The top 10 best sports stories from the 2021-22 academic year starts up today with number 10 on our list. This countdown includes top team and individual accomplishments or feel good stories for area schools of Columbus Community, Highland, Lone Tree, Winfield-Mt. Union, WACO, Sigourney, and Keota. 

The 10th best story takes us to the cross country course last fall when the Columbus Community boys picked up right where they left off from 2020. For the second time in as many years the Wildcats punched their ticket to state by placing second at the class 1A districts in Iowa City with 66 points to beat out third place North Linn with 86. After dominating all year the chilly day at Iowa City Kickers Complex saw seniors Freddy Vergara and Isaac Acosta lead the team with second and sixth place finishes, respectively. The duo knew this was the end goal all along. Vergara – “Going as a team is even better than running individually. I wanted our whole team at state and we were able to accomplish that.” Acosta -“It was worth all of the pain. I gave it my all and then some more and it was worth it because we are going to state as a team.”  The next week in Fort Dodge the Wildcats finished 16th at state headlined by a top 25 showing from Vergara placing 24th in 17:25. Acosta, Damian Vergara, Mason Hills-Carrier, Tim Hills-Carrier, Tyler Humiston, and Javier Panchillo rounded out the squad. 

Our top 10 countdown continues tomorrow for area schools with number nine on our list.