On a recent interview with Mike Hawkins, fisheries biologist with the Iowa DNR, he and I discussed the ongoing renovation project taking place at West Swan Lake located southeast of Gruver. The project began in the fall of 2022 with the goal for the renovation to be complete and ready for restocking this past spring, but Mother Nature didn’t cooperate.

Forest City was no match for top-ranked Spirit Lake.

The returning Class 2A state semifinalists torched Forest City 56-0 to open district play on Friday, Sept. 20, outscoring the visitors 49-0 in the first half alone.

After suffering a lopsided loss to MOC-Floyd Valley the previous week, Okoboji was determined to not let history repeat itself in a district matchup with Estherville Lincoln Central on Friday, Sept. 20.

Harris-Lake Park suffered a non-district road loss to Newell-Fonda on Friday, Sept. 20. The Mustangs mauled the Wolves 53-12 in Newell.

In a battle between Dickinson County rivals, Spirit Lake earned a 3-1 win over Okoboji during nonconference play on Monday, Sept. 23. The squads split the first two sets. Spirit Lake took the first set 25-22 and Okoboji earned a 25-21 win in the second. However, the Indians closed out the night with a 25-15 win in the third and a 25-17 win in the fourth.

Dickinson County rivals Okoboji and Spirit Lake have established themselves as the two best teams in Class 2A District 2 at the midway point of the football season. The Pioneers and Indians are both 3-1 overall and 1-0 in district play heading into their matchup slated for Friday, Sept. 27 in Milford.

It’s homecoming week at Harris-Lake Park and the Wolves are on the prowl for a victory after suffering a lopsided loss to Newell-Fonda last week. The Mustangs defeated the Wolves 35-25 to drop Harris-Lake Park’s overall record to 2-2 at the midway point of the season, but the Wolves head into this week’s matchup against West Bend-Mallard with a 2-0 mark in district play.

Harris-Lake Park picked up its first victories of the 2024 volleyball season Saturday, Sept. 21 at a tournament hosted by Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire. The Wolves went 2-2 on the day, defeating Sioux Central and North Union and falling to West Bend-Mallard and Emmetsburg in Graettinger.

Okoboji suffered a Siouxland Conference home sweep to Sheldon on Thursday, Sept. 19. The Orabs defeated the Pioneers 25-11, 25-23 and 25-5 in Milford.

Harris-Lake Park suffered a War Eagle Conference home loss to Gehlen Catholic on Tuesday, Sept. 17. The Wolves fell 3-0 to the Jays in a conference volleyball clash in Lake Park.

Gehlen Catholic won 25-7, 25-11 and 25-15.

Spirit Lake stars Brandon Hughes and Dietrick Dirks shined at the 2024 Chris Smith Invitational held Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Little Sioux Golf and Country Club at Sioux Rapids.

The Indians’ top duo took the top two individual finishes and led the boys cross country team to a first-place finish at the meet hosted by Sioux Central.

Hughes placed first in 16 minutes, 24.58 seconds. Dirks placed second in 16:43.91.

Spirit Lake extended its win streak to three with a nonconference volleyball win over Sibley-Ocheyedan on Tuesday, Sept. 12. The Indians defeated the Generals 3-2 in Spirit Lake.

The hosts took the opening set 25-16 but fell 25-17 in the second and 25-22 in the third to face a 2-1 deficit. Spirit Lake responded, earning a 25-14 win in the fourth set before salting away the match with a 15-7 win in the fifth set.

My wife and I recently returned from our nine-day cruise to Alaska. We were exhausted, but we definitely checked a big trip off our bucket list.

Having never been on a cruise before, my wife and I were a little worried. So, to adjust for any potential issues, we built in a day’s stay in Seattle prior to leaving on the cruise and an extra day’s stay in Seattle after we returned.

In a non-district football battle between heated rivals, second-ranked (2A) Spirit Lake dominated Class 4A Spencer from start to finish Friday, Sept. 13. The Indians topped the Tigers 41-7 in Spencer.

Spirit Lake coach Josh Bolluyt said Friday night’s victory began with a great week of practice.