Iowa Lakes men's soccer opened the 2023 campaign Thursday on the road in Colorado, using a full display of their attacking capabilities to down Northwestern Junior College, 5-1. Freshman Ian Campbell made his debut in the second half for the Lakers, putting the ICCAC on high alert by scoring a hat trick in the span of five minutes.

(Left) Spencer Municipal Morning Golf League winners were crowned recently included Karen Eickhoff and Jeanne Lawrence, first place; (back row) Karen Buchholz and Marie Thomas, second place; and Arla Kintigh and Mary Higgins, third place. (Right) Spencer Municipal Golf Morning League Tournament winners were first flight: Sharon Burgeson, first; Judy Good, second; and Cindy Evans, third. Second flight: Jeanne Lawrence, first; Arla Kintigh, second and Mary Brosnahan, third.

Volleyball and girls swimming get their 2023 Spencer fall campaigns underway Tuesday night, with the boys and girls cross-country squads hosting their annual season opener Thursday at the Spencer Municipal Golf Course and the Tiger football team starting the season on the road in Humboldt Friday, Aug. 25. A busy week for the student-athletes transitioning from summer fun back to the classroom and sporting venues.

SPENCER FOOTBALL

Iowa Lakes Community College softball had another great year both on and off the field. The Lakers were recognized with the seventh highest team GPA in junior college softball programs in the country. This includes Division I, Division II and Division III junior colleges. The student-athletes compiled a 3.68 team GPA. This is the third year in a row that the Laker softball team has made the top 20 for team GPA.

Often overlooked for its similarly named state park or mistaken for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sprawling Saylorville Wildlife Area, Big Creek Wildlife Area is roughly 3,100-acre, one stop outdoor shop just 10 minutes from Ankeny.

It features remnant and reconstructed prairie, mature hardwood forest, small sediment basins for remote, hike-in fishing, and huge blocks of contiguous forest with no roads or lanes to break it up.

Boy oh boy has it been hot! Record heat in some areas! For safety reasons, many anglers are limiting their time on the water to early and late in the day to avoid the heat.

When we go fishing, but especially when our time on the water is limited, we want to use techniques that increase our chances for getting bit. Sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes, the best technique for getting bit is a simple technique. Following are some simple ideas that will catch fish.

The word is out, and the Iowa Great Lakes is once again reeling from the news of the discovery of Eurasian watermilfoil in the Millers Bay canal, the Harbor and Triboji Lagoon. Plus, brittle naiad, another invasive plant was also found at Triboji Lagoon. The media — radio, television and newspaper have all covered it, so there is no sense in rehashing it all.

Spencer High School athletes returned to school this week — not in the classroom — but in the athletic arena as fall sports practices officially got underway. 2022 Tiger volleyball standout Addison Hoben digs the ball at a team practice Tuesday. Adrian Carrillo, who led the purple and gold in rushing stretches ahead of Tuesday night’s workout; Spencer players participated in line drills on the team’s practice field, southeast of Dale Norton Field.

EMMETSBURG — Iowa Lakes Community College has recently completed significant upgrades to the Arthur and Audrey Smith Wellness Center's cardiovascular and weight rooms, including new state-of-the-art treadmills, bikes, seated ellipticals and a functional trainer designed to offer countless workout styles while targeting multiple muscle groups.

It’s about this time every year when I think back on my early days of fishing on the small to medium-size rivers that were close to my north Iowa home. There were ponds and lakes in the area, but the rivers at this time of year provided better fishing action. In recent days, I visited some of my old fishing holes.

It has been a pretty crazy, busy and at the same time a gratifying summer for the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club. It seems like since the ice left the area lakes, IGLFC volunteers have been going nonstop making sure northwest Iowa youngsters get the chance to go fishing.

Brett Benson had to battle the inclement weather conditions — including fog and rain — play delays and Connor Schubring requiring five extra holes to claim the top prize at the 101st Northwest Am Sunday evening. The two men completed the required a number of holes knotted at 10-under, tied at 206, setting up the showdown for the honor of hoisting the trophy and pocketing the $1,000 prize.

Aspiring Spencer Tigers in the third through eighth grade spent four days honing their football skills under the tutelage of high school and middle school coaches, as well high school players. At the completion of the Spencer Youth Football Camp last week, the players were presented with certificates recognizing their efforts and camp T-shirts to wear. Members of the Spencer varsity football team signed autographs at the conclusion of the camp for the third through sixth grade campers.

Record-setting win: Anderson’s 21 under par sets record for tournament

SPENCER — After a rainy Saturday and Sunday last year, players were questioning if they would be able to finish the 2022 Northwest Amateur tournament without getting drenched in rain. The final pairing of the championship flight, featuring the guys in the mix for the win, got started at 3:30 p.m.

The Spencer Golf and Country Club is hosting its 101st Annual Northwest Amateur Tournament this weekend, with opportunities for sweet treats along the way.

The Jespersen family has made monster cookies and lemonade for tournament participants and attendees for over 40 years. This year, the Jespersen grandchildren — Naomi, Bethany, Andy and Ben — are back to carry on the generational tradition.