Many high school seniors are currently sitting at home asking the question “what-if?” Why are they asking this? Schools across the country had to cancel the rest of the school year because of the pandemic that is making many Americans not leave their homes. Well, what most people aren’t thinking about are the high school athletes that played their last game in high school one year earlier than expected. The hours of work put into crafting their skills to all be cancelled, and to make matters worse, have to move on in a world full of questions with no real solution.

The Fulton Steamer’s softball team was poised to make a deep run in the post season this year with seniors Kylee Sweenie and Emily Schipper leading the charge at catcher and shortstop. But they won’t get their shot at back-to-back regional titles like they planned.

“It’s devastating,” said Senior Kylee Sweenie, “We as a team put so much work into a chance to make history this winter. All the open gyms, all the time in the weightroom, it was all for nothing.”

Kylee Sweenie was not the only senior devasted by these crazy two months. Senior Emily Schipper was also looking to compete at state track for the 4^th year in a row.

“It’s just weird,” said senior Emily Schipper, “I’m use to competing against someone every day of the year and now it’s all gone. It’s just a sad ending to this chapter of my life.”

Emily Schipper is the lone high school senior at Fulton to be continuing her athletic career next year as she has considered playing volleyball and track at Augusta College, Coe College, and St. Ambrose.  

The Steamers girls weren’t the only one effected by Covid-19 as the Fulton Steamer baseball team was looking forward to the strong improvements under second year coach Brent Dykstra.

“Our guys were just as excited as me to continue to improve this year,” said Coach Brent Dykstra, “we may only have one senior but it still takes away a year away of the sport he loves from him. It also takes a year away from our entire program of learning what varsity baseball is all about.”

Kraig Schipper, cousin of Senior Emily Schipper, was the lone senior for the Fulton Steamers and truly just loved the sport of baseball.

“Baseball may not have been my best sport,” said senior Kraig Schipper, “but it was defiantly my favorite and when we found out last week it was officially cancelled, I was just crushed.”

Kraig got to experience winning for his first two seasons of baseball before losing eight seniors and playing on a team with seven starting freshman last year that won two games total in 2019.

“All the losing, it was tough to handle at some points,” said Kraig Schipper, “but there was always going to be a learning curve with so many young guys on the field. We had the talent, but just lacked the experience of varsity baseball players. It’s rare to see a group like we had last year succeed. This was our year.”

The Steamers Baseball team is poised to be conference favorites next year but without their team leader, Kraig Schipper.

The Clinton Heard, the local newspaper, knew how much Kraig loved baseball from past experiences with him and nominated him for Athlete of the Week. The paper will continue to nominate seniors in the area who won’t get the chance to lace their respective cleats up one more time.

Fulton may not have had a ton of senior athletes effected by Covid-19 but that doesn’t mean it hurt any less for the ones that were.  

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – As John Oostendorp wraps up his 19^th season as Coe’s head wrestling coach, Coach O, as his wrestlers often refer to him, attributes his team’s frequent success to the culture of the team.

“Our success has come from the attitude of the athletes that we are bringing into the program combined with the work ethic and commitment of our assistant coaches,” said Coach Oostendorp said, “we have brought in the right athletes that have the mindset of wanting to win.”

Under Gable, Oostensorp was a four-year varsity starter with an overall record of 108-26 with 40 pins and a two-time All-American. He uses his experiences as a wrestler to coach his players as well.

“Yes, I would say my experience as a wrestler has helped me as a coach,” said Coach Oostendorp, “it showed me what was needed to be successful in the sport and I try and pass that on to my athletes. This doesn’t just prepare them for to be a better wrestler, but also a productive member of society.”

It’s not just the wrestlers Coach Oostendorp effect, his assistant coaches say he impacts there life’s as well.

“He shows us consistency, on a daily basis, showing up to work early every day,” said assistant coach Jimmy Gotto when asked about how coach Oostendorp as effected his as a coach, “paying close attention to each of his individual athletes, not just as an athlete but academically and preparing them for the real world.”

Coach Oostendorp is now preparing for Nationals where four of his athletes will be competing, including Freshman Riley Wright, who credits some of his success to Coach Oostendorp.

“I’m not sure if I am where I am without coach,” said Wright, “coming into the year, I was a kid that started a match well but didn’t have the motor to finish or that’s what other teams would have said. He pushed me to work hard throughout this year and has really helped me finish a match. It all showed up at Regionals.”

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The fifth ranked Coe College (8-1) wrestling team lost 24-12 in a close dual to their conference rival and top ranked team Wartburg (13-0) on Thursday. The two teams went head-to-head in front of a packed crowd.

“It’s never fun losing,” Junior Josh Gerke said, “but this was one of the best home environments I’ve wrestled in my past three years here. The crowd was into the meet from start to finish.”

The dual started off with a close match at the 125-weight class between Freshman Alex Friddle (COE) and Junior Brady Kyner (WART). Friddle took the lead early, up 5-3 going into the 3^rd period when Kyner used his experience to get a takedown and hold the lead. Kyner won the match 6-5 after ride time points were awarded. This early victory gave Wartburg a 3-0 lead.

Another close match at the 133-weight class gave Wartburg a 6-0 lead after senior Amier Khamis (COE) couldn’t get a lead against Sophomore Kristian Rumph (WART).

Wartburg continued to dominate the dual until Junior Josh Gerke (COE) tech felled Sophomore Zayren Terukina and gave Coe momentum after falling down 9-0. 

“After Gerke won, the environment changed completely. He gave us some hope, the crowd hope,” Coach Oostendorp said, “We lost a few close ones early and when you are facing the number one team in the country, you can’t let those ones get away if you want to win.”

Coe’s next win would come at 174 when Freshman Tristin Westphal won by decision over Freshman Paul Cato 3-2. Tristin had a match-winning take down early in the 3^rd and road Cato out until the end of the period to clinch the victory.

Coe’s last victory of the night was at 197 when 2^nd ranked Senior Taylor Mehman would take on 3^rd ranked Kobe Woods. This match would come down to the 3^rd period as many of the matches did when Mehman got a reversal after starting down to take the lead 3-1. Mehman is a favorite to compete for a National Title this year.

“The final score didn’t show the results you would have seen if you were at the meet,” said Assistant Coach Gotto, “There was three or four matches that we were ahead until the last period and it’s just the little things we need to work on. Our team will continue to get better and hope we can face Wartburg again when it matters at the end.”

The loss drops Coe’s record to 8-2 and will travel to face off against Cornell College on Friday, February 7^th.