Sports, November 20th

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, November 20th, 2025 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Wrestling

The Wapello girls’ team will participate in the Bellevue Invitational tomorrow, November 21st. 

The WACO girls’ team will travel to BGM for a tournament on Saturday, November 22nd.

The Mt. Pleasant, Mediapolis, and Van Buren County girls’ teams will compete at the Burlington Grayhound Invite on Saturday.

The Fairfield and Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ teams will head to Wilton for a tournament on Saturday. 

High School Basketball

The Columbus girls’ and boys’ teams will scrimmage English Valleys on the road tomorrow, November 21st, at 6 pm.

The Fairfield girls’ team will host Chairton tomorrow at 7:30 pm.

The Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will tip off the season tomorrow at home against New London at 6 pm.

The Wapello girls’ team will face off against Washington tomorrow at 6 pm for a scrimmage. 

The Van Buren County girls’ and boys’ teams will host WACO for a scrimmage tomorrow.

The West Burlington boys’ and girls’ teams will take on Fort Madison on Saturday, November 22nd, for a scrimmage. 

High School Girls’ Basketball Rankings

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) released their preseason rankings for the upcoming season and two of our local teams found a spot in the top 15.

In Class 3A, Mediapolis was slotted at #12 as they return four of their top five scorers from last season. The Bulldogs finished last year with a 21-2 record based off a defense that averaged 23 steals per game. The team will be captained by Josie Hutcheson, Grace Holsteen, and Bryn Wright. 

Burlington will enter the year as the favorite to win the Southeast Conference (SEC) as the Grayhounds were placed at #11 in the Class 4A rankings. The Grayhounds collected 16 wins last year before being snuffed in their regional semifinal. They return last year’s SEC Player of the Year in Mylee Stiefel, who averaged 18 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.6 steals per game. Burlington will be hurting underneath the basket without Kylee Hill, who nearly averaged a double-double in the post. 

High School Bowling

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will host an invite today with Central Lee and West Burlington in attendance. 

Meet the Players Night

Mt. Pleasant will be holding their Meet the Panthers tonight at the Mt. Pleasant High School Gym with introductions starting at 6:45 pm. The State Pom routine is scheduled to start at 7:05 pm with basketball scrimmages to follow. 

Danville’s Meet the Bears is scheduled for tomorrow, November 21st, with dinner starting at 5:30 pm and introductions at 6:30 pm. Basketball scrimmages will begin at 7 pm.

Postseason High School Football

Bishop Garrigan and Woodbine will meet today at 9:30 am for the Eight-Player state championship.

The Class A championship contest is set for today at 1 pm between Saint Ansgar and MMCRU. 

The Class 1A state title game between West Lyon and Regina Catholic is slated for today at 4 pm.

Pella and Xavier will meet at 7 pm tonight for the Class 4A state title. 

The Class 2A championship is set for tomorrow, November 21st, at 10 am between Van Meter and Kuemper Catholic. 

The Class 3A championship will be played tomorrow at 1 pm between Nevada and Bishop Heelan. 

The Class 5A championship will wrap up action tomorrow with kickoff at 7 pm between Dowling Catholic and Iowa City Liberty.

Southeastern Community College

The women’s basketball team will host a tournament starting tomorrow, November 21st, at 5 pm against Spoon River College. 

The men’s basketball team will travel to Moberly Area Community College on Saturday, November 22nd, at 7 pm.

The men’s and women’s wrestling teams fell at home to Hawkeye Community College with the men’s team losing 35-22 and the women’s team narrowly avoiding the shutout, 49-5. Braxton Hutchinson and Moses Wilson picked up wins by technical fall for the men’s team, while Evelyn Phillips pinned her opponent in the lone match victory for the women’s team. The Blackhawks will dual Ellsworth Community College on Wednesday, December 3rd, at home.

College Football

Iowa will look to bounce back at home on Saturday, November 22nd, at 2:30 pm against Michigan State. KILJ 105.5 FM will have the call.

Iowa State will host Kansas on Saturday at 11 am. KILJ 98.5 FM and AM 1130 will have the call.

College Basketball

The #19 Iowa women’s team will compete in the WBCA Showcase tonight at 8 pm against Baylor. 

The Iowa men’s team will host Chicago State tonight at 6 pm.

The #12 Iowa State women’s team will face off against Drake on the road tonight at 6 pm.

The #16 Iowa State men’s team will play in the Players Era Men’s Championship tournament starting on Monday, November 24th, against #14 St. John’s at 3:30 pm.  

This Day in Sports History

1934 – Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Busher Jackson becomes the first NHL player to score four goals in a period in a 5-2 win over the St. Louis Eagles at St. Louis Arena.

1988 – Boston College beats Army 38-24 in the ‘Emerald Isle Classic’ at Dublin’s Lansdowne Road Stadium, the first NCAA Football game to be played in Europe.

1990 – The Sacramento Kings pick up their last road win for over a year as the Kings would set an NBA record of 43 consecutive road losses.

Turkey Cooking Safety: Don’t Underestimate Thaw Time as Thanksgiving Approaches

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, November 20th, 2025 at 5:39 am CDT

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, food safety experts are reminding everyone not to underestimate the time it takes to properly thaw a turkey. Larger birds can take nearly a week to thaw using safe, approved methods—and with the holiday coming up next week, now is the time to plan ahead.

The USDA recommends three safe ways to thaw your Thanksgiving turkey:

1. Refrigerator Thawing
Place the turkey, still in its original wrapper, in the refrigerator—set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. A good rule of thumb: allow 24 hours of thawing time for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey. That means an average-sized bird will need several days to thaw completely. Once it’s thawed, the turkey can safely remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days before cooking.

2. Cold Water Thawing
If the turkey is still frozen and time is running short, you can submerge the wrapped bird in cold water. Be sure to change the water every 30 minutes to keep it safe. This method is faster but still takes about 30 minutes per pound. Turkeys thawed this way must be cooked immediately.

3. Microwave Thawing
For smaller turkeys, the microwave is an option. Check your microwave’s owner’s manual for the correct settings and timing. As with cold water thawing, a turkey thawed in the microwave should be cooked right away.

Taking the time to thaw your turkey properly is one of the easiest ways to ensure a safe and delicious Thanksgiving meal.

https://cfaes.osu.edu/features/three-ways-safely-thaw-turkey?

Gov. Reynolds issues harvest proclamation

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, November 20th, 2025 at 5:38 am CDT
DES MOINES— Today, Gov. Reynolds signed a proclamation related to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer, and manure. The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through December 19, 2025.
The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, soybean meal, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.
This proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

Holy Trinity Catholic Schools Educational Foundation Announces New Endowed Scholarship

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, November 20th, 2025 at 5:27 am CDT

The Holy Trinity Catholic Schools Educational Foundation has announced the creation of a new endowed scholarship aimed at supporting future educators. The Holy Trinity Catholic Schools Educational Field Scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduating Holy Trinity senior who plans to pursue a degree in education.

The $100,000 endowed scholarship was gifted by an anonymous benefactor. Recipients will be selected based on financial need, academic ability, and promise for success in the education field. Award amounts will vary depending on the interest earned and the number of recipients chosen each year. The Foundation anticipates that this year’s award will be approximately $4,500.

Thomas Gendron, Director of Development for the Holy Trinity Catholic Schools Educational Foundation, said the new scholarship fills an important need. “This is an opportunity for a student who wishes to serve in an educational-related profession. We offer scholarship opportunities to several fields, but this is the first time, to my knowledge, that we will help students who wish to go into the real world doing one of God’s chosen professions—teaching.”

Foundation President Justin Pieper praised the collaborative effort behind the endowment. “Tom did a phenomenal job educating our benefactor on options and guiding the benefactor through the process of setting up an endowment, which was done through the North Lee County Community Foundation,” Pieper said.

Foundation leaders say the new scholarship aligns perfectly with their mission. Providing financial support to Holy Trinity students remains the cornerstone of the Foundation’s work and a major focus of its fundraising efforts.

Individuals interested in establishing a scholarship, planning a future gift, or learning more about planned giving may contact Thomas Gendron at (319) 470-3194 or tom.gendron@holytrinityschools.org

Helen Nebelle

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, November 20th, 2025 at 4:59 am CDT
Helen Nebelle, 93, formerly of Mount Pleasant, died Saturday, November 15, 2025, at AccentCare Inpatient Hospice Center in Naperville, Illinois.

Helen was born January 2, 1932, in Ottumwa, the daughter of Floyd and Geraldine (Hendricks) Huntley. She graduated from Ottumwa High School. On June 22, 1949, Helen was united in marriage to Richard A. Nebelle in Ottumwa. The couple made their home first in Ottumwa and moved to Illinois for many years living in Schaumburg and Springfield. They later moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, as their final home. Together they raised two children, Julie and John.

Helen was a dedicated homemaker and mother. She was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and for many years was an active volunteer for many church activities.

Helen enjoyed keeping up on the news, talking with friends and family, and playing cards. She was famously known to enjoy a Rob Roy, Manhattan or martini each night and often invited family, friends, and neighbors to share a cocktail with her.

Helen is survived by her son John Nebelle and his wife Bonnie of Montgomery, IL, daughter Julie Nebelle of Springfield, IL, granddaughter Dr. Alexandra Nebelle of Montgomery, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Richard, her sister Donna Fisher of Ottumwa, her brother Floyd L. Huntley of Sun City, CA.

At Helen’s wishes, any flowers or donations should be directed to St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 24, 2025, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Fr. Ed Fitzpatrick will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be at a later date in the Shaul Cemetery in Ottumwa. The Olson-Yoder Funeral Home & Crematory is caring for Helen and her family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.olsonyoderfh.com

Sports, November 19th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Wrestling

The Wapello, WACO, and Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ teams traveled to compete in the Sigourney Keota tournament last night and the Arrows claimed 16th place with 42.5 points, the highest finish of our local teams.

Wapello’s Kenadee Helscher led the way, going undefeated for the night as she defeated Quynn Forster of East Union in the championship match of the 105-pound weight class by technical fall. Jenna Jones claimed 6th place in the 170-pound weight class. 

Rozlynn Garza, 130-pound weight class, and Jada Moats, 170-pound weight class, each took 4th place in their respective weight classes for Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union. WACO’s Makayla Morrison and Emory Davis each grabbed a victory.

The Wapello girls’ team will participate in the Bellevue Invitational on Friday, November 21st. 

The WACO girls’ team will travel to BGM for a tournament on Saturday, November 22nd.

The Mt. Pleasant, Mediapolis, and Van Buren County girls’ teams will compete at the Burlington Grayhound Invite on Saturday.

The Fairfield and Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ teams will head to Wilton for a tournament on Saturday. 

High School Volleyball

The Iowa Girls Coaches Association (IGCA) released the All-District and All-State teams for the 2025 volleyball season and southeast Iowa was well represented. 

In Class 3A, Washington’s Leighton Messinger, the two-time Southeast Conference Player of the Year, took home All-District and All-State 3rd Team honors. 

Central Lee’s Jayden Mueller claimed a spot on the All-District team after tabbing 566 digs for the season.

In Class 2A, West Burlington had a pair of Falcons make the All-District team in Kyleigh Applegate and Baylee Woodsmall. Applegate was all over the court, accumulating 167 kills, 207 digs, and 26 aces for the season. Woodsmall was a distributor with 794 assists.

Jocelyn Hernandez of Columbus tabbed a team leading 325 digs to go along with 28 aces for the Wildcats. Ashlynn Huff of Van Buren County claimed a spot on the All-District Team behind 326 kills and a kill efficiency of 0.272. 

Class 1A was packed with local talent as Burlington Notre Dame and Wapello each put four players on the All-District list, while Holy Trinity Catholic took four spots.

For Burlington Notre Dame, Addi Brockway collected a solid senior season with 342 kills on a kill efficiency of 0.248. Brockway, who also was put on the All-State 3rd Team, finished her career with 704 kills. Ainsley Conrad put together 739 assists and 60 kills in her freshman season. Emma Elmore led the team with 450 digs and finished second on the team in aces with 39.

Lastly, Chloe Wenzel found a spot on the All-District Team for the Nikes. Wenzel put up 262 kills and for the third straight season led the team in blocks with 91. 

Wapello’s Annaka Greiner dished out 357 assists and generated 77 kills in the two-setter offense. The junior also added 230 digs and 20 aces. Helping Greiner out was freshman Taeya Wagner, who actually led the team with 411 assists as she tabbed 87 kills and 34 aces for the Arrows. 

Mila Jordan put up 308 kills with an efficiency of 0.209. She was nearly unstoppable from the service line with a team leading 72 aces. Mya Wagner, a junior, led the team with 639 digs as the squad’s libero. Wagner found a spot on the All-State 1st Team.

Winfield-Mt. Union’s Quin Smith, despite missing five games, led the team in kills with 132 for the year with a congruent efficiency of 0.132. Smith also blocked 36 attacks and nabbed 42 aces.

To round out the lists, Holy Trinity Catholic’s three main attackers made the All-District Team in Presley Myers, Adalyn Kruse, and Olivia Bendlage. 

Myers also made the All-State 1st Team as she concluded her career at Holy Trinity Catholic with three state tournament appearances, a state runner-up finish, over 1,300 career kills, over 370 blocks, and a career kill efficiency nearly at 0.350. She also earned Co-Southeast Iowa Super Conference (SEISC) South Division Player of the Year. Kruse, who led the team with nearly 400 kills, grabbed 4th Team All-State. 

For the third year in a row, Holy Trinity Catholic’s Melissa Freesmeier was named District Coach of the Year.

High School Basketball

The Columbus girls’ and boys’ teams will scrimmage English Valleys on the road on Friday, November 21st, at 6 pm.

The Fairfield girls’ team will host Chariton on Friday at 7:30 pm.

The Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will tip off the season on Friday at home against New London at 6 pm.

The Wapello girls’ team will face off against Washington on Friday at 6 pm for a scrimmage. 

The Van Buren County girls’ and boys’ teams will host WACO for a scrimmage on Friday. 

The West Burlington boys’ and girls’ teams will take on Fort Madison on Saturday, November 22nd, for a scrimmage. 

High School Bowling

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will host an invite tomorrow, November 20th, with Central Lee and West Burlington in attendance. 

High School Cross Country

The Iowa Association of Track Coaches (IATC) released their Coach of the Year honors for the 2025 Cross Country season and Steve Riley, the Columbus’ boys’ team’s head coach, earned At-Large Coach of the Year after the Wildcats finished in 6th place as a team at the state meet. 

Riley and Scott Dennler for the Columbus boys’ track and field team earned Class 1A At-Large Coach of the Year for the 2025 spring season. 

Postseason High School Football

Bishop Garrigan and Woodbine will meet tomorrow, November 20th,  at 9:30 am for the Eight-Player state championship.

The Class A championship contest is set for tomorrow at 1 pm between Saint Ansgar and MMCRU. 

The Class 1A state title game between West Lyon and Regina Catholic is slated for tomorrow at 4 pm.

Pella and Xavier will meet at 7 pm tomorrow for the Class 4A state title. 

The Class 2A championship is set for Friday, November 21st, at 10 am between Van Meter and Kuemper Catholic. 

The Class 3A championship will be played on Friday at 1 pm between Nevada and Bishop Heelan. 

The Class 5A championship will wrap up action on Friday with kickoff at 7 pm between Dowling Catholic and Iowa City Liberty.

Southeastern Community College

The women’s basketball team will host a tournament starting on Friday, November 21st, at 5 pm against Spoon River College. 

The men’s basketball team will travel to Moberly Area Community College on Saturday, November 22nd, at 7 pm.

The men’s and women’s wrestling teams will host Hawkeye Community College tonight at 6 pm.

College Football

Iowa will look to bounce back at home on Saturday, November 22nd, at 2:30 pm against Michigan State. KILJ 105.5 FM will have the call.

Iowa State will host Kansas on Saturday at 11 am. KILJ 98.5 FM and AM 1130 will have the call.

College Basketball

The #19 Iowa women’s team will compete in the WBCA Showcase tomorrow, November 20th, at 8 pm against Baylor. 

The Iowa men’s team roared past Southeast Missouri State last night 99-70. Alvaro Folgueiras led the team with 16 points, while Bennett Stirtz dished out nine assists in the victory. The Hawkeyes will host Chicago State tomorrow at 6 pm.

The #12 Iowa State women’s team will face off against Drake on the road tomorrow at 6 pm.

The #16 Iowa State men’s team will play in the Players Era Men’s Championship tournament starting on Monday, November 24th, against #14 St. John’s at 3:30 pm.  

This Day in Sports History

1978 – “The Miracle at the Meadowlands,” Eagles Herman Edwards returns a fumble for a touchdown with 31 seconds left to give Philadelphia a 19-17 victory over the rival New York Giants.

1983 – The Edmonton Oilers beat the NJ Devils, 13-4, Wayne Gretzky calls the Devils “a Mickey Mouse organization.”

2019 – LeBron James hits 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists as the LA Lakers’ beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-107 to become the first player in NBA history to record a triple-double against all 30 franchises.

Four Beautiful Homes Featured in 25th Annual T.T.T. Tour of Homes This Sunday

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 at 5:15 am CDT

The 25th Annual T.T.T. Tour of Homes will take place on Sunday, November 23, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., offering a festive afternoon of décor, design, and community tradition. This year’s tour highlights four beautifully decorated Mount Pleasant homes, along with the Revival Salon & Sanctuary.

Featured locations include:

  • Warren & Vickie Larson
    612 E. Monroe Street, Mount Pleasant

  • Blaine Rodgers
    611 E. Washington Street, Mount Pleasant

  • Seth & Grace Bennett
    501 E. Henry Street, Mount Pleasant

  • Gary & Deb Rodgers
    1608 Deer Run Lane, Mount Pleasant

  • Revival Salon & Sanctuary
    300 E. Washington Street, Mount Pleasant

Tickets purchased in advance are $15 and are available from any T.T.T. Chapter DD member or at Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. On Sunday, November 23rd, tickets will be $20 at the door.

Organizers encourage the community to come out and enjoy this milestone event, celebrating 25 years of showcasing local homes and supporting the mission of T.T.T.

Washington County 4-H Members Earn Top Honors in Statewide Iowa 4-H Fishing Contest

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 at 5:09 am CDT

Washington, Iowa — Washington County 4-H is celebrating two members who earned top statewide recognition in the Iowa 4-H Fishing Club’s 2025 Fall Bass Tournament open September – October. With 38 total entries submitted from across Iowa, Washington County anglers showcased their skill and sportsmanship.

Maison Crawford: Maison Crawford is a member of the Statewide Iowa 4-H Fishing Club who earned 2nd place in the statewide 4-H Bass Fishing Contest with an 18” fish. Crawford is the son of Matt and Tiffany Crawford of Washington.

Maison Crawford earned second place in the competition with an 18-inch bass, while Jack Green secured third place with a 17-inch bass.  Both members were fishing in farm ponds in the Brighton area.   Their accomplishments highlights both dedication and the growing interest in outdoor recreation among local 4-H youth.

“This Statewide Fishing Club is a new club offering from Iowa 4-H this fall and I love that we have youth getting involved,”  said Washington County 4-H Youth Coordinator Amy  Green. “I hope this success builds their confidence, curiosity, and hands-on learning that 4-H offers and encourages.  It’s exciting to see our members diving into outdoor experiences and finding joy in their hobbies.”

The Iowa 4-H Fishing Club is open to youth in grades 4–12 statewide. Participants learn about fish species, habitat, conservation practices, outdoor safety, and sport fishing techniques—all while building problem-solving skills and connecting with peers who share similar interests.

Families interested in joining the Iowa 4-H Fishing Club or learning more about upcoming statewide challenges, workshops, or contests can explore the program details should contact the Washington County Extension Office at 319-653-4811 or amygreen@iastate.edu

The achievements of Crawford and Green are a strong reminder of how 4-H empowers young people to explore the outdoors, develop lifelong skills, and discover new passions.  The next challenge set for Iowa 4-H Fishing Club members is on catching crappie and perch through the winter months.

J Green: Jack Green is a member of the Bows & Bullets 4-H Club of Washington and earned 3rd place in the statewide 4-H Bass Fishing Contest with an 17” fish. Green is the son of John and Amy Green of Brighton.

Contact Amy at the Washington County Extension Office, 319-653-4811, with questions or if you would like to volunteer or support these experiences as a volunteer or through financial support.   Follow “Washington County 4-H – Iowa” on Facebook for up to date information on 4-H events and other youth programs for Washington County.