Helena Fantz was one of six NFV senior volleyball players celebrating Parents’ Night Tuesday, Oct. 11, in West Union. Fantz had eight kills and eight digs in the TigerHawks’ three-set victory over South Winn. She also was in on one of a NFV’s school-record 16 blocks in the contest. (Jerry Wadian photo)

NFV volleyball blocks SW

North Fayette Valley had a record-setting night Tuesday, Oct. 11, in West Union when it totaled a record 16 blocks in a three-set win over South Winn.

Despite their prowess at the net, the TigerHawks had their hands full with two sets going into overtime. When the dust settled on a Parents’ Night match, NFV walked away victorious, 27-25, 25-18, and 27-25.

NFV senior Tanner Kuhens (20) almost assumes the Heisman Trophy Award pose as he avoids a Union (LPC) defender during Friday’s 56-21 dismantling of the second-ranked Knights. In the background, Luke Butikofer (62) has knocked his Knight opponent to the ground. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Playoff-bound!

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The epic clash between the top two teams in Class 2A turned out to be a laugher, as North Fayette Valley blew out the Union Knights, 56-21.

Ron Wymer Field was full of news media, with no fewer than five TV crews working the game.

Most of the media predicted a Union (LPC) victory because it had everyone back from a 4-6 team, including the leading rusher in the class.

What pollsters forgot was that the TigerHawks were returning nearly everybody from a State quarter-finalist. And, with the experience gained last year as the next-man-in, the few new faces are just as good as the departed seniors.

That was evident right away.

Warrior XC living up to the hype

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Warrior XC living up to the hype

By Zakary Kriener

The South Winneshiek cross country program continues to show why both the boys’ and girls’ squads are ranked in the top nine in Class 2A. Saturday, Oct. 1, both teams competed at the Crestwood Invitational in Cresco. Neither team disappointed.

Senior Hannah McGee prepares to send the ball into play during South Winneshiek’s 3-0 win over Upper Iowa Conference foe MFL/MarMac on Thursday in Calmar. (Zakary Kriener photo)

SW netters pick up win at home

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The Warrior volleyball team earned win number 12 of the season in front of a home crowd Thursday night. The Warriors picked up a 3-0 shutout victory over the MFL/MarMac Bulldogs before struggling over the weekend in tournament play.

An intimidating site for any defender, Warrior center Jackson Lukes prepares to snap the ball to quarterback Joel Hanson as running backs Braxton Smith and Rodney Schwartzhoff (front to back) wait to carry out their assignments for the play. Friday night, South Winneshiek picked up a 34-6 win over Central Springs to move to 4-2 for the season. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Warriors make it three in a row

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winneshiek football team continued its mission of making it to the postseason for the sixth consecutive season. Friday night, in front of the large Homecoming crowd, the Warriors took another step toward that goal by beating district foe Central Springs 34-6.

Stars too much for Blue Devils

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Central girls’ volleyball team lost its only match-up of the week, 3-0, to the Starmont Stars on Tuesday, Sept. 27.

Members of the North Fayette Valley cross country teams hands the game ball off to two Homecoming football game officials before the big game against Beckman. During the day, the team ran the football from Dyersville to West Union; before the game, they did one lap around the stadium before presenting the game ball to officials. Members of the team include (l-r) Grace Kerr, Easton Halverson, Faith Johnston (holding ball), Weston Fantz, Callie Halverson, Emma Moyle, Jesse Daughton, Kaylin Muggler (hands on knees), Megan Niewoehner, Megan Feldman (hands on knees), Clayton Schupbach (in the far back), Courtney Streif, Thomas Amundson, Carson Ward, coach Neal Bentley, Taylor Ney, Gina Gibson, Allie Winsell, Pauline Clark, and head coach Tracy Nuss. (Jerry Wadian photo)

TigerHawk XC sets 13 personal-bests

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

It was a busy week for the North Fayette Valley cross country teams on  Tuesday ran in the 21-team Jesup Invitational, and on Friday it lugged the Homecoming football from Dyersville to West Union. That night, the team did one lap around the football stadium before presenting the game ball to the officials.

Five TigerHawk volleyball players are a part of this recent action. Jade Daughton (center) gets ready for a pass as (l-r) Callie Lembke (20), Marrah Burrack (6), Helena Fantz (15) and Katrina Mikhailova (11) move into position for the next move in the chess match of volleyball strategy. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Volleyball wins 5-set marathon

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

NFV volleyball won an exciting five-set marathon Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Clayton Ridge. However, it ran into powerful competition at the Columbus Tournament Saturday in Waterloo, dropping all four games.

“What a night!” was all NFV head volleyball coach Bruce Ehler could say after his team’s thrilling five-set victory Guttenberg.

Clint Rodgers

NFV football coach to UIU HOF

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

North Fayette Valley assistant football coach Clint Rodgers will be inducted into the Upper Iowa University Athletic Hall of Fame in special ceremonies Saturday night.

When notified last July by UIU athletic director David Miller, one of Rodgers first reactions was “The banquet’s not on Friday night, is it? I can’t attend because I’ll have a football game!”

Fortunately for all concerned, the banquet, which had been moved to Friday, was moved back to Saturday night a couple of years ago, so Rodgers can be one of the five to earn induction this year. He will be going into the Athlete category.

Trey Kuhens tries the right side during Friday’s 42-7 Homecoming victory over Beckman. NFV linemen (l-r) Luke Butikofer (62), Jesse Mackey (44), Brandon Wolfe (55) and Jordan Baumler (58) open a huge lane for the TigerHawk fullback to pick up yards.

Happy Homecoming, 42-7

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The visiting Trailblazers fought hard, but they just didn’t have the athletes as North Fayette Valley celebrated Homecoming with a 42-7 win over Dyersville Beckman.

As NFV head coach Bob Lape put it, “They have some very good talent, but are struggling because they don’t have enough of it.”