A year of firsts and bests

Like any year, 2023 had its share of highs and lows for high school sports teams at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn. But many of the team accomplishments were groundbreaking for their programs, and individual achievements were among the best in H-M-S history.

Here is a recap of some of the top highlights of the year that just ended.

• Right in the fight

In the first year of its own bowling program, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn established a standard that other schools would envy.

H-M-S was the top boys' team at the Class 1A state qualifying meet at Sanborn, sending them on their first trip to the state tournament. The Hawks' score of 2,869 pins after 15 Baker games was nearly 200 pins better than second-place Shenandoah.

Competing at state, senior Marcus Aaron, sophomores Jack Mastbergen, Dawson Niichel and Skyler Shaffer, and freshmen Caleb Aaron and Riley Russell finished eighth after bowling 15 Baker games. Taking on No. 1 Louisa-Muscatine in the quarterfinals, the Hawks won two of the first three games before losing the final two.

"I am so proud of the boys and each of their efforts. They now have the taste of what they want to do again, because they know they were right there in the fight with the best teams and players in the state," said Hawk coach Julia Meyer.

Mastbergen also qualified to compete at state as an individual. He was the top bowler at the qualifying meet, rolling games of 275, 248 and 177 to finish with a 700 series.

His best game at state was a 278, which was the second-highest in pre-bracket play. He also rolled games of 142 and 213 to finish in a tie for 11th place.

• Never let off the gas pedal

A program that dates back to the first season of H-M-S athletics won its first conference title. The Hawk boys topped the standings at the 2023 War Eagle Conference cross country meet, scoring 53 points to win the title.

"We knew this season we could place high as a team at the conference meet, which kept our boys fiercely attacking workouts week in and week out," said Hawk coach Kirsten Taylor. "Our boys ran with such confidence and never let off the gas pedal."

Three individuals finished among the Top 15, which was another first for the program. Damian Dodge, Ryan Grotluschen and Aiden Bush finished seventh, eighth and 10th, respectively. Blaine Finster and Easton Teal also contributed to the team total.

Lexi Croatt placed 10th and qualified for the girls' all-conference team, and H-M-S finished third in the team standings.

• Running on the biggest stage

George Vargas became the first H-M-S male runner to qualify for the state cross country meet since 2017. After running just out of the Top 10 for most of the 5K race, Vargas passed two competitors in the final 400 meters to surge to a ninth-place finish at the 1A state qualifying meet.

The senior admitted that he wasn't confident about his chances to advance to state.

"Not at all. I think fear's the greatest motivator and I was definitely scared that entire race," he said.

Vargas then competed in the state meet at Lakeside Golf Course at Fort Dodge. He set a fast pace during the first two-thirds of the race but would settle back in the pack to finish 99th out of a field of 153 runners.

"I know he wasn't entirely satisfied with his time but he did leave everything on the course, as he always does," Taylor said. "He went out and rose to the competition, and never backed down."

• Standing at the top of the class

After being named the top offensive player in District 1 for the third straight year, Kooper Ebel was named Class A Player of the Year by the Iowa Football Coaches Association.

Ebel ranked ahead of all players with 32 rushing touchdowns and 2,511 rushing yards in 2022, and was second in total touchdowns, all-purpose yards and offensive yards.

"I could not be more excited for him," said Hawk coach Jay Eilers.

Ebel continued his football career at Iowa State University this fall, where he played in seven regular season games.

• Punches ticket to state meet

Bryce Dodge was one of five Okoboji/HMS wrestlers to advance to the 2A state wrestling tournament in Des Moines.

Competing for the first time at Wells Fargo Arena, the H-M-S senior lost his first match in the 152-pound bracket by major decision and his first-round consolation match.

Dodge qualified for state with a runner-up finish at the district meet, losing the title match to Coy DeBoer of Sheldon/South O'Brien. The two had previously met in the championship match at the Siouxland Conference tournament, which DeBoer also won.

Dodge finished his senior season with a record of 26-15.

• Individual, team success on the links

H-M-S enjoyed its most successful girls' golf season in recent memory.

The Hawks placed third in the first round of the Class 1A regional meet, but still advanced to the regional final because host South O'Brien was among the Top 2 teams. Gracie Knobloch was the runner-up medalist, shooting an 18-hole score of 89.

H-M-S finished sixth as a team at the regional final, and Knobloch finished five strokes behind the sixth and final individual state qualifier.

Other honors included Kinsey Schirmer (sixth) and Knobloch (10th) qualifying for the War Eagle Conference first team and Elise Haack (17th) landing on the second team.

"It is so awesome to have three girls make all-conference. It is very much deserved," said Hawk coach Cheryl Kroese.

The Hawks finished third in the dual standings with a 6-3 record.

• Great finish to season

A pair of H-M-S school records was set during postseason boys' track meets.

Competing in the 2A 400-meter dash finals at Drake Stadium, Kooper Ebel ran a time of :51.18 to break the record he had set at the qualifying meet. He finished one place short of earning a medal.

The Hawks' 4x100 relay of Bradley Zamudio, Ethan Diehm, James Gellerman and Ebel finished 21st.

Hawk coach Jay Eilers felt the state meet was "definitely a great way to wrap up the season."

Another school record was set at the state qualifying meet, where Ryan Borden, Diehm, Gellerman and Ebel ran a time of 1:36.78 in the sprint medley relay.

• Among the best in basketball

Lance Berends is the all-time leader in points and rebounds for the H-M-S boys' basketball program.

The 2023 graduate passed Jon Walburg to become the program's all-time scorer, finishing his career with 1,604 points. He also broke Blake Simons' record for most rebounds in a career, finishing with 1,001.

Kooper Ebel also reached the 1,000-point mark during the 2022-23 season. He finished his career with 1,203 points.

• Postseason baseball honors

Two H-M-S baseball players received special postseason recognition from the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Jacob Cates earned honorable mention on the 2023 Class 1A Northwest All-District team and senior Tyson Tessum was named to the Academic All-State second team.