2020's top sports stories

D-NH girls hoops reaches state semis

After a 64-58 loss to Crestwood on Dec. 7, the Dike-New Hartford girls basketball team went on a 21-game winning streak that brought D-NH to the state semifinals before coming up a couple points short against North Polk.

Ellie Foster was named the NICL East Player of the Year and was a first-team all-NICL East selection along with Katie Knock and Morgan Weber. Foster was also a second-team selection on the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association Class 3A all-state team.

The Wolverines' 23 wins were all by at least 11 points, including a 64-24 win in the regional opener against Union, a 67-15 win in the regional semis against Waterloo Columbus and a 54-38 win against Monticello to return to state for the third consecutive season.

D-NH defeated Jesup, 56-43, in the state quarterfinals for the Wolverines' first state tournament victory as a consolidated school district.

A-P/GC's Klahsen qualifies for state wrestling

Zach Klahsen still has the shirts that list the state qualifiers that came before him, the ones he watched from a young age at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Being down on the mat was a different experience, but the Aplington-Parkersburg/Grundy Center sophomore embraced his 0-2 exit on the first day as a learning experience and motivation for seasons to come.

"It's a success story to me," Klahsen said. "It's what I've been dreaming of, being little, watching all the older high school kids, that's so fulfilling to me to end my year like that. Last year, I was so devastated when I didn't make it to state. This year, it's something that fires me up for next year to see where we can go."

Klahsen was pinned in 28 seconds in his first-round match by Central DeWitt's Keaton Zeimet, who went on to place third for the second consecutive season. In the consolation bracket, Jase Goodell pinned Klahsen in 1:05 to eliminate the A-P/GC grappler.

"I knew [Zeimet] would be a tough guy, but I figured that upsets like that are most likely to happen at Wells Fargo," Klahsen said. "I went in thinking I could do something like that, and it may not have turned out like that, but it's just more motivation no matter what."

Governor's COVID-19 order eliminates spring sports

As the school closures extended and the sports schedule delays continued, perhaps the unfortunate result came into view for spring sports athletes and coaches.

The news from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds earlier this year that schools would remain closed through the end of the academic year, and the resulting cancellation of spring sports, stung just the same.

Among the numerous other spring sports options, track and field is the second most-popular sport for girls and boys in Iowa. In 2018-19, 12,012 boys from 350 schools and 9,908 girls from 348 schools went out for track and field.

A-P girls track and field head coach Alex Pollock met with the team via online communication after the news broke. The Falcons were hoping to follow last year’s second-place team finish in the Class 2A state track and field meet.

“Just finished up [one] of the toughest meetings of my career,” said A-P girls track and field head coach Alex Pollock on Twitter. “This senior group has meant so much to our school and community! Not the way we were supposed to finish up!”

A-P’s Sophia Jungling, entering her senior season of track after winning two individual titles last year and winning a sprint medley relay title as a freshman, reflected on the missed opportunity to try and go 16-for-16 in earning state medals at Drake Stadium.

“Last year we were state runner ups, and all members returning this year,” Jungling said on Twitter. “Now we will never know. It hurts so bad, there are no words. Thanks to my teammates and coaches, who all shaped me into the athlete and person I am. Always have unfinished business.”

Dike-New Hartford boys track and field were also hoping to repeat as state champions. Individuals like Aplington-Parkersburg boys tennis' Cameron Luhring and Dike-New Hartford girls golf's Morgan Weber were similarly denied chances at going for more state championships.

D-NH baseball makes first-ever state trip

This summer, the Dike-New Hartford baseball team made history with its first-ever state tournament appearance.

The Wolverines ended the summer with a record of 15-4 in a season that started late for all high school teams in Iowa due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We've had some really nice senior groups come through in the last few years, but this is a special one," D-NH head coach Sean Leonard said. "They're the ones that got this done."

D-NH started the season with a 10-1 record.

After canceling two games while waiting for COVID-19 test results for a member of the coaching staff, D-NH took back-to-back losses to Wapsie Valley and Don Bosco, but regrouped for a big extra-inning win, 3-1 against Mason City Newman on July 8, and a 12-0 win against Gladbrook-Reinbeck on July 10.

Strong defense behind great pitching performances by Reece Beuter and Zak Wauters ultimately wasn't enough for the Wolverines, coming up short, 2-1, in an extra-inning clash in the state quarterfinal with Des Moines Christian. An error on Zach Starbuck's sacrifice bunt scored the Wolverines' only run. Beuter and Wauters combined to strike out 15 batters and allow one earned run on four hits and four walks.

"I'm super proud of these guys taking a really good team in the state to 10 innings," Leonard said.

D-NH's Kvale earns third XC medal

Taylor Kvale could hear the numbers being called out to her and her competitors on the course.

There was ground that she needed to make up, and the Dike-New Hartford junior found her opportunity and took it.

A big kick in the last half-mile allowed Kvale to get into medal contention, crossing the finish line in 14th place for her third state individual cross country medal in as many tries at the Class 2A state meet at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

"I really tried to make up a lot of ground," Kvale said. "It just meant the world to me to be rewarded for something that I really tackled today and gave my best effort at."

Kvale finished in 20 minutes and 26 seconds to lead the D-NH girls to an 11th-place team finish. The Wolverines were making their third-consecutive appearance as a team.

Wolverine volleyball claims state title

Dike-New Hartford volleyball returned to the state tournament after missing out on last year's competition, and the Wolverines left a mark by sweeping their opponents en route to the program's 14th state championship.

D-NH ended the season with a 32-4 record, defeating Sumner-Fredericksburg, Wilton and Denver in Cedar Rapids to win the state title.

In addition to defeating two NICL East opponents in the state tournament, D-NH did not drop a set to any East opposition this fall, and won its fourth consecutive division title with a perfect 8-0 record.

This run was even more impressive given that all nine NICL East teams were ranked in the final state-wide rankings from the IGHSAU.

Payton Petersen was named the captain of the Class 2A All-Tournament Team as a freshman, joining her twin sister, Jadyn Petersen, and Madelyn Norton as Wolverines represented on the elite team.