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The community newspaper for Solon

Solon Economist

The community newspaper for Solon

Solon Economist

The community newspaper for Solon

Solon Economist

Benton’s Evan Martin (12) leaps like a bobcat in an effort to tackle Maddox Kelley (4) Friday, October 31 in a Class 3A Round of 16 playoff game at home. The Spartans rolled the Bobcats 31-6 to advance to the quarterfinals and a visit from Winterset this Friday.

Not done yet: Spartans roll Bobcats 31-6, look to Winterset

Aidan C. Wirtz, For the Solon Economist November 5, 2025

Benton football fans left lukewarm hand warmers scattered across the wobbly, steel bleachers in the away stands at Spartan Stadium. They abandoned half-drank Xtra Pibb and Diet Coke bottles, crystallized...

Luis Buck (9), a junior, muscles his way through multiple defenders for yardage Friday, October 24 in Fort Madison. The Spartans closed out the regular season with a 51-2 win for a 9-0 record going into the Class 3A playoffs.

Bloodhounds’ bark worse than their bite

October 29, 2025

FORT MADISON — The Spartans closed out the nine-week regular season of varsity football with a 51-2 victory over winless Fort Madison in the Bloodhounds’ dog pound Friday, October 24. Solon’s...

Gameday Gospel: The Routines of Spartan Football

Aidan Wirtz, For the Solon Economist October 29, 2025

The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Solon. At least it is for Tripp Johnson. Every gameday, the senior Spartan linebacker reaches into the top right drawer of his four-tiered brown wooden dresser...

Spartans clinch District Championship

Chris Umscheid, Editor October 23, 2025

MOUNT PLEASANT — The Spartans are District Champions again and locked into the playoffs again. Solon’s varsity football team made the 60-mile trip to the Mapleleaf Athletic Complex in Mount Pleasant...

Gavin Wisman (24), a senior, enters the “tunnel” made up of teammates and senior parents as Senior Night draws to a close Friday, October 10.

An emotional Senior Night full of tradition and solace ends with the Spartans shutting out the Washington Demons 42-0

October 16, 2025

This was not your typical Solon Senior Night. The storied Senior Night traditions for Solon remained the same, with the announcement of each senior athlete, the passing of the torch to the kindergarteners,...

The Spartans charge onto the field through a tunnel made up of Solon’s Youth Football players Friday, October 3 for the Homecoming Game against Keokuk. The Spartans rolled the Chiefs 58-6 to improve to 6-0 ahead of Senior Night this Friday, October 10.

Eli Kampman continues to defy all expectations in dismantling of Keokuk

Chris Meglio, Special to the Solon Economist October 8, 2025

After Solon’s Maddox Kelley scored a 49-yard rushing touchdown in the first drive of the game versus Keokuk, quarterback Eli Kampman isolated himself on the bench with a computer and watched film. He...

Owen Bock prepares to slam a metal folding chair against the locker room floor after a recent win. Bock, a sophomore, had made a touchdown, earning the right to pummel the chair in what has become a Spartan tradition.

This seat is taken

Aidan C. Wirtz, Special to the Solon Economist October 8, 2025

It sits in the corner of the Solon football locker room. Rust bleeds through the flaking tan powder coat, peeling like old bark. Steel is warped and thinned from years of abuse. Its legs wobble. One...

Complete FB domination

October 1, 2025

FAIRFIELD — The stats tell a tale of total domination as the varsity Spartans rolled over the Fairfield Trojans 77-0 Friday, Sept. 26 to open district play. 148 passing yards for Solon vs. 11 for...

A pair of Bobcats make Cody Milliman their prey as the Spartans battle Benton Community Friday, Sept. 19 in Van Horne. The Spartans held off the ‘Cats for a 28-21 win to stay undefeated at 4-0.

28 points and a FB win, the hard way

Chris Umscheid, Editor September 25, 2025

VAN HORNE — A string of field goals isn’t a common way to win a football game, but for the Spartans, it was key to their 28-21 non-district win over Benton Community Friday, Sept. 19 in the Bobcats’...

Mount Vernon’s Michael Ryan (3) and Caleb Keegan (30) try to keep Maddox Kelley from sailing into the endzone Friday, Sept. 12 in Solon. Kelley, a junior, rushed 13 times for 110 yards and two scores and made three receptions for 21 yards and another touchdown in a 35-20 win on Armed Forces Night.

Staying grounded: Kampman, Solon pound the rock in 35-20 win over top-ranked Mustangs

Aidan Wirtz, For the Solon Economist September 18, 2025

Hundreds of tiny rubber pellets stick to the feet of Eli Kampman. Not to his cleats. Not his socks. He is barefoot, circling Spartan Stadium. In his right hand, Solon’s star junior quarterback grips...

Kaden Hoeper takes an Eli Kampman pass in the endzone for a touchdown Friday, Sept. 5 in Williamsburg. The junior made three receptions for 86 yards and a pair of scores in a 33-14 win over the Raiders.

Spartans improve to 2-0 with 33-14 win over rival Raiders

Chris Umscheid, Editor September 10, 2025

WILLIAMSBURG — Gridiron meetings between the Solon Spartans and Williamsburg Raiders haven’t always gone well for Solon. The Raiders pounded Solon 42-13 last year and denied the Spartans a 3A State...

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