Prep golfers hit the course for Iowa High School Athletic Association championship meets today as 35 sectional meets in all three classes across the state.
Decorah senior Andrew Peter will look to defend his individual state title, and help lead the Vikings back to the Class 3A state meet. The Vikings, who placed fourth at state last season, travel to Charles City for a sectional with Clear Lake, Crestwood, Forest City, Hampton-Dumont, Iowa Falls-Alden and New Hampton. The top four individuals and top two teams advance to next week’s district play, joing a Manchest …

Marion’s Mike Manderscheid and Solon’s Brad Randall were conference coaches of the year in their respective divisions. Their teams shared the overall Wamac title.
Here are the complete teams:
2009-10 Wamac Boys Basketball

MARION — Shoot at the north basket in the Marion High School gym in the very near future, and you might get a make. Or a miss.
But not a swish.
The Marion Indians cut down the net after claiming their third straight league championship, defeating Vinton-Shellsburg, 57-47, in a Wamac Conference West Division girls’ basketball game Friday night.
“There used to be a lone number (1975) on our basketball (championship banner),” Indians Coach Sherryl Gaffney-Paige said after climbing the ladder and taking the final snip. “Now there’s three more up there.”
That would …

The top six teams in the rankings have a number of wrestlers on the list. All of them have at least five wrestlers ranked. Defending state champion Ballard still leads the way with Denver-Tripoli and Davenport Assumption close behind. The state tournament could be very interesting depending upon the number of qualifiers each can take to Des Moines.
Top 10 State Tournament Teams (# of ranked wrestlers)
1. Ballard (6)
2. Denver-Tripoli (8)
3. Davenport Assumption (7)
4. Independence (6)
5. Forest City (5)
6. East Marshall (5)
7. Centerville (3)
8. Emmetsburg (4)
9. Dallas Center-Grimes (4)
10. Sgt. Bluff …

Here are the conference standings of the Wamac Conference. The dual standings reflect conference records only through Jan. 1 and were submitted by a league coach.
EAST DIVISION
DeWitt Central 2-0
Western Dubuque 2-0
West Delaware 1-0
Anamosa 1-1
Maquoketa 1-1
Solon 0-1
Mt. Vernon 0-2
Dyersville Beckman 0-2
WEST DIVISION
Benton Community 2-0
Independence 2-0
Williamsburg 1-0
Center Point-Urbana 1-1
Marion 1-1
Vinton-Shellsburg 0-1
Waterloo Columbus 0-2
Clear Creek Amana 0-2

Harold Shepherd is back in Iowa and back on the bench.
He’s a lieutenant, not a captain. He’s fine with that, at least for now.
“I kind of enjoy the role,” said Shepherd, who is serving as an assistant girls’ basketball coach under Tony Pappas at Waterloo West.
“There’s not as much pressure, but I love teaching the game, I like being in the gym for a few hours each day, and I like the kids.”
Shepherd, 67, was a head coach for 43 years, most of them at Vinton and Vinton-Shellsburg, where he …

This is the final week of the prep football regular season and there are still sub-state berths up for grabs. Gazette Communications journalists will be discussing and breaking down Week 9 games and playoff scenarios.
Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson and myself will be conducting a pair of live chats Friday. Look for the links at www.iowaprepsports.comfor a chat from noon to 1 p.m. and a second one recapping results and sub-state match-ups from 11 p.m. to midnight, following the night’s action.
Join in and share your thoughts, questions and your favorite food …

MARION — The “Pink Out” turned into a blowout.
Marion scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and went on to throttle Vinton-Shellsburg, 42-8, last night in the first football game of the season at Thomas Park. The Indians’ home opener three weeks ago was moved to Coe College because of flooding.
This was a special game in many ways for Marion (4-0). Players wore pink socks and commemorative pink game T-shirts were sold to fans to benefit breast cancer awareness, prevention and treatment. Marion Coach Tony Perkins said he figures at …