SOLON — With the winter break lull in high school sports, we will continue a look back at the 2022 sports year focusing on June – December.
Our coverage returns to the hardwood, the mats, bowling alleys, and pools next week.
June
The varsity baseball and softball seasons were well underway with the boys entering the month with a 6-5 record while the girls were 2-3.
Baseball — The boys went 15-11 on the month splitting a June 2 doubleheader with WaMaC West foe Williamsburg 12-11 and 3-7, splitting with Beckman Catholic (Dyersville) 8-5 and 2-16 June 8, splitting with Center Point-Urbana 13-12 and 4-9 June 9, and going on a six-game winning streak sweeping South Tama 11-1 and 13 0 June 13, blanking Fairfield 13-0 June 15, sweeping West Delaware 10-3 and 9-6 June 16, and shelling St. Albert Catholic (Council Bluffs) 13-5 June 18. After a 6-5 loss to Liberty High (North Liberty) the Spartans went on a five-game winning streak shelling Assumption Catholic (Davenport) 13-2 June 22 and sweeping rival Mount Vernon 13-4 and 10-7 June 23. Regina Catholic (Iowa City) fell 15-1 June 24 and the Spartans and WaMaC West rival Clear Creek Amana split a doubleheader in Tiffin 8-6 and 8-12 June 27. Solon topped Regina again June 29 with a 5-1 win before ending the month with a pair of losses June 30 to Marion.
Softball – The girls went 16-10 for the month dropping a pair to Williamsburg 2-5 and 2-10 June 1 and falling 1-11 to Muscatine June 3 before going on a five-game winning streak as they topped Bettendorf 4-3 June 3, swept Beckman Catholic 5-0 and 7-4 June 6, and swept CPU 10-3 and 9-3 June 8. West Liberty took a 5-1 non-conference win over Solon June 10 and the Lady Spartans split with West Delaware 8-11 and 5-4 June 15. Solon swept Vinton-Shellsburg June 16 14-3 and 10-7 June 16 but fell to North Polk and ADM 6-4 and 7-2 June 17. Nevada, Gilbert, and Alburnett fell in non-conference games 8-3, 4-3, and 3-1 June 18 and 20 with the ladies splitting with Benton Community 8-7 and 5-18 June 21.
Rival Mount Vernon swept the Lady Spartans 13-1 and 4-3 June 22, Central DeWitt fell 5-4 and Keokuk fell 14-4 June 24 before the Clear Creek Amana Clippers and the Lady Spartans split 3-0 and 1-2 June 27. The month ended with the Marion Wolves splitting a pair with Solon June 29 with the Wolves taking game one 6-3 and the Lady Spartans edging past 12-11 in the nightcap.
Soccer – WaMaC All-Conference lists for soccer were released early in the month.
Gabby Knipper, Morgan Link, and Alex Locke were First Team picks for the WaMaC East. Maria Milliman, Rose McAtee, and Valerie Miller were Second Team selections with Izzy Paisley and Grace Yetley receiving WaMaC Recognition. Link led the Lady Spartans with 23 goals.
Dillon Bruck and William Wittich were First Team picks for the boys with Owen Erusha and Nate Ferguson being named to the Second Team. Logan Sieverding and Ethan McLaughlin received WaMaC Recognition. Bruck led the Spartans with 35 goals, tied with Nevada’s Drew Robinson for fifth in the state.
July
The baseball and softball seasons both came to a sudden end in the first round of postseason play.
Softball – The Lady Spartans rolled the Washington (Iowa) Demons 12-1 July 1 and hammered West Burlington 13-3 July 2 in Ottumwa’s tournament but fell 8-3 to Fairfield later in the day. The Marion Wolves returned July 7 for a Class 4A Region 7 Quarterfinal that included two rain delays and went nine innings. Solon took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning but the Wolves tied in the top of the sixth. Three more Marion runs went up in the ninth with Solon only able to answer with two to finish the season at 20-16 overall and 12-10 in the WaMaC East, second to Mount Vernon (36-4, 21-1).
Hilary Wilson and Camryn Keith were named to the WaMaC All-Conference East Division First Team with a team-high 42 hits for Wilson and 34 hits for Keith. Kendall Jensen and Meghan O’Neill earned Second Team Honors while Ava Stebral and Carly Ellison received WaMaC Recognition.
Baseball – The Spartans closed out the regular season with a 9-8 non-conference loss to North Scott July 5 before hosting the WaMaC East Maquoketa Cardinals July 9 in a Class 3A District 4 first round playoff game. Solon held a three-run lead going into the top of the third inning when the Cardinals plated a run. The Spartans answered with a run in bottom of the third but Maquoketa scored twice in the fourth and one in the fifth before a three-run assault in the seventh. Solon’s final run came in the sixth to end the season at 21-18 overall and 14-10 in the East.
Brett White, then a sophomore, was named the WaMaC East Player of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the East First Team. White belted out a team-high 55 hits with 14 doubles, two triples, and three homers. Kinnick Pusteoska was also named to the First Team, Gehrig Turner and Blake Timmons were Second Team picks with Logan Gruchow and Michael Pipolo receiving WaMaC Recognition.
August
With the start of the new school year came the start of cross country, volleyball (under first year head coach and Solon alum Mikayla (Long) Siddell) , and Solon girls swimming with the Iowa City, City High Little Hawks.
Cross country – The Spartans and Lady Spartans opened the season August 27 at Anamosa with the top-rated (in Class 3A) girls winning the team title led by overall girls winner Kayla Young. The boys were third in points led by sixth-place finishing Brick Kabela.
Football – The season opened August 26 on the road at West Liberty with the Spartans cruising to a 42-0 non-district win.
Volleyball – The season started August 25 with a quad at Mount Vernon. The Lady Spartans shut out CPU 2-0 (25-11, 25-22) and CCA 2-0 (25-20, 25-19).
Swimming — Seven Solon girls: Calla Foster, Georgia Havlicek, Grace Hoeper, Claire Leone, Avery Mann, Tatum Holtkamp, and Ella Vernon, donned Little Hawk red to swim with City High.
September
An upset on the gridiron 19 years in the making shook Spartan Nation early in the month.
Football – Mount Vernon had lost to the Spartans for 19 years in the annual rivalry game. Hopes for making it an even 20 were dashed as the Mustangs won 17-14 Sept. 2 in Spartan Stadium.
WaMaC West foe Williamsburg dropped Solon to 1-2 with a 38-25 loss in Williamsburg Sept. 9.
The Spartans got back on track with a 35-10 win over Assumption Catholic (Davenport) Sept. 16.
Solon got the first of two shutout wins Sept. 23 at West Burlington with a 36-0 win.
The second shutout came a week later at home as the Washington Demons fell 44-0.
The Spartans ended the month at 4-2 overall.
Volleyball – The month opened with an appearance in Cedar Rapids Washington’s Warrior Invitational where Solon shut out Johnston 2-0 and Linn-Mar 2-0 and beat Cedar Rapids Kennedy 2-1 before falling to Xavier Catholic (Cedar Rapids) 0-2.
Mount Vernon shut out the Lady Spartans 3-0 Sept. 6 in Mt. Vernon.
Solon shut out Oelwein 2-0 and beat Vinton-Shellsburg 2-1 in a Sept. 8 triangular at Vinton-Shellsburg.
The ladies went 2-3 Sept. 10 at Linn-Mar’s invitational falling 2-0 to Marion, 2-1 to Linn-Mar, and 2-0 to Pleasant Valley before defeating Anamosa 2-0 in a consolation bracket match and getting revenge over Linn-Mar with a 2-0 win, also in a consolation match.
Thursday, Sept. 15 Williamsburg fell 3-0 in Solon.
It was a 4-1 showing Sept. 17 in Clinton’s invitational with a 2-1 win over Wahlert Catholic (Dubuque), a 1-2 loss to Assumption Catholic (Davenport), a 2-0 win over the host River Queens, a 2-1 win over Camanche, and a 2-1 win over Muscatine.
The Marion Wolves swept Solon 3-0 Sept. 20.
West Delaware won 3-1 Sept. 27 in Manchester to close out the month with a 19-9 record overall for Solon.
Cross country – The month opened with the Bob Brown Invitational meet in Iowa City. The girls won the varsity meet as Sydney Dee’s finish broke a tie with Monticello. Kayla Young was the overall winner in 20:15. The boys were seventh in team points with Brick Kabela tenth (17:47) and Michael Yeomans 12th (17:58).
Kabela was the runner-up in Tipton Sept. 6 at 17:17 and the Spartans were third behind champion Tipton and second-place Regina Catholic (Iowa City). The girls were ranked No.1 by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches (IATC) and dominated the field. Young won her third consecutive meet in 20:13.
Sept. 12 was the annual Mike Carr Cross Country Classic in Ballard with over 1,140 runners competing. The Lady Spartans took runner up after losing a tiebreaker to Gilbert. Young was third overall and first in the ‘B’ division. Sydney Dee won the JV race. The boys, 15th in 3A were tenth overall and third in the ‘B’ division with Kabela first across for the ‘B’ division and fifth overall.
Solon’s home invitational was Sept. 19 at the Solon Recreation and Nature Area with the girls taking second after losing yet another tiebreaker to rival Mt. Vernon. Young was the second-place runner in 19:29. Kabela and Yeomans were third and fourth (17:20, 17:24) as they led the boys to a third-place finish behind Mount Vernon-Lisbon and Tipton.
The teams returned to Anamosa Sept. 24 with the girls finishing second behind Monticello, and the boys taking fourth with Tipton and Oelwein in the top two spots. Young posted another individual win in 19:45 while Kabela was second in the varsity boys race in 17:16.
Swimming — Dubuque Senior dropped the Little Hawks to 0-3 Sept. 6. Solon’s Grace Hoeper won the 50-yard freestyle in 24.28 seconds and the 200-yard freestyle in 1:56.01.
The Little Hawks picked up their first win Sept. 13 at Cedar Rapids Washington, dunking the Warriors 112-68. Hoeper won the 200 freestyle in 1:55.93, and the 100 butterfly in 58.42 seconds.
City High finished seventh in their home invitational Sept. 17. Hoeper won the 50 freestyle in 24.16 seconds and the 100 butterfly in 57.61.
The ladies in red got their third team win Sept. 20 beating Wahlert Catholic (Dubuque) 93-90. Hoeper won the 500 freestyle in 5:16.08 and the IM in 2:12.27. Ella Vernon took second in the 200 freestyle in 2:28.89, Avery Mann was second in the 200 IM in 2:32.95. and Calla Foster was second in the one-meter dive with 160.30.
A sixth-place finish came Sept. 24 at Kennedy’s invitational. Hoeper won the 50 freestyle in 24.24 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 52.84.
The month closed out with the annual West High/Liberty High vs. City High rivalry meet Sept. 27 at the Coralville Rec Center. The Trojan-Bolts triumphed 131-52 to improve to a 21-1 record while the Little Hawks dipped to 7-15. Hoeper won the 200 freestyle in 1:58.67 and the 100 backstroke in 1:02.05, Mann was second in the 500 freestyle in 5:53.59.
October
Regular seasons drew to an end as postseason campaigns began with one ending in heartbreak and another resulting in a trophy.
Football – The varsity squad improved to 5-2 with a 45-25 road win over Fairfield October 7.
The Spartans stuffed and mounted the Grinnell Tigers 51-7 on Senior Night, October 14.
Keokuk’s Senior Night was ruined October 21 as Solon rolled 41-7 to improve to 7-2 overall as the regular season came to a close.
The postseason opened with a 42-18 Class 3A first round win over West Delaware October 28 at home.
Volleyball – Senior Night was held October 4 with seniors Mik Langenberg, Kylee Flynn, Brianna Kerkove, Delaney Bombei, and Sophia Hoeper recognized before a 3-1 win over Independence. Bombei made her 250th career block and had already surpassed 500 kills.
The Lady Spartans went 2-2 in Center Point-Urbana’s (CPU) tourney October 8 with 2-0 wins over Benton Community and Waterloo West, and losses to Assumption Catholic (Davenport) and Cedar Falls.
The WaMaC Tournament was October 13 at Mount Vernon with Solon defeating Williamsburg 2-0 and Vinton-Shellsburg 2-1 and losing to Clear Creek Amana 1-2.
Postseason play began October 17 with a 3-0 Class 3A Region 7 quarterfinal win at home over Williamsburg.
Albia fell 3-0 in the semifinals October 19 in Solon.
Heartbreak hit the Lady Spartans October 25 as the season ended just short of a State Tournament appearance when West Liberty won the Region 7 Championship 3-1 over Solon.
Four Solon girls were named to the WaMaC East All-Conference teams with Grace Erwin selected for the First Team.
Delaney Bombei was a Second Team pick. Yasmine Sell and Aly Stahle received WaMaC Recognition.
Swimming — City High’s Little Hawks struggled against Cedar Falls October 4 at home falling 134-52. Grace Hoeper won the 100-yard butterfly in 58.10 seconds and the 200-yard individual medley (IM) in 2:12.80 while Calla Foster was second in the one-meter dive with 186.80.
The Mississippi Valley Conference (MVC) meet was held October 22 at Cedar Rapids Kennedy with the Little Hawks finishing fifth in points. Hoeper won the 50-yard freestyle in 24.37 seconds and the 100 butterfly in 57.81.
Hoeper was named to the MVC All-Division swimming and diving teams for the Valley Division, earning a First Team spot for the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly. Also, she earned MVC Honorable Mention with City High teammates Saoirse Miller, Margalit Frank, and Elsa Farber for the 200-yard freestyle relay.
Cross country — 1,800 runners converged on the Wartburg College course in Waverly October 1. Kayla Young hit a new record of 18:41 and broke the school record of 19:15 while notching a top-ten finish. The Lady Spartans were eighth in points in a 22-team field. The boys were 13th out of 25 teams with Brick Kabela leading the Spartans with a 42nd place finish in 16:35.
The boys ran October 8 in North Linn’s invitational and came in second behind No. 3-ranked (3A) Marion. Kabela led Solon with a 7th-place finish (16:23).
The girls won at North Linn with Young finishing second, one second behind winner Meghan Wheatley of North Linn in 18:45.
The boys took third in the WaMaC meet October 13 in Independence behind Marion and Mount Vernon.
The Lady Spartans won their state qualifying meet October 19 in Manchester. Young set a new course record as she won in 18:32, besting Clear Creek Amana’s second place finisher Haidyn Barker by 36 seconds.
The ninth-ranked (3A) boys also qualified for State and were the runner up to Marion.
At Fort Dodge the girls followed up their 2021 state championship run with the 2022 Class 3A Third Place trophy. Young was second (18:24) besting season-long rival Lourdes Mason (Mt. Vernon-Lisbon) by nearly three seconds.
The boys finished 11th overall at State.
November
The fall sports season ended with disappointment for the football team as the sports schedules came full circle back to basketball, bowling, and wrestling. New in 2022 was the start of the first officially sanctioned (by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union) season for girls wrestling.
Football — The 2022 football season ended on a cold and rainy night Nov. 4 as rival Mount Vernon shut out the Spartans 17-0 in a Class 3A quarterfinal game played on the Mustang’s field. Solon’s season ended at 8-3 overall and 5-0 in 3A District 5 (District Champions). The Mustangs remained unbeaten at 11-0 overall and 5-0 in 3A District 4 (Champions). Mount Vernon advanced to the 3A semifinals Friday, Nov. 12 against 10-1 Humboldt in the UNI-Dome.
It was the final game for seniors Timmons, McCarty, Landon Shive, Brayden Ruskey, Fischer Harrison, Rhyse Wear, Stahle, Quinton Heineman, Charlie Hammill, Dawson Fordice, Zeb Kleinsmith, David Karam, Ryan Rasmussen, Bell, Adam Smith, Braydon Hoffman, Joe Ebert, and Doyle.
Girls Swimming — Solon’s Calla Foster took eighth at the 2022 Diving Regional at Dubuque Hempstead Nov. 3 with 309.70. The Little Hawks finished fifth in team points Nov. 5 in the Regional meet, also at Hempstead. Grace Hoeper, a sophomore, won the 50-yard freestyle to automatically qualify for State with a time of 23.72 seconds, earning her the No.1 seed. She also won the 100-yard butterfly in 56.47 seconds for the No.2 seed at State. Hoeper and Mann, with City High’s Saoirse Miller and Margalit Frank, took third in the 400-yard freestyle relay, qualifying for State on time and earning the No.16 seed while Hoeper and City’s Ellie Galloway, Miller, and Frank were fourth in the 200-yard medley relay in 1:54.71. The foursome qualified on time for the 22nd seed.
The 2022 Girls State Swimming and Diving Meet was held Nov. 12 in Marshalltown with Hoeper winning the 50-freestyle in 23.34 seconds. She was also third in the 100-yard butterfly in 55.94 seconds, improving on her Friday preliminaries time of 56.21 seconds.
Boys swimming — Solon’s Grant Bumsted and Tyler Gregory are swimming with the Iowa City High Little Hawks this season, which opened Nov. 29 with a loss to Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Bumsted won the JV 50-yard freestyle and JV 100-yard freestyle in 25.96 seconds and 1:00.56, respectively.
Girls wrestling — The wrestling Lady Spartans opened the 2022-23 season by competing in the Little Hawk Invitational Nov. 15 at City High. Kara VeDepo, McKenna Rogers, and Olivia Bonnema won their divisions with three pins each for VeDepo and Rogers, and two pins for Bonnema. Kate Richards, Abby Gregory, Addison Burden, and Kendall Jensen were runner-up’s in Divisions 4, 5, 18, and 24.
Three champions were crowned Nov. 19 in the Independence Girls Invitational – Olivia Bonnema, McKenna Rogers, and Addison Burden. Kate Richards, Kara VeDepo, and Kendall Jensen finished the day in second place.
Girls basketball — The season opened with a 65-40 win over Martensdale-St. Mary’s Nov. 18 at home. The Lady Spartans entered the season at No. 13 in Class 3A in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s (IGHSAU) preseason rankings. Callie Levin led all with 25 points.
Bowling — Solon’s Carson Reid, Trendon Walker, and Brady Evers are bowling with the Iowa City High Little Hawks this season. Reid bowled a “near-perfect” game Nov. 22 in the season opener against Cedar Falls with 279 and 206 for 485. Walker bowled 136 and 171 for 307 in varsity action.
December
The winter sports revved up quickly before hitting the pause button for the Christmas-New Year break. As 2023 begins, the Solon Economist will continue to do our very best to chronicle Solon athletics every week, and we wish all of our student athletes the best of luck. Go Spartans!
Bowling — Cedar Rapids Jefferson defeated the City High varsity 2,763 to 2,580 Dec. 2. Walker bowled 195 and 255 for a 450 total with Reid putting up 162 and 168 for 330. The JV Little Hawks won 2,136 to 1,756 with Evers bowling 105 and 179 for 284.
Girls wrestling — The Lady Spartan wrestlers competed in the 2022 Dan Gable Donnybrook Tournament Dec. 1 and 2 at the Xtreme Arena in Coralville. McKenna Rogers was the top-finisher for Solon with a third-place finish at 105 pounds.
Rogers and Olivia Bonnema posted wins for the Lady Spartans varsity wrestling team Dec. 5 in the 2022 Williamsburg Girls Invitational. Kate Richards, Mik Langenberg, and Kendall Jensen placed second at 115, 135, and 170 pounds.
Cedar Rapids Prairie defeated Solon 40-36 on Williamsburg’s mats Dec. 8 but Rogers, Kara VeDepo, Langenberg, Addison Burden, and Adlie Miller earned wins.
Solon finished ninth out of 24 teams competing in Marion High School’s girls wrestling tournament Dec. 10. McKenna Rogers and Kate Richards were Bracket 3 and 7 champions. Mik Langenberg and Olivia Bonnema were the runner ups in Bracket 21 and 27.
The Lady Spartans tangled with the Independence Mustangs and Center Point-Urbana (CPU) Stormin’ Pointers in a triangular meet Dec. 15 in Center Point with Solon and Independence ending in a 36-36 tie. VeDepo, Kate Richards, Alannah Mahoney, Alexis Anderson, Burden, and Audrey Howell were winners. The Stormin’ Pointers won all three matches for an 18-0 win over Solon.
It was a runner up finish for the team Dec. 17 at Wilton’s Women’s Wrestling Tournament.
Boys wrestling — The Spartans opened the season with the 2022 Cliff Keen Invitational tournament Dec. 2 and 3 in Independence. Lawsin Sinnwell (4-2) was the highest-placing Spartan in the tournament with a tenth place showing at 132 pounds.
The Spartans tangled with the Prairie Hawks and Raiders in a double dual meet Dec. 8 at Williamsburg. Prairie won 64-12 while Williamsburg won 63-15. Braydon Hoffman, Oliver Owens, Evan Burg, and Sinnwell were winners.
The boys won the team title Dec. 10 at North Cedar’s invitational with 173 points. Sinnwell (8-3) won at 132 pounds, Jayden Steapp and Evan Burg were the runner ups at 106 and 113 pounds.
Solon finished tenth out of 23 teams in Fort Madison’s invitational Dec. 16 and 17 with Sinnwell again taking the highest spot for the Spartans with a fourth-place finish at 132 pounds.
Boys swimming — City High’s varsity boys edged past Cedar Rapids Washington 86.00-84.00 Dec. 6 at home. Solon’s Grant Bumsted took fifth place in the varsity 50-yard freestyle in 25.91 seconds and swam in all three varsity relay events for City High.
The Little Hawks soaked Cedar Rapids Jefferson 106-64 (varsity) and 105-20 (JV) Dec. 20. Bumsted finished fourth in the varsity 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events in 25.96 and 59.32 seconds.
Boys basketball — The season opened with a 75-61 non-conference win over West Branch Dec. 3. Jake Benzing led all with 29 points.
Vinton-Shellsburg fell 62-26 Dec. 6 with a game high 13 points from Sean Stahle.
Center Point-Urbana (CPU) handed the Spartans their first loss Dec. 9 as the Stormin’ Pointers prevailed 52-48. Benzing led Solon with 13 points.
The Spartans rebounded for a 77-38 win over rival Clear Creek Amana (CCA) Dec. 13. Benzing and Steinbrech put up 15 points each.
The Marion Wolves won a WaMaC East battle Dec. 16 in Solon 70-52. Benzing had a 26-point night, but Marion’s Brayson Laube led all with 33.
2022 ended on a winning note as Solon downed the Golden Hawks of Mid-Prairie 75-66 Dec. 19 with a game high 28 points by Benzing.
Solon brings a 4-2 (overall) and 2-2 (WaMaC East) record into 2023.
Girls basketball — The Lady Spartans rolled over Williamsburg 65-41 in a WaMaC East vs. West contest Dec. 2 with a game high 23 points from Callie Levin.
Vinton-Shellsburg fell 65-53 Dec. 6 with Miller leading all with 26 points.
CPU visited Dec. 9 and fell 52-40 to the Lady Spartans with 17 points from Levin, who tied with the Pointers’ Mya Hillers. Solon improved to 5-0 with the win.
WaMaC West rival CCA handed the girls their first loss winning 75-57 Dec. 13. The Clippers’ Olivia Miller and Bliss Beck produced 18 points each while Solon was led by Kobi Lietz with 16.
WaMaC East rival Marion fell 50-38 in Solon Dec. 16. Levin led all with 19 points.
The final game of 2022 was a 48-43 win over Mid-Prairie Dec. 19. Levin led all with 15 points.
A Dec. 22 non-conference game with West Branch was postponed due to weather.
The Lady Spartans finished 2022 atop the WaMaC East at 7-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

Gallery • 12 Photos

Chris Umscheid

Blake Timmons pitched all four innings against Fairfield June 15 giving up three hits, no runs, walking four, and striking out five in a 15-0 non-conference win.