Blue Devils fall to Easton Valley

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The Blue Devil football team fell in its final matchup of 2018 as Easton Valley came into Maynard and won, 76-16.

West Central scored in the first and third quarters, as senior quarterback Adam Dolf had touchdown passes to Decker Wirtz (1-yard reception) and Aiden Nelson (7-yard reception). 

West Central sophomore Marlee Squires hustles to return a serve during last week’s 1A Regional volleyball matchup against Nashua-Plainfield. Squires led the Blue Devils in kills in the match with 13. (Zakary Kriener photo)

WC VB advances in Regionals

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The West Central volleyball squad started its 2018 postseason with a win on Tuesday, Oct. 16, over Nashua-Plainfield.

The Blue Devils won the match, 3-1 (25-22, 25-27, 25-13, and 25-23) to advance to the second round of its 1A Regional tournament.

NFV is sending four runners to compete in the State Cross Country Meet on Saturday in Fort Dodge. The four earned the honor by finishing in the top 15 at the State Qualifying Meet last Thursday in Monticello. The State qualifiers include Brynn Gamm (front) and (l-r) Weller Clark, Chandler Douglas, and Caleb O’Hare. (Jerry Wadian photo)

NFV qualifies 4 for State XC

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

NFV cross country coaches were delighted with the results of Thursday’s State Qualifying Cross Country Meet in Monticello. 

“Everyone ran hard, and we had multiple personal- and season-bests, including some that were by 30 seconds and more,” commented head coach Neal Bentley after the meet. 

The TigerHawks finished with four runners in the top 15, qualifying each of them for the State Cross Country Meet on Saturday in Fort Dodge.

For the boys, Chandler Douglas was runner-up, and Caleb O’Hare and Weller Clark finished 13^th and 15^th, respectively. 

In the girls’ race, Brynn Gamm qualified for the second consecutive year with her seventh-place finish.

NFV senior Taylor Ellis smashes one over the net for one of her team-high four kills during Wednesday’s Class 3A Regional game against ninth-ranked New Hampton. (Jerry Wadian photo)

VB bows out

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The volleyball season ended for NFV Wednesday, Oct. 17, in New Hampton as the ninth-ranked Chickasaws won all three sets in the opening round of the Class 3A Region 8 playoffs.

Early in the season, NH beat the TigerHawks, 21-8 and 21-9.

However, Wednesday’s game started well as the TigerHawks blew out to a 6-1 lead in the opening set.

With Indian defenders either on the ground or left behind in the dust and Chase Blagsvedt (59) leading the way, Mac Whelan (23) skirts right end for a 20-yard gain in Friday’s 40-22 loss in Waukon. (Jerry Wadian photo)

TigerHawk FB ends season

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

For the ninth time this season, NFV was the smallest team on the football field. In the previous eight, the TigerHawks had been in every game with four or five plays being the difference between four more wins. 

However, in Friday’s game at Waukon they were no match for the third-ranked Indians as NFV fell to 3-6 after a 40-22 loss.

SW VB closes out regular season

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winn volleyball team closed out its 2018 regular season last week and now shifts its attention toward postseason. The Warriors split their two contests last week, picking up a win over MFL/MarMac on Tuesday (Oct. 9) and losing to West Central on Thursday.

Led by 11 All-Upper Iowa Conference selections, the Warrior boys’ and girls’ cross country teams each placed first at Thursday’s UIC Meet in West Union. All-Conference runners included (front, l-r) Shira Hageman, Melissa Ward, Ashley Kriener, Jenna Knutson, Kayley Taylor, Olivia Massman; (back) Jamison Meyer, Chance Adam, Emmett Schwartzhoff, Paul Hageman, and Toby Conway. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Boys' and girls' XC win UIC titles

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

It was a clean sweep for the South Winn cross country program at Thursday’s Upper Iowa Conference meet in West Union as both the boys’ and girls’ team won respective team titles. Led by 11 total all-conference runners, the Warrior boys won by a single point and the girls were victorious by four points.

Leading the way for the No. 8-ranked SW boys, who won by a point over North Fayette Valley, was Paul Hageman. The Warrior senior placed second with a time of 18:12.25.

WC falls to Springville

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The West Central football team hosted Springville on Friday night in Maynard, falling 55-16. 

A quick start for Springville proved to be too much for the Blue Devils to overcome as WC trailed 27-8 after the first quarter and 43-8 at the half. The lone West Central touchdown came from a 49-yard interception return by Aiden Nelson.

The Blue Devil receiver added a second touchdown in the third quarter as he scored on a 45-yard pass from quarterback Adam Dolf. Springville, however, added two more scores of their own to create a final score of 55-16.

NFV had six runners earn All-Conference honors at the UIC XC Meet Thursday in West Union. All-UIC performers must finish in the top 15 in their respective class. The six TigerHawks are (front, l-r) Carson Ward, Jesse Daughton, Brynn Gamm, Weller Clark, and Davan Crooker; (back) Chandler Douglas, Caleb O’Hare, and Weston Fantz. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Boys second by a point at UIC

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

A mere point separated the NFV and South Winn varsity boys’ teams after running the Upper Iowa Conference Cross Country Meet on Thursday.

Turkey Valley was scheduled to host, but the recent heavy rains left the golf course in Jackson Junction in no condition to be used. Hence it was moved to West Union, which has the only course not on a golf course.

TigerHawk senior Chandler Douglas won with a time of 17:35.26. SW’s Paul Hageman was second in 18:12.25.

Overall, the top five Warriors finished second, third, sixth, seventh and 10^th for a total of 28 points 

Meanwhile, Douglas, Caleb O’Hare, Weller Clark, Jesse Daughton, and Weston Fantz finished first, fourth, fifth, eighth and 12^th, respectively. Had the score been tied through five runners, NFV would have won since Davan Crooker placed 13^th and his SW counterpart was 17^th.

NFV’s Payten Lehmann crosses up the Clayton Ridge players by dinking this ball over the net during Thursday action in West Union. (Jerry Wadian photo)

NFV splits in UIC VB

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

NFV volleyball split a pair of conference games last week. 

Tuesday, the TigerHawks swept Turkey Valley, 25-22, 25-21, and 25-21, on the Trojans’ home court.

Thursday at home, NFV lost the final game of the regular season to Clayton Ridge, 10-25, 15-25, and 17-25.