Prep Wrestling: 1A State Qualifiers
The 1A State Wrestling bracket has been filled and several from the area are competing.
Here’s your 1A state qualifiers from the region:
- 113 – Gage Burden (New London)
- 126 – Marcel Lopez (New London)
- 138 – Quinten Aney (Mediapolis)
- 145 – Louden Huisenga (WACO)
- 152 – Dominic Lopez (New London)
- 182 – Josh Glendening (New London)
- 220 – Jonah Clark (WACO)
1A will begin their first session on Thursday night from Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
The action will begin at 6:00 p.m. and you can listen for updates on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.
Prep Wrestling: 2A State Qualifiers
Notre Dame will send nine to the state tournament — tied for second most in 2A with West Delaware — this week in Des Moines.
The Nikes will also take on West Delaware in Wednesday’s quarterfinal round of 2A State Duals.
Here’s the full list of 2A qualifiers:
- 106 – Carter West (NDWB)
- 113 – Kaiden Dietzenbach (NDWB)
- 120 – Lane Scorpil (CC-WMU); CJ Davis (NDWB)
- 132 – Blaine Frazier (NDWB); Cason Miller (Fairfield)
- 138 – Tate O’Shea (NDWB)
- 152 – Isaiah Fenton (NDWB)
- 160 – Sam West (NDWB)
- 170 – River Belger (NDWB)
- 182 – CJ Walrath (NDWB)
2A’s first session will be Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m.
You can listen for updates and live, hold-by-hold coverage on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.
In Class 3A, Burlington will be sending Julius Harris (285) while Fort Madison is sending Jakob McGowan, Isaac Thacher, and Daniel Sokolik.
3A will open up Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
Prep Basketball: New London Looking for Revenge as Tournament Trail Opens
The New London Tiger basketball team is setting out for revenge.
After finishing one game shy of the state tournament a year ago, the Tigers will open their tournament trail run tonight at home against English Valleys.
Outright champions of the Super Conference, New London finished their year 18-2 behind the strong play of their two stars Blaise Porter and Kade Benjamin.
Porter, who is continuing to receive low and mid-major Division I college interest, averaged 17.6 points, 5.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. It stands to reason he’ll take on more of a scoring burden as rotations tighten in the postseason.
His running mate Kade Benjamin is averaging 14.4 points per game, while Devon Swanson is at 13.4.
Perhaps the biggest reason for New London’s success this year has been the late season emergence of Kooper Schulte.
Schulte has upped his scoring average to just south of 8.0 points per game and has been the beneficiary of playing with three All-Conference players, getting open looks repeatedly.
The terrific Tiger shortstop has hit a blistering 54% of his three point shots while chipping in with 4.2 boards.
Their opponent tonight is no first round slouch, however. English Valleys enters 12-10 and similar to New London’s first round tussle with Lisbon last year — who featured Kole Becker — the Bears have boast one of the state’s best scorers in Kaden Hall.
Hall has been a one man wrecking crew, scoring 23.0 points per game and has the ability to single-handedly will his team to a win.
Tonight’s game will begin at 7:00 p.m. from New London High School; you can listen on FM 98.5 and AM 1130.
Nathan Bloechl will have the call.
Prep Basketball: Tough WACO Squad Gets Keota in Opening Round Scrap
The WACO Warrior basketball team — who is following up a remarkable football season with a memorable one on the hardcourt — will open their postseason tonight when they host Keota in a 1A-5 first round scrap.
The Warriors finished their year a workman-like 17-4 with key wins over New London and Winfield-Mount Union,
More than anything, they’re a team that no one wants to face.
A balanced scoring attack is headed by sophomore guard Hunter Hughes, who at 45% from the field and 34% from three is averaging a team-high 12.1 points per game.
Simeon Reichenbach checks in at 9.2 points per game, while Reece Oswald is at 8.8.
Keota is 11-11.
The Eagles earned an easy 62-18 win over Tri-County in the prelim round last Friday. WACO has won four of the last five when the clubs meet, including a December 11th 61-38 triumph.
Keota is paced by a trio of sophomores, Sawyer Stout, Evan Vittetoe and Cole Kindred — with Stout spearheading the bunch at 13.7 points per game.
Tonight’s scrap will begin at 7:00 p.m. in Wayland.
John Kuhens and Kent Bennett will be on the call on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.
Other area boys’ first round action tonight:
- Van Buren County vs. Mediapolis
- Central Lee vs. West Burlington
- Highland at Winfield-Mount Union
- Notre Dame at Wapello
- Pekin at Montezuma
- Oskaloosa at Burlington
- Fairfield at Iowa City High