Montezuma, BGM Volleyball players earn all-conference honors

        Tim Burgess, the second-year head coach of the Montezuma Bravettes Volleyball team, gives instructions to two players in an early-season match. Burgess was named the SICL Coach of the Year following the 2025 season. The Bravettes went undefeated in conference play and finished the season in the third round of playoffs.

By J.O. Parker

         A total of nine volleyball players at BGM and Montezuma were among those earning SICL All-Conference honors following the 2025 season.
     In addition, SICL Coach of the Year honors went to Tim Burgess, who coached the Bravettes to an SICL conference championship and third round playoff finish in only his second year at the helm.
When asked, Burgess said this honor isn’t about him, it should be about the staff and kids that were the ones to make all the plays.
        “This honor is about winning the conference championship and all those involved in making it happen,” noted Burgess. “I am incredibly lucky to have Tiffany Kercheval on my staff. She has been instrumental with what we have done these past two years. I have incredibly dedicated players who chose to put the their team first above personal glory. They chose to focus on What’s Important Now (WIN) every day, every set, every match. They focused on the right things and worked very hard. These players thrived at meeting new expectations. They were coachable and put trust in what we were trying to do. Honestly, this was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. I don’t miss the competition as much as I miss the day to day together. I am extremely proud of what they accomplished and am equally excited for the future.”
 
1st Team SICL All-Conference
Chloe Snook, Senior – Montezuma
Sydnee Burgess, Junior – Montezuma
Shaye Strong, Senior – BGM
Erilea Kupka, Sophomore – HLV-TC
Nicole Gensley, Senior – HLV-TC
Nataliya Linder, Junior – North Mahaska
Ava Gehrking, Junior – English Valleys
Britney Keeney, Senior – Colfax-Mingo
Addy Fineran, Senior – Sigourney
Bailey Gretter, Junior - Sigourney
Allison Hoover, Sophomore – Belle Plaine
Tatun Huyser, Senior – Lynnville-Sully
 
2nd Team SICL All-Conference
Lauryn Larmore, Sophomore – Montezuma
Lilly Ferry, Senior - Montezuma
Carly Lake, Junior – North Mahaska
Abby Van Weelden, Senior – North Mahaska
Katelyn Steenhoek, Junior – Colfax-Mingo
Emery Hall, Junior – HLV-TC
Hadyn Bender – Junior – English Valleys
Elise Lyle – Sophomore – Keota
Jules Stamp, Sophomore – Belle Plaine
Maeci Marshall, Junior – Iowa Valley
 
Honorable Mention SICL All-Conference
Emy Minnaert, Sophomore – BGM; Mya Beck, Sophomore – BGM
Mya Smothers, Junior – Montezuma; Leah Urfer, Junior – Montezuma
Kennedy Coover, Junior – Belle Plaine; Jadie Dahlquist, Sophomore – Belle Plaine
Grace Hunsberger, Senior – Colfax-Mingo; Grace Allen, Junior – Colfax-Mingo
Joslyn Bender, Sophomore – English Valleys; Anna Gorsh, Senior – English Valleys
Caidyn Schmidt, Sophomore – HLV-TC; Raegen Stowell, Senior – HLV-TC
Clara Fry – Senior – Iowa Valley; Olyvia Grant – Freshman – Iowa Valley
Kennedy Jackson, Senior – Keota; Jaylah Redlinger, Junior – Keota
Kate Harthoorn, Senior – Lynnville-Sully
Gracie DeGeest, Senior – North Mahaska; Alivia Schock, Senior – North Mahaska
Becca Gretter, Junior – Sigourney; Clara Hanselman, Junior - Sigourney
 
Golden Award
Kieren Perez, Senior – North Mahaska; Olivia DeBevec, Sophomore – English Valleys.
         The league’s Golden Award honor is given to a player or players who the coaches felt would have been an honoree, but was unable to play most of the season due to an injury.
 
Coach of the Year
Tim Burgess – Montezuma