It’s a full calendar for the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks on Monday. The Golden Hawk girls wrestling team travels to a River Valley Conference quad at West Branch to face Bellevue, Wilton and the home Bears. The Hawks wrestled Friday at Highland where they were team runners-up, powered by five second place finishes from Austyn Sexton, Ashlee Farrier, Emmerson Moore, Mardie Berry, and Ellie Callahan. The Golden Hawks have two ranked wrestlers in their lineup according to the latest Class 1A Iawrestle.com poll with Ashlee Farrier No. 5 at 130lbs, with an undefeated record at 16-0, and Ellie Callahan No. 6 at 170lbs at 12-3. Sexton is the team leader with 17 wins. Others with double digit victories include Gabby Gingerich, Layken Lee, Berry and Cassie Trimpe. The Golden Hawks won the team tournament title at Wilton this season and four athletes have won individual tournament titles including Farrier at North Scott, Wilton and West Liberty, Sexton at North Scott, Callahan at West Liberty and Berry at North Scott. The Hawks lost to the Beavers last week 42-36, and have never matched up with the Bears or Comets.
Bellevue is 5-5 this dual season. They were on the mat Friday at the Central Elkader Tournament where they were 15th, led by individual champ Kelsey Knief at 155lbs. The Comets have one ranked wrestler in their lineup, with Knief No. 12 in 1A. She’s the leader with 22 wins. Grace Recker at 130lbs has 15 victories.
West Branch is 3-9 this dual season. They competed Friday at North Scott where they placed 16th, with Teagyn Hartz winning the championship at 190lbs. Hartz is the lone ranked wrestler in the Bears lineup, standing at No. 7 in 1A. Gisele Gross at 145lbs is the team leader with 21 wins, Hartz has 18, Karly Shelton at 130lbs 17, and Hanna Lacina at 155lbs 13.
Wilton is 9-1 this dual season. They were at Highland Friday where they were sixth as a team, with Audrey Cummings winning the championship at 100lbs. The Beavers have four ranked wrestlers in the latest 1A poll with Cummings No. 10, Natalie Hartman No. 10 at 105lbs, Audra Coss No. 10 at 110lbs and Kaydence Boorn No. 2 at 130lbs. Cummings, Coss and Boorn all have 21 wins this season.
Action starts tonight at 5:30p.m. At West Branch High School.
Both Golden Hawk basketball teams travel to Williamsburg tonight to battle the Raiders. The Golden Hawk girls are 8-1 this year after a 60-34 win at Alburnett. On the season, the Hawks score 64 points per night and give up 43, shooting 39% from the field, 28% from three and 69% at the line with 40 rebounds, 19 steals, 17 assists and 19 turnovers per game. Individually, Callie Huber’s 13 points and 10 boards lead the way, Katelyn Harland has four assists and Jeorgia Evans four steals. This week, Golden Hawk head coach Danny Hershberger joined the KCII Radio Coaches Corner to talk about the game with the Raiders.
Hershberger said, “The biggest key for us is taking care of the basketball. When we limit our turnovers and are strong with the ball, we’re able to get into our offense and we feel really good about being able to score in the half court. We have to have the toughness it takes against a good, physical team like Williamsburg. They can score at all three levels. They have shooters, a good inside post player that can play on the perimeter as well so, they are a tough matchup. We relish the challenge and are excited for the opportunity.”
The Williamsburg girls are 8-2 this year, knocking off Solon last time out 50-34. The Raiders are ranked No. 7 in Class 3A in the latest poll from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. Williamsburg scores 51 points per night and gives up 42 on 38% shooting, 27% from three and 65% at the line with 27 rebounds, 11 assists and steals and 15 turnovers per game. Individually, Zoe Allen and Carly Rich score 12 points per game, Ava Hocker has five boards, and Rich two assists. The Raiders won this game last year 63-44.
The Mid-Prairie boys are also 8-1 on the year, suffering their first setback last time out, a Thursday 55-44 loss at Alburnett. The Hawks score 66 per night and give up 49, at 43% from the floor, 35% from three and 71% at the line with 32 rebounds, 13 assists, nine steals and 14 turnovers per game. Individually, Bryce Henry leads with 24 points per night. Conner Wiles averages six boards per game and Brady Weber has four assists and two steals. This week, Golden Hawk head coach Daren Lambert broke down the rivalry game with the Raiders.
Lambert said, “Going into Monday, we know it’s going to be another rivalry-type game. It’s a tough environment. It’s going to be fun. We’re going to see a school that we want to beat and they want to beat us. We have had some tough matchups over the last few years and we got them last year so you know they’re going to want to return the favor to us this year. They will be big, physical and athletic. The biggest thing for us, we have to consistently do the small things, especially on the defensive end. We have to hold them to one shot. Offensively, playing physical and playing through contact, because we know it’s going to be one of those games.”
Williamsburg is 3-6 this season. They were beaten by Marion 56-50 in their last game. Per game they score 49 and give up 54, shooting 38% overall, 29% from three and 54% at the line with 26 boards, 10 assists, seven steals and 14 turnovers per game. Individually, Dylan Weisskopf goes for 15 points per night, Rayce Heitman has six boards and two assists. Grant Hocker leads with three steals. The Golden Hawks were a 66-61 winner in Wellman a year ago.
You can hear all of the basketball action live tonight on AM 1380, FM 102.5, the KCII2 App and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Golden Hawk Basketball Pregame Show at 5:30p.m., Unc N Nephs Food & Brew tip of the girls game at six with the boys to follow.