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Viking girls look to repeat success as state champions

Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:32 am

As memorable as the 2023-24 season was, head coach Gene Adams believes this season will be just as noteworthy with eight returning letter winners — all of whom were state qualifiers on the title team last season.
Adams, who has coached wrestling for 25 years, enters his second as the Decorah girls’ head coach with a 12-2 dual record last season. Assisting him are Casey Kohls, Matt Simon, Bob Holkesvik and Bruce Sacquitne.

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Veterans to lead the way; Decorah boys swim team built on experience

Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:30 am

It will be a senior-laden team for the Decorah swimmers this winter.
With 13 seniors on the squad and nine returning conference scorers, the Vikings look poised to do big things in the water this season.
Leading the squad for his third season is Head Coach Loran Storts.

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Active night on mats at South Winn

Thursday, December 5, 2024 8:22 am

Hosting its first meet of the season, the South Winn boys’ wrestling team went 1-3 in duals action Tuesday night as it hosted Central Elkader, Clear Lake and New Hampton/Turkey Valley.

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Pair of wins for Decorah

Thursday, December 5, 2024 8:21 am

The topped-ranked Decorah girls’ wrestling team took on a pair of fellow powerhouse teams Tuesday night and came out victorious.

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SW boys open season with “W”

Thursday, December 5, 2024 8:20 am

Getting the 2024-25 season under way, the South Winn boys’ basketball team (1-0, 1-0 UIC) defeated Postville (0-2, 0-1 UIC) on the road, 69-41.

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Tough night for Vikings

Thursday, December 5, 2024 8:20 am

Although the Decorah boys’ wrestling team was ranked one spot above No. 13 Independence in the preseason rankings, the Vikes couldn’t pick up the wins Tuesday on the road. The Mustangs took the dual 53-18.

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Viking boys snuff out Hempstead in opener

Thursday, December 5, 2024 8:19 am

Scoring double digits in every period, the Decorah boys’ basketball team (1-0, 0-0 NEIC) took the season opener from Hempstead (0-1) Tuesday night on the road 73-57.

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Jansen takes silver at Central tourney

Thursday, December 5, 2024 8:18 am

With the Thanksgiving break in the rearview mirror, the South Winn girls’ wrestling team was back on the mats Tuesday night at the Central Elkader Girls Tournament with four place winners.

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Viking girls fall at Wahlert

Thursday, December 5, 2024 8:17 am

After opening the season with a win last week, the Decorah girls’ basketball team fell on the road to Class 3A No. 3 Wahlert Catholic Tuesday night, 67-34.

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Split start to week for Lady WarriorsAfter a second loss to open the season, the South Winn girls’ basketball team (1-2, 1-1 UIC) got in the win column Tuesday night. Monday, the Lady Warriors traveled to Lanesboro, Minnesota and came home with a disappointing 50-28 loss. No stats or other information was available at press time. However, the squad rebounded to defeat Postville (0-2, 0-2 UIC) on the road Tuesday night, 48-11. SW started Tuesday’s conference game slow, holding just an 8-5 lead after the first quarter, but pulled away in the second to a 26-7 advantage at the half. In the second half, the Warriors kept the Pirates off the board in the third and only allowed four in the final period while putting up a combined 22 points. Individual stats were unavailable at press time.

Thursday, December 5, 2024 8:14 am

After a second loss to open the season, the South Winn girls’ basketball team (1-2, 1-1 UIC) got in the win column Tuesday night.

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Four Viking gridders tabbed as All-State

Thursday, December 5, 2024 8:07 am

Four Decorah football players were recently named to the Iowa Football Coaches Association all state teams.

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TV now a veteran squad in Hoffert’s third season at the helm

Thursday, December 5, 2024 8:03 am

Turkey Valley girls basketball coach Steve Hoffert is bringing back nine letter winners for theTrojans, who are looking to make some noise this year – the kind that brings home banners in 2024-2025.
The Trojans played to a 7-15 mark and sixth place finish (6-10) in the Upper Iowa Conference a season ago, and the veteran bunch sports four returning starters this year.

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Trojans will bring a new lineup out on to the hardwood“Trust the process.” Those are John Izer’s words about his Turkey Valley boys hoops squad. He’s ready to get the season started. Turkey Valley lost four starters from a squad last winter and went 12-11 overall and 7-9 in the UIC (sixth place). TV’s lone starter back is junior forward Logan Busta – an honorable mention UIC pick last year. “We’re an easy scout right now. Nobody knows the names of seven out of our 10 guys – unless you’re talking football,” said Izer. “J.D. (Kruse) and Logan – we’ll be asking a ton out of them.” Kruse did start three games last year but was more or less a key reserve on Izer’s squad – who like to push the ball up the floor in a fast-paced, high-energy style of hoops play. Izer said the physical size of his players will give the team another reason to continue focusing on setting a break-neck pace against their opponents — no one on Izer’s roster is taller than 6-2. “We’re going to have periods where we’re going to have a hard time scoring,” said Izer. “We need to generate some stuff. We’re going to have to generate some turnovers. We’re going to have to find some fast breaks and Logan can lead all of that. He’s one of the best at leading all that.” Justin Izer – the coach’s son – was the head girls hoops coach at South Winneshiek last year but will be his father’s top assistant this winter. Also on John Izer’s coaching staff are Steve Busta and Adam Hanson. Those four coaches will attempt to mold a team brimming with potential and talent. Izer is excited about a new bunch who will take center stage in Jackson Junction and help turn over a new leaf – hopefully the winning variety for all the red, black and white-clad Trojans this winter. “They’re going to be thrown in,” said John Izer. “They’re hungry in practice. They’re wanting to work. They’ve been real easy to work with so far.” Izer’s projected lineup – at least the one that recently played North Fayette Valley in Monona during a jamboree scrimmage – will be Busta and Kruse, as well as sophomores Cale Langreck, Jordan Kriener and Kaden Schmidt. “That sophomore class – I’ve got a great lock-down man-to-man defender in there. I’ve got a guy who’s full of energy and just won’t stop,” John Izer added. The starters TV lost due to graduation from a year ago are seniors Oliver Schmitt (first team all-conference), Caleb Kurtenbach (honorable All-UIC), Russell Nieman and Braylen Byrne. TV’s newcomers will help fill the void. John Izer said he’ll play eight or nine deep on his roster – at least that’s the plan before the Christmas break rolls around. “They’re working hard. They want to be challenged. They’re not whiny about what we’re doing. They’re asking for it,” said Izer. “We’ve got a good group.” Trojan juniors Tucker Reicks and Alex Hanson will also look to shine for Izer and his Trojans this winter. “We’re going to ask a lot of Tucker Reicks,” said John Izer. “He’s gotten bigger. He’s gotten stronger. We’re going to push him inside a little bit just because we like the way he works inside. Alex’s our best 3-point shooter.” TV’s starting rotation could also be a fluid situation until everything falls into place. “We’re mixing and matching,” said Izer. “We gotta get combinations down.” Schmidt – the Trojans’ leading rusher last year on the football field – has impressed the TV head coach so far during his first taste of varsity hoops play. “He’s quick. He’s tough. He doesn’t bring a lot of scoring, but he brings a lot to the defensive side,” John said. Langreck averaged 2.2 points and made good on three three-point shots during his freshman season. TV lost more than 60 percent of its scoring from last year. Busta is the Trojans’ top scorer back as he averaged 9.4 points per game and over five rebounds a contest. The Turkey Valley signal caller out on the gridiron knows how to distribute the rock as well as the pigskin as evident by his average of 4.2 assists a game. His 96 assists total led TV in that category. Kruse is a jumping-jack that can bounce out of the gym with his athletic ability and racked up over seven points of offense a contest and 5.2 rebounds a game. TV senior Jonah Orvis, junior Wyatt Maklenburg, sophomores Treyton Franzen and Jayden Rausch as well as freshman Caleb Kriener will also look to contribute to the Trojans’ cause this winter. John Izer also stated that his team can’t be afraid to get dirty, get on the floor and come up with those 50-50 loose balls. “I believe we’ve got guys that want to do that,” said Izer. Kee High was the conference champ (15-1) last season, while NFV and MFL MarMac tied for second at 13-3. South Winn and Postville tied for third with 9-7 league marks. “Our conference is loaded this year. North Fayette was in the substate game. Kee was in the substate game. South Winn brings everybody back and they are loaded with athletes,” said John Izer. “It’s about as tough of a conference as we’ve seen for a long time.”

Thursday, December 5, 2024 8:00 am

“Trust the process.”
Those are John Izer’s words about his Turkey Valley boys hoops squad.
He’s ready to get the season started.

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Vikes upended by North Scott

Friday, November 15, 2024 8:40 am

Where cheers filled the stadium in the final minute the prior week, Decorah fans fell silent in the closing seconds of Friday’s game against North Scott as the Lancers came back from a 10-point deficit in the final 6:30 to expel the Vikings from the postseason, 28-24.
With the outcome no Decorah player, coach or fan wanted, the Vikes have nothing to hang their heads about as they posted the first 10-win season since 2013, and going undefeated in the district.

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Four events headed to state in Marshalltown

Friday, November 15, 2024 8:39 am

The Decorah swim team will have representatives in four events this weekend at the state meet in Marshalltown Saturday, Nov. 9, at the regional meet at Linn-Mar.
All of Decorah’s events qualified with at-large bids, which are time-based in relation to other regions across the state. The Vikings posted a seventh-place overall finish, totaling 153 points as Iowa City West captured the team title with 422.5 points.

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Five Trojans tabbed all-district

Friday, November 15, 2024 8:38 am

Mark Scott regaled a memorable play this fall in a game versus Don Bosco where one of his Trojan football players tracked down a ball carrier, forced the turnover and then proceeded to make another tackle as the opposition fell on the pigskin to retain possession.
That desire to never back down – regardless of the circumstance – perhaps best personified the kind of season it was for the Turkey Valley football squad.
In 2024, the ball didn’t exactly bounce the Trojans’ way, but that didn’t stop coach Scott’s playmakers from having an impact – win or lose.

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Johnson final Pigskin Picks winner

Friday, November 15, 2024 8:34 am

The final week of the 2024 Pigskin Picks football contest is in the books and it was a tough one with the best entry missing four games.
Decorah’s Ray Johnson took the top prize with Armin Pipho of Moorhead, MN., taking second and Decorah’s Marlene Sorenson third.
Pipho and Sorenson each were among the many missing five games; however, both correctly guessed the first tie breaker which was the highest single score of a game of 45. It was Kansas who racked up the high score for the week, as well as combining with Iowa State to have 81 for the second tie breaker. Pipho had guessed 68 in the second tie breaker with Sorenson estimating 60.

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Just short for Warrior girls; good runs by Decorah, SW’s Conway

Wednesday, November 6, 2024 10:12 am

Standing on the deck was just not in the cards for the Winneshiek County teams Friday and Saturday following the Class 3A and 1A races at the state cross country meet in Fort Dodge.

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Decorah’s 15-14 victory one to remember

Wednesday, November 6, 2024 10:10 am

Cheers could be heard throughout downtown Decorah as the Viking football team took down Newton in the first round of the Class 4A playoff in the final minute Friday night, 15-14.
And it’s probably a game players, coaches and fans will never forget.

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Warriors gridders honored by district for efforts

Wednesday, November 6, 2024 10:08 am

A host of South Winn football players were honored by being named all-district in Class A District 3.
In total, four athletes were named first team and three were honorable mention.

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