After finishing its 2022 season with an 11-19 record, the HCHS volleyball team is ready for the new season to begin, starting with a scrimmage at home against the Carroll Tigers Aug. 22.

After a tough 2-23 finish to their 2022 campaign, the IKM-Manning Wolves volleyball team is ready to get back on the court and start fresh with a new season.
“It’s always great to get back in the gym,” said Wolves Head Coach McKaylie Croghan. “I love watching the girls grow year to year not just with their volleyball skills, but also their leadership.”

After finishing 4-4 during their 2022 campaign, the Exira-EHK Spartans are ready to get back on the field behind a new quarterback.
“I think we’re super excited,” said Spartans Head Coach Drew Buckholdt. “The kids have put in a ton of work since May in the summertime with the weight room, so the kids are pretty excited with the work they’ve put in.”

In three weeks, the HCHS Cyclones will prepare to defend back-to-back state championships starting with a battle against the Lewis Central Titans Aug. 25.

Halfway done with high school, incoming Exira-EHK Junior Harlee Fahn hopes to build off an already stellar career.
Fahn plays softball, basketball, volleyball and runs track and field. Most recently, softball ended with her taking home honorable mention in the Rolling Valley All Conference list.
“It was great,” Fahn said. “That was my first time ever being an honorable mention, so it was just great to accomplish that.”

IKM-Manning’s Anna Stangl and Alikxa McGinn were recently awarded for their efforts in softball. Stangl made 2nd Team in All Conference and McGinn received honorable mention.
“When I saw that I did, I was in shock and I was like, oh my gosh, that’s amazing,” McGinn said. “I know that I had a pretty good year, maybe not as a team, but we all came together and definitely couldn’t have done it without them.”

Juniors Graycen Partlow and Rylie Knop and Freshman Halle Goodman recently made the Western Iowa All Conference list for their efforts in softball. Partlow made 1st Team, while Knop and Goodman made 2nd Team.
“It was really great,” Partlow said. “It came out and it was just good to see that my hard work had paid off and that I was able to get the job done. It’s really good to see and it made me feel good.”

Incoming AHSTW Senior and multi-sport athlete Saydi Paulsen is excited for her senior season when she’ll be playing volleyball, basketball and soccer.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Paulsen said. “We have a lot of girls working really hard this summer, and it’s great to see everyone willing to step out of their comfort zone, so I’m really excited to leave everything I have on the court and give it all for my team.”

After a successful 2023 campaign when the Exira-EHK Spartans won 22 games, including a 4-2 first round tournament win against the Audubon Wheelers and a 3-2 second round tournament victory over the Woodbine Tigers, six Spartans were presented all conference awards.

After a state tournament berth, it’s no surprise the Cyclone had eight players recognized. Cade Sears and Stephen Leinen made 1st Team, Hayden Soma, Quinn Koesters, Jozef Reisz and Matthew Sorfonden made 2nd Team in all district and Braydon Ernst and Brock Lemrick took home honorable mention in all conference.

IKM-Manning student and multi-sport athlete Karlee Arp just finished her freshman season, when she played volleyball, basketball, track & field and softball.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning in the Class 3A Quarterfinal game, Senior Bobcat Connor Maiers scored on a wild pitch from third base putting his team up 1-0, which would be all the Bobcats needed en route to an eventual 10-0 victory over the Cyclones.

Cyclone Seniors Ella Plagman and Ellie Ineson recently took home individual honors for their seasons in softball. Plagman received honorable mention, while Ineson made 2nd team.

Junior Cyclone Quinn Koesters slammed the door on Hawkeye 10 rival Lewis Central Wednesday night recording the final four outs in the Cyclones 9-6 3A-8 Championship game victory.
“This team has worked hard all year,” Koesters said. “We’ve had struggles, but right now we’re on top and we can do anything.”

Braydon Ernst got the ball to start the night for the Cyclones. Ernst went three innings, struck out five batters, but gave up four runs on six hits, including three walks.
“Braydon got in a little bit of trouble when he walked their eight and nine hitter and put guys on base for their best hitter who hit a triple down the right field line to score a couple,” said Cyclones Head Coach Heath Stein.