By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, April 22nd, 2022 at 11:32 am CDT

Prep Track: Panther Girls Win, Boys Fourth at Demon Relays

The Mount Pleasant girls’ track team scored 151, winning the 10-team Demon Relays yesterday at Case Field in Washington.

Kenna Lamm, Jadan Brumbaugh and the 4×100 shuttle hurdle team were all winners.

Lamm won the 200m dash in 26.97, Brumbaugh’s winning heave of 43 feet, 9.5 inches was earth shattering again, while Lamm, Allie Westercamp, Abby Blint and Jenna Gilmore ran 1.08.92 for first in the hurdle relay.

On the boys’ side, Washington won their home invite with Fort Madison checking in third.

Mount Pleasant, with 96 points placed fourth.

The Panthers got winning times from Bryce Wilson in the 110m hurdles in 15.63 seconds and Avin Truong in the long jump, clearing 20 feet, 4.75 inches.

Prep Track: New London Wins Boys; Danville Girls Claim Victory at WMU

New London’s boys’ won the team title while the Danville girls’ won it all at Winfield-Mount Union yesterday.

The Tigers scored 132 team points, Notre Dame finished second with Danville, Winfield-Mount Union and Lone Tree rounding out the top five.

New London claimed seven titles.

The day started off hot with Rylan Martin winning the 800m and Seth Bailey winning the mile with a terrific run of 4:29.54.

Josh Catala earned first in the 200m dash in 22.4.

The 4×100 team of Boden Pickle, Joel Lacy, Reean Seberg, and Josh Catala set a new school record, breaking the one set in 1990 with a winning time of 44.28.

Kade Benjamin’s high jumping prowess continues to improve with the bouncy junior clearing 6 feet, 9 inches last night.

In throws, Carter Allen won the shot put and discus.

Iowa football recruit and Winfield-Mount Union sophomore Cam Buffingotn won the long jump. The springy Buffington leapt 20 feet, 3 inches.

On the girls’ side Danville won six events. Kamryn Sherwood and Alexis Dietsch won individual titles in the 800m and 400m hurdles, respectively.

Four Danville relay teams were champions, as well.

Winfield-Mount Union won the 100m hurdles with Keetyn Townsley going 16.97.

Jobey Malone earned shot put honors with a throw of 38 feet, 11 inches.

Boys’ Soccer: No. 12 Bloodhounds Roll Mount Pleasant

No. 12 Fort Madison got four goals from Xander Wellman as the Bloodhounds picked up an 11-0 win over Mount Pleasant.

Henry Graham and Leif Boeding both scored twice as well.

Mitchell Pothitakis had six assists.

Fort Madison is now 6-3 and 5-0 in Southeast Conference play.

Mount Pleasant dropped to 2-7 and remain winless in five fixtures in league play.

Girls’ Soccer: Randolph Leads Fort Madison Past Panthers

A hat trick from Natalie Randolph was all Fort Madison needed to beat Mount Pleasant yesterday, 5-3 at East Lake Park.

Elly Manning had two goals and an assist, while Abby West scored once as well.

Charice Auwerda had an assist.

Evelyn Escobar had three saves in the pipes.

Fort Madison is now 4-2 and 4-1 in conference play.

Mount Pleasant fell to 4-3.

Boys’ Tennis: Mount Pleasant Sweeps Chiefs

Owen Vansickel started the meet with a strong win in No. 1 singles as the Mount Pleasant boys’ tennis team brought out the brooms to sweep Keokuk last night.

Vansickel and Jake Ensminger rolled in No. 1 doubles with the teams of Levi Graber and Tim Cam and Elliot Cook and Lou Schimmelpfennig following suit.

Mount Pleasant improved to 4-1 with the win.

Girls’ Tennis: Panthers Fall to Keokuk

Savana Walls won 8-2 in No. 1 singles, but Keokuk ripped off five straight wins to earn a 7-2 victory over Mount Pleasant.

The Panthers next win came in No. 1 doubles with Walls collaborating with Melanie Olivas.

The loss dropped Mount Pleasant to 0-6.

The team will take on Burlington Notre Dame next Tuesday.

College Sports: Wesley’s Tonight

By Nathan Bloechl · Thursday, April 21st, 2022 at 12:57 pm CDT

Mount Pleasant — The Iowa Wesleyan athletic department will host the Wesley’s tonight — their student-athlete awards ceremony — which will be held in the Chapel of Iowa Wesleyan’s campus at 7:00 p.m.

The awards presented this year include Male and Female Honor Athlete of the Year, Male and Female Athlete of the Year, Male and Female Newcomer of the Year, the Wesley Award, Men’s and Women’s Team of the Year, Men’s and Women’s Academic Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Lori Williams Wright Award, and Best Dressed.

Members of the coaching staff and athletic department nominated student-athletes for each of the awards and narrowed down the finalists.

Award winners are chosen based on voting by the athletic department.

College Basketball: UNI’s Green Enters Transfer Portal

By Nathan Bloechl · Thursday, April 21st, 2022 at 12:56 pm CDT

Cedar Falls — Northern Iowa guard A.J. Green has entered the transfer portal.

Green, who was the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year — averaged 18.8 points per game while shooting 41% from the field for the regular season champion Panthers.

Along with entering the portal, Green will also dip his toes into the NBA Draft waters.

Green’s father, Kyle, is an assistant on T.J. Otzelberger’s staff at Iowa State sparking speculation that he could be headed to Ames.

It’s expected that Green have several high-major and blue blood programs courting him should he return to college basketball next year.

College Basketball: Iowa State’s Tyrese Hunter Leaving Program

By Nathan Bloechl · Thursday, April 21st, 2022 at 12:53 pm CDT

Ames — In the next line of tough news for in-state programs, the reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year Tyrese Hunter has announced his intentions to depart from Iowa State.

The native of Racine, Wisconsin,  is coming off a freshman season in which he averaged 11 points for a Cyclone team that made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

He finished third in the Big 12 in assists at 4.9 per game.

Like Green, the re-recruitment of Hunter is expected to be hotly contested.

Recruiting circles have pegged Hunter to wind up at North Carolina.

College Wrestling: Frazier Officially Signs to Wrestle for Indiana

By Nathan Bloechl · Thursday, April 21st, 2022 at 12:52 pm CDT

Burlington — Mount Pleasant native and Notre Dame Nike Blaine Frazier put pen to paper yesterday, officially signing his commitment papers to wrestle collegiately for the University of Indiana.

Frazier inked his commitment inside Father Minett Gymnasium.

Frazier was terrific in his final season in southeast Iowa, recording a 53-0 record while winning the Class 2A-132 state championship.

His win also helped lead the Nikes to the Class 2A team title.

Frazier is projected as 133/141 when he lands in Bloomington later this summer.

Frazier is an honor student with a weighted GPA over 4.0 and this fall he will enter the IU Kelley School of Business.

Indiana finished this year 3-8 in duals and 1-7 in Big Ten scraps.

The Hoosiers sent two wrestlers to the year’s NCAA National Championships.

Spring Sports Schedule: Busy Thursday Night

By Nathan Bloechl · Thursday, April 21st, 2022 at 12:49 pm CDT

KILJ — Tonight will be another busy night in the spring sports scene in Mount Pleasant and southeast Iowa

Here’s a look at tonight’s events:

  • Mount Pleasant girls’ golf at Oskaloosa at Edmundson Golf Course
  • Mount Pleasant girls’ soccer vs. Fort Madison (4:30 p.m.)
  • Mount Pleasant girls’ tennis vs. Keokuk (4:30 p.m.)
  • Mount Pleasant boys’ tennis at Keokuk (4:30 p.m.)
  • Mount Pleasant boys’ track at Washington (4:30 p.m.)
  • Ne London, WACO, Danville track at Winfield-Mount Union (4:30 p.m.)
  • Mount Pleasant boys’ soccer vs. No. 13 Fort Madison (6:15 p.m.)
By Nathan Bloechl · Thursday, April 21st, 2022 at 11:25 am CDT

College Sports: Wesley’s Tonight

The Iowa Wesleyan athletic department will host the Wesley’s tonight — their student-athlete awards ceremony — which will be held in the Chapel of Iowa Wesleyan’s campus at 7:00 p.m.

The awards presented this year include Male and Female Honor Athlete of the Year, Male and Female Athlete of the Year, Male and Female Newcomer of the Year, the Wesley Award, Men’s and Women’s Team of the Year, Men’s and Women’s Academic Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Lori Williams Wright Award, and Best Dressed.

Members of the coaching staff and athletic department nominated student-athletes for each of the awards and narrowed down the finalists.

Award winners are chosen based on voting by the athletic department.

College Basketball: UNI’s Green Enters Transfer Portal

Northern Iowa guard A.J. Green has entered the transfer portal.

Green, who was the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year — averaged 18.8 points per game while shooting 41% from the field for the regular season champion Panthers.

Along with entering the portal, Green will also dip his toes into the NBA Draft waters.

Green’s father, Kyle, is an assistant on T.J. Otzelberger’s staff at Iowa State sparking speculation that he could be headed to Ames.

It’s expected that Green have several high-major and blue blood programs courting him should he return to college basketball next year.

College Basketball: Iowa State’s Tyrese Hunter Leaving Program

In the next line of tough news for in-state programs, the reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year Tyrese Hunter has announced his intentions to depart from Iowa State.

The native of Racine, Wisconsin,  is coming off a freshman season in which he averaged 11 points for a cyclone team that made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

He finished third in the Big 12 in assists at 4.9 per game.

Like Green, the re-recruitment of Hunter is expected to be hotly contested.

Recruiting circles have pegged Hunter to wind up at North Carolina.

College Wrestling: Frazier Officially Signs to Wrestle for Indiana

Mount Pleasant native and Notre Dame Nike Blaine Frazier put pen to paper yesterday, officially signing his commitment papers to wrestle collegiately for the University of Indiana.

Frazier inked his commitment inside Father Minett Gymnasium.

Frazier was terrific in his final season in southeast Iowa, recording a 53-0 record while winning the Class 2A-132 state championship.

His win also helped lead the Nikes to the Class 2A team title.

Indiana finished this year 3-8 in duals and 1-7 in Big Ten scraps.

The Hoosiers sent two wrestlers to the year’s NCAA National Championships.

Spring Sports Schedule: Busy Thursday Night With Weather Pending

Tonight will be another busy night in the spring sports scene in Mount Pleasant and southeast Iowa

Here’s a look at tonight’s events:

  • Mount Pleasant girls’ golf at Oskaloosa at Edmundson Golf Course
  • Mount Pleasant girls’ soccer vs. Fort Madison (4:30 p.m.)
  • Mount Pleasant girls’ tennis vs. Keokuk (4:30 p.m.)
  • Mount Pleasant boys’ tennis at Keokuk (4:30 p.m.)
  • Mount Pleasant boys’ track at Washington (4:30 p.m.)
  • Ne London, WACO, Danville track at Winfield-Mount Union (4:30 p.m.)
  • Mount Pleasant boys’ soccer vs. No. 13 Fort Madison (6:15 p.m.)

Girls’ Track: Brumbaugh Soars Again, Panthers Finish 2nd at Home Invite

By Nathan Bloechl · Wednesday, April 20th, 2022 at 12:44 pm CDT

Mount Pleasant — Jadan Brumbaugh’s winning shot put heave of 44 feet, 10.5 inches was three feet over the meet record held by Mary Wester, as Mount Pleasant finished second at the 2022 Panther Invite last night.

Sophomore Elsie Lange won the long jump with a leap of 15 feet, 7.75 inches, continuing her strong run of performances.

Mount Pleasant won two other events: Abby Blint in the 1,500m (5:28.03) and the shuttle hurdle relay group of Kenna Lamm, Abby Blint, Allie Westercamp and Jenna Gilmore went 1:09.71 for first.

Williamsburg won the Class A team title with 130 points, while Mount Pleasant finished in second. Iowa City Liberty placed third.

In Class B, Pekin was the team champion with 129 points. Danville placed second with Wapello, Mediapolis and Cardinal rounding out the top-five.

Danville was led by Kenna Furnald who won the long jump springing 15 feet, 5.75 inches.

Keetyn Townsley won the 100m hurdles for the Lady Wolves, she ran 17.39. Jobey Malone was the champion of the Class B shot put for Winfield-Mount Union. Her winning toss was 36 feet, 5.5 inches.