” said Striegel of Coleman.

Friday’s game will kick at 7:30 p.m., the Panther Tailgate Show will start at 7:00 p.m.

Mount Pleasant Schedule:

Friday, August 27th — Mount Pleasant vs. Fairfield (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, September 3rd — Mount Pleasant at Washington (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ

Friday, September 10th — Mount Pleasant vs. Keokuk (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, September 17th — Mount Pleasant at West Burlington Notre Dame (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, September 24th — Mount Pleasant vs. Fort Madison (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, October 1st — Mount Pleasant at Iowa City Liberty (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, October 8th — Mount Pleasant at Burlington (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, October 15th — Mount Pleasant vs. Clinton (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, October 22nd — Mount Pleasant vs. North Scott (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Sports, Wednesday, August 25th

By Nathan Bloechl · Wednesday, August 25th, 2021 at 11:27 am CDT

College Football: Daniels, Wesleyan “Right on Track”: 

As M.D. Daniels enters his first full season with Iowa Wesleyan, he believes the program he took over two years ago is “right on track.”

The Tigers take the field for the first fall season under Daniels on Saturday against St. Ambrose and Daniels says the plan has worked out in terms of the benchmarks he set forth two years ago.

“Our plan, I really believe we are right on track. We are hitting all the numbers. Academically, our team GPA is right there, numbers and retaining players and all of those things are going phenomenally.” 

Still, coming into this year, expectations, Daniels says, are higher.

The Tigers brought in a handful of talented freshman and sought out experience on the transfer market which he believes will help Wesleyan compete on Saturday’s.

“Our schedule, it’s tough. Hopefully it will get us ready for our first year in the North Star.” 

Wesleyan’s game can be heard on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.

Kickoff Saturday is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

Prep Football: Striegel Not Focusing on Wins, Losses This Year:

The Mount Pleasant football team is not putting pressure on wins and losses this year, per head coach Shawn Striegel.

Instead, the veteran head coach is aiming for creating a culture of togetherness.

The Panthers, who graduated several stalwarts from team’s of years past, will open the season Friday night at home against Fairfield with one goal in mind “play together.”

“If you put too much expectation on winning, I think that you fail. Even when you win you fail. My big focus is doing things together. It’s something that we started doing a while ago. Being a team, fighting for each other and being selfless, those are more important” Striegel told KILJ.

Striegel believes if his team can do that, they’ll be able to compete with anyone in a crowded — and new — 4A District.

They’ll turn the offensive keys over to incumbent senior Carson Coleman, who started one game last year at Fort Madison.

Coleman brings confidence, toughness and tenacity to the quarterback position.

“He believes in the team and he believes in the team more than himself and that works perfectly for his confidence. He demands that we all hold each other accountable and he’ll do the same for himself” said Striegel of Coleman.

Friday’s game will kick at 7:30 p.m., the Panther Tailgate Show will start at 7:00 p.m.

Mount Pleasant Schedule:

Friday, August 27th — Mount Pleasant vs. Fairfield (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, September 3rd — Mount Pleasant at Washington (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ

Friday, September 10th — Mount Pleasant vs. Keokuk (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, September 17th — Mount Pleasant at West Burlington Notre Dame (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, September 24th — Mount Pleasant vs. Fort Madison (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, October 1st — Mount Pleasant at Iowa City Liberty (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, October 8th — Mount Pleasant at Burlington (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, October 15th — Mount Pleasant vs. Clinton (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

Friday, October 22nd — Mount Pleasant vs. North Scott (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ 

College XC: Wesleyan Picked Third, Fourth Respectively:

The Iowa Wesleyan Tiger men’s and women’s cross country teams have been picked to finish third and fourth in their respective leagues this year.

Both clubs will compete in the Continental Athletic Conference under head coach Hunter Davis.

Florida College was given the top spot in both the men’s and women’s rankings.

Iowa Wesleyan will open up their 2021 season at the Luther All-American Invitational, hosted by Luther College.

The men’s race will begin at noon, while the women will race at 11:30, in Decorah, Iowa.

College Sports: Big Ten, PAC-12, ACC Agree on Alliance:

In news that will surely rock the college sports landscape, the Big Ten announced an alliance yesterday with the ACC and PAC-12.

All 41 institutions between the three leagues agreed in unanimous decision.

The alliance formed will mean the three conferences will be committed to a “collaborative approach surrounding the future evolution of college athletics and scheduling.”

Janey May Rice

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, August 25th, 2021 at 11:05 am CDT

Janey May Rice, 80, of Danville, died Tuesday, August24 at Parkview Care Center in Fairfield. Arrangements are pending at Elliott Chapel, New London.

Don L. Helphrey

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, August 25th, 2021 at 11:05 am CDT

Don L. Helphrey, 92, of Mt. Pleasant and formerly of Mt. Union, died Tuesday, August 24 at Danville Care Center.  Arrangements are pending at Elliott Chapel, New London.

Burlington House Fire Proves Fatal

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, August 25th, 2021 at 11:04 am CDT

At 7:02 AM Tuesday August 24, 2021 the Burlington Fire and Police Departments responded to
a reported house fire at 1126 Washington Street in Burlington. Firefighters arrived at 7:04 AM
to find a two-story apartment house with heavy fire showing in the front. Initial 911 calls to
DESCOM reported people trapped inside the house. Dispatchers worked with the callers to
obtain information on their locations as police officers and firefighters worked outside to
evacuate the house and bring the fire under control.
The 4-unit apartment house, owned by Wilson Rentals of Burlington, sustained extensive
damage and is considered a total loss. The property is insured. Three of the four units were
occupied with a total of 4 occupants. Two of the occupants were injured. They were treated at
the scene and transported to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington. A
third occupant escaped uninjured and left the scene prior to police arrival. The two occupants
were treated and released from the hospital.
Firefighters conducted a search of the building and located a fourth occupant, Samantha M.
Hoenig, 44. Ms. Hoenig was removed from the house by firefighters. Paramedics treated Ms.
Hoenig at the scene and transported her to SEIRMC where she later died of her injuries.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Burlington Police and Fire Departments
and the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office. It is not considered suspicious at this time.
Eleven Burlington firefighters initially responded to the call and were assisted by five West
Burlington firefighters responding on automatic aid. Burlington police officers and deputies
from Des Moines County Sheriff’s office assisted with injured victims and fireground
operations. Superior Ambulance, Alliant Energy, and 1-800-Board-Up provided vital assistance
at the scene. One firefighter was injured and was being treated at the hospital

Supervisors Disburse Funds to Two Broadband Companies

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, August 24th, 2021 at 9:41 pm CDT

During their Tuesday meeting the Henry County Supervisors voted to share federal funds with two local fiber optic companies.  Farmers and Merchants Mutual Telephone of Wayland and Danville Mutual Telephone each will receive $700,000.  Henry County is a primary recipient of American Recovery Plan funds to assist with recovery from the impact of COVID-19, receiving over three million dollars.  Last week the Board disbursed $250,000 each to the New London and Mount Pleasant Community Childcare Centers.

College Football: Daniels, Tigers Ready to Prove Doubters Wrong

By Nathan Bloechl · Tuesday, August 24th, 2021 at 4:26 pm CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Mount Pleasant — In their first year back in NAIA, the Iowa Wesleyan football team is seemed to be slept on.

The Tigers, who return 10 starters from their 1-2 spring campaign, were picked to finish last in the seven-team North Star Athletic Association preseason poll.

That’s not stopping second-year head coach M.D. Daniels and his Tigers from heading into Saturday’s season opening matchup against St. Ambrose with confidence.

Matter of fact, it seems like quite the opposite.

The Tigers are ready to prove the doubters wrong.

“I know for our players, that’s bulletin board material” Daniels told KILJ.

For him and his talented staff, they’re just trusting the process and the vision he’s laid out for the program.

“If we do everything — the little things right — the outcome and the scoreboard will work itself out. We continue to preach on that.” Daniels explained.

This will be his first full year at the helm of the Tigers after last fall’s season was wiped out due to COVID.

He believes that his program is in a great spot heading into the 2021 season.

“Our plan, I really believe we are right on track. We are hitting all the numbers. Academically, our team GPA is right there, numbers and retaining players and all of those things are going phenomenally.” 

Still, coming into this year, expectations, Daniels says, are higher.

The Tigers brought in a handful of talented freshman and sought out experience on the transfer market which he believes will help Wesleyan compete on Saturday’s.

“Our schedule, it’s tough. Hopefully it will get us ready for our first year in the North Star.” 

Daniels knows a lot of the Tigers success will depend on the continued improvement of offensive coordinator Kiefer Price’s Air Raid scheme that was made famous by Wesleyan legends Hal Mumme and Mike Leach.

Wesleyan put on an aerial display in the spring, and Daniels believes the sky is — literally — the limit for Price and the offense under second-year signal caller Gavin Esquivel.

“It’s a lot smoother, Gavin is back — he’s looking super sharp. That’s huge for our offense. The guys we’ve brought in have clicked, so the verbiage and all the things that are hard to pick up for younger players to get has been kind of easy. We can be really explosive with the backs and receivers have” Daniels mentioned.

Furthermore, he knows the community of Mount Pleasant and the college itself is ready for a winner. He relishes those expectations.

He’s excited to put a product on display that he feels the community and the university alike can be proud of — and he’s thankful for those that have helped rally the program in the few short years he’s been the head man.

“It’s super important — I know that the administration is behind us. I know the community wants to support us. We’ve put in a new locker room and they helped us with some [facility] improvements. They’re behind us.” 

“We want to be the focal point.”

“Now we just need to win games.”

They’ll have their first chance Saturday.

You can listen to that game on KILJ-FM 105.5 and kilj.com.

Iowa Wesleyan Schedule:

August 28th — at Saint Ambrose (1:00 p.m.) KILJ 

September 4th — vs. Missouri Baptist (3:00 p.m.)

September 11th — at Quincy University (1:00 p.m.)

September 18th — vs. Trinity International (1:00 p.m.) KILJ 

September 25th — vs. Valley City State University (1:00 p.m.)

October 2nd — vs. Crown College (1:00 p.m.) KILJ 

October 16th — at Dickinson State University (1:00 p.m.)

October 23rd — at Dakota State (1:00 p.m.)

October 30th — vs. Presentation College (2:00 p.m.)

November 6th — vs. Waldorf University (2:00 p.m.)

November 13th — at Mayville State University (1:00 p.m.)

Truck vs Scooter

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, August 24th, 2021 at 2:39 pm CDT

Preliminary reports indicate there was a collision in front of the Mount Pleasant High School involving a truck and a scooter.  The incident occurred just after 7 am Tuesday.  No other details are available at this time other than there were possible minor injuries and the ambulance was dispatched.