AREA (Oct. 22) -- Regional volleyball tournament play will begin across the state this week with local squads Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton, AHSTW and Harlan Community set for first round matches and IKM-Manning receiving a bye. On Tuesday night (Oct. 22), Exira-EHK (6-22) will travel to Riverside (23-12) for a Class 1A, Region 2 contest. The winner will play either CAM or Orient-Macksburg next Monday back in Oakland.

 REGIONAL -- State qualifying cross country meets will be held statewide on Thursday, October 24, at 4:00 p.m. The Harlan Community girls and boys squads will compete in a 13-team, Class 3A state qualifier at Atlantic’s Nishna Hills Golf Course while AHSTW, IKM-Manning and Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton will travel to Mount Ayr for a 1A state qualifier at the Mount Ayr Golf and Country Club.

 HARLAN (Oct.

 CRESTON (Oct. 18) -- The football RPI system adopted by the Iowa High School Athletic Association last year to help determine at-large playoff qualifiers is nothing if not objective. The Ratings Percentage Index is not impressed with margin of victory or upsets or how many yards Johnny threw for against the so-called top defense in the land.

 AVOCA (Oct. 14) -- The AHSTW girls placed second and the IKM-Manning boys took third in Monday’s Western Iowa Conference Cross Country Championships, combining for six top-12 medalists at the Avoca Golf and Country Club. Top-ranked (1A) Logan-Magnolia won the girls team title with a score of 31, followed by the eighth-ranked Lady Vikes with 51, No.

 MANNING (Oct.

 EXIRA (Oct.

 HARLAN (Oct. 11) -- Somebody forgot to tell the Harlan Community football team that there’s a new power in southwest Iowa. Going into Friday’s showdown with unbeaten Lewis Central, the numbers, the eye test and the hype all pointed toward a big Titan win over HCHS.

 ATLANTIC (Oct.

 REGIONAL (Oct. 11) -- IKM-Manning stayed unbeaten in district play with a 21-7 win over Alta-Aurelia Friday night while AHSTW and Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton also picked up district victories.

 CLARINDA (Oct. 10) -- Macie Leinen spiked 17 kills with a .343 efficiency on Thursday night to lead the Harlan Community volleyball team to a 3-1 road win at Clarinda. The Cyclones prevailed 25-16, 25-22, 16-25, 25-19, improving to 10-17 overall and 4-5 in the Hawkeye Ten. Clarinda dropped to 6-14 overall and 3-5 in the H-10. Lauren Andersen also had a big game at the net for HCHS with 10 kills and a .421 efficiency.

 HARLAN (Oct.

 HARLAN (Oct. 11) -- One week after losing the 2019 season opener vs. Lewis Central 35-7, Sergeant Bluff-Luton football coach Justin Smith was asked to compare this year’s LC team to the 2018 state semifinalist version. Are they as good as last year? “Uh, they’re better,” Smith replied. “They’re better at every position but quarterback and that quarterback is still a really good player.

 AVOCA (Oct.

 MONDAMIN (Oct. 4) -- Creighton Nelson rushed for 136 yards and four touchdowns and also caught a TD pass last Friday night as the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton football team got back to .500 with a 50-14 victory at West Harrison. The Spartans improved to 3-3 overall and 2-2 in 8-Man, District 8, good for fourth place in the standings.