South Winn freshman standout Braiden Todd sets up the Warrior offense during a recent home game. Last week, Todd and the Warriors earned a big win over Clayton Ridge to move into a tie for second place in the conference. (Zakary Kriener photo)

SW boys move to 2nd in UIC with big win over CR

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winn boys notched a big win over Clayton Ridge on Friday night, improving to 6-4 with a 59-50 final score.

Clayton Ridge entered the game with just one loss, but a fast start by the Warriors helped lead to the victory.

WC girls drop three games last week

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The West Central girls’ basketball team dropped a trio of games last week, including to Clayton Ridge, Oelwein, and North Fayette Valley.

On Tuesday, Jan. 3, the Blue Devils hosted the Eagles of Clayton Ridge. WC fell by a score of 31-27.

Blue Devil boys bitten by Huskies, fall 65-26

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

West Central hosted Oelwein on Thursday night, with the Blue Devil boys falling by a score of 65-26.

The score was 14-6 in favor of the Huskies after the first, and 32-16 at the half – also in favor of Oelwein.

North Fayette Valley’s Claire Koester locks in a tight headlock during recent girls’ wrestling action. Friday, Koester took runner-up at the Central Invite as she racked up three pins on the night. (photo by Emily Koch)

NFV girls compete at Central Invite

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The North Fayette Valley girls’ wrestling team competed at the Central Invite on Friday evening in Elkader. Up against a field of 30 teams from Iowa and Wisconsin, the TigerHawks came home 14^th with 60 team points.

In a 120-pound matchup, NFV’s Jaxson Lundgren works from the top position against No. 9-ranked Braxton Bormann of Central Elkader. The two freshmen wrestlers entered the third period with a 4-3 score in favor of Bormann, but Lundgren ultimately fell by a score of 7-3. (Zakary Kriener photo)

TigerHawk boys go 4-0 in UIC dual action

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The TigerHawk boys’ wrestling team had a stellar start to its 2023 year as it went a perfect 4-0 in Upper Iowa Conference dual action on Thursday in Postville.

“I was very proud of how the team wrestled last night,” said coach Jacob Pedersen on Friday. “I feel like we took a nice step forward after our break and are continually getting better.”

North Fayette Valley’s Brice Burgin rolled a 332 series on Friday as the TigerHawks competed at Waukon. (Zakary Kriener photo)

NFV bowling teams bested by Waukon

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The North Fayette Valley bowling teams were back in action Friday afternoon as they traveled to Waukon to take on the Indians.

On the boys’ side, the TigerHawks fell by a score of 2,834-2,667. Leading the way was James Baumler with a 422 series, followed by Mason Brown-Gonnerman (375), and Brice Burgin (332). Other NFV scores included Thomas Sadler with a 328, Jacob Ladeburg with a 292, and Elliot Maire with a 286.

TigerHawk junior Mady Ney brings the ball up the court to set up the NFV offense during recent action. Last week, the girls started out the week with a loss to No. 8-ranked Central, but rebounded with two straight wins to close out the week. (Zakary Kriener photo)

TH girls get huge win over Kee on Saturday

by Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The TigerHawk girls’ basketball team picked up a second straight win in as many days Saturday as NFV defeated UIC foe Kee, 87-44.

Putting up a season-high in points, North Fayette Valley outscored the Hawks in all four quarters, the narrowest of differentials coming in the first quarter with an 18-15 advantage.

TigerHawk sophomore Kyler White has come on strong in the second half of the season as he leads 5-4 North Fayette Valley with 30 assists. (Zakary Kriener photo)

NFV boys win third straight with win over Kee

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The North Fayette Valley boys made it a perfect three-for-three on the week as it picked up a 63-49 win over Kee on Saturday.

Elgin native Al Greener was presented with a jersey at his retirement ceremony after serving as the pep band director at the University of Louisville for the previous 15 years. (submitted photo)

The top 5 sports stories of 2022

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Looking back through the year that was 2022, there was a lot going on in the wide world of sports in Fayette County. Listed in order of occurrence The Union-Echo-Leader’s top five stories from the year!

Al Greener retires as Louisville pep band leader

In the February 23 issue of the U-E-L, a story on Elgin native Al Greener retiring from his role as the University of Louisville pep band director was published.

After a 15-year career with the Cardinals’ pep band, Greener officially retired in January of this year. At that time, he was presented with a framed #1 jersey at a basketball game.

South Winn’s Hailey Riehle drives the ball into the opponents’ end of the court during recent Warrior basketball action. In last week’s win over Postville, Riehle had four points, two rebounds, and six steals as SW got the win. (Zakary Kriener photo)

South Winn girls take down Postville

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winn girls added a win to their record on Tuesday night, Dec. 20, as they defeated Postville, 45-37, to improve to 2-7 on the season.

The Warriors got out to a 14-7 lead after the first quarter and held a 25-21 advantage at halftime.

After the third quarter, the Pirates cut the lead to 31-29, but the Warriors got things going in the fourth quarter again to get the win.