November 2012

Humboldt High School completed a first Saturday, Nov. 3. Its first ever state competition in competitive cheerleading in the cheer/dance division. The team is comprised of 11 girls and one boy and begin practicing in earnest in July, “although it’s kind of a year-around activity,” according to Humboldt cheer coach Karin Thiele, who guided the team during its season. “Last spring, several of the girls came to open gym to learn new stunts and to work on their routines,” Thiele said. In July, the group began practicing as a unit, learning choreography and tumbling moves in anticipation of the competitive events. The large and small group squads participated at the Triton Challenge in Fort Dodge in late October, and then in the state competition on Nov. 3 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Humboldt’s large group squad finished 14 of 15 schools in the Class 3A cheer/dance division.

It was election day in Humboldt County Nov. 6, but not all of the politicians were sitting around waiting for the returns. Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds was in north central Iowa, continuing a series of business and industry visits around the state. Last Tuesday’s stops were at Hagie Manufacturing in Clarion and Liguria Foods in Humboldt. Liguria is a producer of specialty meat toppings, primarily pepperoni. Liguria Foods management and local Humboldt County Development Association officials took the lieutenant governor on a brief tour of the plant followed by a short question and answer session. Liguria completed an $8 million plant expansion two years ago and now has 143 employees — a mixture of hourly wage workers and management and office positions. “We haven’t been shy in reinvesting in the company,” President and CEO Jehan Saulnier said.

Humboldt’s successful 2012 high school volleyball season was evidenced by the selection of four players to the North Central All-Conference team. League coaches released the all-conference team last week. The Wildcats, runners-up in the league with a 7-2 match record, 21-9 overall, had a first-team unanimous pick in senior middle hitter Kaitlynn Vought. Wildcat senior outside hitter Erica Lane was named second-team, along with junior outside hitter April Jones. Junior setter Sarah Peters was chosen third-team. Vought led Humboldt up front with 269 kills as she converted 504 of 591 spikes. Lane was second with 198 kills while Jones made 117. Peters served 266 of 290 with 27 aces. Peters led the squad in assists with 331 and collected 112 digs. Vought served 250 of 274 for a team-high 39 aces. She also led the squad in blocks with 91 total, which included 50 solos. She had 113 digs. Jones had 36 blocks while Lane had 27.

Corn Belt Conference co-champion West Bend-Mallard/Gilmore City-Bradgate was represented with four players on the post-season volleyball team. The Wolverines, who compiled an overall match record of 29-5 overall, finished 4-1 in the league and ended up tied with Harris-Lake Park and North Union for league honors. Wolverines named to the first-team unit include Kayla Banwart, Courtney Bargmann and McKenzie Grimm, all seniors. Senior Heather Fehr was chosen second-team honors. Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne High senior hitter Sadie Poldervaart was voted second-team honors. The Wolverines advanced to a regional final before losing to No. 4 Janesville for a state tournament berth.CORN BELT ALL-CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL 2012 First Team: Kayla Banwart, WBM/GCB, senior. Courtney Bargmann, WBM/GCB, senior. McKenzie Grimm, WBM/GCB, senior. Miranda Brueggeman, H-LP, junior. Macy Gunderson, H-LP, junior. Collete Haag, North Union, senior. Noreen Morrow, H-LP, junior. Aurora Oliver, North Union, junior.