West Central’s Lauren Fink taps the ball over the net in a 3-1 victory over the Postville Pirates on Thursday, Sept. 21. Chris DeBack photo

Blue Devils down Pirates in Homecoming match

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Central volleyball team secured its seventh win of the season with a 3-1 home victory over Postville on Thursday, Sept. 21.

It is the most wins West Central has had since the 2011 Blue Devil team that went 13-13. It was the first time this season the Blue Devils hosted a volleyball match. 

West Central’s Ty Ingels (63) moves off a Tripoli Panther block to help tackle the Panther’s offensive player.

Chris DeBack photo

WC scores 28 on Homecoming Night

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Central football team had its most productive night offensively during its Homecoming game. The Blue Devils fell to Eight-Man No. 8 Tripoli Panthers (Cedar Rapids Gazette/KGYM poll), 71-28.  

While the Blue Devils had a hard time keeping the potent Panthers offense from rushing its way into the end zone in the first half, it didn’t help that West Central fumbled the ball on the first play of the game. 

The Blue Devils found success through the air during the game. Tripoli scored four touchdowns before junior quarterback Adam Dolf hit freshman wide receiver Aiden Nelson in stride with a 48-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Dolf then found Nelson in the end zone of the successful two-point conversion. 

The North Fayette Valley cross country teams finish their annual Homecoming run Friday from the opponent’s city of Oelwein to Ron Wymer Field in West Union. Carrying the football is senior Callie Halverson. (Jerry Wadian photo)

XC teams work on improving

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The NFV cross country teams continued to improve times and move up the team standings.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, the TigerHawks were at Waukon. No official results were sent by the Indians, but the NFV boys finished third by seven points to two ranked teams, Decorah and Starmont. The Vikings are currently third in Class 4A, and the Stars are seventh in 1A. The JV boys were runners-up to Decorah.

NFV setter Marin Ehler (17) goes up in the air to get this ball to fellow senior Claire Hanson (13). In action last week, Ehler dished out 40 assists in the victory over Clayton Ridge and handed out 40 more during the tournament Saturday at South Tama. (Jerry Wadian photo)

TigerHawks topple Eagles

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

NFV volleyball opened the week with a four-set victory over Clayton Ridge Tuesday, Sept.19, in West Union.

Games scores against the Eagles were 25-22, 25-12, 17-25, and 25-19.

The opening set was close throughout with NFV rising to the occasion with a couple of points at the end. Marrah Burrack and Claire Hanson led the TigerHawk O with five and four kills, respectively.

According to head coach Bruce Ehler, “We didn’t make a single serving error or give up an ace in the entire match; that is fantastic.”

With Jordan Baumler (58) and Chase Blagsvedt (59) submarining their man, and Brian Roulson (69) and another TigerHawk blocker keeping a Husky defender at bay, Brooks Hovden (10) has the time to make this pass downfield. Hovden completed six passes to five different receivers for 143 yards and one score on Friday. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Happy Homecoming, 46-8

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

After losing to three ranked teams and notching four losses to squads that were a combined 15-1 coming into the weekend, North Fayette Valley needed a win at Homecoming.

Fans did their part, as the Steve Story Sports Complex was rocking Friday night.

The NFV football team responded with a dominant performance in beating Oelwein, 46-8.

South Winn senior Tiffany Riehle goes for a kill in recent Warrior volleyball action. Riehle’s all-around effort against Turkey Valley on Thursday, which included a total of eight kills and eight blocks, helped the Warriors pick up their third consecutive win. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Warrior Volleyball records 3rd straight shutout

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winneshiek volleyball team continued its stellar midseason run as it picked up its sixth win in its last seven matches and third straight shutout victory by defeating Turkey Valley, 3-0.

Aided by a strong defensive effort, the Warriors defeated the Trojans by scores of 25-19, 25-13, and 26-24 to secure the Upper Iowa Conference win.

The Warrior boys’ cross country team had a dominating performance Thursday at Central Elkader as South Winneshiek runners claimed four of the top five spots. Among the top runners were (far left) Paul Hageman (second place, 18:14.8), (593) Derek Dietzenbach (first place, 18:07.03), and (592) Paxten DeVilbiss (third place, 18:41.80). (Jerry Wadian photo)

SW takes top spot in G/B XC action

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winneshiek boys’ and girls’ cross country teams, each carrying a top-four ranking in Class 1A, competed Thursday at Central Elkader.

The Warrior boys, ranked No. 3 in the state, had a near-perfect showing on the day, taking four of the top five spots and winning by an overwhelming number of points.

Senior Derek Dietzenbach crossed the finish line first with a time of 18:07.03, followed by junior Paul Hageman in second with a time of 18:14.80. 

Fourth place went to senior Paxten DeVilbiss (18:41.83); sophomore Emmett Schwartzhoff rounded out the top five with a time of 18:55.53, and junior Eric Franzen rounded out the scoring for the Warriors with an eighth-place finish in a time of 19:33.31.

The spectacular effort yielded a 20-point effort for South Winn, only five points short of a perfect team score. Dunkerton took runner-up honors with a team score of 56, while Kee placed third with 90 points.

The girls’ varsity race featured three of the top-four ranked teams in Class 1A as South Winn (No. 4) looked to challenge top-ranked Kee and No. 2-ranked Central.

Warrior junior Levi Lukes stiff-arms a Bulldog defender as he makes his way toward the sideline for a long punt return in South Winn’s 50-0 win over MFL/MarMac Friday night. Lukes found the end zone on a 44-yard run in the second quarter and later returned a blocked field goal attempt 80 yards for a score on the final play of the game. (Zakary Kriener photo)

South Winn Warriors win big against Bulldogs!

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

After struggling against its first three opponents of the season and opening the season with a disappointing 0-3 record, the South Winneshiek football team broke out Friday night against the MFL/MarMac Bulldogs to the tune of a 50-0 victory.

The Warrior defense started hot, forcing the Bulldogs to punt the ball on their first possession of the game. On South Winn’s ensuing possession, senior quarterback Hunter Todd wasted no time as he hit running back Braxton Smith down the seam for a 56-yard touchdown pass on SW’s very first play.

West Central’s Decker Wirtz looks to make a block on a Central City defender in a 56-20 loss to the Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 15. Chris DeBack photo

Blue Devils battled Central City

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Injuries continued to take a toll on a young West Central football team.

The Blue Devils lost a road game at Central City, 56-20, on Friday, Sept. 15. The team was without upperclassmen Collin Kime and Tyler Buzynski. Kime is expected to miss the rest of the season; however, Blue Devils head coach Steve Milder is optimistic that Buzynski will be back for Friday’s game against Tripoli. 

Central City scored six times before the Blue Devils found the end zone. 

West Central’s Kenadie Betz sets senior Mary McDonough for an attack attempt against MFL/MarMac on Thursday, Sept. 14. The Blue Devils prevailed in a thrilling five-set match, 3-2. Chris DeBack photo

West Central wins thriller in Monona

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Central volleyball team pulled out a thrilling road victory, 3-2, at MFL/MarMac High School in Monona on Thursday, Sept. 14.

The Blue Devils came out poised and ready for action against the Bulldogs. That showed as the team took the first two sets, 25-18 and 25-17.