Game On - Winter 2023-24

Game On - Winter 2023-24: The official winter sports media guide for the Gilbert Community School District.

VOLUME #5, Winter 2023-24: A Publication by the Gilbert Community School District

MEMBERS OF THE 2023-24 GILBERT BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM include (front row, left to right) Cam Stephens, Isaac Brown, Billy Terrones, Zain Mueller, Noah Dahm, Ashton Fergen, Gabe Fierce, (middle) Josh Grouwin- kel, Ean Eldred, John Hales, Bo Kruse, Ryan Hock, Grayson Fergen, Truman Kruckenberg, (back) Connor Rash, Dylan Terry, Matt Zoz, Will Hawthorne, Dillon Zwanziger, Brody Hague, Preston Stensland, and Eli Hague.

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A message to the RRC: Don’t sleep on the Tigers

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H old out your thumb and index finger. Seriously, look at your hand, and hold out your thumb and index finger. OK, good. Now, bring them toward one another until they’re about an inch apart. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how close the Gilbert boys’ bas- ketball team was from being con- sidered a very good squad a season ago. The Tigers’ 5-17 overall record and 4-12 mark in the Raccoon River Conference might indicate otherwise, but if you watched them play, then you know the truth. Six losses decided by six points or less. Big leads twice over a ranked team like Webster City, in- cluding once in the postseason, only to see them evaporate late. Close games late into the fourth quarter with Class 3A state semi- finalist North Polk and a very good Ballard crew. The examples are many. Gilbert didn’t win any of those games, but head coach BJ Terrones and his players remember those battles. And they use them as motivators as they gear up for the 2023-24 season. “Our players competed in a very difficult conference with a senior class that was one of the best I’ve seen in a conference,” Terrones said of the 2022-23 season. “Know- ing that our team competed with them toe to toe, when I look at that, it’s the building blocks for what the future holds with this group.”

No. Name

Gr.

0 1 2 3 4

Billy Terrones

So So Sr So Sr

Preston Stensland Cam Stephens

Gabe Fierce

Dillon Zwanziger

10 11 12 13 14 15 20 21 22 23 24 30 40

Connor Rash

Truman Kruckenberg Sr

Zain Mueller Bowen Kruse Dylan Terry Isaac Brown Eli Hague Ean Eldred Josh Grouwinkel

Jr Jr

So So

roster from a season ago, and the players are determined to turn the corner over the next few months. And following what Terrones con- sidered a promising offseason, the head coach thinks success could be on the horizon. “I’m really excited for this season because the team chemistry was really something that stood out to me over the summer,” he said. “The way they played aggressive, the way they played defense, and some of the things they were able to do against some really good teams was really encouraging.” It doesn’t hurt that many of the players on the team have tasted significant success in other sports. Senior Truman Kruckenberg, jun- ior Connor Rash, and sophomores Billy Terrones and Preston Stens- land were all key contributors on

last spring’s Class 2A state cham- pionship soccer team, and Stens- land helped the Tigers win a 3A state cross country crown this fall. They know how to win. Now they just want to prove it on the hardwood. “The experience in those mo- ments is going to be very helpful for these athletes,” Terrones said. “Now they’re familiar with those circumstances and situations.” Seven players — Kruckenberg, Rash, Stensland, Billy Terrones, Brody Hague, Dylan Terry, and Will Hawthorne — return after significant minutes a season ago. Seniors Dillon Zwanziger and Cam Stephens figure into the equation as well, and the Tigers proved at their scrimmage against South Hamilton last week that they’re

Brody Hague Ryan Hock John Hales

Matt Zoz

43/40 Will Hawthorne

capable of going even deeper if necessary. Kruckenberg and Terry are two seniors Terrones will look to for leadership. “Truman just makes things happen,” Terrones said of his guard, who came off the bench to average 5.3 points and 2.3 re- bounds per game last season. “There are so many small details he does that many observers don’t notice, and they make the team very successful. NEXT PAGE

Gilbert returns the bulk of its

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“(Terry) has put in extensive work this offseason and is really looking forward to his senior year. Both of those seniors have been named captains for this year’s team” Hague, a junior, missed the early portion of the 2022-23 season due to injury, but returned to make an impact. A standout shooter from the perimeter, he averaged 10.4 points and 2.8 boards a season ago. “He adds an additional layer to this team based upon his length and scoring ability,” Terrones said of Hague. “He’s always been a scorer and he’s always had great confidence in getting to the rim.” The growth of Stensland and Billy Terrones will be key to the Tigers overall improvement. They were thrust onto the big stage as freshman last winter and that should be beneficial to their sec- ond campaign. Billy Terrones posted 5.3 points, 3.3 assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals a night last season. Stens-

land checked in at 6.1 points and 1.7 rebounds. “Those experiences were really good for both Billy and Preston,” Terrones said. “Going from fresh- men to sophomores, being able to play with that consistency, is going to be a telltale sign of their growth. “Preston is an outstanding three- level scorer. He’s put in that ad- ditional time and I really think he’s going to be a difficult match- up. Billy’s court vision and his abil- ity to make other people look good, he’s always had that.” So how good can this team be? It’s a question Terrones pondered for a moment with a smile on his face. “I believe our players have ex- pectations for themselves and for this team,” he said. “These athletes are really looking forward to trying to have that opportunity to achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves.” One of those goals is certainly to contend for a confer- ence title. Bondurant- Farrar won the 3A state crown last

winter, but the Blue- jays were hit hard by graduation. North Polk returns some nice pieces from its state team. Ballard has the leading returning scorer in Jude Gibson (15.2 ppg). Winterset should be good, ADM won’t be bad, and on and on it goes.

the Tigers. They have the tools to challenge in the upper-echelon of the league. “I actually see six really good teams in this conference,” Ter- rones said. “Any of those six could be in that top tier, so I’m just really excited to get started and see where the season takes us.”

as one of those six teams?

“Oh my gosh, yes,” he said.

Those two fingers you were hold- ing up earlier? Bring them back out, and move them even closer together this time. Heck, maybe even have them touch. And that signifies how the Tigers have closed that gap between them- selves and the rest of the league.

WANT MORE INFORMATION ON GILBERT BOYS HOOPS? Use the QR Code to go to the team site on Bound. Results will be updated throughout the season.

Hey, Coach, do you see your club

But don’t overlook

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MEMBERS OF THE 2023-24 GILBERT GIRLS WRESTLING TEAM include (front row, left to right) Emma Britcher, Ava Fuss, Madison Shannon, Jaedyn Henry, Bree Angus, Bailey Jeppesen, Brooke Hamers, Makenna Springer, Cece Wag- ner, (middle) Alyzah Boggs, Sophie Chitty, Violet Flower, Sadie Breyfogle, Lizzie Mitchell, Tatum Heaberlin, Maddie Moore, Calla Moore, Aubrey Shannon, Kendall Wakefield, Riley Lempiainen, (back) Dzhesika Okumahba, Allisan Pepper, Morgan Beardsley, Aubrey Dunn, Coach Pat Schoenfelder, Coach Sinjin Briggs, Coach Scott Auderer, Coach Nate Graves, Chloe McGuigan, Cece Bowers, and Anna Steenhoek.

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Y ear 1 was a smashing suc- cess, it’s as simple as that. Now the trick is to build upon that success in Year 2. Will it be easy? Hardly, and yet Gilbert girls’ wrestling head coach Scott Auderer likes that challenge. After years of growing participa- tion, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union sanctioned girls’ wrestling for the first time a season ago and the number of student- athletes giving the sport a try sky- rocketed from border to border. And Gilbert had one of the larger teams in the state. The roster featured 20 grapplers, and the improvements were noticeable throughout the season. What do the Tigers have in store for an encore? Well, for starters, an even bigger roster than last winter — 25 girls in all — and that’s a pretty good place to start. “That’s the most important thing,” Auderer, who will serve as the head coach of the girls’ and boys’ programs for the second con-

Wt. Name

Gr.

100 Jaedyn Henry 100 Cece Schwager

Sr So So

100 Ava Price

110 Aubrey Shannon 115 Alicia Smith

together a strong freshman cam- paign and showcased massive im- provement as the season progressed. Bowers put together an NEXT PAGE Sr 115 Kendall Wakefield Fr 115 Ava Fuss Jr 120 Bailey Jeppesen Fr 120 Jaydan Jeppesen Sr 120 Emma Britcher So 120 Madison Shannon Sr 120 Breanna Angus Sr 125 Morgan Beardsley Jr 125 Makenna Springer Fr 125 Chloe McGuigan Fr 125 Kate Melody So 125 Calia Moore Fr 125 Cece Wagner Fr 130 Maddie Moore Fr 130 Cecilia Bowers So 130 Aubrey Dunn So 135 Tatum Heaberlin So 140 Jasmine Bradley Fr 140 Brooke Hamers Sr 140 Sadie Breyfogle Jr 155 Violet Flower Fr 170 Lizzie Mitchell Jr 170 Allisan Pepper Fr 235 Dzhesika Okumahba So 235 Anna Steenhoek Sr

secutive season, said. “To establish a program, you have to start with numbers. From last year to this year, to grow in numbers, that’s the No. 1 goal. It’s not about wins and losses right now, it’s about just establishing a program.”

and foremost,” he said. “I want to see them fall in love with the sport, and then part of them falling in love and training hard is getting better.” The wins came in bunches for a handful of girls a season ago, cul- minating in Auderer and his coaching staff taking three wres- tlers to the state tournament. Alex Harswick walked away with a fourth-place medal and a school- record 31 victories. But Harswick is now off at the University of Kansas, and several other talented graduates — state qualifier Fern Neubauer, Hadley Bo- shart, and Brooklynn Nees — leave big wrestling shoes to fill as well. Cecilia Bowers, a sophomore 130-pounder, is the lone 2023 state qualifier to return. She put

On that front, the program is seeing mas- sive success. But get- ting girls to give wrestling a try is just the first step. Next comes fun, another imperative aspect, ac- cording to Auderer. And after fun comes improvement.

WANT MORE INFORMATION ON GILBERT GIRLS WRESTLING? Use the QR Code to go to Track Wrestling. Browse “seasons” and “Iowa.” Results will be updated throughout the season.

It’s all part of the

master plan.

“I want them to enjoy the sport, first

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outstanding regional performance to reach state, and she finished the campaign with a 16-15 record. “Last year showed some of these girls what is possible,” Auderer said. “Girls that might have those goals, they can see it’s possible.” The team has several other grap- plers with talent and experience as well. Senior Brooke Hamers piled up 16 wins a season ago and nar- rowly missed out on a trip to state. She dealt with a lingering shoulder injury throughout the 2022-23 sea- son, but is hopeful her health will cooperate during her senior season.

Hamers and classmates Jaedyn Henry, Breanna Angus, Madison Shannon, and Anna Steenhoek give the Tigers a good core of leaders, and all of them have ex- perience on the mat. Steenhoek won 20 matches a season ago. “All of those girls are doing a great job,” Auderer said. “You’ll have a few underclassmen that will speak up at times too, but those (seniors) have been crucial.” Auderer thinks several of his younger wrestlers have a chance to take a significant jump this winter. Emma Britcher, a sophomore, is

poised to improve upon the 15 wins she earned last winter. Au- brey Dunn, another sophomore, has a chance to improve upon her 11 wins as a freshman, and class- mate Tatum Heaberlin fits into that mix as well. “Tatum Heaberlin is going to show a lot of growth because she wrestled a lot in the offseason,” Auderer said. “She is by far the most improved wrestler.” Gilbert will also be aided by the additions of three wrestlers from the Roland-Story school district who will put on Tiger singlets this

winter. Makenna Springer, Chloe McGuigan, and Cece Wagner are all freshman, but all have talent, Auderer says. “They all just started wrestling in the last year, but they all seem to like it,” Auderer said. “They’ve bought into wrestling and they’re serious about it, and that’s awe- some for some of our new girls to see. They really set a good example as far as their work ethic.” One issue the Tigers are trying to sort out are the weight classes. With half of the team log-jammed into three weight classes between 115 and 125 pounds, Auderer says it will take some time to balance things out. “We have 13 girls at those three weights, so that’s a problem,” he said. “But there will be some movement.”

So far, so good.

In their first competition of the season at a triangular against Col- fax-Mingo and Carlisle, the Tigers went 1-1 and narrowly missed a sweep. After beating Colfax- Mingo, 42-36, the Tigers gave up a late lead in a 40-37 loss to Carlisle. Madison Shannon won two matches on the mat at the triangu- lar, as did Britcher and Heaberlin. Springer and Lizzie Mitchell both pinned an opponent. “We had some awesome wins,” Auderer said. If the early reports are any indi- cation, Year 2 will be just as suc- cessful as Year 1.

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MEMBERS OF THE 2023-24 GILBERT GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM include (front row, left to right) Adalyn Gauck, Kayla Rash, Katie Sniezek, Abigail Thompson, Kennady Hansen, Callie Hales, Mia Kautman, Abby Patel, Amelia Schaufenbuel, Hannah Becker, Piper Soma, Kaylin Richards, Lauren Sniezek, Olivia Timmermans, Mollie Schnormeier, Coach Scott Uthe, Coach Mike Kruse, Coach Mike Frisk, Coach Jeff Gillette, Coach Xary Nunez-Hiraldo, and Ella Henningsen.

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A t this point, opposing fans and teams are going to start asking the question: Just how long have Mia Kautman, Ella Henning- sen, and Mollie Schnormeier played for the Gilbert girls’ basket- ball team? And by the time the 2024-25 season rolls around, those same opposing fans and teams are going to start grumbling under- neath their breaths about seventh- and eighth-year seniors. That’s what happens when players are good enough to be con- tributors as freshmen and continue on an upward trajectory as the years tick by. Psychologically, op- ponents begin to think those players have been around forever. The truth is the three are just juniors in the Tigers’ program. They’ve played in a combined 138 games and started in 82 of those. And, again ... they’re just juniors. Yep, that’s a pretty good place to start if you’re looking to put to- gether a solid season. “That kind of experience is nice,” girls’ head basketball coach Mike Frisk said. “All three are good basketball players, but the biggest thing for them now is they have to be leaders, and that’s been a learning process of just figuring out how to bring more people along.” All three started 22 of 23 games a season ago and combined to average 29.9 points and 12.8 re- bounds an outing. Kautman, a sharpshooter from the perimeter, and Henningsen, a hybrid forward who can play down low or fill it up from the outside, both put up

No. Name

Gr.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Abby Patel Mia Kautman Callie Hales Katie Sniezek Kayla Rash

Jr Jr

Mollie Schnormeier Jr

10 11 12 23 25 31 32

Abigail Thompson Jr

Adalyn Gauck Kennady Hansen Kaylin Richards Lauren Sniezek Ella Henningsen

Sr Fr

Olivia Timmermans Jr

quickly. It wants to shoot 3- pointers and score in transition. It wants to put a brand of basketball on the floor that is aesthetically pleasing for the players and fans. But while the offense can be fun, it all starts at the defensive end of the court. Getting stops leads to transition opportunities, and Frisk says his team has to buy in at that end of the floor to find success this winter. “If we want to be competitive in the Raccoon this year, our defense has got to pick up,” he said. “We like the 3, but when we’re not hit- ting them we have to be able to guard, and I think you’ll see us continually get better at that all

better than 10 points a night.

year.”

Henningsen, who has the most starts of the trio with 32 in her freshman and sophomore seasons, has been sidelined during the pre- season after injuring her hand in volleyball, but Frisk expects her back on the floor in early De- cember. “We’re hoping to have her back by Carroll (on Dec. 1), but we’re not going to rush it,” Frisk said. “We don’t want it to linger all

Consistency from all three will be critical for the Tigers, who want to improve upon last season’s 10- 13 overall record and 5-11 mark in the Raccoon River Conference. The squad showed flashes last sea- son, particularly during a 5-2 start, but the juggernaut league has a way of exposing flaws on every team. In Frisk’s system, Gilbert wants to get up and down the floor

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year. Our goal is to be more consis- tent about it.” Adalyn Gauck is the lone senior on the players’ roster this winter and Frisk has been happy with her leadership and performance during the preseason. An undersized for- ward, she’ll be asked to play in the paint, particularly until Henning- sen is able to return. “She had a good summer,” Frisk said of Gauck. “She’s not a true post, but she’s playing post for us and she’ll help us out this year.” In addition to Kautman, Hen- ningsen, and Schnormeier, fellow junior Abby Patel saw significant minutes a season ago at point guard. She averaged 3.2 points per game, and her athleticism and ability to get to the bucket and dis- tribute will be another piece to the puzzle. “Abby can shoot and drive,” Frisk said. “We have some kids that can really fill it up.”

Thompson, Kaylin Richards, and Olivia Timmermans — should all see minutes as well, and sopho- mores Katie and Lauren Sniezek will fit into the rotation to give the Tigers more options and depth at both ends of the floor. “Hopefully we can play a lot of kids, rest kids, and get up and down the floor,” Frisk said. “We want to get up and down the court.” There will also be several tal- ented freshmen that figure into the equation. Callie Hales could find her way into the starting lineup in the backcourt, and Frisk said she had a great summer playing along- side his veterans. “She looked like a kid who had some experience at our jamboree,” Frisk said. “We’re excited with where she’s at. She’s left-handed, she’s crafty, she sees the floor, and she’s going to be a surprise to people.” Freshmen Kennady Hansen and Kayla Rash will also be on the var- sity roster. Rash is coming off an ACL in- jury sustained last spring, so her avail- ability may not happen until after the holiday break.

not an easy feat considering the formidable competition that also wants to lay claim to that title. North Polk is the overwhelming favorite. The Comets were a per- fect 16 for 16 in the RRC last winter en route to the Class 4A state title game where they fell to Dallas Center-Grimes. They lost leading scorer MaKayla Boatman to graduation, but Frisk says junior Abby Tuttle is one of the best guards in the state, and North Polk has plenty of pieces around her. “North Polk is loaded,” Frisk said. “They return a lot of good kids and they’ll be hard to guard because of their experience.” Ballard is, well, Ballard. The Bombers are good every year, proven by last season’s run to the 4A state semifinals. And they re-

turn one of the league’s most tal- ented players in Alliyah Thomp- son, a 6-foot-1 center who averaged 16.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.9 steals a night last season. Carlisle has sophomore dynamo Macy Comito (13.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.4 spg), Chesney Steenhoek (13.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg) anchors Bondurant- Farrar, and Katelyn Aden (10.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.3 spg) will be a force for Carroll. Yep, just another nightly test in- side the RRC. What else is new? “The conference is tough, but I feel like we have the kids to be competitive,” Frisk said. “There’s not a night where you can just show up and play though. You have to be ready every single night.”

Several more juniors — Abigail

Frisk knows it’s going to take the en- tire team — from the leading scorer to the person at the end of the bench — to take Gilbert where it wants to go. And where the Tigers want to go is to the top of the RRC,

WANT MORE INFORMATION ON GILBERT GIRLS HOOPS? Use the QR Code to go to the team site on Bound. Results will be updated throughout the season.

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MEMBERS OF THE 2023-24 GILBERT BOYS WRESTLING TEAM include (front row, left to right) Estan Buttery, Mason Wibholm, Eli Hernandez, Taylor Dukes, John Beardsley, Gabe Angus, Logan Nelson, Cooper Mitchell, (middle) Riley Lempiainen, Elijah Sanford, Philip Chitty, Easton Crawford, Braeden Nees, Dennis May, John Artz, Isaac Holtan, Tate Larson, Elliot Lawrence, Alyzah Boggs, (back) Sophie Chitty, Anthony Fugere, Ben Hammes, Holt Bellon, Coach Pat Schoenfelder, Coach Sinjin Briggs, Coach Scott Auderer, Coach Nate Graves, Holden Boshart, Mason Griffin, and Kendall Wakefield.

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B en Hammes is not a teammates with words of wisdom, well, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Hammes is a worker. When no one is watching, when the lights are low and the wrestling room is quiet, that’s when he’s intense. And he does it all with a singular goal in mind: To become the best wrestler he can be in an effort to reach the state tournament. talker. If you’re looking for a rah-rah guy who will motivate himself and his That journey will begin soon enough. Coming off a junior season in which he posted a 26-14 record, Hammes got back to business shortly after the season concluded. His focus and determination have impressed Gilbert head coach Scott Auderer. “Ben has put in the most time in the offseason of any wrestler that I’ve ever had other than (current Iowa State grappler) Nando (Vel-

Wt. Name

Gr.

106 Dennis May 120 Taylor Dukes 126 Mason Wibholm 132 Pedro Linhares 138 Cody Puck 138 Estan Buttery 144 Elliot Lawrence 132 John Artz 144 Anthony Fugere 144 Cooper Mitchell 144 Holt Bellon 150 Cael O’Brien 150 Tate Larson 157 Braeden Nees 165 Gabriel Angus 165 Holden Boshart 144 Isaac Baker 144 165 Isaac Holtan 165 Phillip Chitty 175 Noah Burger 190 John Beardsley 215 Ben Hammes 215 Elijah Sanford 285 Mason Griffin

Sr Fr Fr

Fr Fr

So Sr So Fr Sr So So

Eli Hernandez Clemente Fr

laescusa),” Auderer said. “(Wres- tling is) life for Ben. He wants to get to state and he wants to wrestle in college.” Hammes has already checked the box on one of those goals. Re- cently, he received an offer to wrestle collegiately at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville. Expected to compete at 190 pounds this

improve upon its eighth-place fin- ish at the 2023 Raccoon River Conference tournament. The Tigers were shutout of the 2023 state tournament, but several wres- tlers were just a win away from po- tentially reaching the big stage at the district tournament in Webster City this past February. Joining Hammes with big goals in 2023-24 will be sophomore Mason Griffin, who exceeded ex- pectations with a 30-win season at 220 pounds as a freshman last winter. Griffin turned it on over the second half of his rookie cam- paign, starting with a third-place finish at the conference tourna- ment. He carried that momentum into the postseason where he took fourth at districts. Following a standout football season where he started on both sides of the ball for a six-win Tiger crew, Griffin is projected to wrestle

Jr Jr

So Jr Fr Sr So So

winter, Hammes can put all of his focus on the state tournament. “He leads by exam- ple and he works hard,” Auderer said of his senior leader. “Physicality wise, he can get there.”

at 215 this winter.

“I think last year definitely gave him confidence, there’s no doubt about that,” Auderer said of Grif- fin. “Having success at that weight as a freshman last year, then sud- denly improving the way he did should only catapult him into this NEXT PAGE

WANT MORE INFORMATION ON GILBERT BOYS WRESTLING? Use the QR Code to go to Track Wrestling. Browse “seasons” and “Iowa.” Results will be updated throughout the season.

Hammes will be one

of the driving forces for a Gilbert boys’ team that will look to

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season, and he also did some work in the offseason, which is good. It’s only going to help him.” Other familiar faces are expected to return to the lineup as well. John Artz (25-25 in 2022-23), Dennis May (23-27), Pedro Lin- hares (6-33), Braeden Nees (14- 28), Holt Bellon (12-31), and Holden Boshart (17-30) are no longer inexperienced grapplers and that should show on the mat. Auderer will look to those wres- tlers to show the youngsters the way. The Tigers’ longtime coach admits his team of approximately 30 student-athletes is split pretty evenly between those who have experience and those who don’t. “It’s a tale of two teams this year with guys that are experienced and guys that are brand new to the sport,” Auderer said. “Growth in leadership and growth in knowl- edge of how the sport works, that will be key. That means diet, mindset, and what it takes to be successful. Then, of course, you want to see a progression in tech- nique and things like that. Those are the things you have to do and see in order to improve.” So, yes, there are some un- knowns with the Tigers and that’s OK. Could there be some fresh faces step into the lineup and make an immediate impact? Au- derer thinks so. A guy like Cael O’Brien, who missed the majority of last season due to injury, is now healthy and has a chance to leave an impression. Mason Wibholm has a chance too, and Taylor Dukes has his eyes on the 113- pound weight class as a freshman as he attempts the grueling wres-

aren’t many secrets when it comes to the conference hierarchy, and some things never change. Bondurant-Farrar will be good. Really good. Shocking, I know.

Carlisle will be good too.

Winterset and Ballard — the same. Carroll will have some quality grapplers. North Polk falls into that category as well. “We’re in a gut-wrenching con- ference,” Auderer said. “The good of that is you know where you stand with the top kids, so there’s the measuring stick of what trajec- tory you’re on. You’ve got to show up every night.” Nine of the 2023 individual con- ference champions return, five of them wearing Bondurant-Farrar singlets — Reid Foster (106), Con- nor Fiser (113), Matthew McCrea (120), Nolan Fellers (138), and Jack Lewis (152). However, Car- lisle is the defending team cham- pion, as its depth a season ago led to a 28.5-point win over the Blue- jays. The other returning conference champions include Cael Nelson (126) of Carroll, Jaxon Miller (145) and Asa Hemsted (170) of Carlisle, and Brody Sampson (182) of Ballard. Foster (fifth), Fiser (third), Fellers (third), Miller (fourth), and Lewis (seventh) were all 3A state medalists a winter ago. Sampson and Ballard teammate Henry Christensen (220) were both 2A state runners-up.

tling and basketball double over the next few months. This winter will also see shifting weight classes in Iowa, as the divi- sions were altered slightly from previous seasons. The 14 weight classes will now be: 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215, and 285. What has changed the most? Es- sentially, the decision was to add another middle weight (157),

which eliminated a class near the top of the lineup (182). “I would say it helps us more than it hurts us because we don’t have a lot of big guys,” Auderer said of the weight class shift. “But for a guy like Mason Griffin, I wish that weight class was 225 instead of 215 because he wants to get bigger for football, not cut weight.” While there may be some un- knowns with weight classes, there

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MEMBERS OF THE 2023-24 GILBERT BOYS BOWLING TEAM include (front row, left to right) Lucas Savage, Chase Deike, Brayden Hauge, Benji Lenz, Jaden Smith, (middle) Coach Carolyn Miller, Ashton Dodds, Coal Myers, Nash Han- son, Cole Pflughaupt, Aldo Schwartz, Coach Austin Emery, (back) Todd Emery, Henry Gustafson, Jackson Johnson, Luke Jorgensen, and Toby Ruba.

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MEMBERS OF THE 2023-24 GILBERT GIRLS BOWLING TEAM include (front row, left to right) Josie VanGorp, Keira Andersen, Elle O’Brien, Lydia Hill, Kaitlyn Dear, (middle) Coach Carolyn Miller, Lily Shedarowich, Reese Henderson, Katie O’Brien, Kiera Miller, Clare Stahr, Kilee Miller, Ava Klatt, Coach Austin Emery, (back) Claire Grandgenett, Claire Koenig, Ella Gebhart, Sarah Thatcher, and Alyse Beyer.

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Tigers refuse to shy away from personal expectations

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A ustin Emery had an in- ternal debate that lasted all of five seconds. Should he say it? Should he not? It didn’t take him long to make the decision. The Gilbert boys’ bowling head coach decided to go for it. “It’s state or bust this year,” Emery said. “There’s no doubt about it with these kids. If we lose a meet this (regular season) or don’t make it to state, the kids will be disappointed.” Those are some lofty expecta- tions to live up to for any program, and yet with the experience and talent the Tigers return, Emery doesn’t shy away from them. Gilbert is good. It was good last year — hello 9-0 dual-meet record and Two Rivers Conference tour- nament champions — and with the entire puzzle returning intact, it’s safe to say the 2023-24 cam- paign should be equally successful. “The kids keep saying we’re not going to just make it to state, we’re

going to win state, so I love their attitudes,” Emery said. “Jackson (Johnson) just keeps saying we’re going to win state and I hope we do.” The bitter taste from the end of the 2022-23 season still lingers too. Gilbert arguably had one of the most talented teams in the state a season ago, yet the Tigers were shipped to Council Bluffs for districts with St. Albert and only the team champion advanced to state. It was St. Albert on that day, which went on to place third at state. “I feel like that’s only going to make us stronger this year,” Emery said. “We’re focused on our goals.” So who makes up those pieces that has Emery so excited about the next few months? Start with Johnson and Chase Klatt, two vet- erans who have both qualified for state as individuals. Johnson punched his ticket during the 2021-22 season, while Klatt earned his bid last winter.

well working. It’s great to see them doing it, and they know it’s their last year at it.” The intrasquad competition can be exhausting though, Emery ad- mits. Not only do his players want to topple the opposition, they also want to beat each other. Can prac- tices get heated sometimes? They sure can. Yet that competitive spirit is what drives the Tigers when it comes time for meet situ- ations. “I’ve coached a lot of sports and this is the most intense that I’ve seen,” Emery said. “I think it’s great for meets, but it can be ter- rible for practice. These kids kind of push it sometimes, but when it’s baker time, it’s 100 percent team time.”

Coal Myers (191.46 average in 2022-23), Nash Hanson (171.13) and Luke Jorgensen (154.50) are all back too. And it was Myers who was the team leader with a 215 average in the Tigers’ season- opening win over Knoxville last week. “These kids have grown so much, and they should all increase their averages by about five to 10 pins this year,” Emery said. “Their men- Emery credits the work all of his players put in during the offseason as a key to the surge he expects to see. “Chase worked all summer and is constantly working on his game,” Emery said. “Cole does a lot of tournaments in the offseason, and Jackson and Toby were in here as tal state of mind has gotten stronger and that’s huge.”

Next comes Toby Ruba, who posted a team-best 201.75 aver- age a season ago. His magical season in- cluded a perfect 300 game at the confer- ence tournament. Don’t forget about Cole Pflughaupt, who has qualified for nu- merous national tour- naments and posted a 196.13 average a sea- son ago, third on the team behind Ruba and Johnson (198.79).

WANT MORE INFORMATION ON GILBERT BOYS BOWLING? Use the QR Code to go to the team site on Bound. Results will be updated throughout the season.

Emery and girls’ head coach

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Carolyn Miller are actually split- ting the duties between the two teams. Rather than have separate programs, they’ve structured it so that the Tigers are one program, one team. “I like that it’s not divided be- cause we (practice) in the same area and we go to the same meets,” Miller said. “We’re here to help every single player do their best.” “Believe it or not, some of the girls will respond better to me than (Miller), and some of the boys will respond better to her than me,” Emery said. The girls’ program, which posted a 3-5 record and finished fifth at the conference tournament a sea- son ago, may not have the “state or bust” expectations, but that doesn’t mean Miller hasn’t set lofty goals. Can the Tigers contend for a conference championship? Can they made a solid postseason run? Both coaches agree: Never say never.

Kilee Miller, Sarah Thatcher, Kiera Miller

“The beauty is we’re saying that now and the season just started,” Miller said. “For me it’s just really neat to have kids who are excited. Some of these girls have gone from never bowling before to being able to be com- petitive with other teams.”

son ago, and she was closely fol- lowed by twin sisters Kiera and Kilee Miller at 144.94 and 136.00, respectively. And all three expect even bigger things out of themselves this winter. Both coaches have seen the work they’ve put in to get better. A lot better.

drive she has,” Emery said. “Kiera, I think she’ll average around a 180 this year, and if they don’t, I think they’ll be very upset with them- selves.” It’s a testament to the coaches and student-athletes with just how far this program has come in such a short amount of time. The pro- gram was established only three years ago, but it didn’t take it long to flourish. And the participation numbers continue to increase. “Bowling is a sport that anyone can play regardless of talent level,” Miller said. “It’s really a sport for any kid, which is nice and it makes it exciting.”

The girls won their first meet of the season over Knoxville as well, and they have a solid trio of senior leaders to lean on when the spot- light shines bright. Sarah Thatcher posted a team-high 144.44 average a sea-

“We have three really solid players,” Miller said.

Emery joked the Miller twins seemingly lived in the bowling alley during the offseason, and the proof is in the pudding, so to speak. “Kilee should be averaging close to 185 or 190 this year with the

WANT MORE INFORMATION ON GILBERT GIRLS BOWLING? Use the QR Code to go to the team site on Bound. Results will be updated throughout the season.

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MEMBERS OF THE 2023-24 GILBERT JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM include (front row, left to right) Jazzy Gehling, Kayla Rash, Abigail Thompson, Izzy Terrones, Kennady Hansen, Sammy Johnson, (middle) Emily Roche, Phoebe Cox, Greta Platts, Katie Sniezek, Allie Grandgenett, Frieda Hoetzl-Herzl, Kaylin Richards, (back) Olivia Timmermans, Emee Dani, Lauren Sniezek, Coach Scott Uthe, Coach Jeff Gillette, Coach Xary Nunez-Hiraldo, Cece Hart, and Lillian Dahlstrom.

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MEMBERS OF THE 2023-24 GILBERT JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM include (front row, left to right) Nick Hock, Easton Van- Cleave, Ethan Rash, Gabe Hicks, Joey Pyfferoen, Aidan Rash, Gabe Fierce, Ean Eldred, (back) Ayden Folkerts, Isaac Renze, Matt Zoz, Thomas Bar- bier, Lual Kenyang, Eli Hague, and Tripp Sturgill.

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MEMBERS OF THE 2023-24 GILBERT FRESHMAN BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM include (front row, left to right) Zach Schrader, Holden Hibbs, Charlie Reich, Taylor Dukes, Landon Witek, Tayton Warg, (back) Jordan Martinek, Connor Mattson, Trent Wesselmann, and Josh Baldwin.

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MEMBERS OF THE 2023-24 GILBERT WINTER CHEERLEADING SQUAD FOR BASKETBALL AND WRESTLING include (front row, left to right) Nava Rasmussen, Caitlin Strudthoff, Memphis Iddings, Malia Higgins, Lydia Strudthoff, (middle) Elisa Canova, Riley Lempiainen, Jahleeyah Garnica, Saya Funaba-O’Brien, (back) Paige Skelton, Sarah Frank, Norah Romero, Kaylee Higgins, and Genevieve Lamm.

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