REGIONAL – Iowa Rep. Steve Holt and Iowa Sen. Jason Schultz said they aren’t worried about their jobs come re-election time. Local resident Aaron Nippert said he’s a lifetime Republican, and asked both about potential backlash from the passage of what some are calling a union-busting bill. There are thousands of employees and their families affected by this bill, Nippert said.
DES MOINES -- Six local state qualifiers will face tough early draws when competition begins Thursday at the 2017 State Wrestling Tournament inside Wells Fargo Arena.
HARLAN -- The Harlan Community wrestling team will be represented by three individuals at this week’s state tournament after Lucas Carter, Jacob Wingert and Nick Foss all placed second in Saturday’s Class 2-A District Tournament. Wingert, a senior 170-pounder, will return to Des Moines for the second straight year while juniors Carter (126) and Foss (182) are first-time state qualifiers.
AVOCA -- Leading by just four points at the break on Saturday night, the AHSTW girls used a 12-0 run to take control and dominated the second half to beat Griswold, 56-32, in a Class 2-A, Region 3 first-round game. The Lady Vikes outscored Griswold 33-13 in the final two quarters, beating the Tigers for the third time this year and claiming their first regional win since 2012. AHSTW (8-14) will now travel to Greenfield Tuesday for a 7 p.m.
IKM-Manning defeated Tri-Center 63-28 in a Class 2-A girls regional game on Saturday night, setting up a showdown of ranked teams at Logan-Magnolia in Tuesday’s regional quarterfinals. Above,
HARLAN -- The Lewis Central boys basketball team is blessed with a 6-foot-10 center in Kyle Arrington, a 6-4 all-conference guard in Chad Moran and several other solid athletes.
MANNING -- Jon Brandt and Ben Wegner scored 22 points each and Jared Johnson added 12 here Thursday night as the IKM-Manning boys wrapped up regular-season play with a one-sided 77-34 win over Griswold. IKM-M has won 13 of 15 games since the holiday break and will take a 15-6 record into Thursday night’s Class 2-A district semifinal game vs. South Central Calhoun or ACGC (at Kuemper Catholic).
UNDERWOOD -- Area wrestlers Gabe Pauley and Joel Becerra of AHSTW and Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton’s Cole Bruns all qualified for the state tournament on Saturday by placing first or second at the Class 1-A District Tournament in Underwood. Pauley, a sophomore 160-pounder won his four-man bracket while Becerra and Bruns, both seniors, placed second at 145 and 170, respectively. The local trio will begin state competition Thursday afternoon (1:30
HARLAN -- Marion F. Martin, 86, Harlan, died Saturday, Feb. 11 in Council Bluffs. Services will be held Friday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. at the Little Flower Haven Chapel in Earling with burial of ashes at a later date in the Harlan Cemetery. Friends may call Friday, Feb. 24 from 2-4 p.m.
