Alex Bakker Chooses College

Northwestern logoOrange City, Iowa — Alex Bakker from Sioux Center has signed a letter of intent to continue his basketball career at Northwestern College next year.

Bakker is a multi-sports standout who is in his third year playing for the Sioux Center High School basketball team. A 6’3” guard, Bakker ranks second in the Siouxland Conference in scoring, averaging a team-best 20 points per game while shooting nearly 50% from the field. He leads the team with 17 three-pointers and averages over four rebounds and one assist per game this season. Last year, Bakker earned all-conference honors in leading his team to a 19-4 overall record, scoring 14.5 points per game. Also an all-district selection in football and all-state pick in track and field, Bakker plans to major in criminal justice at Northwestern. He is the son of Dale and Kathy.

“Alex is a quick, athletic guard who knows how to finish and can score in a number of different ways,” commented head coach Kris Korver. “He comes from a very strong program at Sioux Center, is very skilled and has been coached well. Alex was the most valuable player at our camp last summer and we look forward to him joining us at Northwestern College.”


Orabs and Mustangs Split Doubleheader

Siouxland Conference logoSheldon split a conference basketball doubleheader with the Mustangs in George Friday night. The girls game went to G-LR 50-37 with Sheldon taking the boys contest 65-53.

In the girls game the Mustangs led 9-6 at the end of the first quarter and extended that to a 24-9 first half lead that they were able to ride the rest of the night. Sheldon cut the advantage to 38-25 at the end of the third quarter and got it to single didgets in the fourth quarter but could get no closer as they fell 50-37.

George Little Rock had three players in double figures led by Mariah Terhark with 13 points. Mia Graham and Danielle Eben hit for 12 points each. Emily Johnson was the games top scorer with 18 points to lead Sheldon with 15 of them coming in the second half.

With the win G-LR improves to 10-2 on the year and 9-2 in the conference. Sheldon falls to 5-8 for the year and 4-7 in the Siouxland.

In the boys game Sheldon led 18-10 at the end of the first quarter and were up 38-21 at halftime. A 10-0 run to start the second half got the Mustangs right back in it and a half court three by David Aeikens at the buzzer cut the Orab lead to 46-36 at the end of the third quarter. Aeiken would finish with a game high 21 points on the night. That included five 3-point buckets that all came in the second half. The Orabs recovered in the fourth quarter to regain control and take the win 65-53.

Aeiken was joined in double figures by Jayden Mauldin with 10 points. Sheldon had three players in double figures getting a team high 19 points form Dylan Ennema and 10 each from Turner DeJong and Collin Wolthizen.

With the win Sheldon moves to 10-2 on the season and 8-2 in the conference. George Little Rock is 0-10 on the year.

Sheldon returns to the Orina Tuesday night for a double header with Okoboji while G-LR will be on the road at Rock Valley Tuesday night.


Sixth Iowa Girls Basketball Poll out

ighsauThe sixth Iowa Girls Basketball Rankings are out and among the highlights are Western and Unity running one and two in the 2A poll. Sioux Center is fifth in the 3A poll with Spirit Lake ranked number four. In the 1A poll George Little Rock and Central Lyon are running twelve and thirteen.

Class 5A
1 West Des Moines Valley 12-0 1
2 Waukee 10-1 2
3 Dowling Catholic 9-2 3
4 Iowa City West 11-0 4
5 Linn-Mar 10-1 5
6 Southeast Polk 8-2 10
7 Ankeny Centennial 7-4 8
8 Cedar Falls 10-2 6
9 Iowa City High 9-3 7
10 Cedar Rapids Kennedy 9-4 NR
Dropped Out: Johnston (9)

Class 4A
1 Harlan 11-0 1
2 Western Dubuque 11-0 2
3 Ballard 11-0 3
4 Carlisle 10-1 4
5 Perry 10-2 5
6 Waverly-Shell Rock 13-0 6
7 Davenport North 11-0 7
8 North Scott 10-1 8
9 Sioux City Bishop Heelan 7-2 9
10 Cedar Rapids Xavier 9-4 11
11 Indianola 9-3 10
12 Pella 8-2 12
13 Keokuk 8-1 13
14 Dallas Center-Grimes 8-4 NR
15 Knoxville 10-0 NR
Dropped Out: Lewis Central (14), Grinnell (15)

Class 3A
1 Mediapolis 11-0 2
2 Pocahontas Area 9-1 1
3 Hampton-Dumont 10-0 3
4 Spirit Lake 8-2 4
5 Sioux Center 11-1 5
6 Red Oak 11-1 6
7 Nevada 9-1 7
8 Crestwood 10-1 8
9 Osage 13-0 11
10 Shenandoah 9-3 9
11 Kuemper Catholic 8-3 10
12 Mount Vernon 8-4 NR
13 Saydel 9-2 14
14 Cherokee 7-3 15
15 PCM 8-3 13
Dropped Out: Solon (12)

Class 2A
1 Western Christian 9-1 1
2 Unity Christian 12-0 2
3 North-Linn 12-1 3
4 South Central Calhoun 11-0 4
5 IKM-Manning 10-1 5
6 Iowa City Regina 10-0 6
7 Dike-New Hartford 10-2 7
8 Panorama 10-2 8
9 Cascade 10-1 9
10 Manson-NW Webster 8-2 14
11 Central Decatur 12-0 15
12 Des Moines Christian 9-4 12
13 Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 9-2 11
14 Hinton 11-1 NR
15 Okoboji 9-2 10
Dropped Out: Fort Dodge St. Edmond (13)

Class 1A
1 Burlington Notre Dame 12-0 1
2 Colo-Nesco 11-0 2
3 Kingsley-Pierson 10-0 5
4 Fremont-Mills 10-0 6
5 Exira-EHK 12-0 7
6 Lynnville-Sully 12-0 8
7 Newell-Fonda 8-3 9
8 Bedford 11-1 3
9 Grand View Christian 10-1 4
10 Springville 11-1 10
11 Turkey Valley 12-1 13
12 George-Little Rock 8-2 14
13 Central Lyon 8-3 15
14 Janesville 10-1 NR
15 Rockford 8-2 11
Dropped Out: Tripoli (12)


Vander Berg Signs With NWC

VanderBerg3Orange City, Iowa —Jaycee Vander Berg (Sioux Center, Iowa) has signed a letter of intent to continue her track and field and cross country careers at Northwestern College next year.

Vander Berg is a 5’9” distance runner who has earned seven letters running for MOC-Floyd Valley heading into her senior track season. Vander Berg qualified for the state cross country meet all four years, helping the Dutch to a runner-up finish both in 2012 and 2013 and a fifth place finish as a senior. She earned all-conference honors four consecutive years. In track, Vander Berg qualified for the state meet in two events both her sophomore and junior years. She qualified the 3000m and as a member of the 4×800 relay in 2013 and in the 1500m and 3000m last spring as a junior. Vander Berg earned all-conference honors in the 1500m and is an academic all-state selection. A member of the National Honor Society, Vander Berg plans to major in business or youth ministry at Northwestern. She is the daughter of Jeff and Vonda.

“We are very excited to have Jaycee running for both of our track and cross country teams beginning next fall,” commented head coach Scott Bahrke. “Jaycee will make an immediate impact on both teams as Northwestern looks to finish in the top half of the GPAC. Her experience as a four-time state qualifier and place winner will help her transition to our very competitive conference.”


Northwestern Signs First Recruits For 2015 Football

Northwestern logoOrange City, Iowa — Riley Jeltema (Orange City, Iowa) and Logan Richard (Holstein, Iowa) have signed a letter of intent to continue their football careers at Northwestern College next year. They are the first recruits of the 2015 football recruiting class.

Jeltema is a 6’0”, 155-pound wide receiver and defensive back who lettered two years for MOC-Floyd Valley. Jeltema scored one touchdown on offense and totaled 16 tackles, two fumble recoveries and one interception on the defensive side. He earned the Leadership Award as a senior and plans to major in biology at Northwestern. Jeltema is the son of Allen and Pam.

“Riley is a young man who is just beginning to reach his potential physically and as a football player,” commented head coach Kyle Achterhoff. “We look forward to his development as a wide receiver in our offense.”

Richard is a 5’9”, 165-pound wide receiver and defensive back who lettered three years for Ridge View High School. Richard accounted for 214 rushing yards and three touchdowns, averaging nearly five yards per carry, on offense. He registered 38 solo tackles and three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. Richard earned first team all-district honors on defense as a senior and all-district accolades as a receiver as a junior. Richard plans to major in kinesiology at Northwestern and is the son of Mike and Susan.

“Logan has attended our summer football camps over the years and we have followed his career at Ridge View,” said Achterhoff. “He is an outstanding football player, has great work ethic and has high character. Logan will be a great Red Raider.”


Dominic Byl to Attend Dordt

Sioux Center, Iowa – Dominic Byl, a senior at Unity Christian High School has announced his intention to attend Dordt College and join the Defender football and baseball programs.

Byl, listed 6-0, 215 pounds, played predominately offensive line and linebacker this year in football and catcher in baseball.  He earned all-district honors in football and was in on 46 solo tackles and 42 assisted stops.  He had 12 tackles for loss and had three sacks with one interception.

Byl had a .277 batting average for Unity in 2014 and knocked in 16 runs with 23 hits and five doubles and caught nine base runners stealing.  Byl earned honorable mention all-district honors in 2014

Dominic is the son of Henry and Karla Byl of Sioux Center, Iowa.  He plans to study Business at Dordt College.