​      Congratulations to the 22 Montezuma High School Speech students who received 1 ratings and a trip to state competition at North Scott High School on Saturday, March 11.
     The students earned the trip to state after competing at the District Individual Speech Competition on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Cedar Rapids Xaiver High School.
       Following are the results:
      Acting – Lydia Singleton, Kaya Latcham, Lily Shoemaker, Bryn Fantazia
     Musical Theater – Lydia Singleton, Faith Ferry, Addyson Probasco, Bryn Fantazia
     Storytelling - Kaya Latcham, Camryn Brennan 
     Improv – Tayler Wickham, Emily Jo James
     Expository Address – Loki Harris
     Poetry – Emily Jo James, Marty Knox
     Prose – Madalyn Fleming, Taylor Wilcox, Madison VanZee
     Original Oratory – Ava Pargeon, Madison Van Zee
     Literary Program – Addyson Probasco
     Review – Camryn Brennan, Waitress
    “The students have been working incredibly hard to accomplish this success,” said speech coach Kelly Kaup. “Many students juggle several activities, yet remain dedicated and show a strong passion for what they are doing in speech. They are led by a strong coaching team of Liesl Roorda, Dianne Singleton, Liz Van Gorp and Kelly Kaup.”

    Montezuma American Legion Post 169 member and veteran, Larry Bergeson, standing, waits on guests who stopped at the American Legion Hall to enjoy biscuits and gravy and vist on Saturday, Feb. 25. ​

Montezuma
     The Montezuma FFA Chapter hosted the South East Subdistrict contest on Monday, Feb. 20. All competitors earned gold ratings and will advance to district competition.
     Montezuma FFA results:
   Conduct of Meetings – Krista Cheney, Lily Ferry, Luke Brennan, Brady Boulton, Broox Stockman, Peyton Tindle, Luke Erselius and Clare Erselius -  first place 
    Job Interview - Mia Boulton - first place
   Radio Broadcasting - Madison Johannes - second place
Grinnell
   The Grinnell FFA Chapter participated in the South Central Subdistrict in Pella on Wednesday, Feb. 15. All competitors earned gold ratings and will advance to district competition.
    Grinnell FFA results:
   Conduct of Meetings - Tristan Graff, Alyssa Peterson, Lauren Loudon, Colton Sieck, Abbie Hatcher, Carter Hansen, Rhiannon Rees 
    Creed Speaking - Maggie Dayton 
   Extemporaneous Speaking - Lexi Kephart
   Public Speaking - Wyatt Eaton 
   Greenhand Quiz - Brody Collins – ninth; Keaton Iverson – fourth; and Peyton Davenport - fifth
  Chapter Quiz - Lexi Spooner – third; Ireland Sebetka – fifth; Sophia Louden – sixth; and Andrew Peterson - first

​      The Montezuma team of, from left, Maguire DeJong, Colton Benson, Kennen Roadcap and Jack Erselius recently competed in the Southeast District of the Iowa Personal Finance Challenge, placing first overall and advancing to the in-person live state finals in Des Moines on April 12. The four students completed individual 30-question online exams covering principles of personal finance including money management, credit, investing, and insurance. The top two teams from each of Iowa’s four districts compete at state. The winning team will advance to the National Finals in Cleveland, Ohio.

     Each year, the Iowa Jump$tart Coalition, with support from the National Council for Economic Education, hosts the Iowa Personal Finance Challenge. The challenge is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of personal finance by connecting with other students from across the state in an online competition. At the initial level, teams of four students complete individual 30-question online exams covering principles of personal finance including money management, credit, investing, and insurance. The top two teams from each of the four regions of the state advance to the live state finals competition in Des Moines on April 12. State finalists are assigned a fictional case-study with time to prepare a presentation sharing their recommendations for the fictional client before a panel of judges including economists, business leaders and financial professionals. 
     The Montezuma team of Colton Benson, Maguire DeJong, Jack Erselius, and Kennen Roadcap placed first overall in the Southeast Iowa district for the fall semifinals, earning a cash prize and a trip to state. There were 745 students from across Iowa who participated in the challenge.
     The winning team in the state finals will advance to the National Finals in Cleveland, Ohio, competing for a substantial cash prize. Last year, the team of Allyson Larmore, Kennen Roadcap, Haley Van Der Hart, and Gabe Wearmouth made the finals as a four-person Personal Finance 2 class and just missed going home with a cash prize. This is the second year a Montezuma team has competed in the competition and business teacher Kevin Gartman said he and the students are excited to have continued success in the finals.
     Personal Finance has been a required class for graduation at Montezuma for four years, and two years ago, Gartman created a Personal Finance 2 class to allow for a deeper dive into these real-life topics. Personal Finance is also taught as an 8th grade semester-long elective class to give students some base knowledge prior to their junior and senior years of high school. 
     “I'm really proud of how Montezuma Schools has made personal finance education a priority for students,” noted Gartman. “Not only do they have the opportunity to have three classes focused solely on personal finance prior to graduation, but they have the chance to take their knowledge and apply it through competition teams like these young men have. From the school board and administration, to the students and their parents, everyone seems to really grasp how important learning about topics such as investing, taxes, budgeting, banking, insurance, and credit is. We've been ahead of the curve, both statewide and nationally, with the steps we're taking to prepare students for life after Montezuma High School. For that, I'm proud.”

    Several area boys’ basketball players received South Iowa Cedar League (SICL) All-Conference honors following the 2022-23 basketball season.
     Masin Shearer, a Montezuma senior, received SICL First Team All-Conference honors. BGM’s Jake Maurer, a senior, and Montezuma’s Gavin Strong, a senior, and Brady Boulton, a freshman, were named to the second team.
     Following are the 2022-23 SICL All-Conference honors:
1st Team All-Conference
Masin Shearer - Montezuma, Senior
Conner Maston - Lynnville-Sully, Senior
Klayton VanDyke - Lynnville-Sully, Junior
Caleb Haack - Iowa Valley, Sophomore
Nash Smith - North Mahaska, Senior
Lane Harmon - North Mahaska, Senior
Sawyer Stout – Keota, Junior
Landon Hall – HLV, Senior
2nd Team All-Conference
Gavin Strong - Montezuma, Senior
Brady Boulton - Montezuma, Freshman
Jake Maurer - BGM, Senior
Braden Steel - North Mahaska, Senior
Cole Kindred – Keota, Junior
Issac Bruns – Sigourney, Sophomore
Sam DeBeulenaere - Belle Plaine, Senior
Evan Kearney - Iowa Valley, Senior
Corder Noun Harder - Lynnville-Sully, Junior
Honorable Mention
Belle Plaine – Jax Stamp, Junior; Wyatt Kuch, Junior
BGM – Dom Coleman, Junior; Beau Burns, Freshman
Colfax-Mingo – Carter Gibson, Senior; Cael Bracewell, Junior
English Valleys – Keshaun Lundy, Senior; Myles Grove, Junior
HLV – Ethan Licht, Junior; Peyton Roth, Sophomore
Iowa Valley – Beau Long, Senior; Hunter Gorsch, Senior
Keota – Evan Vittetoe, Junior; Billie Kindred, Sophomore
Lynnville-Sully – Preston Rodibaugh, Senior; Mitchell Miller, Junior
Montezuma – Garrett Watts, Junior; Owen Cook, Senior
North Mahaska – Ethan Huffman, Senior; Nolan Andersen, Junior
Sigourney – Karson Weber, Senior; Cole Clarahan, Senior
Tri-County – Cayle Kitzman, Senior; Corbyn Thomas, Senior
Golden Award - This honor is given to a player who the coaches felt would have been an honoree, but was unable to play most of the season due to an injury. Joe Earles - Colfax-Mingo, Junior; Eli Molyneux - Tri-County, Senior
SICL Coach of the Year:
Nick Harthoorn - Lynnville-Sully

     SICL All-Conference Girls’ honors released

   Several area girls’ basketball players received South Iowa Cedar League (SICL) All-Conference honors following the 2022-23 basketball season.
   Montezuma landed players on both first and second teams. Mia Boulton, a senior, helped lead the Bravettes to a 13-1 conference record in the SICL. She is joined on the first team by Madison (MJ) Johannes. Montezuma’s Ellen Cook, a sophomore, received second team all-conference honors. BGM’s Karagyn Minnaert, a sophomore on the Lady Bears, also received second team all-conference honors.
     Montezuma and North Mahaska shared SICL Champion honors.
     Following are the 2022-23 SICL All-Conference honors:
 
1st Team All-Conference Honors:
Mia Boulton – Montezuma, Senior
Madison (MJ) Johannes – Montezuma, Senior
Breckyn Schilling – North Mahaska, Sophomore
Regan Grewe - North Mahaska, Sophomore
Lydia Kriegel - Iowa Valley, Sophomore
Greenlee Smock - Lynnville-Sully, Senior
Carly Goodwin, Sigourney, Junior
Kennedy Axmear, English Valleys, Junior
 
2nd Team All-Conference Honors:
Ellen Cook - Montezuma, Sophomore
Lola Frimml – Iowa Valley, Junior
Majesta Vos – Lynnville-Sully, Junior
Josephine Moore – Sigourney, Sophomore
Delaney Hall – English Valley, Junior
Kimberly Clarahan - Keota, Sophomore
Karagyn Minnaert  - BGM, Sophomore
Delanie Little - Tri-County, Senior
 
Honorable Mention:
Belle Plaine – Mandy Chizek, Senior; Ella Grieder, Junior
BGM – Laila Morrison, Junior; Ryanne Van Dee, Sophomore
English Valleys – Addysyn Westfall, Senior; Imigyn Stratton, Junior
HLV – McKenzie Kempf, Junior; Addy Shaull, Junior
Iowa Valley – Macy McMann, Senior; Grace Rynn, Junior
Keota – Nicole Clarahan, Senior; Macie McDonald, Senior
Lynnville-Sully – Aubree Arthur, Junior; Kate Harthoorn, Freshman
Montezuma – Jadyn Sharer, Junior; Shiressa Wetering, Sophomore
North Mahaska – Jessica Castaneda, Senior
Sigourney – Zoe Webb, Senior; Rain Barthelman, Senior
Tri-County – Ayla Hall, Sophomore; Sadie McKain – Senior
 
Golden Award - This honor is given to a player who the coaches felt would have been an honoree, but was unable to play most of the season due to an injury.
Bree Shaull – Belle Plaine, Senior
 
SICL Coach of the Year:
LE Moore – North Mahaska

Montezuma Volunteer Firefighter Shane Eickhoff, right, places freshly cooked eggs in a customer’s to go orders being held by volunteer firefighter Cody Meinecke during the annual Montezuma Fire Department Sweetheart Breakfast on Sunday, Feb. 12. The event is a fundraiser for the department with funds being used to purchase equipment and provide training for the volunteers.

      Montezuma Bravettes Coach Janel Burgess encourages the team during a battle against the North Linn Lynx on Thursday, Feb. 21 at Benton Community High School in Van Horne. The North Linn swarming defensive and offensive juggernaut propelled them to the 69-40 victory over Montezuma in the Regional Championship game. The Bravettes finished the season with a 21-4 overall record, which included wins over two 2A schools, and where SICL co-champs.