Sports

The Humboldt High softball team placed five on the coaches' post-season North Central All-Conference team. Wildcat head coach Sheridan Zeka made the announcement on July 16.

Humboldt's first-team selections include senior shortstop Gracie Lyon and senior centerfielder Claire Dieleman.

Second-team picks include junior pitcher Adalee Nolting and sophomore third baseman Sadie Hubbell. Junior second baseman Hayden Graaf was chosen to the third-team.

The remainder of the all-conference team will be released after the completion of the state tournament, to be held July 20-24 in Fort Dodge.

See full story in the Humboldt Independent. Subscribe today for print/digital access by selecting the link on this page to get started.

The Humboldt High baseball team had six players selected North Central All-Conference for the 2026 season.

Wildcats chosen to the first-team unit include senior catcher Jackson Flaherty, junior infielder Avyon Sutterfield and senior outfielder Valley Davis.

Second-team selections include senior outfielder Chase Flaherty and junior Chase Hansen at utility/designated hitter.

Sophomore Dane Clark was selected to the third-team unit.

Humboldt finished the season at 21-9 overall and were 10-4 and third in the league standings.

See full story in the Humboldt Independent. Subscribe today for print/digital access by selecting the link on this page to get started.

No. 9 ranked Waverly-Shell Rock scored five runs in the fifth inning and went on to defeat the Humboldt baseball team, 8-2 in a Class 3A substate semifinal round game in Waverly on Monday night, July 13. WSR advanced into a substate final at North Polk on July 15 against North Polk. North Polk beat Gilbert, 4-0 in the other semifinal round game. Humboldt finishes its season at 21-9 overall.

Wildcats hold off Algona in substate opener, 8-5
Humboldt scored five runs in the fourth inning and held off the Algona Bulldogs, 8-5 in a Class 3A Substate tournament opening round game in Algona on Friday night, July 10.

The Humboldt softball team ended their season on Saturday night (July 11) in a 10-0 loss at fifth-ranked Prairie City Monroe in a regional semifinal game. See full story in the Independent this week.

Humboldt girls win regional softball opener, 9-1
The Humboldt softball team overcame a slow start and went on to beat Estherville-Lincoln Central, 9-1 in four innings in a Class 3A Region 6 opening round tournament game in Humboldt on Thursday night, July 9.

The triumph advanced the Wildcats into a regional semifinal at Prairie City Monroe on Saturday night, July 11 against No. 5 ranked PCM. PCM opened with a 9-0 victory over Southeast Valley. The other half of 3A-6 had Algona winning 19-1 over Okoboji and Spirit Lake topping Sheldon 5-3. Spirit Lake will face Algona on Saturday night in Algona. The regional final will be played on July 14 against the highest ranked remaining school.

The Humboldt Wildcats varsity baseball team has officially been placed in the Class 3A-2 postseason bracket, setting up a first‑round matchup against North Central Conference rival Algona on July 10.

If Humboldt advances through the substate bracket, the team will earn a place in the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Class 3A state tournament, scheduled for July 20–24 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids.

The Humboldt High baseball team won their 20th game of the season on Tuesday night, July 7, in a 12-1 conquest of the Storm Lake Tornadoes. Dane Clark drove in four runs with a home run to lead the Wildcats' eight-hit attack. Grant Goodell earned the win pitching as he allowed two hits and struck out two. Valley Davis, Chase Hansen and Jaxson Kirchhoff all shared pitching duties for Humboldt.

Humboldt pushed their season record to 19-8 overall by blanking Pocahontas Area, 13-0 in five innings on July 2 in Humboldt in non-conference action. Wildcat pitchers Chase Hansen and Grant Goodell kept the Indians in check and were backed by solid defense and strong hitting.

Humboldt continued their winning ways by rolling past Estherville-Lincoln Central, 13-1 in Estherville on Tuesday, June 30.

The Humboldt High softball team ended their regular season with a 9-3 victory over the Mason City Redhawks in non-conference action in Mason City on Tuesday, July 7. Humboldt pounded 15 hits as Claire Dieleman and Hayden Graaf each had three hits to lead the Wildcat offense. Adele Nolting earned the win pitching. Nolting and starter Graaf combined to throw seven innings and allow three hits and three strikeouts. Humboldt improved to 12-18 overall.

No. 5 ranked (Class 1A) Mason City Newman halted Humboldt's five-game win streak with a 7-2 victory over the Wildcats in non-conference softball at Mason City on July 6.

The 2026 Iowa high school softball postseason begins July 6, with regional tournaments running through early July, culminating in the IGHSAU State Tournament at the Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge which will begin on July 20.

The Humboldt Wildcats have been placed in Class 3A Region 6 and will open their postseason run against Estherville Lincoln Central on July 9 at 7 p.m. at Humboldt High School.

The Humboldt Wildcat baseball team broke a losing streak with a 10-8 victory over Algona Monday night, June 22, on the road.

Valley Davis earned the win on the hill for the Cats.

Algona won another close contest in the second game of the doubleheader, 11-9. Jaxson Kirchhoff was the losing pitcher, giving up four runs in one inning of work. Jackson Flaherty and Griffin Groat both worked three innings for Humboldt.

Humboldt will play at Spirit Lake Tuesday and Charles City Thursday this week.

Humboldt High junior-to-be Addie Waldorf, already one of the top volleyball players in the state of Iowa, has committed to the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

Waldorf made her announcement on June 17. The six-foot setter helped guide the Wildcats to the North Central Conference championship last fall. Humboldt went on to qualify for the Class 3A state tournament, where they finished runner-up to Davenport Assumption.

Waldorf was a first-team all-conference pick, a unanimous all-state tournament pick and a first-team all-state selection by the coaches association