The end and the beginning

Monday as the Panthers fell in postseason baseball to Harlan, a year of athletics came to a close.

I first started covering Southwest Iowa sports in the fall of 2022 when I followed the Lenox Tigers as they made their run for the Dome. They were knocked out in semifinals play, but it was an exciting season.

As we still didn’t have a sports reporter, John and Larry covered basketball while I focused on wrestling. Again, it was a thrilling season as the team qualified for dual team state in a crazy regional duals win over Glenwood.

It was my first time covering state wrestling, covering boys and girls individual and the boys team state. That team graduated five seniors. I did think it would be weird to have a team without them on it, but I think the massive class below them softened that blow.

Now I wonder again as they graduated 11, nine of them starters. I don’t worry so much about whether the team will do well as I wonder what the atmosphere will be like. When I started, Kylen Parsons, Lane Travis, Brodrick Phelps and Gunner Martwick were just the little freshman. Now, with no juniors on the team this year, the four will essentially be the leaders.

Who will replace Max Chapman’s boisterous speeches? Who will be a solid leader like Austin Evans? Who will keep the positivity flowing like Quinten Fuller? It will be interesting to see how they adapt into their new roles.

Many of these same young men were on the football team that was undefeated in the regular season last year, going 11-1 on the year with a semifinals loss at the Dome.

The record-breaking 25 seniors will surely be missed this season, but they’ve provided a great example to the underclassmen of what dedication and brotherhood looks like.

Josh Schaefer and Tyler Riley step up in their receiver roles to fill in the gap left by Brandon Briley and even running back Brennan Hayes, who finished second in receiving yards last season.

Weston Trapp was also dangerous on offense this year, switching with quarterback Cael Turner for trick plays. It will be exciting to see which position Coach Brian Morrison finds fits his skills best.

I think Lucas Travis will continue to excel at the linebacker position after two seasons watching Evans. He should be a nice defensive leader for the Panthers this year.

I covered more basketball this year than I did the year prior. While the boys graduate a nice group, I’m excited to see Jake Hoyt and Brayden Schoon take on leadership roles. They both displayed a lot of promise last season. The girls only lose one, Lydia Goins, who will be missed. Ava Adamson and Alyssa Gerdes will be seniors to watch for this season.

The classes differ on size for boys and girls sports, and the boys sports will definitely feel the absence of this class more than the girls this year. That’s not to say they weren’t as talented, just there aren’t as many.

As sad as I am to let this group and their families go, I know there are things to look forward to in the year ahead.

I’m really excited for this season of girls wrestling, both in Creston and in the state. Highway 34 has officially dissolved. This is a good thing! For starters, this was the plan when we created the agreement two years ago. We wanted to combine for numbers at the start with the hopes to separate and have enough for our own programs in the future.

Another reason this is good is it should place all three schools in the 1A division this season. The IGHSAU decided this season to create two divisions: 1A and 2A. Combined, Highway 34 would likely be in the larger division.

Now with Southwest Valley, East Union, Creston and potentially Lenox all having their own teams, it’s a great look for the future of girls wrestling.

I’m also happy for Lenox’s Gabe Funk who will be competing as a senior this year without Ryce Reynolds of Mount Ayr one step ahead of him. Funk is a star of a four-sport athlete who has been overshadowed in track by the seven-time state state champion.

It’s bittersweet as the two got along well and pushed each other, but I’m glad he gets his one year in the limelight. Watch for him in football, basketball, track and baseball.

I’m hopeful Creston’s now-junior class of girls can continue to grow and work together in volleyball and basketball. There is a lot of talent in that class and I think as they continue to grow, mature and develop, we will see great things from them.

Lastly, I think the Creston softball team will see another successful year in 2025. While the loss of Sophie Hagle will be felt at second base, I think they’ve developed enough underclassmen to fill that vacancy. Hopefully next year we can face someone a little easier in round one of regionals.

Thank you to the class of 2024 for all the memories this season. Larry and I had a blast covering your growth. To the classes to come, remember all you’ve learned and let’s have another great year.