Alburnett opened the season with a non-district win at home. The Pirates are in Class 1A District 6, North Linn in 1A-5.

LISBON – Kelcie Bormann threw a two-hitter and struck out 10 to lead Preston (34-6) to a Class 1A regional final victory at Lisbon. Lizzie Meier hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning for the Lady Trojans.
Cortney Wood and Amber Weiland each had a hit for Alburnett (27-13).
Preston plays Lynnville-Sully Monday in the first round of the state tournament at Fort Dodge.

ALBURNETT — Amber Wieland inflicted plenty of pain to go around.
Wieland’s two-run bloop single in the bottom of the fifth inning put Alburnett ahead for good, and the Pirates scored five times in the inning in a 9-3 Class 1A regional quarterfinal softball victory over Springville last night.
“I think we finally cracked down on their pitcher,” Wieland said. “We started off kind of slow, but we got more used to her and started getting our timing down.”
Alburnett (26-12) got the last laugh between the Tri-Rivers Conference co-champions and advanced to …

The western thumb of the Big East Conference, Lisbon is somewhat isolated.
“We’re on the outside edge,” said Jim Schultz, the school’s athletics director. “Eight (of our 11 conference rivals) are at least an hour and 15 minutes away.”
So it’s time to look elsewhere.
Lisbon has formally applied for membership into the Tri-Rivers Conference. If its application is accepted, Lisbon will join in 2012-13.
Tri-Rivers athletics directors and principals have green-lighted the expansion, with superintendents scheduled to vote at their annual meeting June 2.
“They’ve got some really nice athletic programs,” said North Linn …

*-Returning state champions: Sawyer Farris, New London/WMU (112), Christopher Halblom, Alburnett (119), Derric Thomas, Mason City Newman (130), Cole Welter, Don Bosco (135), Clay Welter, Don Bosco (145), Dimitri Boyer, Eddyville-Blakesburg (152)
*-Other individuals to watch: Phillip Laux, Pekin (103), Lance Maguire, Fort Dodge St. Edmonds (103), Tyler Shulista, Alburnett (112), Logan Mulnix, North Linn (125), Jake Kadel, New London/WMU (125), Brayton Taylor, Prairie Valley (130), Nolan Oviatt, Logan-Magnolia (130), Matt Finch, HMS (140), Tim Moroney, East Buchanan (152), Blake Fauchier, Guthrie Center (160), Quinn Wilson, Oakland Riverside (171), Taylor Kettman, …

WINTHROP — At one time the Lisbon Lions were regulars at the State Duals tournament.
Heck, they were fixtures in the finals from 1987-91, placing third in 1992. This year’s Lions provided a blast from the past.
Ninth-ranked Lisbon caught fire halfway through the meet to win seven straight matches and toppled No. 4 East Buchanan, 42-31, in a Class 1A regional dual last night at East Buchanan High School. The Lions will compete in the State Duals tournament Feb. 27 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, earning their eighth …

I’m in Winthrop for the Class 1A regional duals, featuring Alburnett, No. 4 East Buchanan, No. 9 Lisbon and West Branch. Regional dual semifinal match-ups are East Buchanan vs. West Branch and Alburnett vs. Lisbon.
I am going off the program and the pre-meet introductions. Some wrestlers may need to edited later if I don’t catch a lineup change.
We’re starting at 130.
Mitch McGraw (EB) receives a forfeit; Grant Henderson (A) majors Seth hall, 15-2. EB up 6-0 and Alburnett up, 4-0.
At 135, Matt Smith (WB) edges Travis Johnson, 6-4. East Buch …

Mother nature has caused a hiccup in the posteason season wrestling schedule. All but one regional dual across the state are postponed until tomorrow evening.
The Class 2A regional dual event at Winterset, featuring  Centerville, Harlan, Creston/orient-Macksburg and Clarke (Osceola) is the only one that will be competed. All others are scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m.
CLASS 2A ASSIGNMENTS
AT: GILBERT (POSTPONED UNTIL WEDNESDAY, 2/10, SAME TIME)
Semi-Final Round
Bondurant-Farrar vs. Webster City
Ballard vs. PCM, Monroe
After the completion of the semi-final round, the winners will compete to determine
the team advancing to the State Dual Team Tournament.
AT: …

East Buchanan is attempting to claim its first state duals berth, but if the Bucs are going to end their season in Cedar Rapids they will have to earn it.
The third-ranked Bucs host a competitive Class 1A regional dual at Winthrop, featuring No. 9 Lisbon, Alburnett and West Branch. East Buchanan opens with West Branch, while Lisbon takes on Alburnett in the semifinals, starting at 6 p.m.
Opening round winners then compete for a trip to the state duals Feb. 27 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids.
East Buchanan Coach …

ALBURNETT — They are Alburnett’s dynamic duo.
The Pirates and Coach Kane Thompson benefit from, not one but two of, the best wrestlers in Class 1A.
Christopher Halblom and Tyler Shulista both own top-rankings and have propelled Alburnett’s wrestling program to new levels of success.
“I think they’re making everyone around them better,” Thompson said. “We’re pretty solid from 112 to 135 with kids that are having a great season. I think it’s because they practice with each other and feed off what Tyler and Christopher have done at the state tournament.”
The pair …