Harris-Lake Park’s volleyball season came to a close with a 3-0 loss to Bishop Garrigan in the opening round of the Class 1A regional tournament played Monday, Oct. 17. The Golden Bears topped the Wolves 25-11, 25-9 and 25-16 in Algona.

Evan Osler provided the highlight for Okoboji’s cross country teams at the Unity Christian Invitational held Friday, Oct. 14 at Landsmeer Golf Club in Orange City. Osler placed first individually and led the Okoboji boys team to a runner-up finish. Osler finished the race in 16 minutes, 45.5 seconds.

Trigg Heimdal and Dylan Jones joined Osler in the top 10. Heimdal placed sixth in 17:16.4 and Jones placed ninth in 17:28.3.

Okoboji’s volleyball team ended its regular season with a road loss to Sibley-Ocheyedan on Thursday, Oct. 13. The Generals swept the Pioneers 25-17, 25-23 and 25-18 in Sibley.

Harris-Lake Park’s volleyball team dropped its regular season finale to fourth-ranked (1A) Gehlen Catholic on Thursday, Oct. 13. The Jays swept the Wolves 25-4, 25-5 and 25-14 in Le Mars.

“Gehlen is an outstanding team but, unfortunately, we were not prepared,” Harris-Lake Park coach April Buss said. “I was proud the girls kept a good attitude and played really hard. We just couldn't find a rally.”

Spirit Lake’s volleyball team ended its regular season with a Lakes Conference home victory over Storm Lake on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The Indians swept the Tornadoes 25-9, 25-13 and 25-15 on senior night in Spirit Lake.

The Indians’ honored their six seniors: Hallie DeWall, Carly Bakke, Mackenzie Kauffman, Taylor Schneider, Emma Henrickson and Lauren Carlson.

Okoboji’s volleyball team dropped a Siouxland Conference home match to MOC-Floyd Valley on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The Dutch defeated the Pioneers in straight sets, winning 25-17, 25-16 and 25-21 in Milford.

For many years, as I have traveled east of the Mini-Wakan State Park entrance (north side of Big Spirit Lake) on the Grade road or Stateline road, I’ve noticed on the north side of the road (Minnesota side) a parcel of cropland that during wet weather turns into a huge temporary wetland. Unless it is dry weather, it seems to always flood. If it is around long enough, lots of shore birds and waterfowl take up residence. Perhaps you have observed this, too, in your travels.

The end of the 2022 open water fishing season is in sight for this angler. As the years progress, for me, fishing has taken on a different meaning. In many ways, going fishing becomes more important, and catching fish becomes less important:  

It’s the experience of just going fishing that is most important to me at this point in my life.  With that in mind, following are some thoughts from this fisherman’s most recent open water fishing season.

Eighteen lakes across Iowa are gearing up to receive trout this fall. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will release between 1,000 to 2,000 rainbow trout at each location as part of its cool weather trout program that brings trout to areas that cannot support them during the summer months.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds lake property owners to check their boat and trailers, and docks and lifts, for aquatic invasive species before storing them for the winter.

Okoboji’s boys and girls cross country runners earned six all-conference honors at the 2022 Siouxland Conference Championships held Tuesday, Oct. 11 at Emerald Hills Golf Course in Arnolds Park.

Spirit Lake cross country runners competed at the 2022 Lakes Conference Championships held Monday, Oct. 10 at Estherville.

Katelyn Krieger, Brandon Hughes, Damon VandenBerg and Connor Kueper earned all-conference honors on the day. Krieger placed second in the girls race, finishing in 19 minutes, 25.32 seconds. Hughes placed second in the boys race, finishing in 16:36.06. VandenBerg was fifth in 17:10.18. Kueper was ninth in 18:26.10.

Harris-Lake Park junior Landon Greve earned all-conference honors after placing 15th at the War Eagle Conference cross country meet held Monday, Oct. 10 in Hawarden. Greve finished the race in 19 minutes, 36.40 seconds.

Clarion-Goldfield-Dows used the quarterback run effectively to keep the score close Friday night, but Spirit Lake’s defense made the necessary adjustments in the second half to prove the Cowboys were simply one-trick ponies. The third-ranked Indians blanked the seventh-ranked Cowboys 28-0 in the second half of a 56-21 district victory in Clarion on Friday, Oct. 7.

Okoboji put together its best offensive performance of the season Friday night, but — despite rushing for nearly 400 yards — the Pioneers were unable to run away with a victory over Cherokee. The Braves defeated the Pioneers 34-28 on homecoming night in Cherokee.