Cheerleaders lead fight against breast cancer

L to r: Macy Taylor, Halley Ogan and Tiffany Heishman sell sweet, pink treats to customers at the bake sale during the volleyball game on Oct.13.

by Morgan Sanders

One in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

This National Breast Cancer Awareness month, MHS cheerleading is filling the school with pink and raising Montezuma’s awareness. 

The   varsity cheerleaders brought their plan to get involved with Breast Cancer Awareness month to Coach Debbie Iverson.

Iverson said, “I’m very impressed with all the cheerleaders and the way they accepted responsibility and took charge of putting it together.”

This is the first year cheerleading has done this kind of fundraiser.

Senior cheerleader Destiny Romberg said, “We wanted to do something to give back to the community. Breast cancer affects many, and we want to raise awareness and help find a cure.” 

Pink is the official color representing breast cancer, so the cheerleaders decided on the theme “Think Pink” for this year’s events.  

Around the school you can see multiple pink signs with breast cancer statistics, including one stating, “There are over  2 million breast cancer   survivors in the U.S. today.” 

JV cheerleaders sold pink shirts to the school and community for $15 each. The shirts featured a ribbon with the words think pink on the front and the quote “Supporting the fighters, admiring the survivors, honoring the taken and never giving up hope” on the back. 

All together the girls sold around 200 shirts, donating almost $1,200 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® foundation.

This foundation is one of the largest organizations for breast cancer awareness. Since beginning in 1982, the organization has donated  more than $1.9 billion.

On Thursday, October 13, the cheerleaders held a bake sale complete with pink cookies and pink rice crispy bars during the last home volleyball game against HLV. The volleyball girls were also given pink hair ribbons  at the beginning of the month to wear during games to show support for breast cancer. 

On Friday, Oct. 21, at the last home football game,   pink socks, pink shirts, pink sweatbands and pink balloons will cover the stands. The football boys will also be adorned in pink Nike® socks as they take the field to battle  Belle Plaine. 

At the game, the cheerleaders will be selling pink sweatbands and balloons. The balloons will be released at kickoff, filling the skies with pink. 

Throughout the game, the cheerleaders will also be selling some delicious pink cotton candy. 

Later on during half time, all cheerleaders from both teams will be walking through the stands with pink bags or buckets to collect donations from the crowd.

The fundraisers have raised more money than expected.

Iverson said, “I’d like to thank the community for backing us. They really jumped on board and helped make these events a success.”

FFA Soils take state and bring home champions

Members of the soils team, l to r: Becky Kopp, Courtney Petersen, Karah Hansen, Quincy Griffith and Eric Osborn. Not pictured are Julie Audas and Katelyn Gregory. 

by Rachel Ranfeld

For the third year in a row and the 11^th year since 1992, Rick Swenson and his FFA soils team went to the state competition. 

Swenson’s team competed against 30 other teams at Iowa State University in Ames on Oct. 7 and 8.

His team consists of his FFA students Julie Audas, Katelyn Gregory, Quincy Griffith, Becky Kopp, Karah Hansen, Courtney Peterson and Eric Osborn.

Individually, Peterson earned the individual state champion soil contestant, Gregory had the highest exam score and was 7^th and Griffith placed 13^th.

Peterson attributed her success and first place position to “a lot of hard work and a lot of  way-too-early-morning practices.” 

The competition consisted of two main events. First, the team took a test over the main principles of soils and how soils can be used for civil engineering activities. Second, they examined four different types of soils to see what each soil could be used for, such as agricultural purposes or building houses, apartment complexes or parks.

They also examined four types of soils at the sub-district contest in Sigourney on Sept. 21 and at the district contest in Muscatine on Oct. 4. 

“In Iowa, there’s 200 different types of soils, so the chances of us getting the same type over and over again are very slim,” said Swenson. 

Gregory, Griffith, Peterson, Osborn and alternate Audas will advance to the FFA National Land Judging in Oklahoma City in May of 2012.

JV Braves wash away Wolverines

Dillon Willhelm looks downfield for one of his receivers during the JV game against GMG.

by Vincent Bushong

On Monday, Oct. 17, after a two-year junior high rivalry with Green Mountain Garwin (GMG), the 9^th grade members of the JV football team pulled ahead in the tie from the match-ups of the previous two years. In spite of GMG’s great effort, the Braves ultimately took the victory with a final score of 34-22. 

The game added to the 9^th grade Braves’ 7^th grade victory over the Wolverines and overshadowed their 8^th grade defeat.

Fullback and linebacker Luke Goodman said, “It was good to beat them this year because they surprised us last year with their new running back. This year we proved that one player can’t beat us.”

The Braves were able to take advantage of scoring opportunities every quarter. Early in the first quarter, Dillon Wilhelm ran the ball into the endzone after Mitch Gibson’s 53-yard run to the 1-yard line. Later in the first, Mitch Gibson ran 70 yards for another touchdown, followed up by the 2-point conversion by Goodman. The second quarter brought a 5-yard push by Bryan Gregson for a touchdown, with another 2-point conversion by Goodman. In the third quarter, Wilhelm’s pass found Jake Hasley, who secured another touchdown for the Braves. The team’s final score was in the fourth quarter, when Jay LeBahn succeeded in a 35-yard touchdown run.

Coach Keith Sietstra said, “We were able to hit multiple big plays both in the running and passing game, and we were able to consistently move the football up and down the field.” Many of the running opportunities would not have been possible without the offensive line. 

Sietstra said, “They fired off the ball; they got on their defenders and opened up some really nice running lanes for our backs.” 

Besides running the ball, the Braves also had a good passing game, with only one incompletion and a 54-yard touchdown reception. 

This victory marks the last home game for the JV squad.

7th grade continues winning streak against Iowa Valley

by Elizabeth Ostrem

Montezuma’s 7^th grade football team picked up another win for the season after a well-fought game against Iowa Valley on Sept. 29^th.

The beginning of the game was a bit rough for the Braves; the team was slow starting out, giving Iowa Valley a chance to complete a touchdown. However, the setback only served to motivate the young athletes.

“Being down 6-0 and giving up points for the first time all year really upset this group,” said Coach Timm. “They fired up after that and really controlled the game on both sides of the ball.”

It was all uphill for the Braves after that. Carson Losure scored to tie the game, and Shane Helm ran in the 2-point conversion. Losure later made a second touchdown for the Braves on a 55-yard punt return, though the conversion was ruled no good. Logan Price added a third touchdown to the total, with Losure following up on the 2-point conversion, which left the final score reading 22-6.

Losure also made six tackles within the game, with two for a loss, along with teammates Matthew Baker and Helm following suit with two tackles for a loss. Dominique Ward also had a sack for the Braves.

“We work really well as a team,” said player Ryan Thompson.

This game brought the 7^th grade season record to 3-0.