“Star Spangled Girl” receives All-State speech recognition

by Jered Engelking

After performing together as an ensemble for three years, Courtney Latcham, Spencer Roorda and Bryan Stanford qualified for All-State Non-Performing Recognition with “Star Spangled Girl,” a story about a love-crazed young writer who is rejected by the girl next door.

Large group All-State competition will be held at the Iowa State University Campus in Ames on Feb. 19. 

On Feb. 5, six groups performed at State Speech and Drama contest at Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School. Those six groups were Ensemble Acting, Choral Reading, Readers Theatre, Musical Theatre, Freshmen Radio Broadcasting and TV News.

All six teams got overall I ratings. Those receiving three I’s were Ensemble Acting, Choral Reading and Musical Theatre. Teams receiving two I’s and a II were Readers Theatre, Freshman Radio Broadcasting and TV News.

Brink launches winter Bravette volleyball

by Cami Shaver

Although volleyball has ended for some girls, for others it has just begun. Coach Jody Brink resurrected the AAU winter volleyball program after a four-year hiatus and is consulting with her parents, Jim and Mary Woods.

The season started with tournaments Saturday, Jan. 29 at Marshalltown High School and Sunday Jan. 30 at Belle Plaine High School.

On Saturday the team won four of five matches and placed 4^th out of 16 teams. At Belle Plaine, not a qualifying tournament, the team placed 2^nd out of 4. 

On Feb. 6, the team played at Belle Plaine High School again, this time a qualifying tournament, and finished 3^rd of 5.

Freshmen setter Julie Audas is excited about the opportunity to become a better volleyball team and enhance team capabilities. Audas hopes “to improve my passing and setting skills.” 

Jim Woods expects by having this opportunity for all volleyball girls, skills will improve beyond what was already shown this past volleyball season.

Woods said team cohesion is a goal this winter.He also has specific goals for all players, such as needing to serve more aggressively and with more accuracy, to improve passing skills, to fine-tune approaches so it becomes second nature, become more accurate when setting and to gain valuable experience through the tournaments we will participate in. 

A goal Coach Woods has set for the team is to contend for the conference title in the fall and continue to break Montezuma volleyball records.

Hasley's 10 helps dominate Savages

sby Andrea Farrington

Jake Hasley carried the eighth grade Braves with 10 points in a 33-14 win over Sigourney on Jan. 27. 

Mitch Stevens added 8 points, Luke Goodman helped with 5 and Joseph Peck with 4. The team now sits  with a 6-2 record.

Tyler Thompson led the seventh grade team with 12 points and Brody McKeag had 10. Bobby McCulley added 4 points and Jake Shaver had 2. 

The boys stayed strong but ended the game with a 34-28 loss. 

Pre-prom dinner is on the house

by Jered Engelking

For the third year in a row the after prom committee of junior parents decided to host a pre-prom dinner here in town for the students.

The dinner will be held at the Memorial Hall this year because it will be easier to decorate and turn the event into a fine dining experience. 

Beyond Elegance, a special event decorator from New Sharon, will decorate the Memorial Hall.

Grate Catering from Oskaloosa will cater the event. Students have a choice of meat and potato, a vegetable, salad and a fancy dessert. A “mock” tail bar is being planned with appetizers as guests arrive. 

The meal will be free and there is a sign-up sheet in the high school office until February 16.

JH Bravettes split with NM

by Hope Kriegel

The JH girls basketball teams went to work in North Mahaska on Jan. 25. The seventh grade team won 28-11 while the eighth grade team lost 43-35.

Katie Maschmann dominated the seventh grade game with 13 points, 7 steals and 5 rebounds. Alisha Arendt and Ashley Moore had 6 and 5 points. 

Mackenzie James led the eighth grade team with 13 points and 4 rebounds. Brittany Bender scored 11 points, had 5 rebounds and dished out 6 assists. 

Bravettes struggle

by Jered Engelking

On Jan. 20, the JV Bravettes had trouble getting the shots to fall on their 53-16 loss to Lynnville-Sully. Carly Steele was the leading scorer with 9 points. Dakota Norris added 4 and Courtney Petersen 3.

On Jan. 24, the JV Bravettes suffered a 43-27 set back to North Mahaska. The top scorers were Petersen with 12 points and Steele with 7. 

The night of Jan. 27 did not go in the favor of the JV Bravettes with a 49-18 loss against Lynnville-Sully. Petersen led the night with 7 points while others balanced right around 2 points.

Young Braves continue to improve

by Bryan Stanford

The Montezuma JH basketball Braves traveled to Keota on Jan. 24. 

The seventh grade team had some trouble scoring in their 25-20 loss, while the eighth grade Braves had two players finish with double figures in scoring and walked away with a 38-27 win.

7^th Grade 

Offensively, Brody McKeag led the Braves with 10 points, while Tyler Geiger also contributed with 5 offensive rebounds.

Travis Lewis led the way for the Braves with 3 assists.

Defensively, the Braves were able to force 6 steals on the night, while McKeag led the team with 3. 

8^th Grade

Offensively, Jake Hasley and Luke Goodman led the Braves in scoring with 15 and 13 points, while Joe Peck added 7. Goodman and Peck each had 4 rebounds.

Defensively, the Braves were able to limit the Eagles to 6 trips to the free throw line, while making 18 trips to the line throughout the game. 

The Braves forced the Eagles to shoot just above 35 percent from the field.