Sports, January 17th

By Slaten Swords · Saturday, January 17th, 2026 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Basketball

Mt. Pleasant was swept by Burlington last night with the girls’ team losing 56-39 and the boys’ team falling 67-51. Paityn Ensminger led the girls’ team with 15 points, while Noah Lange and Aiden Humble each put up 14 points for the boys’ squad. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will travel to Danville on Monday, January 19th, at 6 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 5:45 pm.

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will take on Oskaloosa on Tuesday, January 20th, with tip-off at 7:30 pm on the road. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 7:15 pm.

Fairfield dropped both games to Fort Madison last night with the girls’ team getting clobbered 62-30 and the boys’ team allowing the Bloodhounds to collect their first win of the season in a 62-52 final. 

The Fairfield girls’ team will host Grinnell on Monday at 7:30 pm, while the boys’ team will face off against Pella Christian at home on Tuesday at the same time.

Burlington Notre Dame handed New London two lopsided losses with a 59-20 final in the girls’ game and a 79-45 thumping in the boys’ contest. 

New London will compete against Central Lee on Tuesday at home with game one at 6 pm.

Central Lee split their matchup against Danville last night with the girls’ team losing 47-41 and the boys’ team running away with a 55-41 victory. Alaina Gourley cashed in for 26 points for the Bears in the win. 

Burlington Notre Dame will celebrate their senior night on Monday against Wapello with the night starting at 6 pm.

The Wapello girls’ team knocked off Lone Tree 56-48 as Annaka Greiner collected a 17 point/11 rebound double-double in the effort, while the boys’ team fell 68-60 to the Lions in overtime. 

The Van Buren County defense was no match for Mediapolis as the girls’ team fell to the Bulldogs 73-22 and the boys’ team lost 72-37.

Van Buren County will head to Davis County today at 4 pm for the Fox River Rivalry showdown.

Mediapolis will tangle with Burlington Notre Dame on Tuesday at home with the girls’ playing first at 6 pm.

The Holy Trinity Catholic boys’ team defeated West Burlington last night 59-51 behind Layne Rung’s 25 points, while the Falcon girls’ team flew away with a 60-26 victory over the Crusaders. 

Holy Trinity Catholic will compete against Fort Madison today with the girls’ playing first at 2:30 pm.  

West Burlington will host Keokuk today with the afternoon tipping-off at 3 pm.

Winfield-Mt. Union was swept by Hillcrest Academy last night, as the girls’ team lost a 43-40 nailbiter and the boys’ team was outdone in a 62-42 final. Suttyn Schlee led the Wolves with 14 points. Girls’ head coach Mendy McCreight was pleased with the effort shown by her squad.

Winfield-Mt. Union will welcome Highland on Tuesday with the night beginning at 6 pm.

The Columbus girls’ team fell to Highland last night 54-30. The Wildcats will face off against Van Buren County on Monday with the girls’ playing at 6 pm.

The WACO girls’ team will travel to Iowa Valley on Monday at 5:15 pm.

High School Wrestling

The WACO and Mediapolis girls’ teams competed at the Mid-Prairie Invitational last night and the Bulldogs snatched 12th place with 42 points, while the Warriors finished with 40 points for 14th place. Annabelle Hedges claimed 3rd place for Mediapolis, while Emory Davis and Makayla Morrison led the Warriors with each taking 4th place. 

The WACO, Fairfield, Wapello, and Mediapolis girls’ teams will compete at the Louisa-Muscatine Invite on January 24th.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union and Mt. Pleasant girls’ teams will travel to Pella Invitational today.

The Burlington Notre Dame boys’ team will wrestle at the Cascade Invitational today. 

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union, Mediapolis, Fairfield, and Van Buren County boys’ teams will compete in the Big Red Invite today. 

The WACO boys’ team will host the Warrior Invitational today with Mt. Pleasant, New London, and Wapello making the trip. 

The Wapello girls’ team will host a triangular on Monday, January 19th.

High School Bowling

Fairfield will head over to the Ottumwa Invitational today.

Mt. Pleasant will host Fairfield on Thursday, January 22nd.

The State Qualifying Meet sites and assignments were released yesterday and here’s where our local teams will be heading on Monday, February 2nd. 

Central Lee and Fairfield will bowl at King Pins at West Burlington for Class 1A. Over in Class 2A, Mt. Pleasant and Burlington will make the trip to Clinton, while Keokuk will head to Ballard. 

Southeastern Community College

The women’s basketball team will travel to Kirkwood Community College today at 1 pm.

The men’s basketball team will play Triton College today at 3 pm on the road. 

College Basketball

The #19 Iowa State women’s team will travel to Oklahoma State tomorrow, January 18th, at noon.

The #11 Iowa women’s team will square off against #15 Michigan State tomorrow at home at 7 pm.

The Iowa men’s team will tangle with Indiana today at 1 pm on the road. KILJ 105.5 FM will have the call.

The #2 Iowa State men’s team will look to restart their win streak with a road showdown against Cincinnati today at 1 pm. KILJ 98.5 FM and AM 1130 will be on the call.

This Day in Sports History

1970 – Sporting News names Willie Mays as Player of the Decade for the 1960s.

1988 – AFC Championship, Mile High Stadium, Denver: Denver Broncos beat Cleveland Browns, 38-33; features infamous “The Fumble”, Browns’ Earnest Byner fumbles at the Denver 3-yard line with 1:12 remaining resulting in the loss.

2012 – LeBron James becomes youngest player in NBA history to record 20,000 career points during the Miami Heat’s 92-75 victory over Golden State; James, 28 years, 17 days old, passed Kobe Bryant, 29 years, 122 days old.

MPHS Trap Team Banquet: 02/28/26 – Tickets on Sale Now

By Slaten Swords · Saturday, January 17th, 2026 at 6:05 am CDT

The Mt. Pleasant Panther Trap Team 10th Annual Banquet Fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, February 28th starting at 5:30pm. There will be a silent auction, live auction and gun raffles.  Items for the silent and live auctions are needed, or you have an opportunity to become a sponsor.  A 16-yard sponsor – $250-$499 includes banquet recognition, and your name listed on the team banner.  A 21-yard sponsor – $500 – $699 includes banquet recognition and your name listed on the team banner.  A 25-year sponsor – $700 or more – will receive 8 meal tickets for the banquet, a table reservation, recognized and your name listed on the team banner.  Tickets are available for purchase at $25 each for the banquet at Airport Road Vineyard on February 28th.  See any trap member to purchase a ticket. If you can help donate items or wish to purchase a sponsorship or need more information, please call Pete Yocum at 319-931-0744 or Alicia Yocum at 319-931-3081, or John at 319-931-4394.

 

Danville City Council Meets 01/19/26

By Slaten Swords · Saturday, January 17th, 2026 at 6:03 am CDT

The Danville City Council will meet in regular session on Monday, January 19th in the Danville City Hall, 105 W. Shepherd Street.  Call to order is at 5:30pm.  Items on the agenda include department reports and the meeting is open to the public.

MPHS Students Place at District Welding Competition

By Slaten Swords · Saturday, January 17th, 2026 at 6:02 am CDT

Mt. Pleasant High School welding students competed in district SkillsUSA solo welding competition this week with Dade Tedrow receiving 1st place and Cesar Aguilar placing 3rd.  They move on to state competition held in Des Moines in March.  Aiden Blint and Jonathon Kellogg also represented Mt. Pleasant.  SkillsUSA is a nationwide showcase of America’s most highly skilled career and technical education students.  

Salem City Council to Fill Vacancy by Appointment

By Kadie Johannson · Friday, January 16th, 2026 at 2:05 pm CDT

The Salem City Council has announced plans to fill a council vacancy following the resignation of Council Member Haley Swinscoe.

Under Iowa law, the council intends to fill the open seat by appointment. That appointment will be considered during a public meeting on March third at five-thirty p.m. at the Salem Community Center, located at two-oh-one South Main Street.

Anyone interested in being considered must meet state eligibility requirements, including being a resident of the City of Salem and a registered voter. Applications must be submitted to Salem City Hall no later than five p.m. on March third.

Applications are available online or in person at the Salem Community Center, the Salem Crew Public Library, or the Salem Post Office.

City officials also note that residents have the legal right to petition for a special election instead of an appointment, as allowed under Iowa law.

Gun Recovered After Passenger Runs From Traffic Stop in West Burlington

By Kadie Johannson · Friday, January 16th, 2026 at 12:05 pm CDT

Des Moines County Sheriff Kevin Glendening released a report following a traffic stop in West Burlington on Tuesday. On January 13, 2026 at approximately 2:12p.m. Des Moines County Deputies stopped a vehicle for moving violations at 3001 Winegard Dr.

During the traffic stop, a West Burlington Police Department K-9 conducted an open-air sniff around the vehicle and the K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics. One of the passengers in the vehicle ran from law enforcement after being told he was not free to leave.

After a foot pursuit, the subject was detained and a firearm was located where he had squatted down between vehicles while fleeing. The subject was identified as Trayveon Leroy Jefferson, age 20, of Burlington, IA.

Jefferson was placed under arrest for Interference with official acts while armed with a firearm, a class D felony. He was transported to the Des Moines County Correctional Center. A criminal charge is an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Police Recover Stolen Firearm During Traffic Stop in Burlington

By Kadie Johannson · Friday, January 16th, 2026 at 11:45 am CDT

The Burlington Police Department reports an arrest following a traffic stop earlier this month.

Police say officers stopped a vehicle January ninth near the intersection of Vine Street and South Tenth Street. During the stop, an open-air K-9 sniff was conducted.

Officers identified one of the occupants as eighteen-year-old Damauri Mitchell of Burlington. A pat-down search later revealed Mitchell was in possession of a stolen firearm. Police say the gun had previously been reported stolen in Burlington.

Mitchell was taken into custody and transported to the Des Moines County Jail.

He is charged with being a person ineligible to carry dangerous weapons and fourth-degree theft. Mitchell remains in custody on bond.

A criminal charge is an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Three WACO Student-Athletes Commit to College Athletics

By Slaten Swords · Friday, January 16th, 2026 at 10:06 am CDT

Wayland, IA- WACO had the opportunity to celebrate a trio of their student-athletes as they announced their commitment to athletics at the collegiate level, including one staying within the state to lend his services to a nascent program.

Pictured Left to Right: Matt Slagel (Dad), Caylon DeVaul (Coach), Gavin Slagel, Jen Slagel (Mom), and Corrine Slagel (Sister).

Gavin Slagel will be attending Goshen College in Indiana to continue his cross-country career. During the fall season, Slagel took 20th place at the Southeast Iowa Super Conference championship with a time of 18 minutes and 30 seconds, helping the Warriors lock up their first Conference Title in program history.

He would follow that up with a 12th place finish at the state qualifier, slashing eight seconds off his conference time, but falling short of qualifying for state. Goshen finished in 18th place at the NAIA National Championships this past winter.

Pictured Left to Right: Nathan Luitjens (Dad), Rob Shaw (Coach), Tristain Luitjens, and Rachelle Luitjens (Mom)

Out on the pitch, Tristain Luitjens will be taking his soccer talents to Bluffton University in Ohio. Luitjens helped revive WACO’s boys’ soccer program his freshman year, but put together his best season last year, nabbing eight goals and seven assists for 23 points, all team leads.

For his career, Luitjens has accumulated 19 goals and 21 assists for 59 points. The Warriors have gone 13-27 over the past three years. The Bluffton Beavers collected an 8-10-1 record this past season with a 5-4 mark in conference.

Pictured Left to Right: Chad Edeker (Coach), Adam Stafford, and Judith Stafford (Mom)

The towering 6’8 Adam Stafford will be looking to bolster the Mount Mercy University line of scrimmage as he signed his letter of intent to join the Mustangs in their first-ever season of football coming up in the fall.

Stafford is a two-time 1st Team All-District lineman, earning the distinction as a defensive lineman his junior season and offensive lineman his senior campaign. As a junior, Stafford wrapped up 32.5 tackles with 16 tackles for loss, including four sacks.

As a senior, he helped pave the way for the team to rush for 2,054 yards and 33 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per carry. He finished his career with 65 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks as a three-time letter winner with the program. The Warriors extended their playoff streak to five consecutive years.