Historic Season for Tiger Basketball

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, March 9th, 2023 at 1:35 pm CDT

Mt. Pleasant, IA- The season might be over for both Iowa Wesleyean men’s and women’s basketball teams but what a year it has been for both teams as Head Coach for the women’s team, Steve Williamson, broke Olan Ruble’s win total midway through the season and first year Head Coach for the men’s team, Jordan Ashton, led the Tigers to their first top-25 ranking since the 2010-2011 season. Here is a look at the high points for the season.

In November, the men’s team were starting to hit their stride having won 7 games in a row before running into the #13 William Penn Statesmen at Ruble Arena. Despite the ostensible mismatch, the Tigers went on a 13 to 0 run in the second half to take a commanding lead. The Statesmen would cut it close but be unable to recover as Iowa Wesleyan pulled off the upset 85-81 to extend their win streak to 8 games.

On the women’s side of things, Isabell West, a transfer from Murray State, was named Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after her phenomenal performance against College of the Ozarks in a 68-65 thriller in December. In this back-and-forth contest at Ruble Arena, West would put up 35 points in the contest and pull down 12 rebounds in the winning effort. Her 35-point performance was 4 points short of Brittany West’s record, her sister, set a season ago in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament.

Fast forwarding to January, Head Coach Steve Williamson finally broke Olan Ruble’s career victory mark at 275 games after defeating Crowley’s Ridge College 68-37. The win was also Williamson’s 353rd career win as this is his second stint with the Tigers and in his first year he claimed the CAC championship and CAC Coach of the Year.

On the men’s side of things, the Tigers found themselves ranked #25 in the midst of a 15-game winning streak and being led by Henry Shannon who was averaging 13.5 points per game. This was the first time the Tigers had been ranked since the 2010-2011 season. They would improve to #23 by the end of the month as they had improved their win streak to 18 games and a 19-1 record on the season. The Tigers would win two more games to bring the program’s longest winning streak to 20 games.

In February, Isabell West was again named CAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week as she was helping the team ride an 11-game winning streak to the end of the season. In her two games that week against Crowley’s Ridge College and Northern New Mexico College she tallied 41 points and 19 rebounds as well as shooting 9 of 10 from the free throw line against Northern New Mexico College. Later in the month, Kyla Moore would take home her own CAC Player of the Week as shed averaged 25 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3 assists over her two games against Baptist Bible College and Trinity Christian College. Moore was also 18-20 from the free throw line over the two-game span. The Tigers would then capture the 1 seed for the CAC tournament as they were looking to repeat as champions. They would succeed in that mission as they came back from behind against Haskell Indian Nations to take it 64-59. West secured a double-double with 25 points and 14 rebounds in the win.

In terms of conference awards, Kyla Moore captured 1st Team All-Conference. Breanna Wendland took home 2nd Team All-Conference. Brielle Baker was recognized as the Champion of Character. Steve Williamson was named CAC Coach of the Year for the 2nd year in a row. Lastly, Isabell West took home three awards in 1st Team All-Conference, Newcomer of the Year, and Player of the Year as she averaged 18.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.

The men’s team entered the CAC tournament as the #2 seed and almost on the wrong end of an upset in the opening round against Haskell Indian Nations. Nevertheless, Henry Shannon would tip the ball in at the buzzer to end up taking the game 67-65. After skating past Washington Adventist University, the Tigers would be matched up against the team that ended their win streak, the Florida College Falcons. This rematch would go the Tigers way 70-66 as Joey Brown IV splashed 5 three-points in the contest to end the game with 19 points. Gacoby Jones was named CAC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament with Joey Brown IV, Henry Shannon, and Hakeem Odunsi were named to the CAC All-Tournament team. This was men’s first time winning the conference championship since 2011.

In terms of conference awards, Henry Shannon was named 1st Team All-Conference as he averaged 13.1 points per game and 1.5 blocks per game as a freshman. Gacoby Jones earned honorable mention All-Conference honors along with Joey Brown IV. Jones averaged 11.7 points per game and Brown averaged 10.3 points per game. Additionally, in his first year at the helm, Jordan Ashton took home CAC Coach of the Year as he led the team to a 24-2 regular season record and a #23 ranking after the program finished 12-19 last season.

The women’s team would claim the 15th seed in the NAIA National Tournament and finish the season with a 23-7 record. The men’s team would earn the 7th seed in the NAIA National Tournament and finish the season with a 27-3 record.

Sports, March 9th

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, March 9th, 2023 at 6:37 am CDT

High School Basketball

The Class 1A state championship is set for Friday with Grand View Christian, looking for their 4th state championship, going against North Linn, the defending champions, at 1 pm.

Central Lyon will take on Pella Christian today in the Class 2A semifinal with the winner taking on the winner between Roland-Story and Western Christian on Friday at 3 pm.

Bondurant-Farrar, who is coached by Travis Evans, an Iowa Wesleyan graduate and grandson of Mt. Pleasant coach Bob Evans, is looking to continue the undefeated season against North Polk in the semifinal round for Class 3A, while Xavier will be facing off against Bishop Heelan. The championship game will take place tomorrow at 5 pm.

Class 4A had the biggest upset of the tournament as the 8th seed Pleasant Valley took down the #1 Cedar Rapids Kennedy 57-45 to face off against Valley in the semifinal today. Waukee will take on Waukee Northwest tonight. The championship game will be tomorrow at 7 pm.

High School Track and Field

The girls’ will be participating in the IATC Indoor Championships today and the boys’ will be competing tomorrow.

Youth Basketball

March Madness 5 on 5 Basketball Tournament held at Iowa Wesleyan University for 5th – 8th grade girls and boys will take place on March 18th and 19th. Please contact Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jordan Ashton for more details at 319-385-6307 or visit www.infosports.com.

Iowa Wesleyan Athletics

The women’s basketball team’s season ended with a 23-7 record and as Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) champions. Head Coach Steve Williamson talked about how proud he was of his team. The men’s basketball team finished the year 27-3 and as CAC champions.

The women’s wrestling team will be competing in the 2023 NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championship which will take place tomorrow, March 10th. Head Coach Jake Kadel talked about his eleven wrestlers that will be competing at the meet.

The Tiger baseball team faced off against the University of South Carolina Beaufort yesterday and fell 18-3. The Sand Sharks scored quickly and often as they put up 10 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning. Julian Figueroa continued his excellent two game stretch as he has gone 6 for 8 with 5 RBIs over the past two games including a home run and a double. Riley Rankin and Sage Bonner added an RBI apiece in the contest. The Tigers will take on Fisher College tomorrow at 2 pm.

The Tiger softball team will take on Suffolk University today.

Head Coach for the Track and Field teams for Iowa Wesleyan, Hunter Davis, will be joining us on Tiger Nation this morning at 9 am.

This Day in Sports History

1904 – Brandon’s Lester Patrick becomes 1st hockey defenseman to score a goal.

1979 – MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn orders baseball to give equal access to female reporters.

1993 – Pittsburgh Penguins begin NHL record 17 game winning streak.

The 2023 Midwest Old Threshers Country Music Entertainment Line-up

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, March 8th, 2023 at 5:30 pm CDT

The Midwest Old Threshers Association is excited to announce the country music entertainment line-up for the 2023 Reunion on the KILJ Stage.  This year’s reunion runs August 31 thru September 4.

That first night country music icon Crystal Gayle will grace the stage.   Gayle has won the AMA award for favorite country female artist three times, she was the AMA female vocalist of the year two years in a row and the AMC Female vocalist of the year three times.  And she received a Grammy for best country vocal performance female in 1978 for her hit Don’t It Make Your Brown Eyes Blue.

September 1 Easton Corbin brings his unique blend of traditional modern county music to the KILJ stage.  Corbin grew up listening to Merle Haggard and Hank Williams with his grandparents. But he also brings a young modern sound.

Joe Nichols also grew up listening to traditional country music like Merle Haggard, George Straight and Buck Owens.  He’s described as a 21st Century Traditionalist who is both timely and timeless.  Joe Nichols hits the KILJ Stage September 2.

And then Sunday, September 3  Old Threshers welcomes country pop singer and songwriter Dylan Scott. Scott is described as an old soul with a young spirit. He is a powerful vocalist and with an unmistakable drawl and smooth baritone.

There you have it!  The 2023 Country Music entertainment line up on the KILJ stage at 2023 Old Threshers reunion! The $15 one day and the $35 multi day admissions include the evening concerts. For more information visit Oldthreshers.com and stay tuned to KILJ!

SEISO PRESENTS HINDEMITH’S ICONIC WORK MATHIS DER MALER ON THEIR SECOND MASTERWORKS SERIES CONCERT MYSTICAL FOOTPRINTS

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, March 8th, 2023 at 4:33 pm CDT

The Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra (SEISO) presents the second of their Masterworks
Series concerts this season, Mystical Footprints, on March 18th at 7:30 PM at Ottumwa’s Bridge
View Center and March 19th at 2:00 PM at Burlington’s Capitol Theater and 6:30 PM at Iowa
Wesleyan’s Chapel Auditorium in Mt. Pleasant. This concert combines Hindemith’s masterpiece
with several other lesser-known pieces making for a varied and exciting program.
Hindemith’s Mathis der Maler is the centerpiece of this concert and is not to be missed. The
SEISO Chorus will be featured on Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus”, Vaughan Williams’ Five
Mystical Songs with soloist Blair Buffington, and Williametta Spencer’s At the Round Earth’s
Imagined Corners. The program is rounded out by the 2022 Marilyn Minford McCoid Young
Artist Competition winner, Mattias Luitjens, a senior at WACO High School, performing
Henryk Gorecki’s Piano Concerto.
“I’m thrilled with the variety of this program and I think anyone that comes is really going to
enjoy it. We combine some well-known composers and works with some that will be unfamiliar,”
said Robert McConnell, Music Director of the SEISO. “The Hindemith is particularly enjoyable
and patrons will be reminded of our performances of his Symphonic Metamorphosis last season. I
think many people are surprised at how easy it is to enjoy our concerts and how different they are
from what they expected.”
Tickets to the Masterworks Series concerts in Burlington, Ottumwa and Mt. Pleasant may be
purchased at the door or on our website www.seiso.us. Adult tickets are $20. Children/student
tickets (aged 0-22) are free. There is no reserved seating.
Make the most of your concert experience by attending the ‘Prelude.’ Music Director Robert
McConnell will be on hand 45 minutes before each performance to talk about the programmed
music in depth. ‘Prelude’ is supported through a grant from the Charles W. Rand Memorial
Lecture Fund in Burlington and is offered free of charge to all audience members

Children’s Discovery Center Grand Opening

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, March 8th, 2023 at 3:27 pm CDT

The Grand Opening of the Mount Pleasant Public Library’s Children’s Discovery Center will be held on Saturday, March 18, from 10 am to 1 pm.  There will be a visit from Mascot “2 Sense”. Join a scavenger hunt to guess how many magnify glasses are in the Center. There will also be  a free mini mascot giveaway to the first 48 children who would like one, and other surprises. The Discovery Center is a space for ages zero to fifth grade to explore, engage and experiment. During your visit donate coins so kids can experiment with the spiral and mini vortex wishing wells.  The collected coins will be used to purchase new additions to the Center. The Children’s Discovery Center is located on the East side of the Public Library/Civic Center.   Look for the sign and follow the sidewalk to a world of fun and discovery.

 

Jody Isley

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, March 8th, 2023 at 10:59 am CDT

Jody J. Isley, 60, of Lockridge, died of cancer under hospice care on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at his residence

According to Jody’s wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral service. Cremation rites have been entrusted to the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant. Jody’s ashes will be interred at a later date at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, Waterloo, Iowa.

On-Line condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com

Jody Jay Isley was born December 4, 1962 in Waterloo, Iowa. He was the son of James Franklin and Ruth Bertha (Mehmen) Isley. He graduated from Central High School in in Waterloo.

Jody began his working career with the Repair Crew of CECO Building Systems in Charles City, IA. He then took a position with the Erection Crew of CECO in Mt. Pleasant. In 1986, Jody accepted a position with the Wal-Mart Distribution Center in 1986. He remained in that position until his death.

Jody was a very avid hunter and fisherman who loved to hunt and fish with his friends.

Survivors include a sister, Julie Isley of Cedar Falls, IA and Jody’s girlfriend, Melissa Swinderman of Mt. Pleasant.

His parents precede him in death.

Sports, March 8th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, March 8th, 2023 at 6:01 am CDT

High School Track and Field

The Mt. Pleansant and Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ track and field teams competed at the Dickinson Relays yesterday and here are some of the results. Will Davidson placed in 42nd for the high jump with a leap of 5 feet 6 inches. Cam Buffinton claimed 7th place in the long jump, and Avin Truong took home 15th. Isaac Jerrel had a nice toss of 47 feet 11.25 inches in the shot put placing him in 11th for the Panthers. The 4×800 meter relay team of Jacob Richtman, Isaac Rynders, Ben Carthey, and Gabe Feldmann finished in 26th place with a time of 9 minutes and 1 second. Kohlby Newsom for the Wolves placed in 30th for the 1600 meter run with a time of 4 minutes 45 seconds and he claimed 23rd place in the 800 meter run. Keeping up with Winfield-Mt. Union, Gabriel Hemsworth raced his way to 15th in the 400 meter dash with a time of 53.83 seconds. Will Davidson finished in 2nd place for the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.39 seconds. Avin Truong had another top 25 finish this time in the 200 meter relay as he took home 24th. Lastly, the 4×400 meter relay team of Max Sloat, Will Davidson, Gabe Feldmann, and Jacob Richtman took home 17th place to end the meet.

Youth Basketball

March Madness 5 on 5 Basketball Tournament held at Iowa Wesleyan University for 5th – 8th grade girls and boys will take place on March 18th and 19th. Please contact Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jordan Ashton for more details at 319-385-6307 or visit www.infosports.com.

Iowa Wesleyan Athletics

The women’s basketball team had their season ended by Dordt University last night in the opening round of the NAIA women’s national tournament in 76-63 final. Isabell West led the way in points and reobunds as she collected a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Kyla Moore scored 16 points, while Maci Kuchta added 14 points in the effort as they combined for 7 three-pointers. Head Coach Steve Williamson talked about his team’s effort after the game. The Tigers finish with a 23-7 record and as conference champions.

The men’s basketball team ended their season in the opening round against Evangel University 65-58 yesterday. The Tigers had control in the first half leading 33 to 28, but the Tigers would struggle shooting from beyond the arc and kept sending the Valor to the foul line as Evangel University ended the night 24 for 29 from the free throw line. Gacoby Jones led the way in scoring for Iowa Wesleyan with 12 points. The Tigers end the season with a 27-3 record, the program’s most amount of wins in a single season and their first time being ranked since the 2011-2012 season.

The women’s wrestling team will be competing in the 2023 NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championship which will take place on March 10th.

The Tiger baseball team faced off against the University of South Carolina Beaufort yesterday and fell 9-5. The Tigers had a 4 to 0 lead entering the bottom of the third inning but surrendered the 9 runs over the next four innings. Julian Figueroa had a phenomenal game as he went 4 for 4 with a home run, a double, and four RBIs. David Amaya added an RBI and also had a triple in the contest. The Tigers will have a rematch against the Sand Sharks today.

The Tiger softball team have now won back-to-back games as they defeated Rochester University in decisive fashion, 13-1. Kara Krieger and Aspyn Harrison did most of the damage offensively as they combined for 7 RBIs. Harrison had another terrific outing as she went all 5 innings allowing only 1 run and striking out 3. The Tigers will take on Suffolk University tomorrow morning at 11 am.

This Day in Sports History

1913 – MLB Federal League organizes with 6 teams, including the Chicago Whales, who built and played at Weeghman Park (now Wrigley Field); League folded after 3 seasons.

1936 – The first stock car race is held in Daytona Beach, Florida..

2019 – US national women’s soccer team sue for equal pay by filing a federal gender discrimination lawsuit against United States Soccer Federation.

School Bus and Horse Drawn Buggy Collide

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, March 7th, 2023 at 3:50 pm CDT

According to the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday morning a Van Buren County Community School District bus collided with a horse drawn buggy. A woman in the buggy was injured and taken by ambulance to the Van Buren County Hospital. Sources say there were 21 students on the bus but none of them were hurt. Preliminary reports indicate the accident happened just before 8 a.m. near the intersection of Highway J40 and Heather Avenue, west of Keosauqua the horse pulling the buggy got spooked and crossed the centerline into the path of the oncoming Van Buren County School bus.