ALTA — In an eight team field of girls cross-country runners, Sioux Central placed all five of its scoring runners in the top 25 of the field at Alta-Aurelia Monday. Linnea Bloom and Marley Madsen led the way with 11th and 13th place finishes; while Nora Christian, Quinn Wilkinson and Allison Ehlers rounded out the team scoring with 21, 23 and 25 efforts. The Sioux Central girls placed fourth with 82 team points with Hinton leading the pack with 48.

MADISON, S.D. — The Iowa Lakes volleyball team traveled to Madison, South Dakota, to face Dakota State University's JV and Mounty Marty's JV in a tri-match at DSU. The lakers ran into some tough teams that brought lots of good energy and effort. The Lakers struggled with offensive efficiency. During the second match against Mount Marty the Lakers lost two of their players to ankle injuries.

On this week’s episode of the “Triple Option Podcast,” TJ and I offered a bit of an un-requested locker room talk for our Spencer football boys. Often celebrities and alumni are asked to come in and fire the team up.

Admittedly, we weren’t invited, but that didn’t stop us.

Iowa Lakes freshman Emilio Cazares made an impression this past week with two goals against a conference opponent. Cazares played in a 7-3 win for the Lakers over No. 9 Southeastern. This game was Cazares’ third game for the Lakers and he was clinical, taking two shots and converting them both. If that isn't enough Cazares managed to score both goals with his weak foot. The Lakers are currently 6-1-1 and a big win against a top 10 opponent is a statement. (Photo submitted)

A potential game winning drive with under two minutes left in the game came up short for Spencer’s football squad as preseason district favorite Le Mars held on for a 14-7 win in a contest started an hour early to avoid projected weather issues. The homecoming defeat marked the fifth straight week the Tigers faced a ranked opponent as they closed out a grueling nondistrict campaign with an equally challenging district opener.

ESTHERVILLE — Spencer’s volleyball squad made things interesting by forcing the opening game at Estherville-Lincoln Central Thursday evening. The Tigers would extend the match opener before claiming a 26-24 win. The Midgets, however, were just getting started as they would roll in the next three games for the Lakes Conference opener, 24-26, 25-14, 25-15, 25-16.

SIOUX CENTER — In a loaded field, the Spencer girls and boys cross-country finished in the top four positions amidst double-digit competition Thursday in Sioux Center. The Tiger boys placed third among 13 teams, besting Class 2A ninth-ranked Okoboji and Class 3A 15th-ranked host team Sioux Center. Spencer’s female contingent placed three in the top 20 to propel them to a fourth place finish, edging Okoboji and Cherokee at Dordt College.

SIOUX RAPIDS — A potent Emmetsburg ground game proved too much for the Sioux Central homecoming celebration Friday night with the threat of severe weather looming. The E-Hawks didn’t seem bothered as they maintained a clean sheet while posting 40 in the shutout win.

Spencer High School hosted a volleyball invitational in the field house Saturday, taking on five very talented northwest Iowa clubs. The home squad dropped all of its matches in straight sets to to Central Lyon, 21-9, 21-5; Le Mars, 21-6, 21-11; Mason City, 21-16, 21-13; and West Lyon, 21-12, 21-12. They did snatch the opening game against Humboldt before falling in three.

Makenzie Uribe attempts a kill for the Iowa Lakes. ILCC fell at Southeastern Community College Thursday, dropping the squad to 1-21 and 0-5 in conference. No match scores were provided. Morgan Wigg and Lynasia Moore provided four kills each for the Lakers, while Kylah Cortez and Uribe ended up with seven and five digs. (Photos submitted)

Iowa Lakes men's soccer hosted Hawkeye Community College on Wednesday, playing to a 1-1 draw. The Lakers dominated possession in the first half, but found it difficult to break down Hawkeye as they sat back and defended deep in their own defensive half of the field.

The fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), a native moth of North America, is commonly found across Iowa during late summer and early fall.

“We expect higher populations of fall webworm south of Interstate 80,” explained Tivon Feeley, Iowa DNR Forest Health forester.

EMMETSBURG — West Fork Wildlife Area in Palo Alto County was developed after the historic flood of 1993, then expanded after the floods of 2018 and 2019 as landowners exited the floodplain.

The fall season is a time for trophy fish. In fact, fall is a good time for fish in general. Fish of all sizes go on the bite as the water starts to cool and the days get shorter. They instinctively know that, in many areas, their metabolism is going to slow down and they won't be chasing food like they have been for the past several months.

At this point, a tip of the hat goes out to all those who have been part of the effort to address the discovery of Eurasian watermilfoil in the canals on West Okoboji. Yes, the battle continues in the fight against Eurasian watermilfoil continues. The latest effort took place on the canals of West Lake Okoboji on Tuesday, Sept. 19. In visiting with Mike Hawkins, fisheries biologist, treatment consisted of using a fast-acting herbicide called ProcellaCOR.