The summer sports season presented me with a lot to write about.
Collins-Maxwell/Baxter made history in both softball and baseball, and Colfax-Mingo softball flipped the script on a disappointing 2015 and claimed a South Iowa Cedar League title this past season.
The Tigerhawks also came within one run of a state tournament berth against a team which went on to place third in Fort Dodge.
Those will be long-lasting memories for all those area athletes.
The fall seasons will be here before we know it, and it gives area schools and athletes a fresh start on another sports season.
I expect this upcoming season to be as exciting as this past summer was.
Prairie City-Monroe has a lot to look forward to in all three sports with so many key parts returning.
The football team returns a trio of very talented linemen as well as two of the best receivers in Class 2A.
The Mustang volleyball team lost standout Ashley Van Gorp but has plenty of talent returning to make a push in the Heart of Iowa Conference. The PCM harriers should be talented on both sides with so much of last year’s team back.
Cross country should be solid for PCM, Collins-Maxwell/Baxter and Colfax-Mingo.
PCM and CMB, as long as they can stay healthy, should be two of the better teams in 2A this season. Colfax-Mingo returns state qualifier Dakota Hostetter and a solid young core that should give them a chance to win a SICL title.
CMB football got off to a strong start last year before injuries and an unfortunate suspension derailed a promising finish. The Raiders should have enough returners to make a push in a positive direction in 2016.
Like the Mustangs, the Raider football team will lean on a talented group of linemen to lead the way. CMB should have a very formidable backfield, too.
The Raider volleyball team lost a few seniors from last year’s squad, but the program gets a healthy Brianda Bane back and a host of other players to help build off last year’s early-season success.
The CMB girls cross country team was close to a state berth last year.
The Raiders welcome back most of its roster from that squad, making them one of the favorites in the HOIC. The boys return plenty of young talent, too.
Colfax-Mingo’s volleyball team brings back most of its talent from a season ago. The Tigerhawks should be able to move up a few positions in the SICL. Winning a playoff match last year should give them some added confidence.
The 2016 calendar sports season will be an interesting one for Tigerhawk male sports.
The 2015 senior class at Colfax-Mingo left a historic mark on many of the programs. It will be fun and interesting to see what Tigerhawk athletes are next in line to make similar marks.
Fall practices for all sports begin Aug. 8. Competition for most sports will begin two weeks later and the first available competition date for football games is Aug. 25.
College football also is almost here.
The Hawkeyes are coming off a 12-2 season and Rose Bowl berth, while the Cyclones begin the Matt Campbell era.
Both teams have plenty of questions to be answered, but right now, Iowa and Iowa State are undefeated.