​       Montezuma Braves Head Football Coach, John Beck, listens to quarterback Owen Cook during a game against the HLV Warriors earlier this year. Beck helped lead the Braves to a 9-3 record and quarterfinal finish in the playoffs. Beck, who is in his second year as head coach, was named the Class 8P – District 7 All-District Coach of the Year for a second time at the helm of the team.

By J.O. Parker
 
       Coach of the Year honors went to Montezuma’s John Beck for a second straight year and players from both Montezuma and BGM brought home top awards following the release of the 2022 Class 8P – District 7 All-District Team honors.
        “While it is a great honor to get this award, it really is a reflection of the team and how hard they worked to win another district title,” said Beck. “They battled all year long, learned from their mistakes, and just continued to grow as a team. The team really bonded well this year, we had seniors and juniors taking the underclassmen under their wing. The leadership was fantastic and that showed throughout the season. The guys just got better all year long and made plays when we needed them. I am very proud of what they accomplished this year.”
      Beck went on to thank his coaching staff, Tim Burgess, Josh Kriegel, Cal Smith, Partner Maschmann and Michael Lyons, saying they are a great group of men who want what is best for our athletes.
     “They do a great job with their responsibilities and are always there for the boys,” added Beck. “I also would like to thank Brian Diaz for helping out up in the box as well as our stat crew and press box crew. I would also like to thank the fans, we always have a great game-night atmosphere. They say it takes a village, we really do have a great one supporting these athletes.”
       Beck, who is in his second year as a head coach at Montezuma, led the 8-Man Braves to a 9-3 record and a quarterfinal finish in the playoffs.          
    Montezuma’s Tod Geiger earned Offensive Line Player of the Year (POY) honors and Owen Cook was recognized with Kicker/Punter Player of the Year honors for a second straight year. Geiger and Cook were among seven Montezuma players who earned first team honors.
     BGM’s Jacob Mauer was recognized with Offensive Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors while his Bear’s teammate, Logan Heishman, earned Defensive Line Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors. Mauer and Heishman were among five BGM players who earned first team honors.
        Defensive MVP honors went to Baxter’s Jake Travis for the 2022 season.
        Following are the first, second and honorable mention players for the district:
Montezuma
First Team
OL – Tod Geiger, Junior, Montezuma
OL – Kennen Roadcap, Senior, Montezuma
Kicker – Owen Cook, Senior, Montezuma
WR – Masin Shearer, Senior, Montezuma
WR – Garrett Watts, Junior, Montezuma
LB – Brady Ogan, Senior, Montezuma
TE – Brett Plants, Sophomore, Montezuma
Second Team
DB – Carter Michalek, Sophomore, Montezuma
OL – Cruz DeJong, Junior, Montezuma
DL – Landon Morrison, Junior, Montezuma
Honorable Mention
DB – Eli Bustamante, Senior, Montezuma
DL – Martavious Knox, Senior, Montezuma
Baxter
First Team
LB – Jake Travis, Senior, Baxter
QB – Cody Damman, Senior, Baxter
DL – Trice Clapper, Senior, Baxter
WR – Trey Travis, Junior, Baxter
LB – Cael Shepley, Senior, Baxter
Second Team
OL– Aiden McFadden, Junior, Baxter
OL – Carter Smith, Sophomore, Baxter
WR – Evan Mahoney, Junior, Baxter
Honorable Mention
LB – Cainan Travis, Sophomore, Baxter
LB – Cody Samson, Junior, Baxter
BGM
First Team
QB – Jacob Maurer, Senior, BGM
WR – Shamus Keller, Senior, BGM
DL – Logan Heishman, Senior, BGM
DE – Cooper Winter, Senior, BGM
RB - Mason Maschmann, Junior, BGM
Second Team
WR – Dominic Coleman, Junior, BGM
OG – Layne Jocom, Senior, BGM
LB – Tate Martin, Senior, BGM
Honorable Mention
DL – Connor Cooling, Senior, BGM
C – Axton Bartachek, Senior, BGM
Grand View Christian
First Team
WR – Colin Woodbury, Senior, GVC
QB – Noah John, Junior, GVC
RB – Kaeden Burger, Junior, GVC
Second Team
LM – Blake Schroeder, Senior, GVC
WR – Austin Jordan, Sophomore, GVC
Honorable Mention
LM – Henry Dyer, Junior, GVC
DB – Malachi Seyler, Junior, GVC
Melcher-Dallas
First Team
RB – Logan Godfrey, Senior, Melcher-Dallas
DE – Lucas Harrington, Senior, Melcher-Dallas
Second Team
LB – Max Enfield, Senior, Melcher-Dallas
TE – Braydon Draeger, Junior, Melcher-Dallas
LB – Kael Caikoski, Junior, Melcher-Dallas
Honorable Mention
OG – Ryan Heaton, Sophomore, Melcher-Dallas
QB – Johnny Milburn, Sophomore, Melcher-Dallas
Twin Cedars
First Team
LB – Nathan Curry, Junior, TC
WR – Kasey Clark, Senior, TC
Second Team
QB – Dallas Smith, Sophomore, TC
LB - Brendan Connett, Junior, TC
Honorable Mention
DB – Noah Fee, Junior, TC
OL – Nathan Newman, Senior, TC
Woodward Academy, who finished 0-8, did not have any players receive special honors. 

        The Montezuma Bravettes Volleyball team finished the 2022 season with a 9-18 record in Class 1A, Region 7 action while neighboring BGM wrapped up the season with a 10-15 record overall.  
            Kallie Robinson, a senior, was one of three Bravettes who earned all-conference honors. Robinson was named to the second team while Laila Kercheval and Izzy Roorda, both Montezuma, earned honorable mention honors. 
           BGM’s Paula Labad, a junior, was one of four Lady Bears to earn all-conference honors. Labad captured first team honors while Kylie Holland, a senior, earned second team honors. Karagyn Minnaert and Chloe Etten, both BGM, received honorable mention honors.
Following are all the SICL All-Conference honors:
Coach of the Year
April Kressley, Belle Plaine
First Team Setter
Mandy Chizek, Senior, Belle Plaine
Brookelyn Hemsley, Senior Sigourney
First Team Libero
Jalayna Shipley, Senior, North Mahaska
First Team All-Conference
Grace Bean, Senior, Belle Plaine
Jacey Reineke, Junior, Belle Plaine
Janessa Blomme, Junior, HLV
Shaylee Colling, Senior, HLV
Caylee Cunningham, Senior, Colfax-Mingo
Paula Labad, Junior, BGM
Kennedy Axmear, Junior English Valleys
Second Team Setter
Hailey Jack, Junior, HLV
Second Team Libero 
Reagan Power, Senior, Sigourney
Second Team All-Conference
Amiya Smallwood, Junior, Sigourney
Rachel Benton, Senior, Belle Plaine
McKenzie Kempf, Junior, HLV
Macey Fish, Senior, Sigourney
Macy  McMahan, Senior, Iowa Valley
Kylie Holland, Senior, BGM
Caitlyn Sanders, Senior, North Mahaska
Josephine Moore, Sophomore, Sigourney
Kallie Robinson, Senior, Montezuma
Honorable Mention
Alyssa Steinback, Belle Plaine
Kyla Shaull, Belle Plaine
Zoe Webb, Sigourney
Reagen Clarahan, Sigourney
Regan Grewe, Sophomore, North Mahaska
Sydeny Anderson, Sophomore, North Mahaska
Kyla Roberts, HLV
Addy Shaull, HLV
Lydia Kriegel, Iowa Valley
Izzy Kriegel, Iowa Valley
Karagyn Minnaert, BGM
Chloe Etten, BGM
Abi Rawlins, Senior, Colfax-Mingo
Joslyn Chadwick, Senior, Colfax-Mingo
Delaney Hall, English Valleys
Neesa Striegel, Engilsh Valleys
Laila Kercheval, Montezuma
Izzy Roorda, Montezuma
Alexy Conover, Lynnville-Sully
Abby Squires, Lynnville-Sully
Nicole Clarahan, Senior, Keota
Cassandra Swantz, Junior. Keota
Macy Schmidt, Tri-County
Chloe Zittergruen, Tri-County
Golden Award
Imigyn Stratton, English Valleys

​     Pastor George and Terry Salnave, middle, pose for a photo with their family during a retirement luncheon celebration on Sunday, Oct. 23. The couple is retiring from the pulpit after 48 years with 37 of those years being at the Montezuma First Presbyterian Evangelical Church. “I have enjoyed fulfilling God’s call for me (and Terry) to be here at the First Presbyterian Evangelical Church,” he said. “Montezuma was a great place to raise my children.”

By J.O. Parker
 
      An estimated 225 Montezuma residents, family and church members and domination representatives filled the pews at First Presbyterian Evangelical Church on Sunday, Oct. 23 in honor of Dr. George Salnave and his wife, Terry.
        The couple is retiring after 48 years in church ministry, 37 of those years in Montezuma.
      The service was filled with current and past church members sharing thoughts on the impact that the Salnave’s have had on their lives and their service to the community.
     Following the two plus hour service, those present filed into the Family Center for a luncheon of sandwiches and three varieties of soup, along with more than an hour of fellowship and family photos. The luncheon was planned and served by many of the women in the church.
        “They did a tremendous job of feeding and serving all the people who attended,” said Pastor Salnave. “I was surprised to have my sister, Susan, and her husband, Leigh, come from North Carolina to help me celebrate.”
        Those in attendance also included the Salnave’s three children and five grandchildren who shared in the celebration.
       “It was a tremendous honor for me to have three representatives from Rivers and Lakes Presbytery (the church domination) participating in the service,” said Pastor Salnave. “I particularly enjoyed having five past youth pastors present with some of them speaking. And the music was excellent.”
        The Salnave’s came to Montezuma in 1986, thanks to the efforts of the late Delores Lundy, who was on the pastor search committee at the time. She reached out to her brother’s wife, who managed a Christian Camp in California, where they saw many pastors, to see if they could suggest a candidate to minister and lead the church.
       "They suggested me and Delores called me on Sept. 17, 1985 to see if I might be interested in interviewing for this position,” noted Pastor Salnave. “The rest is history.”
        At the time, Pastor Salnave was serving as an associate pastor in Santa Rosa, Calif., a position he held for 11 years.
      During his tenure, Pastor Salnave was instrumental in building the Family Center, a church and community center with a kitchen, gym, fitness center and racquetball court. He also was the leading force in establishing the Montezuma Food Pantry and Clothing Closet.
       “The Clothing Closet has grown over time to be a valuable ministry to help people provide proper seasonal clothing,” he said. “The Food Pantry is an excellent ministry to feed people in Poweshiek County. Each month, 12,000 to 14,000 pounds of food is given out. Many people are unaware that there is a food storage and so our pantry has an even more important role to play in our county.”
         He added that the Family Center has been the church’s ministry to the Montezuma Community for more than 35 years.
     “We have appreciated the support of the community to help update it as it provides recreational opportunities,” said Pastor Salnave. “I believe the church has and will continue to invite people into a saving relationship with Christ through its community outreach.”
       Pastor Salnave has also served as the Salvation Army Unit 261 Bell Ringing Chairman and Director for a number of years. For every dollar donated to the Salvation Army, 90 cents stays in Poweshiek County.
       Pastor Salnave has also served as President of the Montezuma Ministerial Association and radio pastor of KUDV radio station. And for a number of years, he served with Linda Hamilton as emcee of the Montezuma      
     “Let Freedom Ring” Celebration on July 4. Pastor George and Terry were grand marshals of the 2022 parade.
     “I have or currently served in Rivers and Lakes Presbytery as Chaplain, the Ministerial Committee, the Mission Committee and Moderator,” he said.
       In addition, Terry, directed the church preschool for 18 years and also worked as a paraprofessional at the Montezuma Community Schools for 20-years. And she has also been a partner in her husband’s ministry.
        In past years, Pastor Salnave also served as a volunteer coach of the Montezuma High School golf teams.
When asked, Pastor Salnave said he has preached approximately 1,700 sermons. He didn’t know how many weddings (or funerals) he has been a part of during his time in Montezuma.
       When asked what are one or two of his most precious memories of his time in Montezuma, Pastor Salnave said, “Generally, ministering to a various number of people who have committed their lives to Jesus.”
      “I was happy to be instrumental in leading the church into the Evangelical Presbyterian Church,” he said.
       As for retirement, Pastor George said he and Terry are looking forward to having a lot of one-on-one time.
     “I look forward to spending time with my children and my grandchildren, traveling to visit friends of past ministries and playing golf,” Pastor Salnave said. “I also look forward to my chaplain role in the Rivers and Lakes Presbytery and being involved on some level in the churches that my children attend.”
      Pastor Salnave and Terry will minister at the church through Christmas Day.
    “I have enjoyed fulfilling God’s call for me (and Terry) to be here at the First Presbyterian Evangelical Church,” he said. “Montezuma was a great place to raise my children.”

    The Montezuma High School Drama Department presents, “Little Shop of Horrors,” in the Montezuma Auditorium with two shows remaining on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m.

     Members of the Montezuma FFA Farm and Agribusiness Management team were named national champions at the 2022 National FFA Convention last month in Indianapolis. Team members are, from left, Maguire DeJong, Mia Boulton, Madison Johannes and Colton Benson. Benson, Johannes, Boulton and DeJong finished first, fourth, eighth and 12th place respectively. The team’s success earned them a gold emblem rating. This is the second year that the Montezuma FFA Chapter has been named national champions in the farm and Agribusiness Management CDE. Submitted photo.

By J.O. Parker
 
      The Montezuma FFA Chapter brought home a national championship and overall first place individual for a second straight year in the Farm and Agribusiness Management Career Development Event (CDE) at the 2022 National FFA Convention.
     Also earning top honors was the Montezuma FFA Marketing Plan Team who brought home a fourth place national finish and the Ag Communications Team who wrapped up the national convention with a sixth place finish.
      The National FFA Convention was held Oct. 26 – 29 in Indianapolis.
The Farm and Agribusiness Management team is comprised of Colton Benson, Maguire DeJong, Madison Johannes and Mia Boulton.
     Benson, Johannes, Boulton and DeJong finished first, fourth, eighth and 12th place respectively. The team’s success earned them a gold emblem rating.
    The National FFA Farm and Agribusiness Management CDE is designed to test the ability of students to apply economic principles and concepts in analyzing farm and ranch business management decisions. Participants respond to questions concerning economic principles in farm business management as well as a problem-solving analysis section.
    The Montezuma FFA Marketing Plan Team brought home a fourth place finish, the best in school and chapter history, at the national convention. The team is comprised of Owen Cook, Abby Pope and Kallie Robison. Bryson Stockman was an alternate on the team. The team’s success earned them a gold emblem rating.
     Members of the marketing team were asked to develop marketing skills through the development and presentation of a plan that promotes a current or proposed product, supply or service. The Montezuma team’s project focused on FFA Advisor Rick Swenson’s show pig business, Hilltop Farms.
     The Montezuma FFA Agricultural Communications CDE team brought home a sixth place finish at nationals. The team consists of Camryn Brennan, Alivia Cline, Makenna Johannes and Madison Van Zee.
       The National FFA Agricultural Communications CDE is a competitive event that tests students' skills in all areas of the agricultural communications field and evaluates how well they can apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations. Participants attend a simulated news conference and use the information gathered to complete individual practicums in writing, electronic media and design. Prior to the event, students compile media plans related to innovative agricultural practices, management techniques and marketing tools. Each team then creates a 15-minute presentation based on their proposal. Members also compete in an editing exercise and a general communications quiz.
       “These kids dedicated a lot of time and effort to their competitions over the summer and their hard work paid off. I am extremely proud of what they were able to accomplish last week at Nationals,” said Montezuma FFA Advisor Hannah Garland.

​      Members of the Montezuma FFA Marketing Plan Team placed fourth at the 2022 National FFA Convention last month in Indianapolis. Team members are, from left, Kallie Robison, Owen Cook, Bryson Stockman, an alternate on the team; and Abby Pope. Members of the marketing team were asked to develop marketing skills through the development and presentation of a plan that promotes a current or proposed product, supply or service. The Montezuma team’s project focused on FFA Advisor Rick Swenson’s show pig business, Hilltop Farms. Submitted photo.

      Members of the Montezuma FFA Agricultural Communications team placed sixth at the 2022 National FFA Convention last month in Indianapolis. Team members are, from left, Makenna Johannes, Alivia Cline, Madison Van Zee and Camryn Brennan. The National FFA Agricultural Communications CDE is a competitive event that tests students' skills in all areas of the agricultural communications field and evaluates how well they can apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations. Submitted photo.

     The Montezuma Braves faced a tough WACO team in the semifinals of the 2022 Football Playoffs at WACO on Thursday, Nov. 3, falling to the Warriors, 52-7. After scoring the first touchdown in the game, the Braves gave it their all, but couldn't overcome the number 2 ranked team in Class 8-Man football. It was the final game for six Montezuma seniors: Masin Shearer, Owen Cook, Brady Ogan, Eli Bustamante, Martavious Knox and Kennen Roadcap. The Braves won the conference championship and finished their season with a 9-3 record.