JANUARY
Jan. 7 — PITTSBURG — Iola High’s Mustangs opened up Southeast Kansas League wrestling action Thursday against the third-ranked Class 5A Pittsburg High Purple Dragons and SEK-leading Fort Scott High Tigers. It was senior night at Pittsburg High and two of its seniors — both individually ranked — were beaten by Iola High Mustangs. Mustang freshman Mike Armstrong upset Class 5A’s fifth ranked Austin Haake at 119. Mustang sophomore Stephen McDonald and Class 5A’s fourth-ranked Austin Winner at 189.
Jan. 8 — GIRARD — It was heartbreaking for Iola High’s Mustangs. Two winless teams were playing and something had to give Friday night at Girard High School. Girard’s Dillon Walsh hit a shot with just over one second on the game clock for a 41-39 win. The Kansas Class 4A fifth-ranked Lady Trojans beat the Iola High Fillies 48-38 snapping a four-game winning streak for Iola.
MORAN — Points were at a premium Friday evening in the Marmaton Valley High gymnasium. In the end, Marmaton Valley High’s girls did just enough on offense, while keeping the visiting Crest High Lady Lancers at bay in a 27-25 win. It was the first win of the season for the Wildcat girls.
Jan. 10 — COFFEYVILLE — Allen County Community College’s Red Devil basketball teams’ struggles continued Saturday on the road at Coffeyville Community College. Both ACCC teams are 0-4 in Jayhawk Eastern Division play and the women are 2-13 overall and the men 3-12.
Jan. 14 — Iola High wrestling fans saw sophomore Stephen McDonald and freshman Mike Armstrong improve to 4-0 in SEK action. Also senior Marcus Sullivan wrestled his first league matches, winning both, of the year as Iola High’s Mustangs hosted Chanute and Labette County in a Southeast Kansas League wrestling double dual.
Jan. 17 — PARSONS — Two teams winless in Jayhawk Eastern Division play met Saturday night. Something had to give. Allen County Community College’s men beat Labette Community College’s Cardinals 67-65.
Jan. 22 — BURLINGTON — Not since Feb. 5, 2010, has Iola High’s Mustangs posted a basketball victory. That has been 17 straight games without a win. The Mustangs found their way to a victory Friday night in a consolation game at the 2011 Burlington High Invitational. Iola defeated Rossville High’s Bulldogs 55-41. Iola is 1-9 on the season.
Jan. 25 — Iola Middle School’s seventh-grade Ponies captured first place in their round-robin portion of Saturday’s IMS 7th Grade Pony Stampede.
EUREKA — Iola High’s Marcus Sullivan cruised to a gold medal at the 2011 Eureka High Invitational wrestling tournament Saturday.
Jan. 28 — Every high school basketball team shoots free throws during practice. Tuesday was a normal practice session for Southern Coffey County High’s Lady Titans. Ashton Isch, a 5-5 junior guard, wasn’t missing Tuesday. When Isch finally did miss, she had set an SCCH girls’ record in practice, hitting 111 free throws in a row.
Jan. 29 — Kyran Stewart ran the 200-meter dash in 21.76 seconds at the Iowa State Open indoor track meet. The Allen County Community College sophomore captured third place in the 200 finals. Stewart’s time qualified him for the NJCAA national indoor Bryant Terry was 17th in the 600-yard run in 1 minutes, 13.98 seconds. That set a new ACCC record and qualified him for the national meet.
Jan. 31 — The streak is over. Allen County Community College’s Red Devil women snapped a 17-game losing streak as a homecoming present for the Red Devil faithful. The Red Devils weathered several rallies by visiting Neosho County Community College’s Panthers to claim a 54-45 victory. It was the first time the Red Devils won since Nov. 6 — a 66-64 win over Missouri Valley’s junior varsity. The 3-18 Red Devils hadn’t won at home since a seasonopening win on Nov. 2.
FEBRUARY
Feb. 4 — Carolyn D o r s e y, a former Iola High School basketball player, got her first coaching position in 2009-2010. It was assistant coach and head junior varsity coach of the Emporia High School BOYS’ basketball team. Dorsey coached the Spartan JV to an undefeated season that year and showed interest in the EHS head boys’ basketball coaching job when it came open. This season she landed an assistant’s job with the EHS girls’ basketball team. She teaches biology.
Feb. 8 — Three for three. Not bad for an afternoon’s work. Iola Middle School’s Pony boys swept the visiting Parsons Middle School Vikings in three basketball games Monday.
Feb. 9 — Uniontown High seniors Matt Maloney and Anthony Myers signed national letters of intent to play football for Independence Community College next year. The two Eagles are set to become Pirates as a linebacker and receiver, respectively.
