Sharing agreement with Okoboji will continue
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn wrestlers will be competing as part of the combined Okoboji/HMS program for at least one more season.
That decision was confirmed during the H-M-S board meeting on Monday. According to Superintendent Patrick Carlin, a survey by Athletic Director Mark Petersen indicates there will not be enough high school wrestlers to warrant H-M-S having its own program.
"Numbers have improved but not to the level that our recommendation would change at this point," Carlin said.
The 2022-23 season will be the fourth for the shared Okoboji/HMS program. Seven students from H-M-S competed this past winter, with four being regulars in the varsity lineup. Nick Bronstad was the only senior among them. The two-time Class 2A state qualifier and place-finisher earned seventh place at 285 pounds last month.
H-M-S athletes compete in IATC indoor meet
Track and field athletes from Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn competed in the Iowa Association of Track Coaches 2022 indoor track and field championships. The meet was hosted by the University of Dubuque.
Competing in the 1A/2A girls' events, H-M-S recorded a runner-up finish in the 4x400 relay with a time of 4:23.31 and a third-place finish by Emily Mutombo in the long jump with a leap of 14'7".
Other Top 10 finishers were Mutombo, 60 meter dash, fifth, :08.30; Jasmine Lux, high jump, fifth, 4'8"; Lux, 400 meter dash, sixth, 1:03.91; Madison Otto, 3000 meter run, seventh, 13:07.45; and the 4x100 relay team, 10th, :54.84.
In other events, Alexis Croatt was 11th in the 3000 meter run, 15:04.20. Abby Otto placed 16th in the 400 meter dash, 1:10.08; and 26th in the 60 meter dash, :09.08. In the 1500 meter run, Madison Otto placed 14th, 6:02.60, and Kamryn Ebel came in 22nd, 6:18.53.
Running the 60 meter hurdles, Anna Vander Veen placed 20th, 11:89; and Kylee Schiphoff was 22nd, :12.36. Schiphoff also placed 11th in the high jump, 4'4". Alexis Grover added a 23rd-place finish in the shot put, 21'8.75".
A pair of seventh-place finishes topped the H-M-S boys' performances at the meet. Connor Dodd ran a time of :07.31 in the 1A/2A 60 meter dash and Ethan Diehm recorded a leap of 19' in the long jump.
Diehm also placed 10th in the 400 meter dash, :56.73. Aiden Jensen finished 17th in the 3200 meter run, 12:24.51; and George Vargas came in 19th, 12:46.13. In the 800 meter run, Aiden Espeland finished 21st, 2:25.73; and Bryce Dodge was 23rd, 2:27.29. Ryan Borden placed 22nd in the 60 meter dash, :07.64. Adam Schierholz placed 14th in the shot put, 37'0.75".
In the relays, H-M-S finished eighth in the 4x100, :46.67; and 15th in the 4x400, 4:02.24.
Berends, Ebel named to all-substate team
A pair of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn boys' basketball players received additional postseason recognition from the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association.
Juniors Lance Berends and Kooper Ebel were both named to the Class 1A Substate 1 team. Other area players honored are Keaton Bonderson, Gehlen Catholic; Jaxon Bunkers and Austin Jensen, Remsen St. Mary's; and Jake Wallin, South O'Brien.