Area High School Winter Sports Previews

Spindler, Pitts to lead Cherokee boys basketball this season - One returning varsity starter is among four returning lettermen on hand to boost the Cherokee basketball Braves this season. That senior is a good one in 6-1 Jake Spindler with two years of solid varsity experience under his belt. The three other returning lettermen saw ample varsity minutes last year, including 5-9 senior guard Adam Pitts, 6-2 junior forward Zac Smith, and 6-1 junior forward Marc Husman. "We don't return many players from last season, but we really like the leadership and work ethic that this group possesses," noted Cherokee coach Bob Lee. A handful of promising newcomers - all juniors - will and must impact the varsity squad this season, including 5-8 point guard Eric Wilkie, 5-10 guard Zac Taylor, 6-3 forward Stetson Dagel, 6-4 forward Nathaniel Morgan, and 6-0 center Lane Peterson. "These guys had a strong season on our JV last year and have been working hard in practice to prove that they are ready to step up and take some of the available varsity minutes," explained Lee. Lee list team strengths as versatility, defensive quickness, and free throw shooting. The Braves tallied a 10-11 overall record last season and finished 5-9 in the tough Lakes Conference. Lee will be assisted this year by Mike Nixon and Chad Osler. --- Members of the 2011-2012 Cherokee Braves basketball team include, front row, left to right, Eric Wilkie, Eamon Adamson, Adam Pitts, Nate Seliger, Marc Husman, Austin Winchell, Jake Spindler, Zac Taylor, Michael Lusier. Back, Andrew Zarr, Jeff Wiemold, Grayson Roosa, Stetson Dagel, Nathaniel Morgan, Zac Smith, Lane Peterson, Conner Ogren.

Varsity experience a big plus for Cherokee girls basketball - Four varsity starters who saw extensive action last season will form the nucleus for this year's Cheroikee Washington High girls basketballl team. Those starters returning include wing Shanon Shaefer, wing Megan Hummel, post Jackie Wilson, and guard Katie Sambrano. However, other returning letter winners will greatly impact coach Heath Hagberg's squad this season, including junior guard Megan Carlson who also saw extensive varsity minutes last year, Tasha Larsen, Whitney Webb, Krista Nicolaisen, and Taylor Woods. Among the promising newcomers who will see action are sophomores Ariana Smith and Kaitlyn Miller. Hummel was a second team All-Lakes Conference pick last year, and Shaefer and Carlson were Honorable Mention. Hagberg lists team speed, depth, and varsity experience as among his squad's major strengths. Cherokee battled to a 6-14 record last season. losing out on many last-minute narrow defeats, and charted a 4-10 Lakes Conference mark. Hagberg will be assisted this season by JV coach Jim Leonard. --- Members of the 2011-2012 Cherokee Washington High girls varsity basketball team include, front row, left to right, Katie Sambrano, Megan Hummel. Middle, Kaitlyn Miller, Jackie Wilson, Tasha Larsen, Whitney Webb. Back, Taylor Woods, Megan Carlson, Shanon Shaefer, Krista Nicolaisen. Absent, Clare Tuttle, Ariana Smith.

New Cherokee wrestling coach Todd likes what he sees - New Cherokee Braves varsity wrestling coach Austin Todd greeted six lettermen returning as starters from last year's varsity lineup. Among them are Rick Weaver, Gabe Conley, Zac Anderson, Trevor Devitt, Miah Back, and Tyler McLaughlin. This group essentially carried the load for Cherokee last year and will be heavily counted on to lead the team again this season. Coach Todd lists valuable senior leadership as among the team's major strengths moving forward this season, and looks to count on several promising young underclassmen to fill out the weights and provide a solid nucleu for the 2011-12 Braves. Among the promising newcomers this season are sophomores Luke Ziemen, Andy Pitts, and Blake Booth, and freshman Hunter Morrow "I have a lot of senior leadership and high numbers in the wrestling room," noted Todd, a Galva-Holstein graduate who excelled in football and wrestling in high school, and focused on football at perennial national challenger Morningside College. Todd will be assisted this season by Ted Reis, and volunteer Andy Bierman. --- Members of the 2011-2012 Cherokee Braves wrestling team include, front row, left to right, Blake Booth, Theo Neulinger, Andy Pitts, Nathan Larsen, Hunter Morrow, Derek Bechtel, William Vietor, Dallas Boger. Back, Tyler McLaughlen, Skylar Mongon, Luke Ziemen, Miah Back, Rick Weaver, Gabe Conley, Zac Anderson, Jack Letshe, Jose Morciles, Trevor Devitt.

A-A Warrior boys have a lot of basketball experience - ALTA - Alta-Aurelia returns four senior starters to the basketball court this season in Jalen Henningsen, AJ Lange, Jaden Holton and Neil Marshall, and guard play and perimeter shooting are expected to be the Warriors' strengths. Coach Dean Lietz hopes that the team will have good balance and be unselfish with the ball, and also plans to place a priority on playing an up-tempo game, utilizing the team's depth to their advantage to wear the other teams down. Lietz feels that opponents will have to defend the Warriors at the arc, which will open up penetration lanes. "Then," he says,"it becomes a matter of good decision-making with the ball." Austin Delp is expected to fill the final spot in the starting lineup, which will give the Warriors a pretty small lineup throughout, but Lietz is counting on everyone to elevate their games to compensate for the team's lack of height. Coach Lietz plans to mix up the Warriors' defensive strategy, and hopes to utilize the team's quickness and depth by being able to defend opponents full court as much as possible. In addition to the players previously mentioned, Jayson Van Haaften, Santiago Ruzo and Ben Sand will give the team some size and strength inside, and guard Colton Ballantyne is expected to help out off the bench. Tyler Laursen will also be in the mix, for added depth, and Nathan Flaherty, Jose Ramirez, Kaleb Howey, Titus Letzring, Mitchel McDonald and Jayden Van Berkum could contribute as well. The Warriors will be competing in the new Twin Lakes Conference for the first time this season, and Coach Lietz sees Storm Lake St. Mary's as the conference favorite, with East Sac County, Manson Northwest Webster, Newell-Fonda, Pocahontas-Pomeroy-Palmer and Alta-Aurelia at the next level. --- Members of the 2011-2012 Alta-Aurelia boys varsity basketball team include, front row, left to right, manager Stacy Lane, Austin Delp, A.J. Lange, Jaden Holton, Nathan Flaherty, Tyler Larson, Kaleb Howey, Jalen Henningsen, manager Jennifer Jensen. Back, Jayden Van Berkum, Neil Marshall, Mitchel McDonald, Titus Letzring, Jayson Van Haaften, Santiago Razo, Jose Ramirez. Absent, Ben Sand.

Inexperienced Alta-Aurelia girls 'will meet challenges head on' - ALTA - G.G. Harris, who will be coaching the Alta-Aurelia girls basketball team for the first time this year, says accurately that "This year is a new year for all of us." The Warriors do not have any starters returning from last season's 13-8 (6-2 in conference) team, and only four of the 13 girls on the roster have had any significant varsity- level playing experience. Lindsay Hall, Rachel Husman and Alexis Hernandez are the only seniors on the team, while juniors include Gracie Winterhof, Stephanie Robbins, Valarie Hernandez and Taler Stanton. Sophomores are Jacey Solko, Tayler Rohwer, and Cristena Heschke, and three freshmen - Erica Lockin, Jenna Snyder and Riley Fritz - round out the squad. Harris said that he feels that the Warriors, though a young, inexperienced team, have "a lot of potential," and adds that the first week of practice provided a strong and solid start to the season, "with every single person on the team competing hard each day." Coach Harris feels that his team is a close-knit group, and "will get after people"on the court. "The girls on this team are hard workers," he said. "They see a need for change and are willing to meet the challenge head on and do whatever it takes." Kacee Jensen is the Warriors' assistant coach. --- Members of the 2011-2012 Alta-Aurelia girls varsity basketball team include, front row, left to right, Riley Fritz, Jacey Solko, Steph Robbins, Valerie Hernandez, Erica Lockin. Back, Jenna Snyder, Tayler Rohwer, Cristena Heschke, Taler Stanton, Rachel Husman, Katie Turnquist. Absent, Lindsay Hall, Gracie Winterhof, Alexis Hernandez.

Alta-Aurelia has more wrestlers out this year ALTA - Last year was a tough year for the Alta-Aurelia wrestlers. For one thing, all of their coaches (Mike Fry, Louis DeRoos and John Stange) were gone, as all three missed the entire season in service to their country in Afghanistan. B.J. Stevicks and Bradley Gustafson worked with the team back home, but the team had to forfeit at several weights each match because of a lack of available wrestlers, and consequently they did not win any dual matches, so the focus was on individual effort. Things are looking up this season, though, as the coaches have returned, and they have 17 wrestlers with whom to work this season, including seven letter winners. Garrett Van Houten, a junior, was 32-18 and a District Qualifier last year, and he will wrestle at 195/220; Jared Schmitz, a senior, was 12-12 last year and qualified for Districts, and he will wrestle at 138/145; Taylor Stevicks, a senior, had an outstanding 34-11 mark last season, and he is expected to wrestle at 132/138 this year; Jorge McDonald, a 10th grader, had an 18-23 mark last year, and is expected to wrestle at 120/126 this season; Jon Michael Henry, another 10th grader, was 12-15 last year, and is expected to wrestle at 126/132; Cody Cameron, a sophomore, was 18-20 last year and he is expected to wrestle at 138/145; and Kevin Hernandez, a senior, is the other returning letter winner. The coaches say that they expect the strengths of this year's team to be the leadership of the returning wrestlers and their ability to pass on their experience to the younger, more inexperienced wrestlers. They feel that the wrestlers with some prior experience, like Kevin Hernandez, Jackson Rosenthal and Manny Murillo, will help make their teammates better by practicing against them in the wrestling room, and that newcomers to the team like Junior Molina, Joe Rodriguez, Enrique Diaz, Tyson Kearney, Ben Stange, Andrew Thomas, Dylan Miller and Arids Moncus will help to fill out the weights and provide a good addition to the team. The front runners in the new Twin Lakes Conference, from a team perspective, appear to be Graettinger-Terril and Manson - Northwest Webster, but Coach Fry feels that Alta-Aurelia will compete with them and could have some individual wrestlers in the hunt for a conference title as well. Mike Fry, Louis DeRoos, John Stange and Brad Gustafson are the Warrior coaches. --- Members of the 2011-2012 Alta-Aurelia wrestling team include, front row, left to right, Jorge McDonald, Jon Michael Henry, Taylor Stevicks, Dylan Miller, Tyson Kearney. Back, Cody Cameron, Manny Murillo, Andrew Thomas, Jackson Rosenthal, Garrett VanHouten, Joe Rodriguez. Absent, Jared Schmitz, Kevin Hernandez, Junior Molina, Ben Stange, Ardis Moncus.

MMC boys return four experienced basketball lettermen - MARCUS - The Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn boys return four lettermen, three of whom were starters last season, to the basketball court and the rigors of the rugged War Eagle Conference this season. Senior Zach Specht and junior Tyler Prunty were starters from the get-go on last year's team, which posted a 3-7 record in the War Eagle Conference and was 7-14 overall. Sophomore Dylan Spieler came along last year as a freshman, and he also wound up as a starter for most of the games and was given Honorable Mention notice in the War Eagle Conference, as was Specht. Junior Andrew Hoefling also returns for the Eagles of Coach Pat Bird this season, and promising newcomers include juniors Nate Rassel, Jared Gross and Zack Kellogg, and senior Dalton Brady. Coach Bird feels that the Eagles have quite a few good athletes who can get out and run, and he hopes to take advantage of that asset by playing more pressure defense this season and creating turnovers. He notes that both Specht and Spieler have shown the ability to create shots off the dribble. Don Cave will be serving as Bird's assistant coach. --- Members of the 2011-2012 Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn boys' varsity basketball team are, front row, left to right, Derek Simonsen, Jerad Gross, Zack Kellogg, Dalton Brady, and Reece Jackson. Back, Nathan Zubrod, Nate Rassel, Dylan Spieler, Tyler Prunty, Andrew Hoefling, and Zach Specht.

MMC girls loaded with talent and expectations MARCUS - The time is now for the talented Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn girls basketball team, this season led by a skilled nucleus of seniors with extensive varsity experience, some in their fourth year of varsity action. Heading that quality squad are point guard Eric Dreckman, wing Kayla Foresman, post Jalyn Doeden, and wing Reagan McDaniel. They will be fully supported by fellow seniors Carly Lehnhoff, Anna Wilcox, and Bailee Nelson, all returning letter winners from last year's impressive 18-6 team that rang up a 6-4 record in the rugged War Eagle Conference. Coach Tim Dreckman also will count on promising newcomers Sarah Bird, Alex Dreckman, and Alissa McDermott. Erica and Alex Dreckman are the coach's daughters and are well-schooled in the fundamentals of the game, just as the other stalwarts are. Erica Dreckman returns as the most decorated player last season, earning first team honors All-State, Siouxland, and WEC, and Doeden was honorable mention All-WEC. Foresman missed almost all of last season with an injury, or she would have racked up many post-season honors. Coach Dreckman lists his team's experience, leadership, and quickness as major strengths. He will be assisted this season by savvy veteran coach Ric Collins. --- Members of the 2011-2012 Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn varsity girls' basketball team are, front row, Sydney Roberts and Amber Neisius. Middle, Madison Johnson, Alissa McDermott, Alex Dreckman, Sarah Bird, Heather Hoefling, and Nicki Schwarz. Back, assistant coach Ric Collins, Carly Lehnhoff, Erica Dreckman, Kayla Foresman, Jalyn Doeden, Anna Wilcox, Reagan McDaniel, Bailee Nelson, and head coach Tim Dreckman.

Mugge, Pearson to lead MMC wrestling team - MARCUS - Two returning State Tournament place winners will provide the experience and leadership necessary for the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn wrestling team this year, again under the tutelage of coach Steve Phillips. That State Tournament pair are Dillon Mugge and Jacob Pearson, who will be joined by 18 other Eagle hopefuls this season. "We have about 20 kids out this year which will help towards filling most weight classes, which we couldn't do with last year's low numbers," explained Phillips. "We are going into this year with some senior leadership and that's something we didn't have last year. We have all returning lettermen returning, except for the new, incoming freshmen." Those seniors and State qualifiers will be summoned to battle their best in the tough War Eagle Conference and to uphold the proud MMC wrestling tradition of years past. --- Members of the 2011-2012 Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn wrestling team are, front row, left to right, Tyler Schuck, Mark Peters, Ben McDaniel, and Conner Holmes. Middle, Jacob Letsche, Mitch Brady, Levi Letsche, Jacob Meehan, and Roberto Araiza. Back, Jacob Pearson, Tanner Cronin, Dillon Mugge, Dylan Rolfes, Tyler Pearson, and Justin Theisen. Absent, Cole Sand, Tanner Coombs, and Tayler Coombs.

River Valley boys to rely on speed and full-court hustle - CORRECTIONVILLE - Four seniors and two juniors return as valued upperclassmen to lead the River Valley boys basketball team this season. Those senior lettermen include 6-3 Zac Gander, 6-0 Blane Cullen, 5-10 Brody Riedemann, and 5-8 Autin Moeller. The two juniors are 5-8 Josh Pansegrau, and 5-9 Adam Schirmer. Four promising sophomores must fill in the holes in the Wolverine varsity, including 5-8 Brennan Riedemann, 5-11 Nathan Utesch, and 5-11 Mason Alitz. In addition to those players, the River Valley coaches will be working with two freshmen suiting up for varsity in the persons of 5-9 Samuel Briese, and 5-11 Wyatt Fitch. The Wolverines lack serious height, with Gander and Cullen the lone players cracking the 6-0 mark, but will rely on quickness and speed on both ends of the court, and a tenacious defense. Dean Norris returns as head boys basketball coach for the Wolverines. --- Members of the 2011-2012 River Valley boys basketball team include, front row, left to right, Tyler Boock, Wyatt Fitch, Nathan Utesch, Zak Gander, Blane Cullen, Mason Alitz. Back, Samuel Briese, Jordan Droegmiller, Joshua Pansegrau, Brennan Riedemann, Austin Moeller, Brody Riedemann, Adam Schirmer, Jesse Bogenrief, Trevor Norris.

Senior letter winners form strong nucleus for RV girls - CORRECTIONVILLE - Five senior letter winners with ample varsity experience accrued the past three seasons promise exciting times for the River Valley girls basketball team this season. Those five talented players include Brittany Hunwardsen, Kari Ludvigson, mackenzie Fitch, Brittny Shropshire, and Lexie Chester. In addition to that superb nucleus, the Wolverines will rely heavily on the play of senior Jacie Jepsen; juniors Baily Fitch, Alysa Georgeopoulos; and sophomores Olivia Goettsch, Jordain Volkert, and Allie Byers. River Valley, with a road win already under their belt over Kingsley-Pierson last week, is again coached by Matt Jenness, who is assisted this season by Brian Bode. --- Members of the 2011-2012 River Valley girls basketball team include, front row, left to right, Jacie Jepsen, Brittany Hunwardsen, Lexie Chester, Kari Ludvigson, Mackenzie Fitch, Allie Byers, Brittny Shropshire. Middle, Bailey Fitch, Alysa Georgopolis. Back, assistant coach Brian Bode, manager Jasmine Smith, Ashley Hunwardsen, Mckenna Petersen, Olivia Goettsch, Alana Redenius, Keila Preuss, Abbie Miller, Jordain Volkert, Paige Korver, manager Cheyanne Porter, coach Matt Jenness.

Varsity veterans to lead South O'Brien boys basketball - PAULLINA - Eight experienced lettermen are back to bolster the 2011-2012 South O'Brien boys basketball team, including six seniors with ample varsity experience and skills. Those senior stalwarts coach Kiley Yates will be counting heavily on include Adam Paulsen, Austin Wise, Nate Struve, Austin Sweeney, John Gray, and Eric Magnussen. In addition, two capable juniors will be on hand to add fire power to the Wolverines, including Sam Weber, and Matt DeVos. Paulsen returns as a War Eagle Conference first-team selection and will be one of the team leaders this season. Coach Yates lists great attitudes, hard workers, and solid ball-handling as among his team's strengths and is excited to get the season going with six of his eight top players returning from last year's squad that finished 13-9 over all and 8-2 for runner-up honors in the rugged WEC. Among the promising newcomers sure to impact the team are juniors Kody Nelson, Andrew Weaver, and Daniel Haden, and sophomore Bret Puhrmann. DeVos will be assisted this season by Drew Triplett, DJ Hansen, Jim Wagner, and Brennen Triplett. --- Members of the 2011-2012 South O'Brien boys basketball team are, front row, left to right, Andrew Weaver, Austin Sweeney, Austin Wise, Adam Paulsen, John Gray, Sam Weber, Kody Nelson and Brett Puhrmann. Back row, Head coach Kiley Yates, assistant coach DJ Hansen, Eric Magnussen, Nate Struve, Matt DeVos, Daniel Haden, assistant coach Brennen Triplett and assistant coach Drew Triplett.

Letter winners give South O'Brien girls a boost - PAULLINA - Four returning varsity starters are among 10 returning letter winners who promise to bring exciting times to the South O'Brien girls basketball team this season. Coach Allen DeVos greeted those 10 quality players, including Casie Rehder, a second team All-War Eagle Conference pick for last year's youthful squad that struggled to a 5-16 record and a 2-8 WEC mark. Things will be different this year, as Rehder and fellow starters from last year Erin Brasser, Rachel Struve, and Mikayla Hintz lead a solid contingent of letter winners into action this season. The remaining letter winners include Kaitlyn Aberson, Terran Ebel, Rebekah Jenness, Emily Riedemann. Hannah Schueder, and Emma Sweeney. Coach DeVos lists team defense and rebounding as among his team's strengths this year. DeVos will be assisted by veteran, accomplished Wolverine coaches Dana Vige and Julie Paulsen. --- Members of the 2011-2012 South O'Brien girls basketball team are, front row, left to right, Manager Mara Rohwer, Leta Wester, Erin Brasser, Terran Ebel and Manager Megan Burmakow. Middle row, Manager Alyssa Kenney, Mikayla Hintz, Lexy Hohbach, Emma Sweeney, Hannah Schueder and Libby Wagner. Back row, head coach Allen DeVos, Kaitlyn Aberson, Rachel Struve, Casie Rehder, Rebekah Jenness, Emily Rieemann, assistant coach Dana Vige and assistant coach Julie Paulsen.

Ridge View boys return 7 seniors for basketball HOLSTEIN - Ridge View coach Shannon Tesch said he is looking for an improved team in this, his third season at the helm of the school's boys basketball team. Tesch feels that the team's biggest team strength will be its collective experience, as they return seven seniors, and he cites versatility as another team strength, saying that Ridge View has a number of players who can score from the inside as well as from the outside, and that they also have athletes who can defend post players as well as perimeter players.Tesch hopes to use that versatility to capitalize on certain match-ups throughout the season. The Raptors lost three key seniors to graduation, but they also return six varsity lettermen who saw significant playing time last year - three of whom are returning starters Seth Johnson, Kris Alesch, and Austin Graff. Johnson is a 6-0 senior guard who was a Western Valley Conference Honorable Mention selection last year. Kris Alesch, a 6-3 senior forward has really improved his quickness and strength over the off-season, according to Tesch, and he hopes that these improvements will make him a versatile player for the Raptors this season. Alesch was also a Western Valley Conference Honorable Mention selection last year. Austin Graff, a 6-0 senior guard is called a "lock-down defender" by his coach. The other three returning letter-winners for Ridge View are 6-3 senior guard Travis Hoeppner, Marc Meyer, a 6-1 senior guard, and Kyle Wessling, a 5-10 senior guard. The Raptors also have a few juniors and sophomores who will be pushing for varsity playing time, according to the coach. "At this point," he says, "it's hard to say who will round out our roster. They are all working so hard, it's been difficult to see much separation yet. That's a good thing." An area of improvement that Tesch hopes to see this year is consistency, saying that the team needs to be consistent from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Tesch said that he feels the Western Valley Conference will be tough again, and thinks that the teams to beat will be Woodbury Central, Lawton-Bronson, Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove, and Kingsley-Pierson. "We are looking to improve from last year's (3-8) standing in the conference," the coach concludes. "If we play focused and do the little things well, we should definitely be in the mix. Our goal is to be the hardest working team on the court each game." Ridge View had an overall mark of 8-13 last season. Dale Tokheim and Monica Bloyers will be serving as the assistant coaches. --- Members of the 2011-2012 Ridge View boys basketball team include, front row, left to right, Heath Clark, Marc Meyer, Seth Johnson, Kris Alesch, Travis Hoeppner, Kyle Wessling. Row two, Christian Egger, Austin Drey, Michael Currie, Austin Struchen, Joe Tokheim, Paul Irwin, Daniel Ramirez. Row three, Brad Flogstad, Daniel Jeckell, Michael Tiefenthaler, Ryan Garthoff, Tyler Drey, Nick Babcock, Drew VanZweden, Charlie Kliegl. Row four, Anthoney Bainbridge, Kyle Mentzer, Jonah Kistenmacher, Jesus Nava, Zach Tokheim, John Kofmehl, Logan Richard, Brian Stamp, Noah Frahm. Row five,: assistant coach Dale Tokheim, head coach Shannon Tesch, assistant coach Monica Bloyers.

Ridge View wrestling outlook young, inexperienced - HOLSTEIN - With six seniors graduating from last year's 10-16 team (3-7 in Western Valley Conference action), including State Meet qualifier Tyler Kenny, Ridge View has to a lot of holes to fill. Co-Head Coach Scott Phelps says that he has about 20 kids out for the team, but they will be very young and inexperienced, with only one senior (Logan Schafer) returning. "If the kids work hard and are competitive - and if we can avoid injuries- we should have a chance to put a quality product out on the mat," said the veteran coach, who shares head coaching duties with Doug Davidson. Returning letter winners for the Raptors include senior Logan Schafer (285), who had a 32-5 mark last year, and qualified for the State Meet as a sophomore; juniors Michael Davidson (220), 33-9 and a State Meet qualifier last season, Dru Kenny (152), Nathan Myrice (195) and Tylar Hansen (138 or 145); sophomores Matt Wandrey (138 or 145), Luke Kliegl (106 or 113) and Jason Kenny (126), who had 25-19 mark last year and qualified for the District Meet. Other wrestlers who could contribute at the varsity level include juniors Dillon Kunneke (160) and Haydan Johnson (170); sophomores Henry Sippel (182) and Lucas Hanson (285); and freshmen Tristin Stibbins (113 or 120), Dylan Richards (106), Preston Schmidt (120 or 126), Brody Stoltze (152 or 160) and Ethan Bruning (126). Phelps feels that the Western Valley Conference could be one of the toughest wrestling conferences in the state, boasting many strong teams and individuals. He sees Woodbury Central as the conference favorite, based on their returning group of wrestlers and their group of incoming freshmen, but he also feels that league members Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove, Ridge View, Lawton-Bronson, Maple Valley/Anthon-Oto, Woodbine, Logan-Magnolia, Kingsley-Pierson, West Monona, and Westwood all have something to prove with some good returning individuals but a lot of young kids, and "could surprise anyone at any time." Justin Kinney will serve as an assistant coach this season. --- Members of the 2011-2012 Ridge View wrestling team include, front row, left to right, manager Kyra Hoffman, Tristin Stibbens, Ethan Bruning, Tylar Hansen, Dru Kenny, Dillon Kunneke, Henry Sippel, Luke Kliegl, Preston Schmidt, manager Cheyenne Spahr. Back, manager Katie Davidson, manager Donnie Kelley, Michael Davidson, Haydan Johnson, Nate Myrice, Brody Stoltze, Logan Schafer, Jason Kenny, Matt Wandrey, Lucas Hansen, Dylan Richards, and manager Tasha Ronfeldt.