On the night where she would have turned 18 years old, Orient-Macksburg and Murray came together after tonight’s softball game to honor and celebrate Sammi Long.
I get it, a little bit, but…
For the defending Supporters’ Shield winners in a home opener, this is kind of a disappointing turnout. Hopefully this improves as the season progresses and the weather gets warmer.
#NERevs
In the final padded practice of the year, Bishop Feehan football allowed its players to get one last hit in.
Dante Bruschi didn’t hold back. Wait for it…
My heart goes out to the Long family in Orient today. Truly heartbreaking to hear about someone so young with their whole life ahead of them.
Another time to hug your friends tighter and tell them you love them every time you see them. You never know when it'll be the last time.
In case you didn’t see it last night during Creston’s game against Chariton, Creston’s Sydney Hartsock paid tribute to the late Sammi Long by writing her name on her right wrist.
"I told myself there's no way in hell I'm walking out of here without third place. ... I hope I showed the kids in our program (stuff) happens. Sometimes things don't work out."
Jackson Kinsella finishes 3rd at state in his final ride for Creston/O-M.
#iahswr
A “no school Friday” chant from the Nodaway Valley section as they go up 50-42 with 50.8 left.
I was told Corinne Bond has a math test that day, so sorry teach, looks like she may have other things to do that day.
Loaded up and headed out of town. Go figure, I get the Rhode Island UHaul. Bittersweet leaving. Thank you Creston and to everyone I met/worked with these last 2+ years!
Orient-Macksburg alumni Kaela Eslinger will choose to wear No. 8 this season while playing softball for Waldorf.
Eslinger chose 8 to honor her best friend, Sammi Long, who passed in the winter of 2019.
Long wore 8 for O-M, while Eslinger wore 9.
Congratulations to Steve McCann on his induction to the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Softball Umpires Hall of Fame. McCann worked behind the plate for 47 years and has officiated an estimated 2500 games. He’s officiated basketball, football and a total of 17 state title games.
It didn't dawn on me until after the fact that former CNA AOTY nominee and I-35 Roadrunner Mason Cassady was on the sideline for Iowa State also. Sure enough, I took his photo during the opening walkout and didn't even realize.
When you battle for 15 innings and come out on top, you get all the love from an accomplished head coach. Big win tonight for East Union and Mallory Raney.
@EastUnionSoftb1
As usual, Jackson Kinsella is a great quote. When it comes to himself or his teammates, he always has positive and honest things to say.
Here's what he said about fellow senior Kaden Bolton going to state with him this year:
Hello friends,
I will stepping down from the News Advertiser’s sports editor position. tomorrow, effective at noontime.
I can’t thank you all enough for the last two years. I literally don’t know what to say to accurately describe the feelings.
"She’s the pinnacle of what you want to be as a high school athlete."
With a drive to succeed that's been with her for years, Emma Atwood has reached a level that not many have before her have been able to reach.
She is the 2019 South Central Iowa Female Athlete of the Year.
Kinsella, post-finals loss to EBF's Sage Walker.
"I live and die by this sport. I eat it, breathe it, ... this was never the goal and is fueling the fire, for sure. I don't know what my training methods will be, but they're going to be a heck of a lot harder next year."
It’s stuff like this that make athletic trainers so vital to every school/team and is why they should be at every single game. Every time I don’t see one at a high school game I hold my breath something doesn’t happen.
No matter how old are far away from home you are, parents will always find a way of embarrassing you.
Trust me.
@mshetoo
put this on Page 2 of Friday’s paper.
Unpopular opinion: if you cheer for an opposing player fouling out in the biggest game of her life knowing she’s a key player of that team you suck.
ESPECIALLY if you’re over the age of 19.
It's end of the road for Creston/O-M senior Kaden Bolton. The senior who helped win a Hawkeye 10 title, a Sectional title and helped clinch a state dual berth gets bounced in his second state appearance.
Hell of a year and a career for the 152 pounder.
#iahswr
Emotional embrace between Baudler and head coach Darrell Bunmeister. A program that has had a lot of success has had its first ever school individual champion.
It’s a police escort for the baddest dudes in town tonight as
@chsgrapplers
heads off to Des Moines.
The Panthers will wrestle in the 2A state dual tournament tomorrow at 9am, and will have five wrestle in the traditional tournament starting Thursday.
A kid saying “thank you for everything you’ve done” to me after the biggest game of their life is the type of stuff that’ll keep me in this job until I physically can’t anymore. Feels incredible to hear that.
Imagine busting your ass for four years to sign on with your local CC only to have someone tell you your advancement as an athlete/student isn’t earth shaking.
Sorry bud, competing in college is competing in college, whether you’re at a JuCo or not. That’s pretty important.
It’s Creston assistant XC coach Gary O’Daniels’ final meet tonight with the Panthers. He left a message in the tree tonight as Creston stars to pack up shop.
A 42-31 final puts Creston/O-M on to the State meet. What a winter it has been for these guys, who still have 10 wrestlers gunning for individual state berths.
In other news....
Creston's Keaton Street has committed to Iowa Central Community College's Rodeo Team for bull riding.
Street joins ICCC's team and will be coached by John Young, an Orient native and former Creston/O-M wrestler.
I'm in no means biased, but the Creston crowd absolutely killed it tonight. Unreal atmosphere paired with great wrestling and a great showing of how awesome high school sports while on senior night.
Mount Ayr is loading up this afternoon for its long trip to Fort Dodge. The Raiderettes are decking out their bus for the trip in appropriate fashion.
#BusinessTrip
Got confirmation tonight that Creston F Brance Baker’s season and high school basketball career is done due to a shoulder injury. He played tonight, wanting “one last go.”
Baker finished with 15 points in his final game, a line HC Bryce Schafer called “fantastic.”
A “no school Friday” chant from the Nodaway Valley section as they go up 50-42 with 50.8 left.
I was told Corinne Bond has a math test that day, so sorry teach, looks like she may have other things to do that day.
Cael Kralik gets a standing ovation in his final home game for the Panthers. Kralik is out for the season due to a knee injury.
A nice gesture from Creston which was also done to Braelyn Baker in the girls game, who also will miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury.
With 65,612 fans in attendance, the New England Revolution game tonight drew more fans than any New England Patriots home game from this past season.
#NERevs
Britain Miller just broke a corner on a spin move, hauling off for a 75-yard score. Honestly, it was probably the play of the year for this receiving group. The 2-point try is no good.
0:08 left in the half. 42-12 the score.
Our SC Iowa Athletes of the Year for 2020 have been announced.
Congratulations to Nodaway Valley's Josh Baudler and Mount Ayr's Sam Stewart on the selection!
Our story on Josh >
Our story on Sam >
After six successful surgeries in the last year, Nodaway Valley’s Darrell Burmeister will be returning to coaching full time. He will return to the bench for the basketball season to co-coach with current coaches James Larson and Zack Leeper.
Congratulations to our Week 5 News Advertiser area Athletes of The Week.
FB: Brance Baker, Creston
GXC: MaKayla Jones, Mount Ayr
BXC: Josh Baudler, Nodaway Valley
VB: T.J. Stoaks, Lenox
Sara Keeler and Gracie Hagle we’re unanimously selected to the Hawkeye 10 all-conference softball team.
Peyton Rice and Morgan Driskell were named to the second team.
Nevaeh Randall and Halle Evans we’re both honorable mentions.
Tonight's win at state is the first in Nodaway Valley girls basketball history on the big stage.
Lindsey Davis (23) was your leading scorer tonight for the Wolverines, scoring 20 points.
#iahsgbb
@Nodaway_Valley