Jerra Merchant has had her eye on the prize of becoming the top hurdler in 3A all season. She didn’t waste the opportunity to compete at the state track meet in Des Moines, winning the 100-meter hurdle final with a state record time of 14.39.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will release rainbow trout in 10 locations across Iowa this winter in areas that would not support them during warmer months. Locally, Scharnberg Pond located southeast of Everly will be stocked at about noon on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Winter trout stockings are a great place to take kids to catch their first fish. A family-friendly event is paired with each stocking to help anglers have success and fun while fishing.

As a former teacher and coach, I’ve always liked motivational speakers and quotes that challenge us to do better and to “reach for the stars.” There are a lot of great ones out there, but there is one that still gives me goose bumps. This one belongs to the inspirational message by the late Jim Valvano.

I was introduced to fishing by my Dad at a very young age. We fished from shore at small ponds and streams. We caught mostly bluegills and the occasional largemouth bass. We could see the fish in the water and often got them to bite. See a fish, put a worm in front of it, and we usually caught it. That’s how we fished back in those days.

So, what can a person do when waiting for a special hunting season or in the case right now, when the ice isn’t safe to ice fish and there is no snow to snowmobile or cross-country ski?

I’ve got an idea for you. Not long ago, I was looking for something to do, so I went down to the Park and visited the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum.

FORT DODGE — Five Spencer Tigers reached the finals at the loaded Fort Dodge Invite Friday night with Shaylee Sutherland and Olivia Huckfelt continuing to dominate, bringing home a pair of titles and helping theTiger girls to a second place finish.

FORT DODGE — Spencer girls basketball team began a final brutal week of 2023 with a pair of losses, on the road at Fort Dodge Monday, 44-34, and back home Tuesday against No. 5 Mason City, 61-36. The Tigers fell to 0-8 heading into the final game of year Friday in the field house against No. 2 Newell-Fonda.

A bad second quarter against the Dodgers proved the difference in the contest as Spencer found itself on the short end of a 14-5 count.

SIOUX CENTER — A road trip to Sioux Center Tuesday evening culminated in a 1-1 night of dual action for the Spencer boys wrestling program against the Warriors and Sergeant Bluff-Luton. SB-L, ranked No. 6, would handle the Tigers, 49-18; before Spencer rebounded to edge the hosts 42-33. It was the final action before the Christmas break.

FORT DODGE — “For a team that had not picked up a win so far in the season, Fort Dodge really came out and established the tone early on in this game,” Spencer boys basketball coach Kory Petzenhauser said following his team’s 59-49 road win Monday night — the first of back-to-back games to close out the 2023 campaign.

The Tigers limited the Dodgers to 15 points in the second and third quarters while producing 29 points of their own in the 10-point win.

SIOUX RAPIDS — Sioux Central’s girls basketball team enter the holiday break with an 8-1 mark after a convincing Twin Lakes win at home, Tuesday, against Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire, 62-20. The Rebels outproduced the Titans 24-6 in the first quarter and led 42-12 at the half en route to the 42-point win.

CHEROKEE — Sioux Central’s boys placed seven wrestlers in the top three at the Cherokee Invitational with first-year wrestler Noah Garcia earning a spot in the finals at 113, placing second for the meet. Likewise Zane Griffin finished runner-up also for the Rebels.

SIOUX RAPIDS — In an otherwise even Twin Lakes Conference matchup Tuesday, Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire took advantage of a third quarter Sioux Central lull to claim a 65-57 boys basketball win in the Rebel gym.

With the score tied at 27-27, the Titans would double up on the Rebels 16-8 which would prove to be the difference in the game as both teams would enter into a shootout — both squads putting up 22 points down the stretch.

The Spencer Tigers boys wrestling team hosted Western Christian and Emmetsburg for a nonconference double duel in the field house, finishing Thursday evening with a 1-1 record. Spencer rolled past the Wolfpack, 58-18 before succumbing to the E-Hawks, 39-33.

The evening would also include the celebration of Kade Johnson’s 100th win in front of the home crowd, following a 2:30 fall at 157 against the Wolfpack, and an 8-1 decision against the E-Hawks.

POCAHONTAS — “We struggled to get into a flow early, but had a big second quarter with some steals and transition baskets,” Rebel girls basketball coach Kasey Krager said. “The girls really responded well in the fourth quarter when Pocahontas was making a run. We had some girls make some big plays and big shots down the stretch.

POCAHONTAS — A trio of double-digit scorers for Sioux Central helped overcome a 33-21 halftime deficit in Pocahontas, as the Rebel boys kept the Indians winless while improving to 2-4 and 1-2 in Twin Lakes Conference play Friday night.