Prep Girls’ Soccer: Burlington Swiped Third Straight SEC Title as Fort Madison’s Teagan Snaadt Grabbed SEC Player of the Year

Mt. Pleasant, IA- The 2025 Iowa High School Girls Soccer season will be coming to a close this Saturday, June 7th, and with the end of the playing season comes award season. Here is a look at the Southeast Conference’s (SEC) All-Conference list for the girls’ teams.

SEC Player of the Year

Teagan Snaadt, Fort Madison

All-Conference

Hunter Pender, Burlington

Brooklyn Sparrow, Burlington

Lily Newell, Burlington

Kiara Winski, Burlington

Isabella Ziegler, Burlington

Teagan Snaadt, Fort Madison

Hadley Wolfe, Fort Madison

Bailey Vaughn, Fort Madison

Halle Menke, Fort Madison

Charice Auwerda, Mt. Pleasant

Sonya Simon, Mt. Pleasant

Eli Heaton, Mt. Pleasant

Angeline Anderson, Washington

Isobel Murphy, Washington

Jocelyn Carter, Washington

Haleigh Strickland, Fairfield

Jalyiah Gardner, Keokuk

Breakdown

Burlington and Fort Madison have been atop the conference standings for the past four years with the two even sharing the title in the 2022 season. This year proved to be no exception as the two ended their first game in a 0-0 tie in Burlington.

The result, a winner takes all at Bracewell Stadium in early May. On the line? Burlington’s third straight conference title or Fort Madison finally ending the Grayhounds’ reign at the top.

The game was never in question with Traeh Pender facing only one shot on goal, while Hunter Pender scored a goal in the 3-0 win. The two would battle it out in the Class 2A Region 4 semifinals and in similar fashion the Bloodhounds could not sustain pressure, and Hunter Pender found the back of the net again in a 1-0 final.

Burlington ended the season with a 13-3-2 record and one win away from the state tournament. Hunter Pender, one of the captains of the team, finished second in the conference in assists (14), goals (22), and points (58). Her 32.8% shot percentage was tops in the SEC. She finished her career with 59 goals.

Kirara Winski was second to Pender on the team in 19 goals and 47 points for the season, helping Burlington average 4.4 goals per game, while third in assists with nine. Brooklyn Sparrow also found the back of the net nine times and assisted on seven other goals.

Lily Newell and Isabella Ziegler spearheaded the defense that allowed conference opponents to score just two goals all season. Additionally, the duo combined for 36 points as Newell ranked second on the team in assists with 10.

Fort Madison

There was never going to be any doubts on who the SEC Player of the Year was going to be. Teagan Snaadt was put in full control of the Fort Madison offense and delivered with her best season of goal scoring, netting 36 by the season’s end, which ranked 12th in the state.

The senior turned in 83 points, accruing 93 goals and 226 points for her career. She led the squad to a 13-3-2 overall record and an 8-1-1 record, the most regular season wins in over two decades for Fort Madison.

Hadley Wolfe was the direct recipient of Snaadt’s elite goal scoring, leading the conference in assists with 17, while also putting in 17 goals of her own. Halle Menke added on to the offensive onslaught with 14 goals and 12 assists for the season, leading the Bloodhounds to put up 85 goals for the season, five more than Burlington.

Bailey Vaughn was the captain of the defense that allowed Ellie Hellman to only see 77 shots on goal for the year.

Mt. Pleasant

The Panther season was a story of grit and determination even through the toughest of circumstances. The 8-6-1 overall record and 5-5 conference record is a testament to that resilience. Only five players started the entire season with key players such as Alexes Rios, Charice Auwerda, and Tori Wilson missing at least three games.

Yet, there were still many memorable moments to the season, including Auwerda’s record setting night at East Lake. The senior tabbed a hattrick in their first conference showdown of the year against Fairfield to collect one more career record: 182 points notched.

The Iowa Central Community College commit was reminded of the history that laid before her just a week before the game by her father. Yet, when the game was over Auwerda was quick to give all the love to her teammates,

“You know what? Like, I honestly can’t do it without my teammates. They’ve been really nice to me. It’s just really a big family and I really can’t do it without them.”

The senior finished her illustrious career with 207 points on 74 goals and 59 assists. Despite playing in only 13 out of 15 games, the senior was able to still put up 18 goals and 42 points for the season.

The tandem of Eli Heaton and Sonya Simon made the Panthers one of the toughest teams to score on with Heaton nabbing over 100 saves for the year and totaling five shutout victories. Simon was the captain of the defense that allowed only 24 goals to cross the line, and she added two assists to her stat line.

Washington

The Demons finished the conference series with a 4-6 record for an overall record of 9-8, which included a 7-3 record at home. A 1-0 win over West Liberty in the first round of the Regional was the biggest highlight of the season.

Angeline Anderson led the offense with 22 points of nine goals and four assists. Jocelyn Carter added six goals of her own, while Isobel Murphy shut down opposing offenses as the focal point of the defense. All three will be returning next season as seniors.

Fairfield and Keokuk

The two teams tied for last in the conference with congruent 1-8-1 records against SEC opponents. Fairfield had the better overall season with a 5-11-1 record, while the Chiefs tabbed a 1-14-1 record.

The Trojans and Chiefs both depended on a senior to help them out. For Fairfield it was Haleigh Strickland and Keokuk leaned on Jaliyah Gardner. Strickland led the Trojans in assists with eight and points in 22 and scored the second most goals with seven. Gardner finished second on the team with two goals.

Honorable Mention

Olivia Engstrom, Burlington

Kingsley Miller, Burlington

Emma Metcalf, Fairfield

Lexi Mast, Fairfield

Naomi Ramatowski, Fort Madison

Molly Schulte, Fort Madison

Relina Wong, Keokuk

Darby Tackes, Keokuk

Bizzie Richtman, Mt. Pleasant

Tori Wilson, Mt. Pleasant

Ana Mata, Washington

Maya Murphy, Washington

Mt. Pleasant

Tori Wilson only played in 11 games but still found a way to put in 20 points with six goals and eight assists.

Bizzie Richtman had, arguably, the second greatest moment of the season for the Panthers as the senior, who had been dealing with injury the entire season, found herself inserted into the goal late in their contest against Keokuk with a one goal lead.

Incredibly, Richtman, on one good leg, saved four shots on goal to secure the win for Mt. Pleasant.

“I mean, I was really struggling with my hip, but I just knew that like my teammates were kind of counting on me and it’s really a team sport” said Richtman after the game. “It’s not like a personal sport. And I know that if I wasn’t going to go in, then I don’t know who else would and I just knew that I had to step up.”

Academic All-Conference

Daphne Brown  Burlington

Summer Harrington  Burlington

Lily Newell   Burlington

Hunter Pender  Burlington

Traeh Pender   Burlington

Brooklyn Sparrow  Burlington

Ashlynn Trosdahl  Burlington

Isabella Ziegler  Burlington

Sarr Yahtaoui – mgr  Burlington

Emmelia Miller  Fairfield

Mallory Wigle  Fairfield

Johana Mora   Fairfield

Haleigh Strickland  Fairfield

Izzy Behne   Fort Madison

Allison Lamb   Fort Madison

Addison Link   Fort Madison

Halle Menke   Fort Madison

Naomi Ramatowski  Fort Madison

Teagan Snaadt  Fort Madison

Hadley Wolfe   Fort Madison

Jade Acker   Keokuk

Keira Campbell  Keokuk

Katy Eby   Keokuk

Kaleigh Fountain  Keokuk

Jalyiah Gardner  Keokuk

Darby Tackes   Keokuk

Ximena Ortiz Munoz  Mount Pleasant

Alexes Rios   Mount Pleasant

Sarai Sanchez  Mount Pleasant

Isabella Torres  Mount Pleasant

Charice Auwerda  Mount Pleasant

Eli Heaton   Mount Pleasant

Addison Peck   Mount Pleasant

Sonya Simon   Mount Pleasant

Mattisyn Wenke  Mount Pleasant

Angeline Anderson  Washington

Zully Aranda Terrones Washington

Maya Bruty   Washington

Jocelyn Carter  Washington

Amerie Cuevas  Washington

Aleigha Medley  Washington

Isobel Murphy  Washington

Katherine Flannery  Washington

Peggy Miller   Washington

Maya Murphy   Washington

Prep Boys’ Soccer: Mt. Pleasant Leads All-Conference Honors as Fairfield’s Bihn Truong Takes Home SEC Player of the Year

Mt. Pleasant, IA- The Southeast Conference (SEC) had the privilege of experiencing some fantastic boys’ soccer this season with games thrilling games going down to the wire, including a couple of ties. As the soccer season concludes, the All-SEC list has been revealed and here’s a look at the breakdown.

SEC Player of the Year

Bihn Truong, Fairfield

All-Conference

Dylan White, Mt. Pleasant

Samuel Schaapen, Mt. Pleasant

Kohen Cass, Mt. Pleasant

Abraham Cass, Mt. Pleasant

Xachary LeBlanc, Mt. Pleasant

Henry Graham, Fort Madison

Jacob Shottenkirk, Fort Madison

Connor Horn, Fort Madison

Noah Swigart, Fort Madison

Jonah Santiago, Fort Madison

Bihn Truong, Fairfield

Minh Truong, Fairfield

Cormac Van Pelt, Fairfield

Lane Stever, Fairfield

Sheltyn Anderson, Burlington

Alex Schroeder, Burlington

Mateo Weir, Burlington

Brendan Taylor, Washington

Edwin Cortes, Washington

Breakdown

Mt. Pleasant dominates the All-Conference list with five players making the team and for good reason. The Panthers’ 8-1-1 conference record secured their first SEC Championship since their State Tournament run in 2013. Additionally, their 13-5-1 overall record was their first winning record since 2019.

The Panthers nearly replicated their 2013 results when they defeated Fairfield 2-0 in the Class 2A Substate 6 semifinals but fell a game short of the state tournament after losing to Williamsburg 3-2 in the Substate Championship.

Although defense does not record any mainstream stats, it was clear that Mt. Pleasant was stout in that department.

“Our defense 100%, I mean Aiden Humble, Abraham Cass, Cohen Cass, and Jackson Newman. Those guys don’t get any stats on Bound, but you know, without those guys, I mean, we’re not much of a soccer team” said Head Coach Rocco Russo heading into their game against the Raiders. “Those guys are solid back there. And I mean, our goalkeeper Xach is the real deal. You know, he’s really good. He’s been putting in working. It’s his turn to shine.”

Xachary LeBlanc was a wall for the Panthers, blocking 82.2% of shots on goals, the best save percentage in the SEC. He saved some of his best work against SEC foes, allowing only eight goals in nine games, including the 2-0 shutout of Fairfield in the postseason.

Of course, as stated above by coach Russo, the Cass brothers certainly helped LeBlanc out as the 24 goals allowed averages out to a stellar 1.3 goals per game.

Samuel Schaapen, a foreign exchange student from Germany, immediately made his mark on the team. The midfielder finished the season tied for the team lead in goals, which was tied for 4th in the conference. His 27 points ranked second on the team as he scored a goal in his final game as a Panther against the Raiders.

Dylan White has been the star of the team since his freshman season, leading the team in goals and points outright in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. This year, he displayed his maturity, stepping out of the limelight and becoming the main distributor with 15 assists on the season for a team leading 33 points.

He was still able to net nine goals to bring his career total to 31 goals, including an incredible goal from midfield. Coach Russo mentioned after that game that anytime the team needed a spark, White would be the one to supply it.

Fort Madison

The Bloodhounds proved to be the only team that could best the Panthers this past season, defeating the Maroon and Gold in front of the home fans 4-2 at the end of the season with the conference race already locked up.

Nevertheless, Fort Madison ran away with 2nd place in the SEC with an 8-2 conference record and a 10-7-1 record overall. This was a team that depended on their playmakers on offense with Jacob Shottenkirk leading the charge.

The senior was masterful in his role to perfectly set up his teammates, leading the conference in assists with 18 on the season, while also managing to score six goals for 30 points on the year.

Connor Horn, a sophomore, took advantage of his opportunities to say the least, burying 41% of his shots as he finished the season atop the conference in goals with 18 for the year. Right behind him was a fellow forward and senior Henry Graham, who finished the season with 13 goals and 31 points.

Jonah Santiago collected three goals and three assists as a sophomore midfielder, who has a bright future ahead of him. Noah Swigart was the main man on defense and still found a way to supply three assists.

Fairfield

You could describe Fairfield’s season with the old idiom, “always a bridesmaid, never the bride.” Twice the Trojans had the Panthers on the ropes. In game one at home, the Trojans allowed Brandon Veloz to score with 12 minutes left in the game to break the tie and eventually win 3-2.

Then at East Lake, the Fairfield defense held Mt. Pleasant scoreless for 78 minutes and led 1-0. Yet, Asa Rose ruined the moment for the Trojans as the game ended in a 1-1 tie. Still, a 5-3-2 record in conference is nothing to hang your head about.

Especially as the Trojans ended the regular season on a three-game winning streak and beating Centerville in the first round of the Substate to collect a 10-6-2 record. Their first winning record since 2021.

There is no question that this team needed Binh Truong, the SEC Player of the Year. In the Substate Semifinals, coach Russo directed all of his defensive attention on the senior to show the respect they had for the midfielder. He ended the season with 10 assists and eight goals for 26 points.

Cormac Van Pelt, Mihn Truong, and Lane Stever, who all combined for 23 points, were heavily influential on the success of the defense. Teams did not get many opportunities to score with only 98 shots on goal against Henry Swan.

Burlington

A tough season for the Grayhounds overall with a 5-11-2 record, but Burlington did enjoy success against the conference with a 4-5-1 record doing the heavy lifting. Mateo Weir led the team and finished top ten in the conference in goals with eight for the season.

Alexander Schroeder was right behind with 11 points on the year coming from four goals and three assists. However, the best player on the team was senior Sheltyn Anderson, the goalkeeper. Anderson knocked away 80.2% of shots against him, allowing only 18 goals for the season.

Washington

From the top of the conference last year, to a 3-7 mark against the SEC this season, with a 4-14 overall record. Of those 14 losses, half of them were decided by two goals or less. Edwin Cortes as one of the reasons that the Demons were able to stay close in so many games, as the junior finished tied for 6th in the SEC with nine goals on the season.

Brendan Taylor was the captain of the team as he led the defense for the Demons.

Keokuk

The Chiefs had their season canceled after three games due to disciplinary action taken by the Iowa High School Athletic Association and a self-imposed punishment by the Keokuk School District administrators when the team received four red cards in a 9-2 loss against Central Lee.

Honorable Mentions

Kamryn Reynold, Burlington

Caden Zaugg, Burlington

Chaz Wohnoutka, Fairfield

Jaxon Kurka, Fairfield

Layne Rung, Fort Madison

Hunter Wiegand, Fort Madison

Jonah Zimmer, Mt. Pleasant

Brandon Veloz, Mt. Pleasant

Fletcher Brower, Washington

Kevin Marcelino, Washington

For Mt. Pleasant’s Jonah Zimmer, he finished his senior campaign with 16 points as he notched six assists and five goals. Brandon Veloz in his sophomore season gave Panther fans a look into the future as he scored five goals in a crowded offense and added five assists to his total.

“It’s a blessing, honestly” said Veloz. “I moved for my first season here, you know, doing things that we’ve never done in this school before. I’m just happy, thankful to God for all my teammates, I’ve been able to spend this time with and just enjoy this season and hopefully continue this run.”

Academic All-Conference

Amand Gandhi   Burlington

Antony Garcia  Burlington

Lucas Henderson  Burlington

Matthew Mercer  Burlington

Talon Orr   Burlington

Alex Schroeder  Burlington

Paul Zaway   Burlington

Ruth Contach-mgr  Burlington

Rebecca Imbimno- mgr Burlington

Binh Truong   Fairfield

Chaz Wohnoutka  Fairfield

Noah Swigart   Fort Madison

Jacob Shottenkirk  Fort Madison

Kayden Hansen  Fort Madison

Jackson Haessig  Fort Madison

Henry Graham  Fort Madison

Karson Dixon   Fort Madison

Leon Ziegltrum  Fort Madison

Jake Haessig   Fort Madison

Layne Rung   Fort Madison

Ramzy Davis   Mount Pleasant

Isaiah Denning  Mount Pleasant

Hayden Dolf   Mount Pleasant

Antonio Navarro Ramirez Mount Pleasant

Kolbein Ostby  Mount Pleasant

Ajay Wagner   Mount Pleasant

Dylan White   Mount Pleasant

Kohen Cass   Mount Pleasant

Jonah Zimmer   Mount Pleasant

Ivan Rangel   Washington

Nerick Raymundo  Washington

Benjamin Kronlage  Washington

Brendan Taylor  Washington

Burlington Bee’s Kooper Schulte Slugs His Way to Hitter of the Week Honors for the Prospect League

Burlington, IA- The Burlington Bees are off to a hot start, picking up four consecutive victories and rocking a 5-2 record through the first week of the season. A big reason for that success is former New London Tiger Kooper Schulte as he was named Week 1 Hitter of the Week for the Prospect League.

Schulte is currently touting a slash line of 0.387/0.417/0.774 through 31 at-bats. His 0.774 slugging percentage currently ranks 2nd in the Prospect League for batters with at least 15 at-bats. He also ranks 2nd in home runs with two for the season, while leading the league with 12 RBIs.

He has also shown off his speed on the basepath with four doubles, one triple, and going 2 for 2 on his steal attempts. The University of Iowa ballplayer made his mark for the team in his very first game as he collected five RBIs and hit for the cycle on a perfect 5 for 5 night.

He added his second home run and his 12th RBI in the latest win over the Normal CornBelters in a thrilling 8-7 finish.

The Bees had their contest against the Quincy Doggy Paddlers on Tuesday night rescheduled for a seven-inning doubleheader on Sunday, June 8th. They are back in action on Wednesday, June 4th, at home against the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp.

Air Quality Alert Issued Statewide Due to Canadian Wildfire Smoke

The Iowa DNR has issued a statewide Air Quality Alert through 6 a.m. Thursday, June 5, as smoke from Canadian wildfires pushes into the state. Air Quality Index (AQI) levels may reach the “unhealthy” (red) category, posing health risks for both sensitive groups and the general public.

Smoke pulled down to the surface early Tuesday has already impacted northwestern Iowa, with thick smoke expected to drift across the state from southwest to northeast today and tonight. Fine particulate levels may remain elevated for several days.

The DNR advises limiting prolonged outdoor activity, especially for people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and outdoor workers. Consider rescheduling or moving activities indoors.

For current conditions and maps, visit airnow.gov or the wildfire page.

Anna Marie Peterson

Anna Marie Peterson, 88, of Wayland, died Monday, May 12, 2025, at Parkview Home in Wayland.

Memorial Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Wayland Mennonite Church.

Burial will follow in the North Hill Cemetery, rural Wayland. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, until the time of service.

The Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory is caring for Anna Marie and her family. www.powellfuneralhomes.com

Henry County Sheriff’s Office Launches Sweet Safety Campaign for Kids

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office has announced a cool new way to encourage bicycle and scooter safety among local youth this summer—by rewarding safe riders with a free ice cream treat.

In a new initiative launched in partnership with area ice cream establishments, uniformed deputies will be on the lookout for children practicing safe riding habits, particularly those wearing helmets. When a deputy spots a young rider following safety guidelines, they may pull over—just to say thank you and hand out a special “ticket” redeemable for a free ice cream treat.

In a recent Facebook post from the Sheriff’s Department, “This is a great opportunity to promote safety in a way that’s positive and fun. We’re proud to work with our local businesses to encourage good habits and give back to the kids in our community.”

To ease any concerns, the Sheriff’s Office clarified that only uniformed deputies in marked HCSO vehicles or on foot patrol will issue the reward tickets.

The Sheriff’s Office also gives a shout-out to the participating ice cream shops for their support, noting that the campaign wouldn’t be possible without their generosity.

As summer kicks into gear, this initiative offers a sweet reminder for families: a helmet and a little caution can go a long way.

Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities Board Approves Budgets, Reviews Major Projects at May Meeting

Mount Pleasant, Iowa — The Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees met in regular session on May 20, to approve multiple budgets, authorize over $1 million in payments, and discuss updates to key infrastructure projects including the Cedar Lane Well #7 development.

Under legal and operations reports, the board reviewed progress on the Cedar Lane Well #7 and Water Distribution System Project. Due to the potential for litigation involving the well, the board entered into a closed session at 1:56 p.m., following a motion by Trustee Michelle Rosell and seconded by Trustee David George.

Details of the closed session were not disclosed, but the board previously indicated the discussion would center on legal matters related to Well #7.

Routine Approvals and Governance

The board also approved minutes from its April 15 regular meeting and a special session held on May 8. All votes taken during the meeting, including those to approve bills, minutes, and budget documents, passed unanimously with five ayes and no dissent.

Mark C. Foreman Named New Warden of Iowa State Penitentiary

FORT MADISON, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections has named Mark C. Foreman as the new warden of the Iowa State Penitentiary (ISP), bringing more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement and corrections leadership to the state’s maximum-security facility.

Foreman began his service as a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps before spending over two decades with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, rising to associate warden at FCI Tallahassee. He has also led correctional facilities in both public and private sectors, most recently serving as senior warden at Cimarron Correctional Facility in Oklahoma.

“I am honored to join the team at ISP,” said Foreman. “I look forward to working alongside the dedicated staff to provide safe, secure, and rehabilitative environments that support public safety.”

IDOC officials praised Foreman’s operational expertise and leadership approach.

“Mark brings a strong commitment to staff development, accountability, and excellence,” said Nick Lamb, Deputy Director for Institutions. “ISP will benefit greatly from his steady hand.”

“Mark’s proven track record and passion for public service make him an excellent addition to our leadership team,” added IDOC Director Dr. Beth Skinner.

About the Iowa Department of Corrections

The IDOC is nationally recognized for implementing evidence-based practices that reduce recidivism and enhance community safety across the state’s correctional system.