Sports

FORT DODGE– With a brisk midday wind, and temperature struggling to hit 40 degrees, Solon’s girls capped their cross country season on a high note. Basically matching their final ranking in the polls (which ranged from 12th to sixth through the second half of the season), the Lady Spartans finished seventh of the 15 regional qualifying teams on the turf Nov. 2, for the Class 3A state meet at Kennedy Park Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

FORT DODGE¬– Clear Creek Amana’s (CCA) varsity boys cross country team picked up its second consecutive state runner-up trophy Saturday, Nov. 2, at the 2019 Class 3A State Meet in Fort Dodge. The Clippers, ranked No. 1 in the state for several weeks, lost to Dallas Center-Grimes by one point, 110-109, for second place.
Nick O’Connor, a senior, led the Creek Boys with a ninth-place finish in 16:29.5. Brandon Barker, a junior, was in the top-15 with an 11th-place finish in 16:30.7.
The Clippers were runners-up last year, for the first time in the history of the program.

SOLON– Friday, Nov. 1, was bittersweet for Liberty High School as the Lightning celebrated the first playoff appearance for the varsity football team, and bid farewell to the “Original,” or “O-Bolts,” the seniors who have worn Liberty’s black, purple and silver for four years on the gridiron.
The Bolts faced the undefeated Solon Spartans in a Class 3A first round playoff game in Solon, and fell 14-7. The Spartans did all of their damage in the first half with a touchdown on their first possession, and the second just inside the second quarter.

TIFFIN– The Clear Creek Amana (CCA) varsity volleyball season ended Tuesday, Oct. 29, as the Clinton River Queens pulled off a 3-1 (25-16, 21-25, 25-22, 25-16) upset in a Class 4A regional semifinal match at CCA.
The Clippers entered the contest after a first-round bye with a 23-14 record, and a No.14 ranking in Class 4A from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU). Clinton, on the other hand, was unranked with a 12-22 record.

VAN HORNE– It was too much Abby Brunssen.
The Benton Community senior, a unanimous First Team All-WaMaC Conference selection, carried the Bobcats to a 3-1 win over Solon’s varsity volleyball squad in a Class 3A Region 6 quarterfinal Oct. 23 in Van Horne.
“Abby was definitely the difference in the game,” said Solon Head Coach Sarah Ferin. “She went over us, and converted every free ball– credit to her player of the year title for sure.”
Brunssen powered her team with 37 kills.
Solon countered with defense, recording 15 blocks for the game.