By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

A young Algona Bulldog girls basketball squad went through some growing pains in 2020-21 under a new head coach but are looking forward to using the experience gained last winter to turn into more victories this year.

The red-and-black went 5-15 overall last season and the team was 5-8 in North Central Conference contests, good enough for fifth place in the always competitive league.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

A pair of senior lettermen that are returning starters will provide leadership for the 2021-22 edition of the Algona Bulldog boys basketball team as they head into a new season.

Algona went 16-7 overall last winter and red-and-black were 11-3 in North Central Conference contests, good enough for a runner-up finish in the always competitive league.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

With the loss of six players, including a three-time all-stater, the 2021-22 edition of the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bear boys basketball team will need to find some players to fill some roles on this year’s squad.

The black-and-gold finished last season with a 15-9 overall record and had an 11-5 mark in the Top of Iowa Conference that left them in a third place tie in the league with Forest City.

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.