High School Football
The WACO Warriors finish in second place in the State of Iowa as they fall to Remsen St. Mary’s 38-16. The Hawks’ defense was stout for the entire season and that was no exception as they held the Warriors to only 58 rushing yards and forced two fumbles with one being returned by Jaxon Bunkers for his fifth defensive touchdown of the season, tenth as a team. Isaac Oswald hit multiple long passes as he finished with 212 passing yards including a 25-yard touchdown pass to Colton Leichty. Simeon Reichenbach tallied 95 total yards and one rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, he also had a forced fumble defensively. The district defensive MVP, Drew Diers, led the Warriors in tackles with 12.5. The Warriors finished the year with a 13-1 record and Coach Edeker had high praise for the senior class after the game.
In a repeat of last year’s Class A state championship game, Grundy Center enacts revenge on West Hancock and shuts them out to win 27-0 and win their 4th state championship.
For the Class 4A state championship game Xavier was able to edge out Lewis Central 45-38. Today for Class 3A, Mount Vernon will take on Harlan Community. Class 2A will have Williamsburg take on Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, Van Meter will face off against West Sioux for the Class 1A championship, and to round out the night, Valley and Southeast Polk will battle for the Class 5A championship.
High School Basketball
Mt. Pleasant had their inaugural Winter Meet the Players Night last night as they introduced: Bowling, Wrestling, Cheerleaders and Dance, and Basketball. The Dance team performed and all levels of basketball had a scrimmage.
The girls’ basketball season starts next Tuesday, November 22nd, at home against Pella at 7 pm. They will be led by Andrea Lopreato as she signed with Black Hawk College last week. The first boy’s game that will be broadcast on KILJ will be their game on November 28th when they take on Cedar Rapids Washington on the road. It was announced that the girls will be wrestling separate from the boys this year for the first time in Panther history as the girls will be attending a tournament tomorrow at BGM, while the boys will host their first match Tuesday, November 29th, and bowling will get its season started against Keokuk December 8th.
Elementary Basketball Tournament
Mount Pleasant Christmas Holidays 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for 3rd – 8th grade boys and girls will be held on Dec 17th, 2022. For more registration details contact Coach Ronnie Ashton at 319-931-2896.
Iowa Wesleyan Athletics
The men’s and women’s cross-country teams will have Logan Lucas and Lily Garnsey run at the 2022 National Championship meet this morning with the men running at 8:30 am and the women at 9:30 am. Coach Davis has high expectations for his two runners.
The women’s wrestling team is receiving high praise as the Coaches’ Top 20 poll has the Tigers ranked 9th in all of NAIA. Adaugo Nwachukwu is ranked first in her weight class. Alaina Sunlin and Mya Turnmire are both top 15 in their weight class. Mia Palumbo is ranked second in the 109-pound weight class. Faith Cole is ranked eleventh. Destiny Campbell and Joanna Vanderwood are tenth and eleventh, respectively, while America Lopez is top 20 in her weight class. They are back in action for Day 1 of the Missouri Valley Open at 12 pm today. The men are receiving votes to be ranked in the Top 20 poll with Austin Abitua ranked 24th in the 149-pound weight class. They will wrestle December 3rd at the Buena Vista Open.
The men’s basketball team’s next game is tonight, November 18th, against Waldorf University at 7:30 pm for the Cobble Inn & Suites Classic.
The women’s basketball team’s next game will be Monday, November 21st, against Oklahoma City University at 2 pm to start the Our Lady of the Lake Classic.
This Day in Sports History
1949 – NL batting leader (.342) Jackie Robinson wins NL MVP.
1980 – Despite missing 45 games, George Brett wins AL MVP.
1987 – Cubs Andre Dawson is 1st player from a last-place club to win an MVP.