HARLAN – It was another proud day for a program that has had a lot to feel good about lately. Harlan Community senior Dillon Sears, already a four-year starter for the state champion Cyclone baseball team, signed a national letter of intent on Wednesday, Nov.

 HARLAN -- The Harlan Community football team set two school records and tied another during a 4-5 campaign in 2016, breaking two marks that had stood since 1970. In a 70-49 loss at Creston/O-M in Week 3, HCHS accumulated 657 yards of total offense, breaking the record of 629 set in 1970 against Jefferson. In a Week 9 home game vs.

 DES MOINES -- Harlan Community’s winning tradition on the baseball diamond has been well-documented, highlighted by 16 state tournament appearances, three state titles - most recently this past August - and three state runner-up finishes since 2008. But across the street from Principal Park, where the Cyclones have been playing state tourney games since 2005, another tradition is emerging at the Kiwanis Miracle League.

 WAYNE, NEB.

 CEDAR RAPIDS -- Harlan Community volleyball coach Angie Spangenberg was honored on Friday as the 2016 volleyball recipient of the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union’s Golden Plaque of Distinction.

 AMES -- Jess Schaben and her Iowa State volleyball teammates had been in this position before. On October 8 in Austin, Texas, the Cyclones rallied back from an 0-2 deficit to force a fifth set against the University of Texas, but came up on the short end of a 15-10 score and fell to 1-4 in Big 12 Conference play. Five weeks later, Iowa State was not going to be denied in the rematch in Ames. Once again battling from behind, the Cyclones dropp

 WEST DES MOINES -- The Harlan Patriots 6th grade football team capped a perfect 6-0 season on Saturday, October 22, defeating the Nevada Titans 26-0 in a championship playoff game held under the lights at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines. The Harlan Patriots 3rd-4th grade team also won its playoff game on October 23 at Norwalk, defeating the WDM Texans 19-18 to finish 3-3 in the Junior Division, tied for eighth place out of 20 total teams. B

 HARLAN -- Starting with the current 2016-17 season, Harlan Community Middle School will be charging admission to all home basketball games and wrestling meets for 7th and 8th grade.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS -- A group of 17 Special Olympics athletes from the Harlan Community Schools (grades 6-8) participated in a regional bowling tournament at Thunderbowl in Council Bluffs on October 4. Three Cyclone bowlers advanced to the November 19 state tournament in Sioux City by placing first at regionals.

 HARLAN -- It was only six seasons, but oh, what an amazing six-year run it was. Harlan Community head volleyball coach Angie Spangenberg, who quickly took the program to new heights after moving to Harlan in 2011, has decided to hang up her whistle and put away the clipboard. Harlan Community Activities Director Mitch Osborn announced that Spangenberg has resigned her coaching position, pending school board approval on Monday, Nov. 7.

 TABOR -- When it was all said and done - the handshake line complete and the trophy presentation in the books - several Fremont-Mills players made their way back to the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton side of the 50-yard line. Following 48 minutes of hard-hitting playoff football, the rivals exchanged well-wishes and sportsmanlike pats on the back. The Spartans may not have been able to hang with the Knights in Friday’s 8-Player quarterfinal game,

 TABOR -- The Spartans of Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton know very well the challenge that awaits them in Friday night’s 8-Player quarterfinal playoff game at 2nd-ranked Fremont-Mills. The unbeaten Knights (10-0) rank fourth in the 8-Player class with 57.8 points per game and easily lead every class in the state with 36 interceptions, 45 total takeaways and 13 defensive touchdowns. F-M has posted five shutouts, held four other teams to 12 points or

 MARSHALLTOWN -- Harlan Community junior Abby Bruck, who is a member of the Lewis Central girls swim team, qualified for state in two relay events via last weekend’s district competition. Bruck will be competing on the Titans’ 200 and 400-meter freestyle relays this Saturday at the Girls State Swimming Meet at the Marshalltown YMCA/YWCA.

HARLAN -- A total of 98 area kids in grades 3-6 participated in Harlan Community’s 2016 Flag Football program. The season was held over five weeks this fall with games played each Sunday afternoon. The third and fourth grade division played at 1:00 p.m., followed by the fifth and sixth grade division at 3:00.

 FORT DODGE -- It wasn’t quite the finish she was hoping for, but Harlan Community sophomore Greichaly Kaster still enjoyed her experience at the 2016 State Cross Country Championships on Saturday. Placing in the top half of the Class 3-A field for the second straight year, Kaster crossed the finish line 64th out of 140 runners with a five-kilometer time of 20:42.7 at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course north of Fort Dodge. Kaster’s final results c