Okoboji’s girls track team saw several solid performances at the Ruth Marske Invitational held Monday, March 27 on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. The Pioneers earned five top-eight finishes on the day.

The 4x100-meter relay team of Ellsa Jorgensen, Krishauna Allen, Miley Wells and Zoey Holmes earned the Pioneers’ top finish. The quartet placed fifth in 51.35 seconds.

We’re just around the corner, and plans are already set for the 41st Iowa Great Lakes Area Walleye Weekend tournament. Set for May 6-7, the weekend tournament coincides with the reopening of the walleye season on Big Spirit, East Okoboji and West Okoboji lakes, which has been closed since Feb. 14.

I wish that fish responded to stress the way that some people do. Some people, when in a stressful situation, eat more than usual. Fish usually respond to stress by eating less. A lot less. Fishing pressure is what often causes stress for fish. Following are some ideas on how to catch fish that are stressed due to fishing pressure.

Finally, yes finally, spring is slowly coming, and most certainly open water angers are getting excited. Here is an opportunity for muskie anglers to get together for the annual Spring Muskie Fishing Seminar hosted by the Upper Great Plains Chapter 29 of Muskies Inc.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit in Clay, Palo Alto, Emmet and Kossuth counties.

Sixth-grade teams from Harris-Lake Park, Spirit Lake, Spencer, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, Western Christian and Luverne (Minnesota) competed at the 2023 Iowa Lakes March Madness tournament in Lake Park.

Western Christian took first-place in Division 1. Spencer placed second and Spirit Lake placed third.

Luverne placed first in Division 2. HMS placed second and Harris-Lake Park placed third.

Troy Larson, head men's basketball coach for Iowa Lakes Community College, was selected by the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) as the 2023 Coach of the Year. He led the Lakers to their first regular season title since 2012-13 and their second Region XI Tournament title since 2020-21.

The Iowa Lakes Community College Athletics Department hired new head volleyball coach, Nick Erdman of Courtland, Minnesota.

Erdman brings a decade of coaching experience to the Lakers volleyball team and a passion for building on retiring coach Mike Turnbull's legacy, planning to help the team reach new heights in the upcoming years.

Spirit Lake’s standout hurdler Carter Toews proved he’s more than a one-trick pony with a record-setting performance in the 200-meter dash at the Buena Vista University High School Elite Meet held Saturday, March 18 in Storm Lake. Toews’ winning time of 22.97 seconds bested the previous record of 23.18 seconds set in 2015 by Hinton’s Blake Mossberg.

Spirit Lake’s girls track team had a solid showing at the 2023 Buena Vista University High School Elite Meet held Saturday, March 18 in Storm Lake. The Indians earned five top-three finishes and crowned one champion.

Lauren Travis cleared 39 feet and change to win the shot put. Spirit Lake coach Brad Travis said the throw exceeded the average cut-off of 38 feet, 8 inches for the Drake Relays.

Okoboji’s boys track team earned eight top-three finishes and crowned three champions at the 2023 Buena Vista University High School Elite Meet held Saturday, March 18 in Storm Lake.

“I thought the kids performed really well,” Okoboji coach Brad Peter said. “It was our third meet in 9 days, which is a lot early, but with the weather being as it is and our track covered in snow, we are just thankful to be able to compete and get kids reps on a track.”

Okoboji’s girls track team earned seven top-three finishes and crowned a pair of champions at the 2023 Buena Vista University High School Elite Meet held Saturday, March 18 in Storm Lake.

Ellsa Jorgensen won the 200-meter dash in 27.27 seconds and Maryn Frein won the 800-meter race in 2 minutes, 36.72 seconds.

Harris-Lake Park’s girls track team competed at the Buena Vista University High School Elite Meet held Friday, March 17 at Storm Lake. The Wolves competed in six events on the day and brought home one top-10 finish.

Returning Class 2A state champion Spirit Lake took another step forward with a tremendous performance at the 2023 Lakes Conference Indoor Meet held Tuesday, March 14 at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. The Indians earned 13 top-three finishes and crowned six champions on the day.