After a successful year of Pleasantville athletics last school year there are a couple moments that were left off of our top ten countdown list that started this past week and will continue next week. Before the countdown continues on Monday, here are three honorable mentions.

Pleasantville’s Defense Finishes the 2023 Football Season with Three Straight Shutouts

The Pleasantville football team finished the regular season with three straight shutouts. 

Over the final three weeks of the regular season, Pleasantville outscored their opponents Colfax-Mingo, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, and Cardinal 133-0. The Trojans finished the season with a 5-4 overall record as they fell to West Branch in the opening round of the Class 1A playoffs. 

Kurt Kuhnen Breaks School Record for Home Cross Country Course

Pleasantville Cross Country Runner Kurt Kuhnen finished fourth at a home meet on September 11th and broke the school time record for the home course. 

Kuhnen finished with a time of 16:58.40. The Pleasantville boys did not place as a team. On the girls side, Kyleigh McConell had the fastest time for the Trojans at 22:42.00 to finish 32nd overall. The Pleasantville girls finished 11th as a team with a score of 250. Pleasantville Coach Aaron Fitcher was pleased with how far Kurt has come as a runner.

“He is a kid who is definitely going to do everything you ask of him so he wants to see that pay off you know. Last year he was 12th a lot, or 15th, or 10th. He was just kind of in that and for him to kind of break into that top five and do something really well, I was really happy with how he worked and he said that I feel like my hard work is starting to show a bit so hopefully we can use that as a springboard for him.”

Kuhnen ended up qualifying for the state cross country meet. 

Pleasantville Freshman Quarterback Braylon Bingham Breaks School Record for Passing Yards in a Game

Pleasantville freshman quarterback Braylon Bingham highlighted a 5-4 season for the Trojans by breaking the school record for passing yards in a single game.

Bingham broke the record in Pleasantville’s Class 1A first-round playoff loss at West Branch on October 20th. The freshman threw for 304 yards in the contest which breaks the school record for single game passing yards at Pleasantville in just his fifth career start. Bingham, who played in the Trojans’ first four games of the season, became the starter in week five, and nearly led the Trojans to upset district champion Sigourney Keota in a 31-24 overtime loss. Overall on the season, Bingham threw for 1080 yards, rushed for 105 yards, and scored a total of 13 touchdowns.

Pleasantville finished the regular season with a 5-4 overall record. 

Tune into KNIA/KRLS on Monday for a continuation of our top Pleasantville sports moments of the 2023-2024 school year.