Okoboji’s volleyball team struggled throughout the 2022 season. The Pioneers went 5-25 overall and 0-9 in the Siouxland Conference — the program’s lowest win percentage in at least 16 years.

For their efforts on the court and in the classroom, four Okoboji athletes earned postseason recognition.

KEY VICTORIES

Harris-Lake Park’s volleyball team struggled throughout the 2022 season. The Wolves went 0-25 overall and 0-10 in the War Eagle Conference. It was their second consecutive winless season, pushing their winless streak to 61 matches. One Wolves player earned postseason recognition.

KEY PERFORMANCE

If you need a little exercise and want to talk fishing after the big Thanksgiving get together, this should be right up your alley. The Hook Up — located across the road to the north of Perkins at the north end of Milford — is excited to offer its third annual 2022 Iowa Ice Show from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26 .

While some anglers are putting their fishing equipment away for the season, a few die-hard walleyes anglers are taking advantage of what can be some very good walleye action. The rivers that criss-cross Walleye Country can provide some outstanding walleye fishing through the fall and winter months. Here’s how you can take advantage of that action.

Well, it certainly looks as if the mild days of fall have departed. Even last Wednesday and Thursday, the temperatures were flirting with the 60s. Then we hit the wall. By this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the highs were in the upper 20s with lows in the lower teens. Snow flurries were even in the air. From now through Thanksgiving weekend, it looks to be more of the same with highs maybe getting into the low 30s and nighttime temperatures in the teens.

OABCIG entered Friday night’s Class 2A quarterfinal matchup with Spirit Lake looking to avenge its only loss of the season and secure a third trip to the UNI-Dome in four years. After a stellar performance, the alphabet school left town with one additional letter — a W.

For the past 10 years, Kabele’s Trading Post, located on the north end of Hill Avenue in Spirit Lake, has hosted its annual Shop With the Pros event on the second Saturday of November. This year, the event will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12. As always, there is no charge for admission.

In the past several months I’ve had the opportunity to speak with some of North America’s most successful anglers. Some were tournament angler; some were fishing guides. Others were people who just enjoyed fishing and did so whenever they could. Some of these anglers are well-known, others aren’t. But when we talked about techniques, it was surprising how many anglers employed the same or similar techniques.  

What incredible weather for the pheasant opener! As a matter of fact, by mid-day on Sunday, it was almost too hot — more like short sleeve and shorts weather. From reports from my hunting buddies, they saw lots of birds. Some were able to get a quick limit on Saturday morning, while others worked several hours to get their birds.

Work will begin this fall on a section of Ingham Lake’s north shoreline that, once completed, will reduce the amount of siltation entering the lake and provide protection to the road surface of the adjacent Ingham Lake Road. Drivers who use Ingham Lake Road may experience occasional disruptions at County Road A34 while the work is underway.

Another busy camping year in Iowa state parks is coming to an end and staff are winterizing their facilities, including shutting off water in the campgrounds and closing shower houses.

Campers can check the status of water availability in a particular park by going to https://www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks/Alerts-and-Closures. The page is updated regularly by park staff.

Iowa Lakes Community College head softball coach Katie King recently announced the signing of Brenna Benge to the Lakers’ 2023-2024 recruiting class. Brenna is the daughter of Mark and Amy Benge and attends Spirit Lake High School in Spirit Lake.

“We are very excited that Brenna decided to be a Laker next year,” King said. “Spirit Lake has always been a very prestigious local softball program and it is great to be able to have their best athletes attend Iowa Lakes.”

A dominant defense and an opportunistic offense proved to be too much for Clear Lake to handle in Friday's Class 2A second-round matchup with No. 4 Spirit Lake. Save for a successful fake punt, the Indians' defense didn't allow a first down in the opening stanza while the offense turned a 22-0 first-half lead into a 43-21 playoff victory in Spirit Lake.

Okoboji ended its historic cross country season with several stellar performances at the 2022 Iowa High School Cross Country Championships held Friday, Oct. 28 at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

The Okoboji boys team, anchored by all-state performances from sophomores Evan Osler and Trigg Heimdal, earned a runner-up finish in the Class 2A team race. The Pioneers' Maryn Frein also earned all-state honors in the Class 2A girls race.

Spirit Lake's dynamic duo of Katelyn Krieger and Brandon Hughes competed at the 2022 Iowa High School Cross Country Championships held Friday, Oct. 28 at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

Krieger earned all-state honors after placing ninth in the Class 2A girls race. Hughes placed 31st in the Class 2A boys race.