Last season was challenging for the Exira-EHK girls varsity team, but this year’s group is ready for the new season beginning in a few weeks.
“We are excited to get going,” said Spartans Head Coach Cory Bartz. “The girls are looking forward to continuing to improve from last season.”

The HCHS girls track and field will look for its upperclassmen to lead the way when it starts the season March 19 at the NWMSU Indoor event in Maryville, MO.
“We are very excited for the season,” said Cyclones Head Coach Jenny Hamilton. “We have a great group of upperclassmen who have really set a positive tone to get us started. They understand we like to have fun, but ultimately we are here to work hard, get better, and compete.”

The HCHS boys track and field team is focused on showing opponents just how good they are in its new season set to get underway March 10 at the IATC Indoor Championships at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center in Ames.

Exira-EHK Senior Shay Burmeister is a multi-sport athlete who has played golf, softball, volleyball and basketball for the Spartans during her high school career. Of the four sports, Burmeister gravitates to one more than the others.

The HCHS boys basketball team ran into the undefeated Bondurant-Farrar Bluejays Monday night in the Regional Final match at Waukee High School and gave them a run for their money, but the Bluejays won, 74-53.
“I told them I was very proud of them,” said Cyclones Head Coach Mitch Osborn. “We had a great year. They played hard and did everything we could’ve asked.”

Sophomore Ivy Stevens was the lone member of the HCHS varsity bowling team at the state bowling tournament and she showed well placing 14th out of 32.

ADEL – With the Des Moines Christian Lions trailing 8-6 at the end of the first quarter in the 2A-7 Championship game, they quickly turned the tables on the AHSTW Vikings starting the second quarter on a 12-0 run that secured a 47-36 victory.

GLENWOOD – Senior Jace Gubbels had his best game of the year at the right time Thursday night with 20 points to lead the Cyclones to a 77-63 victory over Glenwood to earn their way to the 3A-8 Championship game.

In a game the Spartans led 20-17 at halftime, the tables turned when the Remsen St. Mary’s Hawks opened the third quarter on a 17-0 run that ultimately secured a 51-43 victory.
“We had a shaky third quarter obviously,” said Spartans Head Coach Tom Petersen. “We just didn’t have a lot of things go our way in the third, but for our girls to battle and not quit, our girls did that tonight and that’s all I can ask out of them.”

With a nickname of “The Human Muscle” it should probably come as no surprise Zane Bendorf has had such a successful high school wrestling career. However, Bendorf wasn’t always enamored with the sport.

STUART – The AHSTW Vikings didn’t underestimate the Van Meter Bulldogs and controlled the game from start to finish Tuesday night winning 64-49 to earn a chance to play for the 2A-7 Championship. Senior Brayden Lund led the way with 20 points.

In a game that was back-and-forth for three quarters, the Cyclones pulled ahead for good in the fourth quarter en route to a 54-43 first round tournament victory over their rival, the Lewis Central Titans. Junior Franz Reisz led the way for the Cyclones with 15 points.
“It’s always good to beat LC,” Reisz said. “We just came out and kind of started off flat, but we just got over the hump and played really well.”

The HCHS girls varsity basketball team’s playoff journey has come to an end with a devastating road loss to the Des Moines Christian Lions in the Class 3A Regional Tourament finals game.
“We were so proud of them,” said Cyclones Head Coach Zach Klaassen. “We started 0-2 on the season and to be one game away from the state tournament is pretty special. Not a lot of teams get to experience that.”

The Exira-EHK girls varsity basketball team punched their ticket to the Regionals Finals of tournament play pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 63-47 victory over the Coon Rapids-Bayard Crusaders Friday night at home.
“It’s very fortunate to be honest with you,” said Spartans Head Coach Tom Petersen. “We didn’t play well whatsoever and just had a very uncharacteristic night.”

The AHSTW Vikings girls basketball season has come to an end after a tough defeat in the Class 2A – Region 8 Second Round Tournament game by the Underwood Eagles on the road, 51-36.