The West Central Blue Devils girls’ golf team includes (l-r) Kenadie Betz, Ashley Buzynski, Sheridan Brickman, Brianne Martin, Kenzie Squires, Mary Michels, Ayrrian Harsen, and head coach Ron Ahrens. 

West Central girls' golf on the rise

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

After fielding a full team last year for the first time in four years, the WC girls’ golf team is ready to strut its stuff this season.

Head coach Ron Ahrens termed last year, “a learning experience for everyone.”

Megan Feldman has her eyes set firmly down the track as she starts the first leg of the distance medley for NFV at the Early Bird Relays, Tuesday (March 29) in Waverly. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Girls' tack opens at Waverly

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The NFV girls started the outdoor season at the Early Bird Relays in Waverly on Tuesday, March 29.

The TigerHawks faced a number of Class 3A and 4A schools in finishing sixth, just a point behind Mason City in fifth and 4.5 points out of fourth.

Despite the depth and quality of the larger schools, NFV won four medals.

NFV senior Darin Ney sails the discus in the Frostbite Relays Tuesday (March 29) in Sumner. Ney’s throw of 127’08” was good enough to earn a bronze medal in the first outdoor meet of the year. (Jerry Wadian photo)

NFV boys 2nd at Sumner

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The North Fayette Valley boys’ track team opened the outdoor season by finishing second at the Frostbite Relays Tuesday, March 29, in Sumner.

Head coach Mark Nuss stated, “Despite the high winds and chilly temperatures, it was a good first outing. Our times and distances are improving, and our younger athletes are posting some good results.”

The TigerHawks brought back 16 medals, including five gold.

South Winneshiek teammates Braxton Smith (left) and Carson Lensing (right) hit their stride in the 55-meter dash at the Decorah Indoor Meet Saturday, March 19, at Luther College. Lensing went on to place fourth in the event, while Smith finished eighth. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Warrior T/F competes twice at Luther

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winneshiek boys’ and girls’ track and field teams traveled to Decorah twice last week to compete indoors at Luther College. Saturday, March 19, the two Warrior teams competed at the Decorah Invitational, and on Monday, March 21, the pair of squads competed at the Decorah Indoor meet.

West Central boys’ track and field team members ready for the 2016 season include (front, l-r) Dom Meyer, Taylor Hepperle, Joe Lamphere, Josh Donat, Derek Pape and Joe Kane; (back) assistant coach Matt Hageman, Collin Kime, Alexander Hepperle, Andrew Squires, Trevor Koch, Thomas Leverington, Seth Reinking, Lincoln Fuhs, Tyson Decker and head coach Steve Milder. Adam Dolf is not pictured. 

WC to be competitive in boys' track

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Central boys’ track and field team finished 11th of 12 teams with 17 team points at the Upper Iowa Conference Indoor Track Meeting on Monday, March 21, at Luther College.

The Blue Devils return two runners who competed at the State Meet a season ago. Half of their State-qualifying shuttle hurdle relay team, Tyson Decker and Collin Kime, returns this season. Three other athletes, seniors Andrew Squires and Trevor Koch along with freshman Taylor Hepperle, who was the best hurdler on the junior high team last season, will compete for the final spot.

West Central girls’ track and field team looking forward to the new season include (front, l-r) Cherokee Noggle and Sadie Kuennen; (back) assistant coach Abby DeGroot, Carlie Rueber, Braidyn Burrow, Mary McDonough, Neveah Martin, Lauren Fink and head coach Randy Fink. 

WC girls ready to make some noise

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

With a squad of just seven girls, the West Central girls’ track and field team will have an uphill battle to be competitive this season.

However, 11th-year head coach Randy Fink acknowledged that with hard work, this group of girls is capable of competing night in and night out.

“We have a small but very hardworking group with a positive attitude most of the time,” Fink said. “It will be tough to score as a team, but we plan to get off the bus and perform to the best of our abilities every time out.”

Taking home plaques for winning contests during the annual UIC Senior All-Star Games Thursday in West Union were (l-r) Carissa Moyna (girls’ MVP and 2-ball contest) and Trevor Hurd (boys’ MVP); (back) Kim Rounds (3-point contest), Jacob Janson (2-ball), Ethan Fink (3-point contest) Carson Lensing (slam dunk) and Delaney Lensing (girls’ free throw).

Senior All-Star Games a blast

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The 2016 UIC Senior All-Star Games Thursday was a blast from beginning to end.

Throughout the two games and five contests, athletes and fans wore broad smiles and filled the North Fayette Valley High School gym with cheers and laughter.

It’s a sister act as Megan Niewoehner (foreground) grabs the baton from her sibling, Macy, in the 4x800 Monday (March 21) at the UIC Indoor Track Meet at Luther College in Decorah. The TigerHawk foursome of Kim Rounds, Megan Feldman, and the Niewoehner sisters finished fourth in the hotly contested race. (Jerry Wadian photo)

NFV girls end indoor track season

By Jerry Wadian

jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The NFV girls’ track team ended the indoor season Monday (March 21) at the UIC Meet in Decorah.

Like the 2015 UIC outdoor meet, the TigerHawk gals finished third, just three-and-a-half points behind runner-up South Winn. Central/Elkader was the runaway winner with 112 points.