March 28, 2024

Column: Newton, Lynnville-Sully activities are top shelf

Newton High School and Lynnville-Sully High School this week appeared on lists of top 10 schools in Iowa recognized for their achievements in sports, academics and fine arts. Bank Iowa announced the winning Iowa high schools in the Bank Iowa Traveling Challenge Cup for the 2015-16 school year.

Neither Newton nor Lynnville-Sully were the winning schools in Class 3A or 1A but were in the top 10 of their classifications.

Schools are awarded points in every activity in which a school reaches a state competition, advances in a state competition, receives Division I ratings and earns academic recognition from either the IHSAA, IGHSAU, IHSSA and IHSMA. Winning schools in each of the state’s four classifications (1A, 2A, 3A and 4A) are determined based on the best combined score.

Newton was ninth among 3A high schools for 2015-16, which is the highest it has finished since the awards’ inception in 2007. Lynnville-Sully finished sixth in 1A.

The winning schools are Waukee High School (4A), Decorah High School (3A), Kuemper Catholic High School (2A) and St. Albert High School (1A). Each winning school is presented with a crystal award and $2,000.

Well done, Newton and Lynnville-Sully students.

As a band geek in high school and college and a lover of literature, it is important to me to see students excel in the fine arts. Yes, I’m a sports journalist, but in high school, students should be exposed to many academic challenges and experience many activities. Those activities include athletics, music, art, drama — the whole gamut.

Now turning to the sports world, there are four area football teams heading into their second district game Friday. The big area clash will be in Sully Friday as seventh-ranked Lynnville-Sully’s Hawks (3-0, 1-0) host the Cardinal Comets (3-0, 1-0) in Class A District 6 action. They are the two undefeated teams in their district.

Also in Class A play Friday, the winless Colfax-Mingo Tigerhawks host Belle Plaine, which is 3-0 and 1-0 in District 5 play, at Colfax. Collins-Maxwell/Baxter is at home in 2A District 3 play and searching for its first win of the season against West Marshall (1-2, 0-1).

Prairie City-Monroe collected a victory a week ago to open 2A District 6 play. The Mustangs are on the road Friday against host Centerville. PCM sports a 2-1, 1-0 mark while the Reds are 1-2 and 1-0.

Newton has a long road trip Friday — 159 miles one way — to Burlington for its final non-district contest in 4A play. In the four years I’ve been in Newton, the Cardinals have not played Burlington’s Grayhounds. The only thing I know about Burlington is former Newton Daily News sports writer Ben Schuff works for the Burlington newspaper.

Newton is powered by a running game offensively while the Grayhounds like to go through the air. Weather could be a factor. The Cardinals and Grayhounds could be playing in the rain. That would be the third out of four Friday nights in the rain for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals open 4A District 4 play next Friday at home against Marshalltown.

Looking at Major League Baseball — my Kansas City Royals have imploded down the stretch. The defending World Champions are mostly likely not going to make the playoffs. They were right in the thick of the wild card race in the American League then began going backwards. With 16 games remaining, they have a lot of work to do to climb back in and reach the playoffs for a third straight year.

The Chicago Cubs have clinched a playoff spot and the National League Central Division title. Newton graduate Tim Buss, NHS Class of 1990, is the Cubs’ strength and conditioning coordinator. Buss has been with Cubs’ staff since 2001. Buss is a member of the Newton Baseball Hall of Fame, inducted in 2005.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets

at jsheets@newtondailynews.com