Knoxville Boys Golf Wins Sectional, Heads To Pella District On Monday
The Knoxville Boys Golf Squad took its first step to what it hopes is a deep and special run to the State Meet by winning the class 3A Williamsburg Sectional with a team score of 308 outshooting the host Raiders by 14 strokes, Grinnell was the other qualifier with a 329. Evan Smith was medalist with a -1 70 while Carson Uitermarkt was third overall with a +6 77. Other scores were Kail Arkema with an 80, Noah Keefer scored an 81 while Brady Roozeboom scored an 86 and Beau Leisure carded an 88. The Panthers will advance to the class 3A district Monday at Bos Landen in Pella.
Williamsburg Sectional Leaderboard
Knoxville’s Maasdam 3rd At 1A Regional Individual Tennis
The Knoxville Girls Tennis Squad played at the class 1A Individual Regional in Grinnell on Wednesday and Janie Maasdam came the closest to the State Meet berth with 3rd place in singles. Maasdam was 2nd seed and took down Madison Rinehart of Newton 6/1, 6/0 in round one. She defeated Peyton Popson of Albia in the quarterfinals 6/0 and 6/2 but fell in the semi-finals to 3rd seed Ali Schuchmann of Cedar Rapids Xavier and was set to play Lauryn Garrett in the 3rd place match, but Garrett retired and Maasdam was awarded 3rd place. Knoxville’s other singles player was Maddy Wells, who drew the nine seed and lost to Katelyn Sciszinski 6/4 and 6/4. In doubles, Natalie Collins and Iselynn Prevo lost to a duo from North Polk in first round play 6/1 and 6/2. Also Kate Schneider and Mackenzie Karr fell in a 1st round match 6/4 and 6/3. Knoxville will now move on to the team regional at Oskaloosa on Saturday.
Knoxville Hopes To Put A Lot Of Black And Gold On The Blue Oval
The Blue Oval is the goal for every track and field athlete today as the State Qualifying Meets get going. Knoxville heads across the river to Pella for the class 3A meet and along with the host Dutch the Panthers will also see Bondurant-Farrar, Grinnell, Newton, Oskaloosa, Saydel and South Tama. Girls Coach Michael Splavec tells KNIA/KRLS Sports he and his coaching staff have been working hard to put together the best possible relays and put the right individuals in their events to get them qualified.
Splavec: “So we’re excited about it. Some of the events that we weren’t thinking about may have a chance. Mrs. Splavec and I are putting together the events and getting the right people where they should be to have a chance to get to Drake Stadium.”
For the boys, the Panthers are coming off winning the South Central Conference team title for the 2nd straight season, and runners T.J. DeJong and Cole Carter say State is one of the top goals every year.
Cole: “It would be very excting and that’s a good goal of mine and a chance to prove muyself at State.”
T.J.: “It’s a big accomplishment and setting my eyes forward and they seem unreachable but you have to shoot for the stars if you want a big prize.”
Find an interview with DeJong and Carter from earlier in the season on kniakrls.com during a Radio Sports Page that airs Wednesday at 6:00 and Thursday at 10:00 on KNIA/KRLS.
Photos: Knoxville Boys Golf from Knoxville Boys Golf Facebook, Melanie Sullivan from Ryan Northcote