ARMSTRONG—West Bend-Mallard rallied by out-scoring North Union 14-9 in the game’s final eight minutes to pull out a hard-fought 43-39 season-opening non-conference girls basketball win on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

The purple-and-gold used a huge advantage on the boards as they out-rebounded the home team 44-22 on the night, including 13 off the offensive glass in the contest.

ALGONA—Fifth-ranked Forest City out-scored sixth-ranked Algona 14-6 in the game’s final 3:39 to break open a two-point contest and went onto a 64-54 season-opening non-conference win on Tuesday, Nov. 26 in battle of two Top 10 ranked Class 3A teams.

The contest was very tight early until the home team went on a 6-0 run to take a 13-8 lead. But, Forest City hit a late three-pointer to make the score 13-11 at the conclusion of the first period.

FORT DODGE—St. Edmond went 10 of 10 from the free throw line in the final 1:22 to hold on for a hard fought 56-51 season opening non-conference boys basketball victory over the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears.

The green-and-white had gone 5 of 13 at the charity stripe during the contest before draining the last 10 foul shots they attempted late in the contest.

ALGONA—Top-rated Estherville-Lincoln Central ground out a 53-26 non-conference girls basketball victory on Monday, Dec. 2 over sixth-ranked Algona.

The home team was as cold as the temperature outside in the loss and also committed 22 turnovers as the red-and-white limited them to just six first-half points.

Former Algona football player James Wartick was recently honored for his play on the field this fall. Wartick was selected to the Heart of America first team as an offensive lineman. The 6’ 5”, 275 pound senior helped lead the Grand View Vikings to a perfect 10-0 regular season and the squad began their playoff run last weekend in Des Moines.

Former Algona High School graduate A’Laliah Perry is one of numerous athletes named to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference’s all-academic team for the fall semester. Perry is a 5’ 11” sophomore outside hitter for the Northern State Wolves in Aberdeen, S.D.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

ALGONA—Nine players that made the first-team all-area squad for the first time last fall are back to highlight the 20th annual Kossuth County Advance’s All-Area Volleyball Team.

ALGONA—Algona won 10 of 14 matches to post a 55-23 North Central Conference dual meet girls wrestling victory on Monday, Nov. 25 over the Clear Lake Lions.

The red-and-black recorded falls for Laura Stohr (115) in 0:59, Sienna Fehr (135) in 3:29, Regan Jensen (155) in 3:42, Reagan Haynes (170) in 2:20 and Eden Geddings (105) in 1:42.

NEVADA—Both Reagan Haynes and Mara Davis ended up in second place to highlight the performances of the Algona Bulldog girls wrestling squad at the Central Iowa Kickoff held in Nevada on Saturday, Nov. 23.

The red-and-black ended up in fourth place overall in the team standings with a team score of 141.5 points as a total of 33 teams competed in the early season tournament.

FORT DODGE—Seven young ladies earned individual first places to help lead the Algona Bulldog girls wrestling team to the team title at the Fort Dodge Early Bird Invitational held on Thursday, Nov. 21.

Earning titles for the red-and-black were Mara Davis (100), Laura Stohr (115), Malyn Davis (120), Lillian Allie (125), Alissa Engel (130), Regan Jensen (155) and Reagan Haynes (170).

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

BOONE—Area football players were well represented on the 2024 Academic All-State Team recently released by the Iowa Football Coaches Association as a total of 14 young men were selected to the team.

To be a member of the squad, a player must be a senior on their football team and maintain a minimum of a 3.7 GPA or better in school.

First Team Offense

Evan Allie, Algona, WR, 11

Colin Bird, Hampton-Dumont, U, 12

Henry Bunn, Clear Lake, OL, 12

Deacon Caspers, Charles City, RB, 11

Maddon Evans, Hampton-Dumont, OL, 11

Chase Flaherty, Humboldt, WR, 11

Keagan Groat, Humboldt, WR, 12

Jack Guy, Humboldt, OL, 11

Alex Kerr, Clear Lake, WR, 12

Landon Lewerke, Clear Lake, OL, 12

Jack Limbaugh, Algona, TE, 12

First Team

Zach Beukema, West Hancock, 12

Brady Bixel, West Hancock, 12

Brennen Bollinger, North Union, 12

Dylan Brumm, Saint Ansgar, 12

Joe Clevenger, Saint Ansgar, 11

Greyson Colegrove, North Union, 10

Nash Delger, Lake Mills, 11

Branden Dougherty, Belmond-Klemme, 11

Gunnar Faust, West Hancock, 12

Gustavo Gomez, West Hancock, 11

Ray Gretillat, West Hancock, 12

First Team Offense

Trayton Cink, Bishop Garrigan, 12, RB

Cole Fehr, West Bend-Mallard, 12, RB

Micah Fehr, West Bend-Mallard, 12, OL

Tate Foertsch, Bishop Garrigan, 11, QB

Brady Galligan, Bishop Garrigan, 12, K

Ethan Harper, Harris-Lake Park, 12, WR

Kasey Hough, G-T/R-A, 12, QB

D. J. Ingham, Harris-Lake Park, 12, OL

Austin Schmidt, West Bend-Mallard, 12, U

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

MARSHALLTOWN—Algona junior Reese Taylor made her best showing in the state swimming meet in her high school career in her third appearance at the 2024 state meet inside the Linda Bloom Natatorium on Friday, Nov. 15 with a 10^th place showing in the one-meter diving event.