By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

ALGONA—It was a banner year for the four area girls basketball squads during the 2024-2025 season as for the first time in the past 20 years, all of the area teams recorded at least 15 wins during the season.

With the youthful flavor of this year’s all-area team, look for more success by the squads during the 2025-2026 campaign on the hardwood.

STORM LAKE—The West Bend-Mallard Wolverine boys track team competed at the Buena Vista Elite Indoor Meet on Monday, March 24. No team scores were kept in the meet that featured a total of 28 teams competing in the indoor meet.

The top place winner was the 4 x 400-meter relay crew of Grady Goddard, Cesar Falcon, Abner Zaugg and Leydan Grimm finishing in 20^th place overall with a clocking of 4:12.14.

STORM LAKE—The West Bend-Mallard Wolverine girls track squad had another strong showing on Monday, March 24 at the Buena Vista Elite Indoor Meet. No team scores were kept in the meet that saw 28 different teams competing.

The purple-and-gold were the runner-ups in a pair of individual events as Allie Fehr took second in the high jump by gliding over the bar at 5’ 2” along with Maddie Fehr’s 8.16 time in the 60-meter dash.

HUMBOLDT—The Algona Bulldog girls track squad won six events, including three relays at the Humboldt Indoor Meet on Thursday, March 20. No team scores were kept as 10 teams competed during the meet.

Natalie Johnson was a double winner for the red-and-black as the junior won the 60-meter dash in 8.15 and took the 200-meter dash with her winning time of 28.89.

HUMBOLDT—Both the Algona and Bishop Garrigan boys track teams competed against eight other squads on Friday, March 21 at the Nielsen Family Indoor Meet.  No team scores were kept during the meet.

Algona won four events during the meet as Max Nevitt tossed the shot put 54’ 3” for a gold medal while teammate Will Weichert sprinted to a winning time of 7.28 in the 60-meter dash, an event where the red-and-black went 1-2-3.

MASON CITY—A trio of area girls track squads competed in the River-Hawk Invitational held here on Tuesday, March 18 as no team scores were kept in the meet.

Macy Knapp of Algona was the top area place winner as she ended up in second place in the 800-meter run in 2:32.89 while teammate Natalie Johnson took third in the 200-meter dash with her time of 27.64.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

AMES—Opening the 2025 season with an impressive debut, the Algona Bulldog boys’ track team placed second at the Class 3A IATC state indoor meet championships on Thursday, March 13.

The red-and-black’s team total of 55 points on the day was topped only Pella’s winning total of 57 points. The Bulldogs led almost the entire meet until the Dutch won the second-to-last event.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

AMES—West Bend-Mallard earned medals in six different events as the purple-and-gold finished in fifth place overall on Friday, March 14 at the Class 1A girls state indoor championships.

The Wolverines scored a team total of 29 points during the day in their season opener. Council Bluffs St. Albert edged out Saint Ansgar 44-43 for the team title.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

DES MOINES—Algona senior forward Ben Helmers made the Iowa Sports Print Writers Association’s Class 3A all-state team for the third time in his high school career this past weekend.

Helmers was selected to the second-team all-state squad on Friday after making the second team in 2024 and was chosen to third team as a sophomore in 2023.

MASON CITY—Both the Algona and North Union boys track teams competed with 24 other schools from all four classes in the River-Hawk Invitational on Monday, March 17. No team scores were held in the indoor meet held inside Mason City High School indoor facility.

The red-and-black won four events during the meet, including three relays. They recorded four runner-up finishes, one third, one fourth place showing, earned one fifth place finish and one sixth place during the indoor meet.

AMES—Six members of the West Bend-Mallard Wolverine boys track team competed in the Class 1A IATC state indoor meet on Thursday, March 13 but did not score any points.

The top place winner for the purple-and-gold was the 4 x 400-meter relay quartet of Grady Goddard, Silas Bindel, Abner Zaugg and Leydan Grimm that finished in 19^th place overall in 4:03.80.

First Team

*Elliot Carlson, Humboldt, 12

*Hunter Horn, St. Edmond, 11

*Thomas Meyer, Clear Lake, 12

Brady Harr, Hampton-Dumont, 11

Ben Helmers, Algona, 12

Titan Schmitt, Clear Lake, 12

*Denotes unanimous selection

Second Team

Kale Kalous, Iowa Falls-Alden, 12

Jakob Koopman, St. Edmond, 11

Chaz Lane, Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 10

First Team

Kinzee Hinders, Newell-Fonda, 12

Sophia McCullough, Manson NW Webster, 12

Breanne Patterson, South Central Calhoun, 12

Nora Peterson, Alta-Aurelia, 12

Rachel Schany, Emmetsburg, 11

Hailey Stalzer, West Bend-Mallard, 12

Madison Vial, Pocahontas Area, 12

Avery Wilson, Sioux Central, 11

Coach of the Year – Dick Jungers, Newell-Fonda