Cards face today are West Des Moines Valley, Johnston and Des Moines Roosevelt, which Newton has yet to defeat this year, as well as Ankeny and Southeast Polk, which the Cards did defeat this year. Newton coach Pat Riley believes that the team’s success will likely run through the Shores brothers, whether it’s on the team or individual level.

“They’re the heart and soul of our team, so to speak, and we’ll go as far as they can carry us,” Riley said. “But we still need them to play their best meets of the year, and we’ll need two others to play their best meets of the year.”

Although Austin Shores, Leonard and McAnally have the senior motivation on their sides, it was Devin who missed state by just two strokes last season. That arguably has made him the most motivated on the team even though he’ll have two more tries at it after this year.