Warrior front runners Jamie Meyer (816) and Emmett Schwartzhoff (818) led the way for the South Winn boys during Saturday’s State Meet in Fort Dodge. Meyer finished 26^th in a time of 17:14.4 while Schwartzhoff was 31^st in 17:24.2. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Warriors run well at State Meet

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winneshiek cross country program ended its season on a strong note thanks to a fifth-place finish by Billie Wagner in the girls’ race and an eighth-place finish by the Warrior boys’ team at Saturday’s State Cross Country Meet in Fort Dodge.

Billie Wagner

“We were very pleased with the way our kids wrapped up the season/ Our goal is always to put ourselves in position to challenge for the best individual or team spot we are capable of getting on that day,” said co-coach Kevin Kearney. “That is exactly what we did this weekend. Everyone gave themselves an opportunity to compete with the groups they were capable of racing. We had many lifetime-best efforts as a result.”

The girls’ 1A race featured only one Warrior runner: freshman Billie Wagner. That Warrior freshman went on to post one of the best South Winn times at the State Meet in school history as her 19:02.6 (season best) earned her a fifth-place finish and All-State honors.

South Winn players Logan Hageman (22) and Collin Hageman (76) work to bring down an MFL/MarMac ball carrier during Friday night’s loss to the No. 2-ranked (RPI) Bulldogs. Logan had 4.5 tackles on the night while Collin had 3.5. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Bulldogs put an end to Warrior season

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winn football team saw its 2019 season come to an end Friday night in the opening round of the Class A Payoffs.

“Overall, I am proud of our kids getting our program back to the postseason,” said coach Jason Ohrt after the 60-24 loss. “At the end of the day, MFL(MarMac) was just a more physical and complete football team this season.”

West Central’s Emma Michels bumps this ball to another Devil teammate in Thursday’s regional playoff game against Wapsie Valley. (Mike Thomas, Oelwein Daily Register photo)

Wapsie ends WC season

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

West Central’s volleyball season came to and Thursday in the Regional semifinal against Wapsie Valley in Fairbank. The scores were 18-25, 20-25, and 12-25.

Statistically, the game came down to Wapsie’s Stars vs. the Devil’s more team-orientated numbers.

The Warrior’s big hitter had 17 kills to just 20 for WC as a team; Bryleigh Rouse led the Devils with nine kills.

Wapsie had one girl with 43 assists, while Marlee squires had all 10 for WC. Carey Taylor had 15 of the Blue Devils 31 digs; the Warriors had 25 digs from one player.  

Maeley Nefzger

Nefzger to State Swim Meet

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

Clermont resident and NFV student-athlete Maeley Nefzger will be going to the State Swim Meet as part of the Decorah swim team.

At the recent Regional Meet, she was part of the 200 free relay that qualified for State.

The NFV boy’s cross country team bands together for one last group shot after finishing 13^th that the State Cross Country Meet Saturday in Fort Dodge. With only Weller Clark graduating, the boys should be having lots of fun together next season, with another run at state a strong possibility. The 2019 boy’s team consisted of (front, l-r) alternates Leo Phan and Caleb Zurbriggen, Nathan Crooker and Weller Clark; (back) Davan Crooker, Korbin Yauk, Nathan Jensen, Ben Miller, and Peyton Halverson. (submitted photo)

TigerHawks 13th at State XC

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

With sophomore Ben Miller leading the charge, the NFV boy’s cross country team placed 13^th at the 2019 State cross country Meet Saturday in Fort Dodge.

While the school has sent teams and runners to state cross country meets in the past, this is the first team to go representing North Fayette Valley.

Miller finished 31^st during his second consecutive appearance in Fort Dodge with a personal-best time of 17:37.27.

South Winn freshman Billie Wagner cruised to a first-place finish at last week’s State Qualifying Meet in Cedar Falls. Wagner finished the race in 19:28. 

Warrior boys, Wagner punch tickets to State

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

It was a strong showing for the Warriors Thursday afternoon at the Class 1A State Qualifying Meet in Cedar Falls as both the South Winneshiek boys’ team and freshman Billie Wagner punched their tickets to the 2019 State Meet.

The event, which was held at Birdsall Park, featured 27 teams from around northeast Iowa with the top three overall teams and top 15 individuals earnings a spot in the State Meet on Saturday in Fort Dodge.

South Winn's Cael Kuboushek leaves a pair of Newman defenders in the dust during the first quarter of Friday night's win over the Knights. Kuboushek had six catches on the night for 81 yards (Zakary Kriener photo)

SW silences Knights, advances to Playoffs

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The Warrior football team closed out the 2019 regular season with a bang and is now off to the playoffs! South Winneshiek traveled west to Mason City, Newman on Friday night where it handed the 2018 District champion Knights a 50-19 loss.

“This victory clinches a playoff spot for our team,” said coach Jason Ohrt after the win. “I am proud of how our kids have performed over the course of the season.”

The Warriors started the scoring midway through the first quarter when Jaron Todd rushed for a short, 1-yard touchdown to put South Winn up 8-0.

SW VB loses to tough Ed-Co team

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winneshiek volleyball team saw its season come to an end Monday evening in the second round of the playoffs.

The Warriors were defeated by a strong Edgewood-Colesburg team, 3-0. The Vikings picked up wins of 25-17, 25-22, and 25-13 to advance in the Class 1A Region 6 bracket. Ed-Co will take on Tripoli for a shot at the Regional championship against either Wapsie Valley or West Central.

West Central’s Marlee Squires (3) drives one across the net in Tuesday’s (Oct. 22) opening round playoff game against East Buchanan in Winthrop. The junior had a monster night with 14 kills, 20 assists, 13 digs, and one ace in the four-set victory. The Devils played round two on Monday, Oct. 28, against Don Bosco; results of that contest will be in next week’s Leader. (Mike Thomas photo, Oelwein Dailey Register).   

Marlee Squires leads WC over Pirates

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The Class 1A Region 6 volleyball match between host East Buchanan and West Central turned into the Marlee Squires show as she helped the Devils to a 3-1 victory. With the win, the Blue Devils move on to play Don Bosco, 17-16, Monday Oct. 28, in Winthrop.

The Pirates had only won four games all season, but gave WC a tough match before the Devils won, 25-20, 15-25, 25-21, and 15-13.

Squires had a fantastic night, leading both squads in kills with 14, and assists with 20. The junior also tied teammates Carey Taylor and Bryleigh Rouse for the squad lead in digs with 13. Squires and Rouse combined for a 29-33-night serving with an ace apiece.

Early turnovers doom Devils

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

West Central knew playing at Easton Valley, home of the highest-scoring high school team in Iowa, was a tough assignment, but four first-quarter turnovers made the job impossible.

The River Hawks jumped on the Devils for six TDs in the first 12 minutes on their way to a 73-6 win.

According to head coach Steve Milder, “We played hard, but those turnovers made the score lopsided. We were able to generate some offense over the last three quarters.”