2021 was quite the year in sports in the No Coast Network listening area.  There were two state high school champions in boys’ basketball: Pella in Class 3A and Montezuma in Class 1A.  And Montezuma’s girls reached the State 1A tournament for the fourth consecutive year….making it to the semifinals.

William Penn’s men’s basketball team continued its tradition of excellence by winning both the Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season and conference tournament titles.  The Statesmen got to the NAIA national tournament, but lost in the round of 16.

At the State High School Wrestling meet, Grinnell’s Kamrin Steveson was runner-up at 285 pounds in Class 2A, with teammate Landon Kirby finishing sixth at 160.  Oskaloosa’s Leland Evans was sixth in Class 3A at 145 pounds; Carter Anderson of Albia was fourth in 2A at 106 pounds.

Women’s wrestling was introduced at William Penn University….and the Statesmen had a conference champion in Mami Selemani in the 123 pound division.

In track and field, Pella won the State Boys’ Class 3A championship, with Kody Huisman of the Dutch winning the shot put and Pella’s four by 400 meter relay team also finishing first.  Oskaloosa’s girls’ track team had two champions to brag about: Sophia Dykstra for winning the discus at the Drake Relays and Faith DeRonde for winning the discus at the Class 3A State meet.

Oskaloosa’s boys and Sigourney’s girls both made it to their respective State golf meets this past spring. And Oskaloosa’s girls’ tennis team won the Little Hawkeye Conference championship.

Over the summer, Oskaloosa and Sigourney both made it to the State Softball tournament in Fort Dodge….with the Indians and Savages both losing in the opening round.  Osky’s Faith DeRonde was chosen to the Class 4A first team All-State softball team…..with Maleah Walker on the second team and Olivia Gordon on the third team.

Oskaloosa High’s softball field was given a new name: Jay Harms Field, in honor of the Indians’ long-time coach.

It was a good summer for Ottumwa baseball.  The Bulldogs made it to the State 4A tournament, while Ottumwa hosted the national Babe Ruth 14 year old World Series.

Switching to football, Sigourney-Keota reached the quarterfinals in the Class 1A playoffs….while Montezuma reached the second round in 8-man football.

Oskaloosa’s volleyball team advanced to the State Class 4A tournament…but while the Indians lost their first game in five sets to Waverly-Shell Rock, Osky’s Faith DeRonde set a state tournament record with 40 kills in that game.  That won’t be the last we see of DeRonde on the volleyball court; she signed a national letter of intent to play at Iowa State next fall.

And William Penn’s men’s soccer team won its first ever game at the NAIA national tournament.