SPENCER — On Friday night, fans and parents got to see the first look of the 2022-23 Spencer Tiger basketball teams. The teams hosted an intersquad scrimmage on Friday night. Both teams would play a half during the contest. The purple squad would be victorious in both matchups, with the team winning 28-22 on the girls side and the boys purple team winning 28-17.

RIDGE VIEW — The Spencer girls wrestling team traveled to Ridge View on Saturday to compete in the Raptor Invitational. The second meet of the young season for the Tigers after competing at Dallas Center-Grimes last week. Four Tigers took first place in their weight divisions in the competition. Five girls competed in the gold division, the rest competed in the silver division. Kaylee Nachtigal, Olivia Huckfelt and Shaylee Sutherland all took home first for Spencer in the gold division.

ESTHERVILLE — After coaching thousands of athletes on 80 teams over 42 years, Iowa Lakes head volleyball coach Mike Turnbull announced plans to retire from Iowa Lakes Community College on July 1.

Iowa Lakes men’s basketball Amiri Crowder was selected as ICCAC and NJCAA National Player of the Week. Iowa Lakes picked up a pair of wins last week against two Region 6 teams at the Johnson County Classic. They escaped the host No. 9 Cavaliers, 77-76, on Friday; and then beat Highland, Kansas, on Saturday, 93-81. Crowder was the Lakers go-to guy in both games. In the second half of the Johnson County game, he scored eight points in the final two minutes including 4-of-4 from the line.

Iowa Lakes Community College head softball coach Katie King announced the signing of Alyvia Jensen to the 2023-24 recruiting class. Jensen is the daughter of Michael and Ann Jensen and attends Johnston High School in Johnston. An outfielder, Jensen had a tremendous year last season. She compiled a .591 batting average, going 20-34. She slugged 20 hits, including six doubles and two triples.

The Spencer Tiger football team announced its yearly award winners last week. The team hands out the yearly hammer award that goes to the player who hit the hardest consistently all yearlong. Special Teams Player of the Year; Honey Badger of the Year, which goes to the player with the most tenacity on the team; Team MVP and Scout Team Player of the Year.

The Iowa Lakes women's basketball team went 2-0 at the Emerson Classic in Marshalltown over the weekend. The Lakers defeated Lewis and Clark Community College in the first game, 65-52, with a very balanced scoring attack including four players in double digits. Iowa Lakes was led by Emma Kanz with 17 points; Jasmine Jones added a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds; Anisah Wolf contributed 12 points; and Brielle Bartelt finished with 11 points.

Campbell Wessels was among nine Spencer Tigers recognized with Class 4A all-district football honors after winning the district outright for the first time in more than a quarter century. Wessells offensively led the team in receiving with 10 catches for 319 yards, averaging more than 30 yards a catch and two touchdowns; and rushed 30 times for 154 yards and one touchdown. (Photo by Sondra Hookfin)

DALLAS CENTER —Spencer made history on Monday night when they competed in the first sanctioned meet of the Iowa girls wrestling season.

SIOUX RAPIDS — This year will be a big one for girls in the state of Iowa, with girls wrestling season beginning earlier this week. Even in northwest Iowa on Tuesday when Sioux Central hosted the SC Girls Invitational with 16 teams and more than 150 girls competing.

DES MOINES — Dancers from across the state will take the floor at Wells Fargo Arena Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 for the country’s largest high school dance team competition. Spencer will perform Friday, Dec. 2, at 1:03 p.m., in Class 2 Kick; and at 4:34 p.m., in Class 6 Jazz at Wells Fargo Arena, facing west.

ILCC volleyball sign key additions

MARSHALLTOWN — Over the weekend the Spencer girls swim team took on the best the state of Iowa has to offer at the Marshalltown YMCA for the state swimming competition. The girls were competing in three team events and Lily Gross competed in the only individual event in the 100-yard breaststroke. Gross picked up a 20th place finish in the competition.

Iowa Lakes Community College head softball coach Katie King, announced the signing of Darieliz Acosta and Brenna Benge to the 2023-24 recruiting class. Darieliz, the daughter of Daniel and Maritza Acosta, is attending Estherville Lincoln Central High School; and Benge, the daughter of Mark and Amy Benge, is concluding her time at Spirit Lake High School.

The 2022-23 Iowa Lakes women's basketball team is very optimistic about this year. They have high expectations for this season as they return four sophomores and bring in six newcomers. They expect to pick up right where they left off last year, where they finished with a respectable 19-12 record and tied for third in conference with a 13-7 record.