Boys’ Prep Basketball: Mount Pleasant Gets Road Test Against Washington, SEISC Scraps

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, December 17th, 2021 at 1:17 pm CDT

Washington — The Mount Pleasant boys’ basketball team will get their first test against a ranked opponent tonight when the Panthers hookup with No. 4 Washington.

The Demons are 5-0 on the year and have received huge performances week in and week out by junior point guard Ethan Patterson, who’s scoring a league high 21.8 points per game.

Kasen Bailey, another all-conference player, checks in 12.4 points per game while Lucas Kroll is at 10.6 points.

Mount Pleasant’s strong second half against Cedar Rapids Washington wasn’t enough as the Panthers’ saw their two-game winning streak come to a close on Monday.

The Panthers are 2-1 in the last three meetings with the Demons.

That game tonight will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Washington High School.

In the Super Conference tonight:

  • Holy Trinity at Central Lee
  • New London at Danville
  • Columbus at Highland
  • Louisa-Muscatine at Lone Tree
  • Cardinal at Van Buren County
  • WACO at West Burlington
  • Wapello at Winfield-Mount Union

All Super Conference matchups are girl-boy doubleheader, with the girls’ tipping at 6:00 p.m. and the boys’ at 7:30 p.m.

Women’s College Wrestling: Wesleyan Joins NAIA Top 25

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, December 17th, 2021 at 1:16 pm CDT

Mount Pleasant — For the first time in their program’s history, the Iowa Wesleyan women’s wrestling team has joined the NAIA Top 25 poll.

This week the Tigers check in at No. 20 in the poll with wrestlers Alaina Sunlin, Mia Palumbo and Joanna Vanderwood also cracking into the individual rankings.

Sunlin is No. 4 in the country at the 101-pound weight class, Palumbo is ninth at 109 while Vanderwood is No. 14 at 130.

Grand View is No. 1 in the latest rankings, followed up by Life University and Southern Oregon.

The team will be in action one last time before the New Year when they travel to the Ken Kraft Midland Championships in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on December 30th.

Sports, Friday, December 17

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, December 17th, 2021 at 12:37 pm CDT

Prep Wrestling: Mount Pleasant 0-2 at FM, Other Wrestling Action:

Mount Pleasant had two double winners, Bowen Davis and Carson Coleman, but that was not enough as the Panthers went 0-2 at Fort Madison last night.

Davis, wrestling at 138 pounds, won both of his matches by fall.

Coleman earned a fall win and decision victory.

Fort Madison swept the double dual with a 52-27 win over Mid-Prairie and the aforementioned 53-24 win over Mount Pleasant.

Logan Pennock paced the Bloodhounds with a fall win and a tech fall.

Mediapolis Sweeps Home Double Dual 

We did not get the anticipated Quinten Aney – Marcel Lopez matchup, but Mediapolis earned two wins sweeping their home double dual yesterday.

Aney earned two wins — one by fall, the other by forfeit — spearheading six other double winners for the Bulldogs, who earned a 46-30 win over Cardinal and a slim 42-41 win over New London.

Marcel Lopez had two tech fall wins while wrestling at 126 and 132.

His brother Dominic had a fall win and a forfeit victory via injury default.

Gage Burden picked up a fall and forfeit, as well.

New London, who went 1-1, picked up their won over Cardinal 53-24.

Notre Dame Romps at Wapello

No. 4 Notre Dame went 3-0, with wins over Columbus Community/Winfield-Mount Union, Wapello and Durant yesterday in Wapello.

Mount Pleasant native Blaine Frazier led a group of seven wrestlers who went 3-0 on the night.

Frazier, ranked No. 2 in the latest 132 pound rankings in Class 2A, earned two falls and a forfeit.

River Belger had a terrific showing, picking up three falls.

Lane Scorpil, 2A’s No. 2 at 120, registered a fall, tech fall and forfeit win for the Wildcats.

WACO Sweeps Van Buren Quad

WACO dispatched of Van Buren County, Pekin and Louisa-Muscatine sweeping a Super Conference quad in Keosauqua last night.

Louden Huisenga was one of eight wrestlers who went 3-0 on the evening.

Huisenga picked up a decision, major decision and fall victory.

Jonah Clark had two falls win and a forfeit.

Girls’ Prep Basketball: Mount Pleasant-Washington Meet Up in Pivotal SEC Tilt; Other Area Matchups:

The Mount Pleasant girls’ basketball team is back on the hardwood tonight and will look to end a five-game losing skid tonight when they welcome in Washington for a pivotal Southeast Conference matchup.

The Panthers are looking for their first win since a November 29th meeting with Ottumwa.

Washington earned win number on their season back on December 10th, a 49-30 triumph over Burlington.

The Demons dropped a 40-38 decision to Sigourney on Monday.

Washington is paced by junior guard Kaylin Long who is scoring 7.2 points per game.

Makenna Conrad is second on the team with 6.0 points per game. They’re averaging just 33 points a night as a team.

Mount Pleasant star Andrea Lopreato has been as advertised following her breakout sophomore season.

The do-it-all forward is scoring 16.7 points per game to go along with 8.4 rebounds.

Senior Kenna Lamm is also enjoying a coming out party.

Lamm is scoring 12.3 points per game, second on the team.

Tonight’s game will begin at 7:30 p.m. and you can listen on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.

Nathan Bloechl and Kent Bennett will have all the action.

Other Southeast Conference tilts tonight include:

  • Fairfield vs. Burlington
  • Fort Madison vs. Keokuk

Boys’ Prep Basketball: Mount Pleasant Gets Road Test Against Washington, SEISC Scraps:

The Mount Pleasant boys’ basketball team will get their first test against a ranked opponent tonight when the Panthers hookup with No. 4 Washington.

The Demons are 5-0 on the year and have received huge performances week in and week out by junior point guard Ethan Patterson, who’s scoring a league high 21.8 points per game.

Kasen Bailey, another all-conference player, checks in 12.4 points per game while Lucas Kroll is at 10.6 points.

Mount Pleasant’s strong second half against Cedar Rapids Washington wasn’t enough as the Panthers’ saw their two-game winning streak come to a close on Monday.

The Panthers are 2-1 in the last three meetings with the Demons.

That game tonight will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Washington High School.

In the Super Conference tonight:

  • Holy Trinity at Central Lee
  • New London at Danville
  • Columbus at Highland
  • Louisa-Muscatine at Lone Tree
  • Cardinal at Van Buren County
  • WACO at West Burlington
  • Wapello at Winfield-Mount Union

All Super Conference matchups are girl-boy doubleheader, with the girls’ tipping at 6:00 p.m. and the boys’ at 7:30 p.m.

Women’s College Wrestling: Wesleyan Joins NAIA Top 25

For the first time in their program’s history, the Iowa Wesleyan women’s wrestling team has joined the NAIA Top 25 poll.

This week the Tigers check in at No. 20 in the poll with wrestlers Alaina Sunlin, Mia Palumbo and Joanna Vanderwood also cracking into the individual rankings.

Sunlin is No. 4 in the country at the 101-pound weight class, Palumbo is ninth at 109 while Vanderwood is No. 14 at 130.

Grand View is No. 1 in the latest rankings, followed up by Life University and Southern Oregon.

The team will be in action one last time before the New Year when they travel to the Ken Kraft Midland Championships in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on December 30th.

Smoke Haze Explained

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, December 16th, 2021 at 10:26 pm CDT

 The Henry County Sheriff’s office just wanted to get the message out pertaining to the smoke filled haze that everyone is seeing and smelling throughout the county. The office received word from the National Weather Service out of Cedar Rapids that the smoky haze is smoke from wild fires out of Kansas that has been carried into our area from Wednesday night’s wind storm.

School Threat on Social Media

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, December 16th, 2021 at 9:45 pm CDT

The New London and Winfield Mt. Union School Districts recently learned of an anonymous, nationwide threat against schools that is being shared on social media outlets such as TikTok. The general threat toward all U.S. schools declares Friday, Dec. 17, as “American School Shooting Day.” The posts warn about the possibility of nationwide shootings or bomb threats associated with this day.

School safety is a top priority for the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The Department is aware of this general threat and the Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center is working with law enforcement partners to assess and analyze open source reporting for specific threats.

“At this time, we are not seeing any specific or credible threats towards any schools in Iowa, but we are continuing to diligently monitor the situation,” said Assistant Director of the Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, Pat Waymire. “No division within the Iowa Department of Public Safety has received any requests for assistance.”

TikTok has presented students with challenges all year long and, according to Supt. Chad Wahls, New London students have done a great job of not following these outrageous acts. This challenge has been taken to a much greater level and for that reason The New London Distirct has been in contact with local law enforcement. Out of caution, schools will be in close contact with law enforcement throughout the day. WMU Supt. Jeff Maeder added that his district has partnered with local law enforcement to vigilantly investigate whether there are any local connections to these social media posts. He said that at this time, law enforcement has not acquired any evidence that would deem these threats as credible in our area. Out of an abundance of caution, the schools will be in close contact with law enforcement throughout the day on Friday

Both superintendents encourage parents to take this opportunity to talk with your child(ren) about the appropriate use of social media, and the seriousness and resulting consequences of making any kind of threat. Encourage your students to speak with you or an adult at school if they see or hear something so immediate action can be taken. In addition, if anyone in our community sees something suspicious, please report it to the school immediately and call local law enforcement.

Any act of threat towards the school or anyone at the school will not be taken lightly.

John W. Scott (final arrangements)

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, December 16th, 2021 at 9:36 pm CDT

John W. Scott, 68, of Mt. Pleasant, died Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City of a heart attack following a short battle with cancer.

The funeral service for John Scott will be 10:30 AM on Saturday, December 18 at the First United Methodist Church, 309 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. The Rev. David Bracht-Wagner, Senior Pastor, First United Methodist and The Rev. Earl Swigert, Pastor, Lockridge Baptist Church, will officiate. Friends may call from 12 Noon to 8 PM on Friday at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant. The family will be present to receive friends from 6-8 PM on Friday.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to 4-H. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.

John William Scott was born January 9, 1953 in Mt. Pleasant. He was the son of William George and Charlotte Irene (Felgar) Scott. John graduated from Mt. Pleasant Community High School in 1971. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Agriculture Education. On August 13, 1983 at the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant, John was united in marriage to Marilyn Rhea Lenz.

John farmed on his family farm all of his life with his parents and then alongside his wife and children. He was the 5th generation on the family farm and a 4th generation Hereford Cattlemen. John enjoyed collecting and restoring antique International Harvester tractors. He collected Pontiac GTOs and Trans Ams. He enjoyed studying his family farm history near Rome, IA.

Those thankful for sharing in John life include his wife, Marilyn, of Mt. Pleasant; 2 children – Carl Scott and his wife Dana of Mt. Pleasant and DeAnn Scott-Harp and her husband Branden Harp of Ladora, IA; 3 grandchildren – John, Elliott and Wilder Scott, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents and grandparents precede in death.

Women’s College Wrestling: Sunlin Named HoC Wrestler of the Week

By Nathan Bloechl · Thursday, December 16th, 2021 at 3:32 pm CDT

Mount Pleasant — Iowa Wesleyan sophomore Alaina Sunlin has been named the Heart of America women’s wrestler of the week.

This is the second time this season Sunlin has won the award.

Last Saturday, the Monticello, Iowa native kept her perfect record in tact, as she improved to 11-0 on the year at the William Jewell Duals.

She won all four of her bouts in the 101-pound weight class, with wins over No. 9 Baker, No. 13 Missouri Baptist, No. 15 William Jewell and (RV) University of St. Mary.

She won via Fall in 1:18, Tech Fall 10-0, Tech Fall 10-0 and Tech Fall 10-0.

Sunlin and the Tigers will wrestle next on December 30th at the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships.

Men’s College Wrestling: Wesleyan Sweeps Weekly Awards

By Nathan Bloechl · Thursday, December 16th, 2021 at 3:31 pm CDT

Mount Pleasant — Caelen Shannon of Iowa Wesleyan has earned his first Heart of America Athletic Conference Men’s Wrestler of the Week award after a terrific showing at the Buena Vista University Open.

The 174-pound wrestler finished in fourth-place at the BVU Open with a 2-2 record at the event.

This season the Cedar Rapids, Iowa native is 5-2 overall and 2-0 in duals.

The Tiger men will be off until January 8th when they travel to Pella for the Central Under Armour Invitational.