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.”
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Montezuma American Legion members, Rodney Morse and his daughter, Hailey Chhouy, prepare orders of biscuits and gravy while veteran Larry Bergeson prepares to deliver the tasty delights to a customer. 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. Folks from all across the county stopped at the Montezuma American Legion Hall on Saturday, Feb. 25 to enjoy biscuits and gravy and good company. The event was a fundraiser for the new American Legion Building slated to be constructed on donated land on the northeast side of town.
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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.
The Montezuma Braves played with lots of heart as they battled back from a 17-0 start against Baxter to draw within four points late in the fourth period before losing, 82-69, in the District Semifinal for the two schools. Masin Shearer had a stellar night, scoring 39 points, including seven three-pointers in his last game for Montezuma. The Braves finished the season with a 17-7 record. Other seniors playing their last game were Owen Cook, Gavin Strong and Colton Benton.
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