By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

After going 25-2 overall and being the Class 1A state runner-up for the past two seasons, the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bear girls basketball squad is looking for that one more victory to earn that elusive state title for the first time in the school’s history.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

A nice nucleus of eight returning letter winners is a good place to start building a solid foundation on for the 2021-22 edition of the North Union Warrior girls basketball squad as the team heads into another season on the court.

The green-black-and-silver went 15-7 overall last year and were 11-5 in the Top of Iowa Conference games, good enough for a third place tie in the league with the Forest City Indians in the standings.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

With just one wrestler gone off last year’s roster, the 2021-22 edition of the North Union Warriors wrestling squad is looking forward to another outstanding season on the mat in the school’s eighth year of existence.

This winter’s squad numbers 15 with no seniors, three juniors, six sophomores and six freshmen with a total of nine letter winners sprinkle among that group.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

With seven lettermen returning off last winter’s team, the 2021-22 edition of the North Union Warrior boys basketball squad is looking forward to a successful season.

Head coach Alex Fisher is back for his eighth year as the green-black-and-silver’s head mentor and has a career record 49-109. He will be assisted this winter by Chad Heinen.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

A nice group of eight lettermen will return for the West Bend-Mallard Wolverines to build a solid foundation on for the team as they head into the 2021-22 campaign.

The purple-and-gold went 6-16 overall last year while the squad was 3-8 in Twin Lakes Conference play that left them in a ninth place tie with Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

A nice group of nine lettermen will return to build a solid foundation on for the 2021-22 edition of the West Bend-Mallard Wolverines wrestling squad.

The purple-and-gold went 9-14 in dual meets last winter and was 3-6 in Twin Lakes Conference matches for eighth place in the league.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

A new head coach will inherit a squad that was hit hard by graduation as the West Bend-Mallard Wolverine girls basketball team moves into the 2021-22 season.

The purple-and-gold compiled an 11-12 overall record last winter and went 3-8 in Twin Lakes Conference contests, good enough for a ninth place showing in the league.

See features on all of the winter sports teams from Algona, Bishop Garrigan, North Union and West Bend-Mallard high schools. 

SWEA CITY—Matthew Looft wasn’t kidding when he said chasing points were not in the plans for 2021.

 Looft and wife Brittney were expecting their third child and as a result, he’d be racing for fun and supporting tracks closest to their rural Swea City, Iowa home.

 A single-season career best 27 feature wins later, however, Looft delivered his career fourth and division-best Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod national championship. 

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

WEST BEND—An aggressive Warrior defense pocketed a total of 31 steals in the contest as No. 15 (Class 2A) North Union defeated West Bend-Mallard 72-32 on Tuesday, Nov. 23 in the season opener for both clubs.

Olivia Von Bank led the way with game-high nine thefts while teammates Lily Henderson and Naomi Jones each came up with five steals in the non-conference victory of the two former league squads.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

ARMSTRONG—North Union built a lead as high as 21 points in the second half and earned a 66-54 non-conference season opening boys basketball victory over the West Bend-Mallard Wolverines on Monday, Nov. 29.

Mitch Stevens scored the first two baskets of the game for West Bend-Mallard before Teagon Fothergill got the home team on the scoreboard with a three-point field goal.

ESTHERVILLE—Sophomore Owen Larson poured in 33 points to help lead the Estherville-Lincoln Central Midgets to a 91-71 season opening win on Monday, Nov. 29 over the Algona Bulldog boys basketball team.

The Midgets connected on 36 of 76 overall field goals for 47.3 percent while making six of 23 shots behind the three-point arc for 26 percent and sank 13 of 21 foul shots for 61.9 percent.

ESTHERVILLE—Estherville-Lincoln Central raced out to a big early advantage and never looked back as the sixth-ranked squad in Class 2A defeated the Algona Bulldogs 55-18 in non-conference girls basketball play on Monday, Nov. 29.

The home team led 19-5 at the end of the first period and increased their advantage to 39-7 at intermission. The Midgettes had a commanding 53-12 lead as the final quarter of action began.

FOREST CITY—Forest City used a 7-0 run to end the first half to break open a three-point ballgame and went on to a 56-41 season opening victory over the Algona Bulldogs on Tuesday, Nov. 23.

The contest was tight early before the home team eased out to a 15-8 advantage at the conclusion of the first stanza. Algona battled back and had the score within three points halfway through the second period.

ALGONA—St. Edmond compiled a big first half lead and went onto a 67-42 season opening non-conference victory on Monday, Nov. 29 over the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bear boys basketball squad.

The Gaels held an 18-12 advantage as the first stanza was completed and ballooned that lead to 32-14 at intermission. The visitors took a big 51-24 into the fourth quarter of action.